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Toys for babies

Baby Toys

The best baby toys aren't necessarily the ones that do the most. They're the ones your baby can actually do something with.

In the first year, that might mean watching and reaching, then grasping, shaking, mouthing or dropping something just to see what happens — and doing the same thing all over again.

Age guidance can help when choosing toys for babies, but it can't tell you what your baby will be interested in right now. Watch what they keep trying to do, and choosing the right toy becomes much easier.

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What Makes A Useful Baby Toy?

Often, the most useful toys have an action the baby can begin to discover and influence themselves. They shake it and hear a sound. They move something and see a change. Then they do it again. Playing with you still matters. The useful question is whether the toy also gives them something of their own to find, change or repeat.

Simple is not automatically better, and extra features are not automatically worse. A rattle with one clear sound can be exactly right. A toy with several functions can also be right if they can actually find those functions and use them — not only watch them happen. The question is not how much the toy does. It is what the baby can do with it.

Repetition is often the play. Shake, drop, retrieve, shake, drop, retrieve can look as if they need something new. If they keep choosing the same action, they are still using it. Adults usually get tired of watching the same thing first.

A toy for the car, a larger activity setup, or a soft book they can look at, touch and mouth can be useful when that is specifically what you need.

LookingHoldingShakingMouthing
Baby playing with baby toys

Customer observation

What are you noticing?

Just Beginning

Your Baby Is Starting to Notice What's Around Them

Faces, movement and sound are interesting. Start with gentle first play.

Newborn Toys Everything Gets Grabbed

Your Baby Wants to Reach, Grab and Shake Everything

If their hands are busy with anything nearby, have a look at rattles.

Baby Rattles Everything Goes In Their Mouth

Your Baby Wants to Chew Everything

If everything keeps going in their mouth, look at teething toys.

Teething Toys Keeping Things Simple

You Want to Keep Play Simple

A simple toy they can actually use is often enough. More going on doesn't always help.

Montessori Baby Toys

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Shopping for sensory play, movement, toddler toys or sleep?

Many baby toys are sensory too. The difference is simply what you're looking for. If texture, sound, light or sensory input is the main reason you're shopping, start with Baby Sensory Toys. Baby Climbing & Movement Toys, Toddler Toys, and Sleep & Comfort Toys are here too if that's closer to what you need.

MHH · What we've learnt

There Is No Perfect Toy For Every Baby

Babies do not need a toy curriculum. There is no week-by-week list of the correct next purchase, and there is no perfect toy that suits every baby. A simple toy can be exactly right if they can actually use it.

There is also no correct number. Some babies return to a small handful of favourites. Different toys become useful for different reasons — another action to explore, something for the pram or car, or simply another favourite to come back to.

Adults often get bored of the same action long before babies do. If they still want another go, they are not done with it. You can add something new without treating the current favourite as expired.

Children use toys in their own way. That does not mean you chose badly. A wooden spoon can be fascinating, and that doesn't make a good toy pointless. Toys simply give them different things to explore, repeat and come back to.

Frequently asked questions

Questions parents often ask

How do I choose the right toy for my baby?

There's no one right toy for every baby. Look at what they keep doing. Newborn Toys suit earliest looking and reaching. Rattles suit grabbing and shaking. Teething toys suit mouthing. Pram Toys are for play while you're out.

Are simple baby toys better than ones with lots of features?

Not automatically. Extra features help only if the baby can actually find them and use them, not only watch them happen. The question is not how much the toy does. It is what the baby can do with it.

When should I use Baby Sensory Toys instead of Baby Toys?

Many baby toys are sensory too. If texture, sound, light or sensory input is the main thing you're looking for, Baby Sensory Toys is the better place to start.

When should I look at Toddler Toys?

Toddler Toys makes more sense once they're stacking, posting, pulling, or working something out with their hands. There's no set age for that. Being able to do something new does not mean the simpler toy has expired.