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As a parent, you might be looking forward to pampering your child with some soft, cuddly, or educational toys. So, we have compiled a list of the best toys for babies to help you choose the right one. Children need stimulating toys from a young age to help them reach their developmental goals. Age-specific toys from trusted baby toy brands will help improve your child’s cognitive, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. They can keep your baby engaged for hours without fuss or hassle. These toys are safe for children without sharp edges or harmful chemicals and have various sounds and colors for audio-visual stimulation.
However, choosing the right toy may be challenging, with various options available. So, take a look at the toys listed below and their features to choose one that suits your requirements.
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Here are some of the best toys that you can get for your newborn as well as for your baby:
1. MeeMee Bath Toys Set Of 10 Toys:
- The MeeMee bath toy set comes with a collection of animal toys such as ducks, fish, tortoise, penguin and more.
- The various toys in the set are of different colors and shapes and sizes.
- The colorful infant toys will encourage your baby’s visual stimulation as well as interest your baby to grasp them, thus helping improve their fine motor skills..
- The products of this baby toy brand are made using non-toxic material and will be most useful from age six months onwards.
2. Chicco The 3 Little Pigs Musical Cot Toy:
- The 3 Little Pigs Musical Cot Toy from the brand Chicco is the perfect and best toys for infants.
- It has a ring attached to the bottom of the toy that you have to pull to start the musical melodies that will help your newborn fall off to sleep with sweet lullabies.
- As the music begins, the heart present inside the toy will start rotating.
- The toy is made of good quality and durable plastic and is very colorful.
- It will encourage your newborn’s visual stimulation as well as interest your baby into music.
Quick FactMobiles or toys with strings or ribbons longer than seven inches should not be hung above the crib, as they pose the risk of strangulation for babies (2).
3. Babyhug Twist N Fold Move N Play Activity Gym Lion:
- The Twist and fold Move and Play activity gym can be used from the time your newborn is three months old.
- A product of one of the best baby toy brands, it is a combination of a mat that will let your newborn relax and will grow in activities as your newborn grows up, turning into a play area.
- The mat is very soft and comfortable and will keep your baby protected.
- It is easy to maintain and you can clean it by wiping it with a cloth.
- You can use the activity gym till the time your baby learns to crawl, as then your baby will move out of the gym.
- It comes with three soft toys that are attached to it and also includes a rattle and one apple shaped teether.
4. Best For Easy Grip:The First Years My First Rattle
- The circular rattle is specially designed to be held by little hands.
- A soft cushioned fabric covers the central rattle ring. It is helpful in cases where the infants drop the rattle on themselves.
- There are several teething surfaces on the toy for the baby to gnaw.
- High contrast colors and pattern draw the baby’s attention and also help in object tracking.
5. Chicco Bubble Island Bath Toy:
- The Chicco Bubble Island Bath Toy is a fun toy that your baby can use in the bath, either in a bath tub or in a bucket.
- It comes with a lot of manual activities that will keep your baby entertained and will help your baby develop various motor skills.
- The Bath Toy has a little chute through which the two little fish can slide down. It also has a water mill that helps to create various effects in the water.
- Your baby will get the chance to press the octopus that is a part of the bath toy and start the magic soap bubbles that will come out of a volcano.
- The bath toy is made in bright and vibrant colors that will also enhance your baby’s visual stimulation.
- The toy is perfect from the age of six months and above.
Do rememberDry the bath toys after each bath to prevent mold growth on them. Shake them off well and set them aside to air dry overnight before using them again.
6. Fab N Funky Press And Spin Toy Teddy:
- The Fab N Funky Press and Spin Toy Teddy is a wonderful product from one of the most popular baby toy brands that will teach your baby all about the relation between cause and effect.
- It has a host of different animal characters who are all very vibrant. Use these interactive toys to teach your baby about animals.
- You can also use the toy to teach your baby about colors and shapes.
- Once your baby presses the bar at the top, the toy will begin to spin.
- You can use it from the time your newborn is three months old.
"These sturdy bathbooks made my little one's bathing time fun and exciting. These books also helped me introduce her to numbers, the alphabet, and other objects. Yes, they're a bit tinier than expected, but their size suits their tiny hands just well. Plus, they dry easily, keeping mold at bay. All in all, they add educational fun to bath time."
7. MeeMee Battery Operated 3 In 1 Fun Activity Gym:
- The Battery Operated 3 In 1 Fun Activity Gym from the brand MeeMeewill help your newborn get down on the floor and try to kick and crawl.
- The activity gym has a lot of colorful cartoon characters that will provide a lot of visual stimulation to your newborn.
- You can also place it over your newborn’s crib so that your little one can easily play with the same before reaching the crawling stage.
- The activity gym also has a lot of different sounds and musical notes from various musical instruments that will help your infant identify different sounds.
- Some of the musical instruments that are featured in the toy include an accordion, a harp, a xylophone and maracas.
- As your newborn grows to the baby phase, they will also love to sing and clap along.
- The activity gym can be used from the time your newborn is about three months old.
8. Tiny Love Tiny Smarts Jittering Giraffe Attachable Soft Toy:
- The Tiny Smarts Jittering Giraffe Attachable Soft Toy from the baby toy brand Tiny Love can be used from the time your newborn is zero months old.
- During the initial stages as a newborn, you can attach the toy to your newborn’s activity gym or even to a cot mobile. It will encourage your newborn to reach out and try and touch it.
- As your newborn grows older and reaches the baby phase, you can attach it to your baby’s stroller and let your baby play with it on the go.
- The newborn toy is suitable for use by infants aged 0 to 12 months.
- Once your baby tugs at the giraffe, it will make a jittery movement and will make a type of sound that will interest your baby.
- It is a soft toy that your baby will be able to grasp easily.
- It has various textures that will help to improve your baby’s sensory development.
9. Best Machine Washable:Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym
- The mat is huge and allows the baby to lie down comfortably. The vivid colors keep the baby entertained.
- There are more than ten toys and activities across the baby gym.
- An audio module plays nature sounds and music with up to 20 minutes of playback.
- Several cognitive toys including dangling toys, soft toys, rattling toys with teether, and a mirror are attached to the bar of the gym to stimulate the infant’s visual perception skills.
- Some of the toddler toys are removable and can be used separately.
"I gifted this lovely playmat to my cousin for her baby shower. My cousin loves it, and the baby seems utterly captivated by the music, lights, and assortment of sensory toys. It also helped with taking monthly photos of the little one. It's a delightful addition to any nursery!"
10. Best Hand Coordination:Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack
- The stacking toy is a great way to introduce your baby to the concept of colors and basic numbers.
- Teach your baby to hold the rings, identify colors and put them back in the pole. This helps develop their motor as well as sensory skills.
- The toy is non-toxic and does not have any sharp edges.
- This sensory toy is suitable for babies aged six months and above.
11. Chicco Soft Ball Toy:
- The Soft Ball Toy from the baby toy brand Chicco is made with very soft materials that make it a perfect play companion for your little one.
- It is very light weight and will be easy for your newborn and baby to grasp.
- As your baby shakes the ball, it will make different rattle sounds that will also keep your baby entertained.
- It will improve your baby’s grasping skills and will also enhance various motor skills, in addition to improving your baby’s sensory skills as well.
- The soft ball toy can be used once your newborn is three months old.
12. Best Visual Ability:BAOLI Baby Musical Sleepy Lullaby TV Toy
- This TV toy comes with moving pictures that engage the baby’s attention and sharpen their visual abilities.
- The screen scrolls in harmony with the music and pauses when it stops.
- The construction is solid and durable, so you don’t have to worry about damage as a result of play.
- Improves auditory development and music theory cognition
- Comes with functional keys and is easy to carry
"My little munchkin loves this musical toy as it sings beautifully. The toy is durable, which impressed me. However, it's disappointing that it doesn't light up when singing. It would add to the charm. Despite this, it's still a delightful item."
13. Best For Prodigies:Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 47,155 reviews on Amazon, this product is a winner.
- A musical toy with seven different pre-loaded melodies.
- The baby can switch between these melodies using the large buttons that are easy to press even with tiny fingers.
- There is a handle by the side of the toy that the baby can easily grab. The rings on the hand make rattling sounds whenever the toy is moved.
- Tiny lights blink when the music plays.
- Volume control allows parents to change the settings.
14. Best For Waterproof:BabyBibi Floating Baby Bath Books
- A set of four squishy, floating baby bath books each with a theme: fruit, ocean animals, letters, and numbers.
- The books are waterproof and make squeaky noises when pressed.
- The pages of the square-shaped books can be turned like the pages of a normal book.
- Made from materials that are BPA-free, non-toxic, and asthma friendly.
- The book material does not stain easily, and dirt can be washed away easily.
15. Best Durable:ToBeReadyForLife Cloth Book Baby Gift
- The books are made entirely soft polyester cloth.
- The fabric is durable and dyed with non-toxic color.
- There are vivid illustrations across all pages. Some pages of the book have holes to place fingers, and some have a small mirror-like plastic. It helps make the book more interactive.
- Machine washable so that you do not have to worry about the cloth getting dirty over time.
- The book comes packed in a gift box making it an ideal present.
"Got this interactive and colorful book for my sister, and she loved it. It is well-made and easy to wash, which is a great advantage!"
16. Best Sensory Skills:Fisher-Price Rattle N Rock Maracas
- The toy is shaped like the musical instrument called maracas. The soft end of the toy is suitable for teething while the other end has beads that rattle on movement.
- The multi-colored beads are visible through a piece of transparent plastic that makes the toy attractive to the baby.
- The noise caused by the rattle on movement is an excellent way to teach the baby basic cause and effect.
- The shape is right for small hands, making it a joy for the little one to play with the gross motor toy.
"The bright colors of these maracas engaged my little one and helped with his grasping skills. While it's a decent distraction during diaper changes, my son sometimes loses interest due to the low rattle noise. They even assist my little one in honing his sight and hearing skills. Some might joke about the unexpected swift whacks, but hey, it is all safe and entertaining!"
17. Best BPA Free:Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Baby Activity and Teething Toy
- One toy with a total of ten activities in it.
- The activity toy features some useful components such as a teether, rattle ring, multi-patterned ribbons, and a small mirror to stimulate the baby’s vision.
- The soft and varied texture of the toy’s fabric gives an excellent tactile stimulus to the baby.
- You can attach the toy to stroller bars to carry it on the go.
18. Best Fine Motor Skills:Lamaze Octotunes Musical Toy
- A brightly-colored stuffed toy, which is shaped like an octopus, complete with eight fluffy arms.
- Each arm of the octopus makes a different sound when squeezed.
- The large head of the octopus is soft and adorable. A handle on top of the head makes it easy for the baby to grab the toy.
- The arms are sturdy and can withstand the rough handling and pulling.
"Initially, I found this toy puzzling, but the fact that it produced music without using batteries won me over. My baby immediately bonded with it, laughing and interacting for long hours. Although not the best size for a diaper bag, it's a fun and educational toy, more than just a cuddly friend."
19. Sassy Grasp and Spin Rattle
- The cute Grasp And Spin Rattle from the brand Sassy will keep your newborn entertained for hours.
- The bright color will aid your newborn’s visual stimulus, and the sound will help develop your newborn’s hearing skills.
- The toy will also help build your newborn’s fine motor skills.
- You can use this fine motor toy from the time your newborn is three months old.
How To Choose The Right Baby Toys For Developmental Milestones?
Consider the following factors while choosing a suitable toy for your child.
- Safety: Toys should be big enough not to be swallowed and cause a choking hazard. Your child should be able to grab and hold them easily. Also, they should be durable and non-toxic for optimal safety.
- Variety: Choose toys from baby toy brands that offer various elements, including bright colors, textures, shapes, and sounds, to stimulate their senses and help develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Simplicity: Consider simple and easy-to-assemble toys for long-lasting use and wear and tear resistance. They should be easy to understand and play with so your child stays engaged for long.
- Age-appropriateness: Choose a toy suitable for your child’s age to help them develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills. They should be challenging enough to help enhance their abilities.
, a play advocate and educator, says, “Choose toys a child plays with, not a toy that plays with a child. It needs to spark babies’ natural curiosity to play, learn, and create. Babies use their senses to understand themselves and the world around them. Thus, look for toys that help children achieve their developmental milestones.”
Top 6 Baby Toy Brands
Here are some rather popular toy brands that are found in India and that have toys for both newborns as well as for babies:
1. MeeMee:
- MeeMee is a baby toy brand that is part of the Me n Moms brand and deals exclusively in various newborn and baby products in India.
- The brand first came into being in the year 2006 and mostly manufactures and markets products for newborns and baby products in the age range of zero to three years.
- MeeMee looks forward to fulfill the concept of ‘Joy of Parenting’ to all parents through their range of safe and quality toys that are best for newborns as well as for babies.
- It has more than 1200 outlets all over India through which it sells its products.
- The best toys for baby that you can find from the brand MeeMee include bath toys, rattles, soft toys, baby bouncers, cot mobiles, play gyms, pulling toys, soft balls, twisters, teethers, squeezy toys and more.
2. Funskool:
- The brand Funskool is one of the leading manufacturers of best infant toys and baby toy products in India and was promoted by the MRF group.
- Funskool is a joint venture between MRF and Hasbro Inc., which is a global leader in children’s play time products.
- It first began its commercial operations as early as the year 1988 and has been coming up with safe and global standard toys ever since.
- In order to be able to deliver the best in toys, the brand has obtained license from various international brands such as Noddy and Tomy, Walt Disney, Dora and Warner Bros. products for infants as well as for babies.
- The types of toys that you can find from the brand Funskool are baby rattles, baby gyms, educational games, bath toys, blocks and stacking toys, dolls and dollhouses, infant play gyms, musical instruments and musical toys, pull along toys, pretend play toys, cause and effect toys, soft toys as well as teethers and soothers.
3. Disney:
- The brand Disney does not need any more introduction but it is one of the most popular baby toys brands that is available around the world as well as in India.
- Disney entered the Indian market first in the year 2004.
- The brand Disney was started by Walter Elias Walt Disney, who was a cartoonist, a voice actor, an animator as well as a film producer. He, along with his staff members, created some of the most popular characters of Disney, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck as well as Goofy.
- Walter Disney was the original voice that belonged to Mickey Mouse.
- For newborns as well as for babies, Disney brings various toys in the category of rattles, teethers, soft toys as well as character figurines.
4. Tollyjoy:
- The brand Tollyjoy was founded in Singapore in the year 1971.
- The tagline for the brand is ‘For The Baby You Love’ and the brand aims at making their toys and products more safe and reliable.
- The toys at Tollyjoy confirm to all the international standards of safety and hygiene.
- The toys that are available with Tollyjoy in their newborn and baby section are rattles, musical toys, teethers, squeeze toys and bath toys.
5. Babyhug:
- Babyhug is another newborn and baby care brand that aims at bringing the touch of a mother’s love to your baby.
- The brand has various toys that will work best for your newborn and baby.
- The various toys you can get from the brand Babyhug are rattles, teethers, soft toys and baby play gyms.
6. Chicco:
- Chicco is one of the largest baby brands all across Europe and has been the epitome of excellence for more than 50 years now.
- The brand was founded by Pietro Catelli and was named after his first born son Enrico, where Chicco is pronounced as kee-ko.
- The best baby toys from Chicco are now available in more than 120 countries that span six continents.
- The various toys that you can get from Chicco for your newborn and your baby are first toys, pull along toys, musical toys, night lights, rattles, stroller toys as well as walkers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the most popular baby toys?
Toys that are safe–made of non-toxic materials, have a smooth finish, and don’t cause a choking hazard–easy to use, vibrantly colored, and stimulate at least one of their senses are popular among babies.
2. When should I introduce toys to a newborn?
Although the growth journey of every newborn may vary, most newborns could be introduced to toys once they are three months old.
3. Does my baby need a lot of toys?
More than the quantity, it’s the quality of the toys that matters. To bring in variety and fulfill all their developmental needs, it’s always helpful to have toys that cater to their different needs and help develop various skills–problem-solving, recognition, memory, hand-eye coordination, STEM-based, Montessori-based, social skills, etc.
4. What toys does my baby need?
It would depend on your child’s age and developmental stage. For example, if your baby is below one year old, they would require rattle toys, squeaky toys, teething toys, play mats, musical toys, non-breakable mirrors, plush toys, and soft dolls (1).
5. Do babies need toys?
Safe and age-appropriate toys help babies discover themselves, understand their surroundings, explore their bodily functions, and gain basic knowledge about shapes, numbers, letters, and colors.
The Bottom Line
The best baby toys not only entertain the little ones but also introduce them to colors, sounds, numbers, and more. These toys also help stimulate their senses, like the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy, which caters to the child’s auditory senses, and the Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Baby Activity and Teething Toy, which caters to their tactile sense with diverse textures. Meanwhile, toys like the Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack can improve their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. When considering an engaging and educational toy for your baby, always opt for trusted brands. Also, ensure the toy is functional, easy to grasp and play with, made of non-toxic materials, and has rounded edges. Further, pick those that are easy to clean and designed for your baby’s age group.
Infographic: How Do Toys Benefit Babies?
Toys are essential to a baby’s life as they can help them reach various developmental milestones. Apart from being fun, a stimulating toy can also keep your child busy for hours. Check out the infographic below to learn how toys can benefit your child. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Child Development Toys by Age: Choosing the Best Toys for Your Child
https://www.hss.edu/article_child-development-toys-by-age.asp - Household Safety: Preventing Injuries in the Crib.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-crib.html
Why Trust MomJunction?
We have compiled this list of the best baby toys after conducting in-depth research on numerous user reviews and e-commerce websites. We have also listed the features of each toy and offered information on the background and products of each brand. These toys are safe for your baby and will help them enjoy their playtime. They are made of durable materials for long-lasting use and are entertaining to keep your child engaged.
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