Choosing the Best Toys for 6 12 Months to Support Your Baby's Learning and Play

When your baby hits the 6 to 12-month mark, they're starting to explore the world around them in new and exciting ways. At this stage, your little one is grabbing, shaking, and even starting to sit up on their own!

The best toys for 6 12 months not only keep them entertained but also help with their growth—whether it's developing motor skills, boosting brain power, or learning to communicate. In this guide, we'll share the 10 best toys for 6–12-month-olds in 2025 and help you choose the perfect ones for your baby's needs.

10 Best Toys for 6–12 Month Olds 2025

Support your little one's growth with these 10 best baby toys 6-12 months, designed to nurture their senses, motor skills, and cognitive development.

1. Baby Rattle

Rattles are a classic toy that's perfect for babies in the 6-12 month range. The sound of a rattle helps capture your baby's attention and teaches them about cause and effect—they shake it, and it makes noise! Look for rattles that are easy for little hands to grip and consider ones with colorful designs to keep your baby engaged as they develop their fine motor skills.

A standout choice is the Alilo Smarty Bunny baby rattle. This adorable bunny-shaped rattle features an easy-to-grasp handle that's just right for tiny hands. Your baby can shake it to enjoy 66 different natural sounds, which are sure to keep them entertained. Plus, the soft bunny ears are made of RoHS-certified silicone, so they're safe for mouthing.

But it doesn't stop there! The rattle doubles as a music player, offering soothing nursery rhymes, stories, and lullabies to comfort your baby during fussy moments or bedtime. These comforting sounds can help with early language development.

As an added bonus, the bunny's ears light up in seven vibrant colors, encouraging visual tracking and sensory growth. Plus, the rattle includes a color recognition feature that names the colors aloud when placed on the included color cards—perfect for helping your baby start to learn about colors while they play.

2. Pull-Up Bar

A wall-mounted pull-up bar is a fantastic tool for 6-12 month babies learning to stand. It allows newly mobile babies to pull themselves up safely while staying active, unlike restrictive walkers or seats. When paired with a child-height mirror, it also promotes self-awareness and encourages exploration. This setup supports balance, coordination, and gross motor skill development during this sensitive period.

3. Treasure Sensory Basket

A sensory treasure basket is an open-ended toy filled with safe items for babies to explore. Each basket includes objects with various textures, colors, and shapes, helping babies develop tactile and visual sensory skills. Items can be swapped out regularly to keep things fresh and engaging. This activity supports fine motor skill development and satisfies a baby's natural curiosity during the sensitive period for sensory exploration.

4. Wooden Coin Box

A wooden coin box introduces babies to cause-and-effect learning. It features an easy-to-open drawer that makes retrieving coins simple, encouraging repeated play. This toy builds hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while also developing concentration. It's a slightly more challenging option for infants ready to level up from simpler puzzles like ball drop boxes.

5. Push and Pull Toy

As your baby starts crawling or walking, push and pull toys become a hit. These toys encourage movement, helping your baby improve balance and coordination as they push or pull them along. Whether it's a wooden toy car or an animal on wheels, these toys can keep your little one engaged as they practice walking, making them great for building confidence as they explore their world.

6. Interactive Play Mat

Interactive play mats are perfect for tummy time and help your baby develop muscles while having fun. These mats often come with dangling toys, mirrors, and textures that encourage your little one to reach, grab, and explore. As your baby begins to roll over or sit up, the bright colors and sounds will keep them engaged. Play mats can also help boost sensory development, keeping your baby entertained and learning at the same time.

7. Activity Cube

Activity cubes are a fantastic all-in-one toy that will keep your baby engaged for hours. These cubes typically feature a variety of activities like shape sorters, bead mazes, and spinning gears. As your baby explores each side of the cube, they're working on problem-solving, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Plus, these toys usually come in bright colors, which keep your baby's attention and make playtime even more exciting.

8. Palmar and Pincer Grasp Blocks

These simple wooden blocks help infants practice two essential fine motor skills: the palmar (whole hand) grasp and the pincer (two-finger) grip. These blocks are perfectly sized for little hands and provide just the right level of challenge to keep babies engaged. They also foster concentration and problem-solving skills, making them an excellent choice for this stage of development.

9. Stacking Cups

Stacking cups are a versatile and engaging toys for 6–12-month-olds. Babies can practice nesting smaller cups inside larger ones or stacking them to improve hand-eye coordination. Hiding small objects under the cups also helps develop object permanence. As babies grow, additional cups can be introduced to increase the complexity of the activity.

10. Soft Ball

A soft ball is a fantastic way to encourage crawling and mobility. These lightweight balls roll slowly, making it easy for babies to chase after them and build gross motor skills. With easy-to-grasp openings or a textured surface, it's perfect for small hands. It also doubles as a sensory toy, providing tactile stimulation during play.

How to Choose Toys for 6–12 Month Olds

When shopping for your little one between 6-12 months, you'll want to choose toys that are not only safe but also help with their growth and development at this stage. Here's how to select the best toys for your 6-12 month old:

Focus on Safety First

Safety is always a top priority when it comes to baby toys. Look for toys made from non-toxic materials, with no small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Ensure any fabric or plastic toys are BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free. Always check the toy's age recommendation to make sure it's suitable for your baby's developmental stage.

Choose Toys That Promote Motor Skills

At this age, babies are working on both gross motor skills (like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling) and fine motor skills (like grabbing, pinching, and shaking). Toys that require your baby to push, pull, stack, or manipulate small objects can help develop hand-eye coordination, balance, and dexterity. Rattles, stacking rings, activity cubes, and simple puzzles are all great choices for boosting motor skills.

Look for Sensory-Stimulating Toys

At this stage, sensory play is vital. Babies learn through touch, sight, sound, and even taste. Bright, contrasting colors and toys with different textures can captivate your baby's attention. Rattles, crinkly fabrics, and musical toys can also stimulate their auditory senses, helping them learn to recognize different sounds.

Go for Toys That Encourage Cause-and-Effect Learning

By 6 months, your baby is starting to understand that their actions can cause things to happen. Toys that light up, make noise, or move when your baby presses a button or pulls a lever are great for encouraging this type of learning. Simple toys that demonstrate cause and effect—like a toy that pops up when a button is pushed—can be both fun and educational.

Durability and Easy Cleaning

Babies can be pretty messy, and their toys often need to withstand plenty of drooling, chewing, and rough play. Choose toys made from durable, easy-to-clean materials that can handle all the fun your baby will have. Many toys designed for this age group are machine washable or have removable, washable parts—perfect for those messy moments.

Conclusion

Choosing the best toys for 6 12 months is all about balancing fun, safety, and developmental value. At this stage, toys that encourage motor skills, sensory exploration, and problem-solving are essential. From rattles to stacking cups, the right toys can make playtime both engaging and educational. Invest in high-quality, age-appropriate options to support your baby's growth and milestones.

FAQs

What toys for 6 to 12 months?

Toys for 6–12 months should focus on sensory play, motor skill development, and cognitive growth. Great options include stacking cups, rattles, pull-up bars, and soft balls to support these milestones safely.

What is the best toy for an 8 month old?

The best toys for an 8-month-old are those that stimulate their senses, promote motor skills, and encourage exploration. Some great options include soft, textured toys for tactile exploration, rattles or musical toys with sounds or buttons to press for auditory stimulation, activity gyms with hanging toys for reaching and grabbing, and stacking rings or building blocks to encourage hand-eye coordination.

How should a 12 month old play with toys?

At 12 months old, babies are developing motor skills and exploring the world around them. They can play with toys by grasping, shaking, and banging them together. Simple toys like rattles, soft blocks, stacking rings, shape sorters, and musical instruments are great choices. Encourage your baby to explore cause-and-effect by pressing buttons or turning knobs. Play alongside them to model how to use toys and engage their curiosity.