Image: MomJunction Design Team
Encourage your three-month-old’s curiosity and interests with the best toys for 3-month-old babies. Although a three-month-old may not understand everything, they learn from observing their surroundings. So, these toys can help them develop their mental and physical skills to reach their developmental milestones. They are made from safe, high-quality materials to ensure your child’s safety. However, choosing the right toy may be challenging with various available options. So, browse our list of best-selling toys to find one from a trusted brand that suits your requirements.
Top Picks
15 Best Toys For 3-Month-Old Babies
1. Best Easy-Grasp: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 47,155 reviews on Amazon, it's clear that many people love this product.
A hot favorite amongst parents, this musical toy aims to instill a love of music in your baby. At three months, babies start to reach for and grasp things. This toy is designed for easy grasping. This review and testing video gives you more information about this classic baby toy.
Pros
- Plays multiple melodies to keep the baby engaged
- Comes with a volume control
- Soft lights flash when music plays
- The caterpillar-style handle is easy to grasp and useful for teething
Cons
- Audio quality may not be promising
- Very few melodies
Did you know?2. Best Auditory Stimulating: Lamaze Freddie The Firefly
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 16,127 Amazon shoppers have left good reviews about this product, citing its quality features and benefits.
Babies enjoy playing with toys, like the Firefly from Lamaze, that produce sound. This parent-recommended toy can be hooked to your baby’s stroller or baby carrier, so your munchkin enjoys its rattling sound. It can also be handed to the baby. Moreover, this multipurpose toy features a baby-safe mirror to promote self-exploration.
Pros
- The clacking sound of rings stimulates auditory senses
- The crinkly wings and squeaker keep the baby engaged
- The ladybug teether helps soothe teething gums
- The easy-to-squeeze body supports early motor development
Cons
- A few parts of the toy may not be stitched firmly and tend to tear off easily
3. Best Machine-Washable: Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has earned its stripes, with over 43,553 reviews on Amazon.
This play gym has a multipurpose design and can be useful for a long time. It comes with a baby-safe mirror to encourage curiosity and self-discovery in the baby. The sensory learning toy comes with a tummy time mat and a tiny piano that the child can play with when they learn to sit.
Pros
- The play gym mat comes with a toy arch to help improve the baby’s gross motor skills of reaching, kicking, and pushing
- The detachable piano plays different types of music
- The keyboard keys light up when played
- The five-key piano enables your kid to create new tunes
- The music settings can also be changed to play learning content as the baby grows
- The play mat is machine-washable
Cons
- Setting up the play mat and piano can be difficult
- The mat is too small to allow the baby to roll easily
- The pre-loaded music may lack variety
4. Best For Teething: Lamaze Mortimer The Moose
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 7,415 reviews on Amazon, this product is a winner.
Clip this toy to the stroller or crib, or hand it to you little one. It crinkles, rattles, and squeaks to keep your baby engaged and is suitable for the soft gums of a three-month-old.
Pros
- The bright yellow antlers help soothe the baby’s teething gums
- The soft body makes it perfect for snuggling
- The squeaking tummy and rattling tail awaken the baby’s auditory senses
- The colorful body attracts attention and helps with easy and early color identification
Cons
- The fur can break off the moose, thereby becoming a choking hazard
- The horns seem to have sharp corners
Quick fact5. Best Moving Toy With Colorful Lights: Joyin Dancing Walking Yellow Duck Baby Toy
This bright yellow duck is the perfect example of a cause-and-effect toy, as it sings, moves, flashes colorful lights, and even dances with various push buttons to offer endless fun. It can distract your baby and make them want to chase the moving toy.
Pros
- The duck moving away from the baby encourages them to try and reach for it
- Songs help to develop listening skills
- Fun colors help enhance color recognition in children
Cons
- Toy lacks durability
"My little munchkin loved the music and dance of this toy. The lights can fail over prolonged use, but my youngest played with it for two years and still loves it. I even used this toy during their tummy time and love the entertainment value offered by it."
6. Best With Colorful Lights: Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 30,870 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.
Winner of the ‘Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award,’ this multi-colored loopy toy is a hit among tiny infants. Featuring a multi-sensory rattle surface, this expert-approved toy is designed to aid growth and development among kids aged three months to two years.
Pros
- The safe and soft loops help with teething
- Comes with a middle cube that rattles
- Helps strengthen the baby’s grasp
- The plastic loops are BPA-free
- Meets the CPSC, ASTM, EN71, and Health Canada safety standards
Cons
- Gaps in between the loops and square grow molds easily
- Plastic loops are likely to break and become choking hazards
- Cannot be sanitized
7. Best Textured: Sassy Ring O Links 9 Piece Set
Here is a colorful set of safety-tested teething links for infants. The multi-textured design makes it an ideal sensory exploration toy, and it is easy to grasp to help develop your baby’s motor skills.
Pros
- Brightly colored rings stimulate vision
- Promotes early brain development
Different textured rings for sensory development - The handle is easy to clutch
Cons
- The paint can rub off on excessive use
- May not be BPA-free
8. Best Space-Saving: Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat
Featuring a child-friendly shape, this floor seat and chair comes with head support so your little angel can sit upright and observe their surroundings. This seat features vibrant colors, making it attractive and fun. It is recommended for use on a plain surface for your child’s safety.
Pros
- The sturdy base enables the baby to sit safely
- The crinkly toys keep the baby engaged
- Folds flat for easy storage and transfer
- The seat is detachable and washable
Cons
- Bulky babies might get stuck in the seat
9. Best For Tactile Awareness: VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Moosical Beads
Baby cows are cute and snuggly. And a cow that plays music is all the more attractive for little kids. Let your child explore this multi-sensory toy, featuring versatile fabric textures to enhance their tactile development. Have a look at the sweet-looking and noisy cow.
Pros
- Variation in fabric texture helps improve the tactile awareness
- Soft body makes it ideal for cuddling
- Colorful and textured beads are easy to grasp
- Lights up with different attractive colors
- Plays different melodies, songs, and phrases
Cons
- Lacks volume control
- Toy does not sit up and tips over easily
10. Best For Tummy Time: Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station
When your baby turns three months old, they will start their tummy time. To encourage them to spend time on their tummy, you can get them this activity station. The engaging toy for newborns plays music and flashes bright lights in various colors.
Pros
- Engages kids to spend more time balancing on their tummy
- Improves listening skills
- Comes with three modes: animals, colors, and xylophone
Cons
- Buttons may be slightly hard for small babies to press
- Audio sound is pretty low
Quick tip11. Best Non-Toxic: Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
Infants have a tough time when teething. To soothe their sore gums, you can get them this clutching and teether toy. These teething keys come with a soft textured surface to help with teeth eruption.
Pros
- The PurIce technology soothes and gently cools gums
- Keys are available in different eye-catching colors
- Hard and soft texture of the teethers help strengthen new teeth
- Non-toxic and free of phthalates, PVC, and latex
Cons
- A few buyers complained about an unpleasant odor
- Toy cannot be sterilized
12. Best For Visual Development: Fisher-Price Rattle ‘n Rock Maracas
Here is a toy created to keep your kid busy and strengthen their motor skills. Its rattling sound encourages your baby girl or boy to keep shaking their arms, and the surface is soft for the baby’s palms, ensuring safety.
Pros
- Designed to promote grasping skills
- Soft colorful pom-poms help develop the visual sense
- The rattling beads help toddlers recognize sound and effect
- Available in a variety of colors
Cons
- Rattling sound may not be clearly audible
- Cleaning it may be difficult
13. Best Muscle-Strengthening Toy For Growth: Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water Mat
Tummy time can now become more enjoyable for your kid with this water play mat. Fill this mat with air and water and let your baby play with it while learning to balance on their tummy. It is an ideal hand-eye coordination toy for your baby.
Pros
- Made of premium quality PVC and is completely leak-proof
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Rectangular shape provides ample space for movement
- Helps prevent flat head
- Strengthens head, neck, and shoulder muscles
- Folds easily into your purse
Cons
- A few buyers complained about the mat having a strong chemical odor
- Difficult to fully dry it
14. Best Toy For Motor Skill Development: Bloobloomax Baby Rattles
If you are a fitness freak yourself, you may want a foolproof method to encourage your baby to develop their gross motor skills quickly. Try dressing up your tiny tot in these black and white striped socks and cuffs to see how they enjoy moving their hands and legs enthusiastically.
Pros
- Made of colorful and soft material
- Keeps the baby busy trying to move hands and legs
- Helps build the baby’s strength
Cons
- Socks come off easily
- Material used may be cheap
15. Best For Baby Strollers And Cribs: Infantino Spiral Activity Toy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 10,979 buyers on Amazon have said the product lives up to the hype.
It is a visual tracking toy with a string of four hanging toys for babies that can be attached to the baby’s stroller or crib. The click-clack sounds that the toys produce keep the baby engaged.
Pros
- Can be easily attached to car seat handles and strollers
- The brightly colored material is visually appealing for babies
- Promotes gross motor skills and visual tracking
- Supports exploration of different animal shapes
- BPA-free toy for baby
Cons
- May not uncoil easily and stays rigidly stuck in one spot
- Slips off easily from the spot
How To Choose The Best Toys For 3-Month-Old Babies?
Consider the following factors before buying the right toy for a three-month-old baby.
- Size: Consider the toy’s size to ensure it is suitable for your child. Make sure all are small, lightweight, and easy-grip toys that are easier for the child to hold and play with. However, ensure the toy doesn’t pose a choking hazard.
- Safety: Choose toys for babies made of safe materials and BPA-free plastics. Refrain from introducing toys with loose or detachable parts or small pieces to render them safe for the baby.
- Longevity: Ensure the toys last long, sustain wear and tear, and do not break easily. They should be durably built for rough use.
- Features: Choose baby toys that facilitate at least one developmental activity. Pick ones that support brain development, physical development, visual and auditory stimulation, early hand-eye coordination, and gum relief, to help your child reach developmental milestones. Ensure they are soothing toys and have bright colors, textured fabric, and gentle sounds to stimulate them.
, a mom, educator, play advocate, and developer of educational toys, says, “At three months, babies are alert and start to engage with you and even roll from side to side. Make sure the toy you choose stimulates their senses and grows with them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What toys are suitable for a three-month-old baby?
Babies around three months of age try to respond while you talk. They can now open and shut their fists. They can also hold toys that are placed in their hand (1). So, choose rattles, squish toys, cloth books, toys that produce lights and sounds, and toys that utter short words to encourage language development.
2. Do three-month-olds need toys?
Yes, at this age, your infant will try to hold objects placed in their hands. Toys can help develop their fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and hand-eye coordination and stimulate their senses.
3. How long can a three-month-old play alone?
Although they can play alone for a couple of minutes, your infant’s safety is more crucial than independent play. Babies of this age always need adult supervision.
4. When should I introduce toys to my baby?
For the first two months, your infant needs no toys as they would sleep all day. You can slowly introduce small toys such as a rattle, rings, cloth books, and musical toys that are easy to grasp after two months.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose specializes in writing about children’s products, toys, and gifts, having written hundreds of articles in this stream. Priti brings you this list of the best toys for three-month-old babies after comparing different products and going through their pros and cons. Their versatile designs, activities, and light and sound effects can stimulate your child, helping in their mental and physical development. She has also added a buying guide to help you choose the right product.
The Bottom Line
Many parents assume that their three-month-old cannot benefit from playing with toys, but this is untrue. Babies as young as two months can perceive color. Playing with toys such as Lamaze Mortimer The Moose and others on the list helps strengthen the bond between you and your precious little one. So, you may opt for tried-and-tested toys such as the Lamaze Freddie The Firefly or Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy with soft lights and melodic tunes to engage your child. When choosing the best toys for 3-month-old babies, ensure it is made of safe materials devoid of harsh chemicals. Also, make sure the edges are rounded and the toy does not have small parts that may pose a choking hazard.
Infographic: Tips For Selecting Toys For 3-Month-Old Babies
At three months, your baby will be more active and even try to grasp things and toys around them. Therefore, you must be careful when selecting toys for them. The infographic below includes some tips for picking appropriate toys for your baby.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Learning Play and Your 1-to 3-month-old
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/learn13m.html - Babies Need Tummy Time!
https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/safesleepbasics/tummytime
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