12 Perfect Toys to Foster Your Baby’s Development in the First 12 Months
8 minute read
Playtime is essential for your baby’s development.
In your little one’s first year of life, their brain will form new connections at an astounding rate: up to 1,000 every single second! They’ll do this by using their senses: putting their eyes, ears, nose, hands, and mouth to work through hours and hours of creative play.
That’s why playtime is so important!
In the words of Mr. Rogers… “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Today we want to fill up your toy chest with 12 toys that are perfect for the first 12 months with your baby. These toys will spark their imagination and foster their development so that they can discover the wonderful world around them — and reach that next milestone with ease.
All of these toys are parent favorites that are available today in the Babies in Bloom Boutique! Let’s dive in!
Best toy for newborns: Tummy time playmat
Photo of Wimmer-Ferguson 3-in-1 Triangle
Did you know that you can start tummy time with your little one as early as day 1? That’s why our favorite toy for newborns is a tummy time mat!
The Wimmer-Ferguson 3-in-1 Triangle is perfect for tummy time and will do wonders to help strengthen your little one’s neck and shoulders so your baby can start to sit up, crawl, and walk.
We love this playmat because it pretty much has it all…High contrast images, flaps, textures, crinkle paper, a mirror, and even teethers! You use it at home or even on the go — simply fold it into a small triangle to stash in the stroller or car.
Best toys for 1 month old: Books, books books!
Photo of Wimmer-Ferguson See & Say Book
It’s never too early to start reading to your little one! Books of all shapes, sizes, and textures will help stimulate your baby’s brain — encouraging them to look, point, touch, and answer questions.
Your new baby will love high-contrast images — like the Wimmer-Ferguson See & Say Book and Wimmer-Ferguson Nursery Novel — especially ones that have black, white and red as these are the primary colors that they see first as their eyes develop.
From tactile soft books perfect for play — like this adorable llama soft book and the Baby Stella Yoga Book — to board books that will help them learn their first words — like A Mermaid’s ABC’s or 100 First Words for Little Artists — to bedtime stories like Sleepy Not Sleepy… Books will help your baby begin the foundation of language skills — copying sounds, recognizing pictures, and learning words.
Best toys for 2 month old: Toys with texture and sound
Photo of Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Crinkle Sensory Toy
As your little one becomes more aware of their surroundings, they will be captivated by sensory toys that crinkle and make fun sounds! Simple toys like toy block rattles, Wimmer Ferguson Mind Shapes, and Mary Meyer Rattles will capture your baby’s interest!
But they’ll also love toys with intriguing textures like ridged ribbons, silky-soft fabrics, braided teethers, and vibrant, high-contrast shapes that will encourage your baby to look, touch, and listen.
Toys with hidden noise makers including rattles, squeakers, and crinkle paper will perk up your little one’s ears. Some of our favorites are the Baby Hoozit, the Cactus Garden Bloom + Bite toy, the Cherry Blossom Travel Cloud toy, and Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Crinkle Sensory Toys that come in many delightful animal shapes.
These lovable sensory toys often become well-used favorites that your baby will enjoy for months to come!
Best toys for 3 month old: Lightweight toys for reaching & grasping
As your baby gains control of their arms and hands, they’ll be looking for new toys to grab! Colorful, lightweight toys that have lots of fun shapes — like these cute Winkel Zoo Animals and engaging Skwish ball — make it easy for your baby to grasp and explore.
Toys with fun designs like the Atom Teether Toy encourage your baby’s fine and gross motor skill development while providing cognitive and visual stimulation. We love these types of toys because they often double as teethers and rattles which help your little one as they move through important developmental stages including grasping, tracking, mouthing, and throwing.
Pro-tip: Hanging toys that have a plastic C-clip — like this creative Space Gift Set — are great to attach to your baby’s floor gym, car-seat, and stroller for tons of fun at home and on the go!
Best toys for 4 month old: Teethers of all shapes and sizes
Photo of Macrame Rainbow Teether
While most babies won’t get their first teeth until around 6 months, their teeth start forming weeks, even months earlier! That’s why many babies start “teething” as early as 3 or 4 months.
We have SO many favorite teethers made from baby-friendly materials — like the Loulou LOLLIPOP Silicone Teether made from silicone, the Sugar + Maple Silicone + Beechwood Teether made from natural wood and silicone, and the Apple Park Crawling Teething Toy made from soft fabrics.
We especially love teethers that do double duty! Many wonderful teethers — like the Teether Cuddly Rainbow Round Activity Toy, the Mary Meyer Crinkle Teether, and the Chewable Charm Teether Stacker — are part soother, part activity toy!
Other teethers also double as toothbrushes like the Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Biter Teething Ball & Training Toothbrush or even training spoons like the A Busy Baby Teether & Training Spoon.
Best toys for 5 month old: Snuggly friends
Photo of Slumberkins Snugglers
As your little one starts to stay awake for longer periods of time, they’ll be looking for new ways to play! Soft, snuggly, Playdate Friends and other plushies and loveys are wonderful companions for your baby during this season of life.
We especially love Mary Meyer’s luxurious stuffies that will give endless snuggles — like the Mary Meyer Sweet Soothie Blanket, Mary Meyer Snuggy Nuggles and Mary Meyer Lovey.
Best toys for 6 month old: Music toys
Photo of Toniebox Playtime Puppy Starter Set
Babies around 6 months of age are taking in SO much from the world around them — especially new sounds! Toys that make music are an amazing way to stimulate your little one’s senses.
We absolutely love the Toniebox – a new audio system designed for little listeners. This is a toy that can grow with your little one for years to come. Simply turn it on, pop a Tonie on top and let the audio adventure begin!
This Playtime Puppy Tonie has several of your favorite children’s songs for playtime including Wheels on the Bus, If You’re Happy and You Know It, and Baby Shark! The opportunities for fun playtime are endless — all you have to do is pick your favorite Tonie!
Best toys for 7 month old: Cause & effect toys
As your baby begins to master moving their arms — and banging on everything in sight! — they’ll enjoy toys where they can see a cause-and-effect! Some of these toys may look so simple…but to your baby they are brilliantly fun, fascinating, and impossible to put down.
Toys like the Fat Brain Dimpl and Fat Brain Dimpl Duo encourage cause and effect learning and motor development. Plus they are the perfect sensory adventure your baby can take with them everywhere they go!
Your baby will also love toys they can wobble back and forth — like the Wobbly-Bobbly Bear and Fat Brain TubmleRoos — or pull back and watch them zoom across the room! These PullBack Rescuers are tiny, cute, and great for big fun.
Best toys for 8 month old: Stacking toys
By month 8, your baby will love to experiment with stacking their favorite toys on top of each other! To encourage their imaginative play, you can’t go wrong with the classics — like Baby’s First Wood Basic Blocks or a Magnetic Wood Stacker.
But we also love stacking toys that have a bit of whimsy that will inspire your little one’s creativity. Some of our favorites are the soft toy Cactus Garden and Wee Gallery Bamboo Nesting Animals.
Fat Brain Toys have some unique stackers that will encourage your baby to stack the unique shapes into any configuration they can imagine! We love their Fat Brain Spoolz, Fat Brain OombeeBall, and Fat Brain Tobbles Neo.
Best toys for 9 month old: Puzzles
Photo of Colour Me Happy Puzzle
A great way to have fun with your 9 month old and stimulate their senses is to start introducing puzzles!
Your little one will love chewing on the pieces, banging them together, and with a little help…starting to figure out how to put the pieces in their rightful spots! Puzzles are also a great way to encourage your baby to recognize numbers, colors and shapes through play.
From puzzles that are personalized with your baby’s name, to those that have fun animal friends and your baby’s favorite shapes… Your little one will be dazzled by these fun puzzles for hours!
Best toys for 10 month old: Stacking toys for “putting on” and “taking off”
Photo of Boom Shock-a-Locka Stacker
By 10 months, it’s time to take stacking to the next level! Your baby will love practicing “putting on” and “taking off” their toys from a central pole. We love the Boom Shock-a-Locka and the Fat Brain SpinAgain stackers for encouraging motor skill development, problem solving and spatial perception.
Your baby will also be interested in taking their stacking to new heights with simple blocks — like BeginAgain U Build It Basic Blocks and the Three Hearts LE Heart Stacker Sets — where they can experiment with endless configurations of their favorite shapes.
Best toys for 11 month old: Sorting toys for “putting in” and “taking out”
Photo of Snack Stack Sorting Box
As your baby nears their one year birthday…simple putting in and taking out activities will keep your little one busy, learning, and growing! That’s why we love toys that foster your baby’s ability to explore different shapes!
Try out a classic shape sorter like the Snack Stack Sorting Box or you may like an innovative shape-sorting box like the Fat Brain InnyBin or Fat Brain Roll Again Sorter to spark your baby’s curiosity. With these toys, your baby can’t help but explore, experiment, and discover!
Best toys for 12 month old: Playtime friends
Celebrating your baby’s first birthday is such an exciting milestone! You want to give your little one the perfect toy that they will enjoy for the months to come…That’s why we love playtime friends that can inspire imaginative play! These types of toys will delight your baby’s senses and encourage hours of musical exploration, motor development and cause and effect learning.
And the best part? You can get imaginative plushies and play sets that foster your baby’s interests!
Does your little one have a nurturing spirit? They will love having their very own “baby” doll to take care of!
Does your baby’s eyes light up when they get to pet a new furry friend? They’ll go crazy for an animal-theme set!
From pirates to coastal creatures… There are so many ways to foster FUN…and your little one’s development!
For more fun toy ideas that will spark your baby’s imagination and provide hours of sensory play…Check out the Babies in Bloom Boutique for our favorite recommendations for any age and stage!
