Best Toys for 6

You may notice that your baby's play becomes much more vigorous around age 6 to 9 months. Now when you offer them a spoon, your baby may bang it against pots and pans instead of just gazing at it or mouthing it.

It may look relaxed and playful, but your baby's actually accomplishing important work. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says regular playtime is integral to children's health and development.Opens a new window "It's the most important work of babies. It allows them to interact and learn about their world and be curious," says Phil Boucher, M.D.,Opens a new window a Lincoln, Nebraska pediatrician (and father of six)

Your baby will explore just about any everyday object and use them to practice developing skills, but a few thoughtfully selected toys can make playtime much more fun. (There's no "right" number of toys, but less is more. Children are more engaged and play more creativelyOpens a new window with their toys when they have fewer of them, research shows.)

Between 6 and 9 months, babies are mastering object permanence, practicing the range of their voices, copying sounds, and working on scooting and crawling, says San Francisco pediatrician Kathryn Meier, M.D.Opens a new window They’re also continuing to sharpen their hand-eye coordination and fine and gross motor skills. Toys that make noise or invite communication, are fun to mouth or chew, or encourage the use of large muscles are all great options. And so below you'll find toys that encourage these age-appropriate skills and interests and are the favorites of BabyCenter parents and their playful babies.

Parents love that this toy not only lasts for years, but keeps children entertained the whole time. Before your baby can walk or stand solo, they can sit on this center's cloth seat and turn from side to side, playing with the sensory toys. Their feet rest on the platform, and you can mount the piano toy there, too. It makes noise when your child moves around, or can be shut off if the noise bothers you or your baby (though parents say that their children were typically delighted by the noise).

When your child's older, the seat comes off and the platform moves to cover the center hole. The toys stay on, and your child can stand next to the center, hold on, and cruise around playing. The center's final form is a table: The toys come off entirely, and the table's flat and ready for snacks or artwork.

Parents love that all the toys are movable: they easily unfasten and fasten on again, which helps keep children's interest. The piano also moves around. Put it on the platform, or pop out the transparent view window on the tray (which allows children to see their moving feet) to replace it with the piano. Parents say it's more expensive than other toys they bought for their kids, but that it was worth it for years of service. Parents of more than one child in particular said that the center lasted through all the siblings, and then was passed down to younger friends and relatives.

Heads upYou can buy matching chairs for the table when the time comes.

Parents say"It's ages 4 months and up and DS loved it starting at 4 months. He's turning two tomorrow and still uses it as a table. DD will be 4 months at the end of April and we’ll convert it back to an activity center for her."

"It's a great 3 stage infant to toddler table. We started it at 4 months and my 20 month old now uses it as a table and chairs for coloring. I love long lasting baby products."

"Starting around 4/5 months we got the Skip Hop Explore and More 3-1 activity table and that has been amazing. DS loved being able to sit / spin in it and play with the clip on toys and it continues to grow with them. We bought the matching chairs when DS turned 15ish months and now he uses it to color and stuff."

"I think if you’re planning on having more than one- this was my favorite purchase. We just closed the seat off and are currently using the table so he can pull up on. He's still a little short but he's getting it."

Specs

The lumps and bumps on this ball encourage reaching, grasping, and moving the ball from one hand to the other. Meanwhile, the ball's bright colors and vivid patterns help your baby to focus and strengthen their vision. The ball's gentle rattling sounds can entice your baby to give it a shake, and parents say their babies love feeling the different textures on each nub: silky, bumpy, fuzzy.

Eggleston is a particular fan of incorporating balls into baby play: "Through ball play, children build hand-eye coordination, motor development, spatial awareness, and balance," she says. This ball is easy for babies to grab, and they love doing it.

Heads upThis toy is spot-clean, but can get a little grimy over time.

Parents say"I just bought my LO the Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball and she is hooked!"

"We use this every day for a minute since he was a month old, now he loves to hold it and touch it and bat it."

Specs

Most babies get their first tooth between 6 and 12 months of age. And though babies generally start to mouth things around 3 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents often mistake this for teething. Around 6 months, though, your baby is likely to be teething in earnest and craves something, anything to chew on. (Around this time, it's also good to start brushing any teeth that have erupted.) Maybe that's why babies are so crazy about this ear-of-corn teething toy, with smooth kernel bumps and sharper nubs on the end.

"Obsessed!" is a typical comment from BabyCenter Community members about this teether. They say the double-handle style makes it easy for babies to hold, and they chew away for hours happily. "My son's FAVORITE thing in the world is his corn teether," says one mom. Many say it does double duty as a toothbrush, too.

Heads upThis company makes teethers in other styles: a bunch of grapes, bananas. The banana or corn versions are the most popular.

Parents say"It is the perfect size for her to hold onto & get into her mouth."

"My dental hygienist recommended this combination toothbrush and teether."

Specs

This colorful set of BPA-free stacking cups ticks all the boxes of a great toy: simple, versatile, sturdy, and inexpensive. There are so many ways to play with these cups that parents say their babies keep using them into the toddler and even the preschool years. The cups nest into each other or stack into a tower to be knocked over: Parents say that babies are simply delighted to watch the tower get knocked down, and it often sets off baby giggles and excited kicks.

When your baby tires of stacking and sorting, these cups are fun for sand or water play, at a water table or just in the bath. Each cup has holes in the bottom that vary by size, shape, or number, so filling them and watching them empty is a sensory delight. This toy was a long-lasting favorite with my daughter, who at first liked to bang these cups together, then to nest them. When she was toddler, she liked standing at the bathroom sink giving her toys "baths" that involved her filling and dumping each cup.

Heads upEach cup has a number on the bottom to use for early math lessons.

Parents say"We love this brand. They stack together, easily go in the diaper bag, and are great at the beach and pool or in the sensory bin. They've got cutouts so they'll drizzle water which is fun."

"We just got these this past weekend and LO loves them. He actually started crawling to get to them. He also loves seeing the tower of cups be knocked down."

"We got the First Years Stack Up Cups. She hates the bath and cries until we bring the cups out. It's like flipping a switch, we can't get her out! Best $4 I've ever spent."

"At first she liked to chew on them and transferring them from one hand to the other, then she enjoyed knocking them over when I stacked them, then she was obsessed with putting items in and taking them out again, then stacking 2 or 3 and lately she's been obsessed with nesting them… she also loves them in the bathtub and will poor water the whole time she's in there, trying to transfer from one cup to another or observing how the water flows out (some have holes of various sizes)."

Specs

With their newly accurate grasp and growing strength, babies can rip up books with paper pages in no time. Not so with Indestructibles, though. These pretty and tough books are made with a nontoxic paperlike material that babies can't rip or chew through. You can even wash them in the dishwasher, and parents love that these books can take lots of abuse. Lohiser says that books are ideal for this age, because babies love pictures of people or animals, and enjoy exploring the book and turning the pages. Many parents love reading to their children, especially at night as a part of the bedtime routine, and say they were able to relax more easily knowing that their child could touch, grab, and mouth an Indestructibles book without destroying it.

Heads upThis and other Indestructibles books are also available in Spanish.

Parents say"We do really love Indestructible Books. They’re extremely durable and washable."

"Easier to clean than cloth books and more interesting so you can talk about the pictures as if you were reading a book (a lot of them don't have many words)."

"Indestructible books are wonderful, too. My toddler still 'reads' them. Bonus, they're waterproof so baby can chomp on them."

"Really loving these Indestructibles books. They’re paper books that can't be ripped or chewed up and are waterproof. LO loves to bite it and wave it around."

Specs

To help with your baby's sensory development, Lohiser suggests "toys or rattles that are easy to hold, have lots of textures to explore, have bright contrasting colors or mirrors for baby to look at." And Skip Hop's bandana buddies check many of those boxes.

Parents say this toy is like a best friend, with babies wanting to bring it in the stroller (there's a link attached so it easily connects) or anywhere they have to sit quietly. BabyCenter Community parents say they like to flip the tags on the fox's head, shake the toy to hear it jingle, and crinkle the feet. They also like to chew on the bandana around the fox's neck, which is removable and can be worn on your wrist so your baby can chew while you hold them. "Several textures and sounds with bright colors. What's not to like?" sums up one BabyCenter parent.

Heads upSkip Hop's Bandana Buddies comes in several different animal styles (the elephant has its followers), but most agree that this fox version is the one babies prefer.

Parents say"It's a bit of a bigger toy, but has lots of sensory things to keep him occupied!"

Specs

Parents love this simple, colorful, classic toy because there are so many ways to play with it. "The blocks are the perfect size to hold and chew. Some have textures and bright colors and can bang them together so they’re really working on all of the senses," Lohiser says. "The colorful shape blocks are so fun for fill-and-spill play and eventually with some help, baby can stack the blocks and knock them over or shape-sort them through the lid." Parents say that their babies change the way they play with these blocks over time, but that they're sturdy enough to last. They also say that the blocks make a nice clunking sound when banged together, and babies love to hear it repeated.

Heads upDon't expect your child to be able to sort the shapes for some months yet.

Parents say"This is my girl's favorite. She doesn't know how to put them in yet of course, but taking the lid on and off, playing with the bucket, and the little shapes are so easy for her to hold and clap together to make noise. She also can chew on them which makes it even better."

"This baby's first blocks toy has been one of my 7 month old's favorites! She doesn't put them in the bucket yet, but she’ll roll all over to get the blocks & loves to hit them together."

"My baby loves these, and they are perfect to use when he's sitting up (and great for when he's a little older and can match correct shapes)."

Specs

Bright colors and exciting music can stimulate the senses and encourage children to move and explore, says Eggleston, and this toy is simply aces at getting kids excited about sitting and then crawling. Stage 1 is for kiddos who aren't mobile yet: the bee rattles and wobbles, and has movable beads and rubberized details for teething. Stage 2 is for babies learning to crawl. The cloud moves in a circle, plays music, and has colorful lights to encourage your baby to follow it with her eyes and body.

And finally, stage 3 is for more advanced crawlers: The bee takes off in random patterns so that your baby will chase it and develop the coordination she needs to get up and walk. And boy do babies ever chase it, say parents, who are delighted at how this toy gets even reluctant kids moving, and entertains cranky babies who would otherwise fuss through tummy time.

Heads upCarpets or rugs may slow down or stop this toy's movement.

Parents say"We have this and it was the only thing that would motivate our little one to crawl! She loves it and gets a big smile when I bring it out of the toy box."

"My daughter loves this Skip Hop bee toy! And it's been a game changer for tummy time."

"We have this little bee toy that's on a cloud (made by skip hop) that my little girl loves! The bee roams around the room on the cloud and lights up and sings. It has two settings, either random movements or a circle. I like turning the circle mode on and letting my baby catch the bee when it passes (the bee comes off). She loves it and its good for hand eye coordination."

Specs

Favorite floaty toys make it ever so much easier to get babies into the tub. This brightly colored set of six plastic boats can be linked together to make a "boat train," and are numbered for counting and other number games. They also help your baby explore and experience filling and pouring: Scoop up water then turn upside down to it out through a variety of drainage-hole designs. Kids love the sweet smiling faces on the front of each boat, and the simple design and drainage holes means the boats are unlikely to end up harboring mold

BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist Sarah Darby says that her son has been playing with these boats for months. "When he was younger he loved to bang to boats together," she says. "Then he got better at stacking them and loves that, and they are (apparently) also great for teething because he loves to chew on them." Sarah also says they're the easiest bath toy to clean up after, and that they're "simple and so affordable, especially considering how long they hold up."

Heads upThis toy is sold in another version with five boats at retailers like Target.

Specs

Making the transition from a stationary creature to a person who can move at will is your baby's great passion right now, and toys that assist and can make the transition along with them will hold their interest longer. VTech's walker starts as a sit-and-play toy: Parents report that their babies are instantly attracted to all the activities on the front panel: spinners, buttons, a rainbow keyboard, a pretend phone to make pretend calls.

"I love that the toy isn't just bright lights and loud sounds," says Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director for BabyCenter. "There are a lot of other elements that babies enjoy, while also working on other skills. My daughter, for example, loved playing with the various spinners and gears. I could turn off the sound and she would still happily play with it."

Babies like to figure out just how to work each piece and then repeat the action over and over. Some like to play with the panel on the walker, but if your baby prefers, the front panel comes off and your baby can play with it on the floor. The next phase of fun with this toy begins when your child becomes mobile. Unlock the wheels and put them in one of two settings: harder to push for cruisers/beginning walkers, and a fast setting for more experienced movers. Parents say babies simply love pushing this walker around, and break out into big baby grins when they're able to get it moving. The walker helps support them as they move forward, which delights babies who just want to get moving.

Heads upSet the wheels on the slower, harder-to-push setting for cruisers and beginning walkers to reduce the chance for falls.

Parents say"Mine loves it. It is sturdy for us, and she pulls up on it and can push it in the slower setting across a room."

"We have the same one and love it. We do use it on carpet though and have the wheels on the harder to push setting."

Specs

Linkimals have only been around a few years, but have made a huge splash on the toy market. Younger babies like the interactive activities on the Hedgehog's back, say parents. They can press the light-up buttons to hear songs and phrases about numbers, colors, and shapes, or roll the spinner at the top to begin songs. Once they're newly mobile they can push or pull the hedgehog along, which prompts it to make more sounds ("Wheee! Let's roll!" it calls when toddlers pull it by the string).

But the true weird magic of Linkimals lies in their interactivity with other Linkimals toys: When they recognize that another Linkimals toy is nearby, they light up, make music, and all sing together. It's very interesting to babies, and possibly annoying to parents, but certainly they like watching how happy the Linkimals make their little ones.

Heads upBabies differ in which Linkimals they prefer: There are fans of the sloth, penguin, and llama, besides the hedgehog.

Parents say"My daughter has been enjoying the Linkimals. She has all 5 of them and she loves doing the ring stack with the llama linkimal."

"My girl loves her linkimals too. She rolls trying to get them."

"I have two different ones and I’m so amused by them!"

Specs

Babies simply love toys with moving parts, and at 9 months they are becoming increasingly interested in filling up containers and dumping them out. Let them practice to their heart's content with this bath toy that parents say will get years of use. The spout unit suction-cups to the side of your bathtub or wall, with the bottom end resting in the bath water.

Press the face on the front and out comes the water; kids like playing with the stream, and holding the three included cups up for filling before the water dribbles out the bottom. The blue cup has a spinner below it that's activated by water draining out. Babies who object to baths are happier when this toy comes out, say parents, and they'll sit happily playing with the cups and with the stream even while they're having their hair washed.

Heads upThe spout has a filter inside that Yookidoo recommends cleaning each time batteries are changed.

Parents say"It is seriously the best toy ever! He plays with it every single day (and has since Christmas) and I’ve only replaced the batteries once!"

"I spent some time teaching him how to pour and now that he has experienced being in control of pouring water, he's not so terrified when I pour water on him. Previously, he would have a meltdown even if I just poured a little on him. So I definitely recommend this toy or just texting the pouring skill to help with water anxiety."

Specs

Buying toys for your baby should be fun, not stressful. As long as you buy toys rated for babies the right age (every toy box will prominently display that age the toy is intended for) and pay attention to the safety warnings in the toy's instructions, you can buy and play with whatever attracts your interest, or your baby's.

Experts agree that as long as babies are getting several opportunities to play solo and interact with you each day, there's no need to be concerned about where, how, or how long you interact. "There's no right or wrong way to play," says Dr. Boucher. Give your baby several opportunities each day to entertain herself (she may be better at it than you think!) and carve out moments where you can actively get involved with her. "Just get down on the ground with your baby and allow play to unfold naturally," he says.

"Simple is key. Focus on simple items and allow baby to decide how they’re played with rather than showing her how it's done," Dr. Boucher says.

One final caution: Babies 6 to 9 months old are still exploring with their mouths, so steer clear of any toys with small pieces or those with batteries that can easily be taken out, say Dr. Meier and Dr. Boucher.

Here's what your baby is working on at each stage, and the toys they will probably enjoy.

By 6 months, Lohiser says babies are playful and interested in exploring: they also become mobile. From sitting up unassisted it's a short developmental step or two to scooting, rolling, rocking on hands and knees, and then crawling and pulling herself up to stand. (If you haven't already, now is a good time to childproof your house.) "They still need lots of floor time," Meier says. "Place interesting objects a little further from them and they will likely roll or army crawl or scoot towards it."

At 6 months, babies crave sensory input, so toys that offer stimulation to one or more of the senses are key: toys that make noise and provide an interesting visual; balls or stuffed animals that have different textures to explore. Toys that encourage stacking, chewing, and shaking are ideal, too. "Their fine motor skills are more developed and they are ready to use those fingers," says Lohiser.

Your baby may be deep into teething time, so whatever toy you get for your baby, expect it to be chewed on. "All toys will go in the mouth so take care that they aren't a choking hazard," Boucher says. Your baby is also developing object permanence, so will love any game where you hide a toy. Cover it up with a blanket, uncover it, and exclaim "There it is!" excitedly. Peek-a-boo is also a classic game for a 7-month-old.

As your baby's fine motor skills develop, they'll continue to love toys they can pore over with their hands, particularly those that have enchanting textures or parts that rattle, twirl, shake from side to side, or otherwise move around. "It's even more enticing when their actions make something happen, like a noise or movement," says Lohiser. "Once they figure it out, they like to repeat it over and over again.

Objects or toys that have specific functions, such as phones or remotes, are interesting to 8-month-olds, who are learning how objects work, as well as trying to do what you do. "Around 6 to 9 months babies become very social and observant. They watch everything and begin to imitate things they see, like blowing a kiss, waving, or clapping," says Lohiser.

The concept of "one into many" is another concept that 8-month-olds are grappling with right now. Toys that can be stacked or collected together are favorites: blocks, shape sorters, toys that fit together and can be knocked over. By 8 months, many babies are also fascinated with water: how it moves, what it does. Corinne Eggleston says the advantages of toys that work with water are many: "They build fine and gross motor skills as they fill, spill, dump, pour and squeeze water from a sponge," she says, as well as "science concepts like sinking and floating and early math related to volume (full, empty, half, less)."

At 9 months old, your baby may be getting the hang of the pincer grasp, the ability to pick up and manipulate small objects between his thumb and first finger. With that on board, he can use his hands with much more delicacy to manipulate objects around him, and pick them up and place them with greater precision.

"Toys that have objects or mechanisms to bang, insert, puzzle, poke, twist, squeeze, doors to open and shut, pieces to fill and spill, or pages to turn help strengthen fine motor skills," says Lohiser. "It's even more enticing when their actions make something happen, like a noise or movement. Once they figure it out, they like to repeat it over and over again."

Your baby also may be getting closer to walking, revving up with moves like crawling up stairs and cruising, holding on to furniture while navigating around the room on her feet. A baby this age may even take a couple of steps or walk (or some don't for months yet). You can encourage this new mobility with toys that let them walk supported, like rolling toys with a wide, stable base

Marygrace Taylor contributed to this story.

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AAP. 2022. American Academy of Pediatrics. "Baby's First Tooth: 7 Facts Parents Should Know." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Babys-First-Tooth-Facts-Parents-Should-Know.aspx [Accessed February 2023]