Our Parent Editors Say These Infant Toys Make the Best Holiday Gifts for Babies (2024)

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Explicitly made for infants, Lovevery’s Charmer Play Kit is designed to focus on the baby's growing social awareness. While these are pricey, the play kit has over 10 items, including high-contrast black-and-white image cards, a teether, a wooden rolling bell, an engaging mirror, and more. Each item has been hand-selected to match an infant’s developmental stage, making the most of tummy time and encouraging social awareness and the start of speech.

The kit also includes a helpful guide with tips, milestone information, at-home activity ideas, and much more. Our babies love these play kits and immediately engage with the toys when they're out.Although Lovevery kits are only available through a subscription, you can always cancel if you no longer want to receive additional kits.

Bright, colorful, and functional, this play gym will become a versatile family favorite. We love that the play gym has four modes and can grow with your child as their skills and development blossom. The mat is ideal for tummy time for the youngest babies. It features tummy time support, detachable toys, lights, sounds, and piano keys that are all interactive and engaging. Flip it over and babies will have fun kicking the keys. As your baby grows and can sit up, the piano parts can flip up.

Our babies loved the music and were able to sit up and play independently for a long time. The toy requires three AA batteries, which are not included.

This cute set features three different animals, all crafted for younger babies to engage with. Sized just right for little hands, the animals are small and portable, so it’s easy to stash one, two, or three in a diaper bag for fun anywhere. Each animal has rattle beads in their tummies and does different things: the elephant has soft ears for teething, the bird squeaks when pushed, and the lion’s mane clicks as it spins. We appreciated the various playing modes, but the simple toy may not please all babies.

Suitable for babies 0 to 24 months old, this toy is a mesmerizing maze of soft, continuous tubes. For gummy little ones, it's an awesome baby teething toy and great for clutching and promoting two-handed play. We think you'll love how easily the toy clips onto a stroller, so your little one can play while on the go, too. This is our 6-month-old son's favorite toy, hands down. It's a certified hit that's sure to last, too, should you have more kids.

Lovevery is one of our favorite baby toy subscription brands and we love its curated kits, but we often find ourselves wishing the toys could be purchased individually. Luckily, this black-and-white card set is available as an individual product!

These high-contrast image cards are printed on heavyweight, durable material. They're 5 x 7 inches: big enough for a newborn to focus on but not so big that they can’t fit in a diaper bag. The four-pack of images is affordable and portable but is best for newborns and younger babies, so it will not have the longevity of other items. Choose from four different styles, including art, universe, and more.

We appreciate that these inexpensive items encourage sensory development without distractions like lights, sounds, or other add-ons.

A versatile toy, these stacking cups can fit together, be stacked up, built like a tower, or played with in the bath or sandbox. Each one has unique holes and a number printed on the bottom. Recommended for ages 6 months and up, the eight cups will provide lots of fun.

Our daughter loves these simple cups so much that we got a second set to keep at her grandparents' house. The cups keep her occupied, whether she is banging them, stacking them, or just throwing them on the floor.

Introduce babies to new textures with this sensory board book that’s full of picture activities. Each page features other littles performing the activities for your baby to copy. Raised textures allow kiddos to feel different consistencies, while colorful finger trails keep tiny hands busy. There’s also a shiny mirror in the 16-page book for babies to look at themselves or use for mirror games.

Meant for children 9 months to 3 years old, this learning walker will provide lots of fun and versatility to engage young kids for a long time. Little ones can play with the detachable activity panel, and early walkers can use this toy to help them move along. Parents appreciate how much is packed into this toy.

Even before she was walking, our daughter enjoyed playing with the sounds and features of this walker. Once she was ready strap on baby walking shoes, it helped her practice her steps. She even put her favorite stuffed animal on the top and pretended to push it like a stroller. As with all walker-type toys, be sure to use this VTech Sit-to-Stand on a level surface, away from stairs, and under close supervision.

This tummy time mirror is just the right size for newborns and older babies to explore self-discovery. It features crinkly leaves and colorful polyester fabric to keep them engaged during tummy time or when they begin to sit up. Plus, the baby mirror folds flat for easy storage and travel.

A classic for good reason, this budget-friendly toy has lots of developmental benefits. The stacking helps babies with hand-eye coordination and introduces them to the concept of relative size. Suitable for ages 6 months and up, this toy will surely engage young kiddos.

A popular toy for many new babies, this sweet and cuddly giraffe is made from natural latex rubber and food-quality paint. With a subtle squeak and smooth texture, it's an instant hit with babies. Suitable for newborns to 12-month-olds, it’s great for teething babies, and the squeaking sound inside is ready to attract a baby’s attention.

Our daughter really loved Sophie during those early teething days. In fact, she was so attached to the giraffe that we had to attach it via a hook to her stroller so she could teethe on the go.

Explore and discover everything this activity cube has to offer, including five sides of play, light-up buttons, and interactive features. Recommended for babies 6 months old and up, the activity cube teaches children letters, colors, and shapes through more than 20 playful songs. Adults will appreciate the adjustable volume control for sensitive ears (and sanity), and the automatic shut-off feature helps save battery.

Musical toys are always a hit with kids of all ages. Fun for newborns and up, this easy-to-assemble toy is appropriate for so many phases of newborn development. Use it as a playmat, a kick-at musical instrument, and then later a piano for sitting babies. The parents in our survey appreciated how engaging the gym is, especially for active babies.

This innovative, soft teething mitten is ideal for teething babies ages 3 months and up who may not be coordinated enough to hold teethers. The mitten protects the baby from chewing on their hand.

Super lightweight and machine washable, the mitts have afabric base and non-toxic, BPA-free, food-grade silicone ends. They come in many adorable animal options, including fox, unicorn, llama, sloth, dinosaur, and whale.

Turn bath time into a mini pool party with an adorable bath toy. This one for babies features multicolor lights that are activated when it touches water. The bath toy is available in two animal styles—dino and unicorn—that are both soft enough for small hands to squeeze easily. Plus, there’s no hole in the bath toy to collect mold and mildew; simply wipe with a damp cloth to keep your kiddo’s new friend clean.

Tummy time toys like activity gyms and mats can help build more than strong muscles in your baby. The experts at Lovevery have developed a splurge-worthy play gym, suitable for infants on up, that many parents feel is a must-have piece of gear—perfect to add to your baby registry. The five developmental zones on the mat reveal or conceal areas to prevent overstimulation and change as your baby develops. The mat promotes focus, features sound-making pieces, and encourages sensory exploration, hiding and finding, and exploring color.

Puzzles for kids are one of the best ways for them to learn new skills. Introduce logical thinking (and patience) at a young age with a puzzle for babies that includes large knobs for tiny hands to navigate with ease. A matching picture is underneath each puzzle piece to help littles find the right spot, while the adorable farm animals are simply fun to play with.

Stock an infant’s library with sweet, soft cloth books that are safe for any age. Pages crinkle with sounds while bright colors and textures attract the baby’s attention. Parents love that each book has a fabric Velcro loop for easy attachment to a stroller, car seat, or anything else.

There are few must-have books for your baby's first library. “Goodnight Moon” was written in 1947 and continues to be a hit with littles (and adults) thanks to its poetic rhyming and calming illustrations. Say goodnight to the cow jumping over the moon and the three little bears sitting on chairs in this beloved 32-page children’s book.

Great for ages 6 months and up, these three uniquely shaped pipSquigz are made of high-quality silicone. They have suction cups that stick together, pop apart, rattle, and have a variety of textures and bright colors. They’re perfect for an on-the-go toy.

Introduce your little one to the joys of music and rhythm while showcasing colors and promoting creative and musical play. While the toy is labeled for kids 12 months and up, it’s safe for younger babies while supervised. They will also practice grasping and holding the non-slip sticks and improve their dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Irresistibly cute and super soft, this bunny is sure to become a favorite stuffie for years to come. This adorable bunny will be your kiddo's bestie from babyhood to the big kid stage. Stuffed animals are safe for all ages, but be sure to use the appropriate AAP guidelines for sharing stuffed animals with an infant, and never place stuffed animals where an infant will be sleeping.

Give your arms a break and your little one a safe place to play with a baby floor seat that’s available in several adorable patterns. A wide, sturdy base keeps babies secure as they play with the two included linkable toys. Plus, the seat folds flat for easy storage and the ultimate portability. Keep in mind that this is a floor seat and should never be placed on elevated surfaces.

Parents love how simple yet brilliant this toy is. Babies from 10 months and up can push, pop, poke, and grab this perfectly portable sensory toy. Not only will the Dimpl engage the senses, but it will also promote earlycause-and-effect learning.

Fit parents will enjoy adding a buff baby to their family. This silly barbell baby rattle will have everyone amused while your little baby gets in on the workout. Safe for ages 3 months and up, the rattle is made of BPA-free plastic.Realistic-looking toys that look like adult objects are a solid choice as babies get older since kids love to mimic what they see their parents doing.

Your tot will feel like they are taking a bite out of a real apple with this teething toy. Made from natural Hevea-tree rubber, this realistic apple toy has hand-painted details and is a must-have for teething, bath time, and tactile play. Suitable from birth and up, this lovely little teether can only be hand-washed. It's available in more than a dozen realistic fruit and veggie shapes, from banana and cucumber to dragonfruit and avocado.

This baby push walker can be played in three entertaining ways: sitting, standing, and walking. All activities on the board, including counting flaps and an abacus, are made of pinewood and metal, which combine beautifully into an aesthetically pleasing design.As with all walker-type toys, this activity center should be used only on level floors and under close adult supervision.

Great for ages 6 months and up, this toy provides an incredibly unique shape-exploration experience. The innovative sorting box comes with six chunky, textured shapes that fit through the elastic bands of the cube. The colorful toy encourages fine motor skills, tactile exploration, and experimentation.

For ages 6 months and up, this innovative toy challenges babies to balance, nest, spin, and stack these spheres in gravity-defying angles. Parents appreciate the thoughtful design and versatility of this colorful toy.Don't be surprised if your toddler continues playing with this bright toy into their big kid stage.

Meet your little one’s new best friend: a plush stuffed animal with two modes of play to keep babies entertained. Press the stuffed animal’s feet to play an activity, such as peek-a-boo, or snuggle with the plush material. There’s a variety of animals to choose from, like an adorable elephant with flappy ears and a sweet penguin who loves to blow kisses.

As cute as it is stimulating, infants will love crunching and crackling this adorable organic cotton egg toy. While simple, your developing little one will fall in love with the stimulating sound and colors. The high-contrast design is cute and lovable, perfect for a baby with the same qualities.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the most popular infant toys?

  Infants gravitate toward toys with contrasting colors and varying patterns since their vision is still developing. Varying textures are also a hit as they discover their sense of touch. Other winners include toys with simple cause-and-effect reactions, such as something that crinkles or squeaks when squeezed (like the Wee Gallery Crinkle Egg) or that makes a sound when you push a button.

  Things like a simple play mat or a mirror can make tummy time entertaining. Toys with buttons that babies can push to make a sound, as well as options that have contrasting colors and textures, are also favorites, like the VTech Sit-to-Stand Walker or the Hape Rainbow Xylophone.

  Keep in mind that young babies love to put things in their mouths, so try to find toys that are safe to chew. Similarly, toys that are easy to clean are especially important at this age (we particularly like the Skip Hop Zoo Light Squeeze Toy because it doesn't have a hole, so it won't collect mold, like other bath toys)

• When should I introduce toys to a newborn?

  Newborn babies can only see about eight to 12 inches at birth, so toys are not necessary very early on. At this stage, your voice and face are the best developmental tools. As babies begin to see farther away, a crib mobile can help soothe and entertain them. High-contrast objects are particularly interesting to them, which is why we recommend the Lovevery Black & White Card Set.

  Once tummy time starts, baby play mats and mirrors are great fun. As they get older, you can start to introduce toys with new textures, sights, and sounds.

• Does my infant need a lot of toys?

  Although a parent’s attention is the best entertainment for a newborn, it is helpful and fun to get new things to pique your baby’s interest. It's great to have a few different toys with different purposes, like keeping them occupied and entertained, distracting them during diaper changes or car rides, relieving teething pain, and helping their development.

  Toys should provide a variety of ways for kids to explore and learn new ways of interacting with the world. Babies should be allowed to use the toys in whatever ways they want (as long as they are safe).