
The life of a baby: Eat, sleep, poop, play, repeat. Honestly? Sounds like a dream. While you can truly never have enough onesies and zip-up jammies, toys and developmental aids make great gifts for families with newborns and infants less than a year old. Babies move through toys and gear so fast at this age, and parents and caregivers really need all the help they can get!
And toys for babies are about so much more than just fun (although fun will be had by all, I promise!). Toys help engage babies’ senses from birth, help develop motor skills, and even encourage them to strengthen muscles and encourage movement. Toys that evolve right along with kids are some of the most sought-after items by parents, since you’ll get more use out of them.
If you have a baby on your holiday shopping list, we’ve compiled a list of new-parent-approved toys and playthings that will be an instant hit. See them all below, and check out our full holiday gift guide for more top toy picks!
INNYBIN

The Innybin comes with six different shapes, including a cube, a triangle, a sphere, a flower, a diamond, and the Fat Brain Toys logo. Each shape features a different texture and color for kids to explore. Kids can push the shapes through the elastic bands to watch them fall into the Innybin, then practice removing them as well. This toy is great to keep babies entertained while practicing fine motor skill development, color recognition, and more.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 18 months+
- Manufacturer: Fat Brain Toys
- MSRP: $25.95
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WOODEN MULTI-STAGE SENSORY SET

This set of five toys is designed to provide babies and toddlers with unique sensory experiences. The set includes a beads teether that can relieve teething pain, a fish rattle babies can shake, a rolling rattle perfect for floorplay, a dog on wheels that baby can push along, and a stay-put octopus rattler that suctions to smooth surfaces, like a high chair. These wooden toys feature a natural wood, blue, and pink color palette and are small enough to easily take on-the-go.
PORTAPLAY STAGE-BASED ACTIVITY CENTER

The geniuses at Oribel are basically masters of grow-with-me toys and products. Kids can use this activity center from when they are babies until they start school. The monster-themed play space has a swivel seat in the center to place babies so they can interact with all of the surrounding toys, then remove the seat as they get older and use the included cover to turn the activity center into a table. The table has multiple height adjustments, and includes two stools for when kids get older. It features five locations for the included toys, which parents can switch in and out in a snap. As kids grow, there are constantly new sensory activities for them to experience and toys to play with!
TINKLE CRINKLE & FRIENDS ACTIVITY GYM

This tummy time set has lots of tactile experiences for little ones. Parents and caregivers can use the fluffy cloud pillow to prop up their little ones and capture their attention with the sun mirror. It also comes complete with hanging plush toys, including a bunny, a birdie, and a hedgehog. Featuring the super soft plush GUND is known for, this mat is ultra comfy, soft, and warm for even the littlest of babies. It provides a really unique tactile experience, while remaining fully washable and easy to clean. It also makes a great place for milestone photos. The criss-cross toy bars feature subtle loops caregivers can use to hang toys, so babies can also stay entertained while laying on their backs.
PROP-A-PILLAR TUMMY TIME AND SEATED SUPPORT

Adults can stack the caterpillar pieces to give baby a comfortable, supported place to sit, or separate them for a tummy time session. The Prop-a-Pillar is a versatile aid that helps strengthen babies' neck and back muscles as they learn to adapt to new positions. It comes complete with a removable teether and a crinkle toy. As an added bonus, it couldn't be more adorable.
BITZY BUSY RING TEETHING ACTIVITY TOY

Once babies start to teethe, pretty much everything is likely to end up in their mouths! Teething toys are perfect for helping soothe those little babes, and Itzy Ritzy's collection of teething toys is nothing short of perfect. This braided teething ring comes with four different charms for babies to interact with. The gender-neutral color palette gives a boho-chic vibe, and the varied textures and materials on each adorable ring give babies different things to explore with their hands and mouths.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Itzy Ritzy
- MSRP: $12.99
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SILVER LINING CLOUD BABY’S VIEW 3-STAGE ACTIVITY CENTER

This three-in-one activity center is a go-to favorite for so many families. It features a 360-degree rotating seat along with a jump pad for smooth and easy bouncing. The light-up piano fits on the top of the activity center or can clip to the jump pad, and the unique discovery window gives little ones a clear view of their feet as they play the piano with their toes. The four included toys can be rearranged for customized play thanks to the easy-on-and-off clips. As baby grows, the activity center converts to let baby cruise around it and engage with all the playthings. At stage three, it transforms into a sturdy toddler table with a plastic chalkboard surface.
THE PLAY GYM

A solid play gym is an absolute must for a new baby. It provides a safe, comfortable place for baby to play, engage with toys, and even practice tummy time, which helps strengthen their neck and back muscles. Lovevery has genuinely perfected the play gym. The gym features five developmental zones with different activities that foster exploration and growth. Every toy and feature is thoughtfully designed to help babies master different skills and hit developmental milestones. It comes complete with teething rings, black and white high-contrast cards, a set of mirror cards, a wooden batting ring, and an organic cotton high-contrast ball. Every single piece is made from baby-safe, high-quality materials. Plus, parents will love the set of common objects cards to introduce baby to everyday things, face cards that help with social-emotional development, and play guide that helps you figure out how to use each toy and activity in the most effective way. The gym even grows with baby and can double as a fort for when they turn into active toddlers!
CLASSIC BABY BEADS

Older kids love fidget toys, and babies do, too! These colorful wooden beads are strung together on elastic and can be made into all sorts of shapes. The beads give babies a tactile and auditory experience as they play. They are light enough for older babies to hold with two hands, and chunky and safe for newborns to explore.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Manhattan Toy
MONTI KIDS MUSIC APPRECIATION KIT

This set includes five high-quality, wooden instruments, including sound cylinders, a drum, a glockenspiel, a harmonica, and a tambourine. Parents can learn how to help little ones use the instruments through online educational videos, sing-a-longs, songs, and more. Designed for babies who are a bit older, this beautiful musical set boasts natural textures and each piece introduces kids to different sounds. These instruments will easily become keepsake items families never want to part with.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 19MOS+
- Manufacturer: Monti Kids
- MSRP: $125
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3-IN-1 EVOLVE BOUNCER

This bouncer, lounger, and toddler seat combo can adapt to babies and kids from birth up to 30 pounds. Parents and caregivers can use the super simple step pedal to adjust between the three different incline settings (extremely helpful to not need to use two hands when you probably have a baby in your arms). The bouncer lays flat for easy transportation and is lightweight enough to quickly move between rooms. The cover is machine-washable and breathable, and the frame is super sturdy. Parents will also love that it comes included with the newborn insert, which cradles and supports baby comfortably from birth and helps prevents flat head syndrome. The easy-clip harness is another incredible feature of this bouncer, making life just a little bit easier for new parents.
ANIMAL RATTLE SET

This set of 10 rattles is great for babies who are developing their fine motor skills, touch, and hearing. From porcupine to peacock, babies will love shaking these animal-themed rattles all day, and parents will love how many they get. The plastic exterior makes them super easy to clean, and they are perfect for helping baby identify different animals and colors.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: iPlay, iLearn
- MSRP: $23.99
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LOVELIGHT BUDDIES

Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: CLOUD B
- MSRP: $49.99
CUSHY MAT REGULAR

Tummy time is more comfortable than ever with Bub Mats. The Cushy Mat gives babies and toddlers a comfortable area to explore and move around. The mat also comes with a waterproof cotton cover for easy cleaning. The mat provides a nice amount of padding, especially great for when baby starts to sit up (but may still run the risk of toppling over), and when learning to crawl. The Cushy Mat also folds up for easy storage, and provides a large play area for older babies.
BRIGHT STARTS BOUNCE BOUNCE BABY 2-IN-1 ACTIVITY JUMPER

This Playful Pond-themed activity jumper turns into a play table with toy storage as your baby grows! With a three-position, height-adjustable bouncy pad and seven interactive activities to play with, babies and toddlers can engage in lots of sensory fun! The bouncy pad offers great support for shorter babies, and the jumper itself provides the perfect place for exercising and practicing motor skills. The bright, gender-neutral color palette is perfect for any little one. It also features lights and sound effects, plus baby must-haves, including a mirror.
FISHER-PRICE 2-SIDED STEADY SPEED WALKER

Babies start to pull themselves up and take their first steps at all different ages, and toys can be a fun way to help them unlock these achievements! This car-themed baby walker helps babies take their first steps, but it's also a load of fun. With different activities on both sides of the walker, like alphabet and number buttons or shape sorting opportunities, kids will be using the walker all day whether they are sitting or moving.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 6 months+
- Manufacturer: Mattel
- MSRP: $34.99
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BABY EINSTEIN CONNECTABLES

Kids2 has given traditional building blocks a makeover! Baby Einstein Connectables stick together when babies build with them thanks to magnets hidden inside the blocks. Each set includes number and letter blocks as well as characters and special building shapes. The blocks click when babies put them together, plus babies can shake and twist them for more engaging sounds. They are big and chunky, which is perfect for little hands, and they will easily engage little ones from ages 0 to 5.
WIMMER FERGUSON MIND CUBES

Perfect for newborns and baby's first set of toys, these soft cubes feature ribbons, numbers, letters, shapes, and patterns in research-proven high-contrast graphics. It takes a few months for babies to be able to see colors and intricate details, so these cubes allow them to stay visually stimulated while working on their vision. They are super soft, and each six-sided cube reveals something different, giving them lots of variety during playtime.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Manhattan Toy
- MSRP: $26
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FISHER-PRICE LAUGH & LEARN 4-IN-1 GAME EXPERIENCE

INGENUITY SPROUT SPOT BABY MILESTONE PLAY MAT

One product, multiple functions — a new parents' dream! This super soft play mat doubles as a photoshoot backdrop as parents document their baby's first year! The mat includes 12 month-marker cards and a dry-erase board for Instagram-worrthy photos. When your photoshoot ends, it's playtime with five detachable toys: a tummy time elephant pillow, a mirror, a wooden ring, a silicone toy, and sensory tags.
BABY ANIMAL COLLECTOR’S KIT

Cuddle + Kind makes heirloom-quality plush that will undoubtedly become something families hold onto for years. The Baby Animal Collection features 13 different miniature-sized hand-knit plush, including a fawn, a koala, a polar bear, an elephant, a lion, and more. Each baby animal is handcrafted from natural Peruvian cotton yarn, with carefully considered details. The Collector's Kit box includes a choice of any three baby animals, and provides 15 meals to children in need in North America and around the world.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Cuddle + Kind
- MSRP: $102
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CRAWLIGATOR

Infants can lay on the padded surface that promotes tummy time and encourages natural crawling movement. The alligator-shaped toy features caster wheels designed to move on a hard floor surface. Holds up to 30 pounds and comes in five colors.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 4 MOS+
- Manufacturer: KIDDY CRAWLER
- MSRP: $73.49
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BITZY BESPOKE RITZY ACTIVITY GYM

Some parents would rather not clutter up their home with dozens of super bright toys, and Itzy Ritzy has the solution for such families. This play mat has a clean pine frame that makes playtime aesthetically pleasing. It features soft cotton ribbons for attaching toys to the top to stimulate babies when they are on their backs, along with a beautiful, muted rainbow design on the mat itself. The koala, panda, and bunny toys are made of natural cotton, just like the mat. The toys also include rattles, crinkle textures, and teething rings for the ultimate play experience. Sometimes, simple is best for babies and parents!
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Itzy Ritzy
- MSRP: $119.99
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BUSY BOARD MIRROR & SENSORY DISCOVERY TOY

This double-sided toy is super soft, folds flat for easy storage, and is packed with sensory experiences to engage baby during playtime. The black-and-white flaps introduce baby to different animals while enhancing fine motor skills. There's nothing babies love more than staring at themselves in a mirror, and the easy-to-spin gears beneath the mirror will keep their hands busy, too. The combination of high-contrast, black-and-white designs with colorful ones ensures this toy will really grow with babies.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 0+
- Manufacturer: Infantino
- MSRP: $16.99
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MY PAL SCOUT SMARTY PAWS

FISHER-PRICE DJ BOUNCIN’ BEATS

Fast Facts
- Ages: 9 MOS+
- Manufacturer: MATTEL
- MSRP: $44.99
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LITTLE SCOOPS PLUSH

This ultra high-quality plush toy comes in three forms: unicorn, bunny, and elephant. Each 18-inch-tall plush is perfect for squeezing and cuddling, and makes a great keepsake as babies grow. With no hard details and satin embelishments, they are super soft all around, making a perfect first plush friend for little ones.
KICK & SCORE PLAYGYM

SURPRISE GIFT BOX

This cloth-wrapped wooden box with peek-a-boo mirror in the bottom and presents to “wrap” and “unwrap” is a fun way for toddlers to discover textures and sounds. Includes a wooden box, a plush toy bear, a squeezable fuzzy ball with a chime, a multi-textured crinkle cloth, and a happy-bear cloth book.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 6 MOS+
- Manufacturer: MELISSA & DOUG
- MSRP: $27.99
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MUSHIE BABY RAINBOW STACKER TOY

This stacking toy helps babies and toddlers develop fine motor skills and work on sorting by size. The super lightweight, hollow pieces are perfect for tiny hands. Available in three muted color palettes with a chic, simple design, it makes a perfect piece of nursery decor when playtime is over.
Fast Facts
- Ages: 1+
- Manufacturer: Mushie & Co.
- MSRP: $15.99
FOX IN A BOX

Fast Facts
- Ages: 1+
- Manufacturer: SPIN MASTER
- MSRP: $45.00
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LAMAZE SOOTHING HEART PANDA

Fast Facts
- Ages: 9 MOS+
- Manufacturer: TOMY
- MSRP: $27.99
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Marissa Silva