Baby Toys For Your Little One’s First Year
Welcome to our insightful guide on baby toys for your little one's first year! Join us as we get stuck into a few important FAQs and share some of the best baby toys for 0-12 month olds.
Baby Toys: Your Questions Answered
Learn when to introduce baby toys, explore the benefits, and discover how many toys a baby should have, as we answer your most frequently asked questions.
When should I introduce toys to my newborn?
You can introduce toys to your newborn as early as the first few weeks of their life. Initially, opt for soft, high-contrast toys like plush animals or black-and-white cloth books to captivate their developing vision. Around 1-3 months, you can introduce rattles to stimulate your baby’s auditory and visual senses. By 3-6 months, teething toys become beneficial, and from 6 months plus, activity centres, baby walkers, and stacking toys will help to enhance their motor skills and sensory exploration.
Why are baby toys good for babies?
Baby toys are essential for your child’s development. They stimulate the senses, boost motor skills, and encourage cognitive growth. Toys like rattles and teethers help with grasping and coordination, while sensory toys and musical instruments enhance auditory and visual perception. Engaging with toys also helps babies explore their environment and develop social skills.
How many toys should a baby have?
It can be tempting to shower your little bundle of joy with lots of toys and gifts, but research shows that quality over quantity is key here. A carefully selected range of 4-12 diverse toys that cater to a baby’s developmental stage is ideal for fostering growth and learning, ensuring each toy provides unique benefits without becoming too overwhelming.
Do babies get tired of toys?
Yes, babies can get tired of toys, especially if they are overexposed to the same ones. To keep your baby interested, try rotating their toys every few weeks. Introducing new toys gradually can keep your baby engaged and curious without overwhelming them.
Baby Toys 0-6 Months
In the first six months, babies are just beginning to explore the world around them. The best toys for this age group are those that stimulate their senses and encourage early motor skills, such as baby rattles, teething toys, soft toys, sensory toys, and musical instruments.
Here are our top picks:
Baby Rattle
Silicone Rattle - Bunny: Soft and squishy, this silicone rattle features small holes in the bunny’s tummy so tiny hands can easily grasp and shake to hear the gentle rattle sound.
Wooden Rattle - Fox: Comfort and entertain your baby with this cute Wooden Fox Rattle, featuring two beads for sensory stimulation and a chunky handle for easy gripping.
Rainbow Roll Rattle: Tots can grasp hold of the colourful columns and listen to the tinkling sound of the bell as they shake, rattle, and roll this vibrant wooden rattle!
Baby Teething Toys
Silicone Teether - Koala: Soothe your baby's teething discomfort with this easy-to-grip teething ring, crafted from food-grade silicone so little mouths can safely chew and chomp!
Activity Balls: Relieve sore gums with this set of 2 silicone Activity Balls, offering a satisfying chew and a chance to develop babies’ dexterity as they hold, squish, and roll the balls.
Baby Soft Toys
Kira Doll: Kira is ready to meet her new BFF! At just 28cm tall, this soft and snuggly ragdoll is a perfect first companion for young ones.
Dreamy Dog Plush: Cosy up to this cuddly pup! Sized for small hands, Dreamy Dog is irresistibly soft and gentle on baby’s skin.
Jacob Doll: If you’d prefer a boy doll for your squish, Jacob is an excellent choice with his friendly face, curly locks, and cool summer outfit. 28cm tall.
Baby Sensory Toys
Silicone Sensory Cubes: Tempt your teeny one to explore new textures with this set of 3 tactile Sensory Cubes, featuring a different pattern on each face.
Bath Animals: Join panda, owl, rabbit, and cat for a splash in the tub! These 4 silicone animals are made with small holes in the top for squirting out water and a removable base for easy cleaning.
Sensory Spinner Toys: Give this trio of Aussie wildlife a spin! Each one comes with a 2, 3, or 4-paddle spinner and a strong suction cup for attaching to the bath, car windows, or high chair.
Musical Toys For Babies
Baby Maracas: A fantastic early introduction to sound, rhythm, and creativity, these wooden maracas feature a vivid star print pattern and a chunky handle for little hands to hold onto.
Rainmaker Toy: Teach your tot how to turn their wooden rainmaker and listen to the colourful beads cascade down the tube as it recreates the soothing sound of rainfall.
Hand Bells: Delight musical munchkins with this set of 2 Hand Bells, designed to stimulate babies’ auditory development and fine motor skills.
Baby Toys 6-12 Months
As your baby grows, they’ll become more active and curious, so look for toys that nurture their exploration, coordination, and problem-solving skills. Baby walkers, stacking toys, shape sorters, push-alongs, and puzzles are all fabulous choices for 6 to 12-month-olds.
Here are our top picks:
Baby Stacking Toys
Moon Balance Stacker: Kiddies can practise stacking the silicone moons and stars onto the large wooden moon, making as many creative shapes as they like.
Stacking Cat: Purr-fect for pocket-sized pet fans, our Silicone Stacking Cat features 6 stacking rings and a cute cat face which slots on top of the tower.
Stacking Cups: Stack and tumble play meets bathtub fun! This 2-in-1 toy comes with 7 silicone cups, each with patterned holes on the base so water can trickle through them.
Push & Pull Along Toys
Push Along T-Rex: Motivate your mini-me to take their first steps with this terrific T-Rex. Simply push and pull the wooden pole and watch as the dinosaur’s feet flap on the floor!
Push Along Hedgehog: Use the chunky wooden handle to show this happy hedgehog around! The mini abacus inside its tummy adds an extra interactive element to playtime.
Pull Along Bear: Go on an adventure around the playroom with our wooden Pull Along Bear, featuring soft felt ears and a safe and robust pull cord.
Baby Puzzles
Touch & Feel Farm Puzzle: Lift the 4 wooden animal pieces to reveal different textures underneath, from a woolly lamb to a fuzzy duck!
Seal Chunky Puzzle: Piece together this adorable Arctic animal puzzle, crafted with 4 large pieces that make up a sweet seal picture when connected inside the base.
Dinosaur Cube Puzzle: Build 6 roarsome pictures with this wooden Dinosaur Puzzle, turning the cubes around to find the correct sides for each image.
Baby Walker
Brick Cart Baby Walker: Perfect for babies who are just finding their feet, our Simply Scandi baby walker features a sturdy wooden frame and handlebar, as well as 24 wooden bricks for stacking and sorting fun.
Activity Walker: Bursting with exciting activities, this baby walker features shape sorter slots, a flippable mirror, spinning cogs, colourful beads, and more!
ABC Baby Walker: When it’s time to take a break from strolling, this durable wooden baby walker comes with 24 alphabet/number blocks ideal for early letter and number recognition.
Baby Shape Sorter
Red Bus Sorter: Drive animals around town in this shape sorting bus! Post the animals through the correct slots and switch the passengers on the bottom deck using the window slider.
Wooden Shape Sorter: A classic shape sorter with a stylish wooden design. Simply push the coloured shapes into the corresponding slots on each side of the cube and watch them drop into the middle.
Shooting Star Sorter: Sort the 5 silicone stars into the wooden tray, stack them up high, or bring them along to bathtime! Each star is designed with small holes in the base to create a waterfall effect in the tub.