Imagine a tiny hand reaching out, grasping a colorful shape, and a little giggle erupting. That’s the magic happening between six and twelve months! This is a time of incredible growth and discovery for your baby. They’re learning so much about the world around them, and toys play a big part in that journey. But let’s be honest, picking the perfect toys for this age can feel like a puzzle. You want things that are safe, stimulating, and will actually hold your baby’s attention for more than two minutes!
Many parents feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of toys out there. You wonder, “Will this toy really help my baby learn?” or “Is this safe for them to put in their mouth?” It’s easy to get lost in the aisles or scroll endlessly online. This is why we’re diving deep into the best toys for babies aged six to twelve months. We’ll help you cut through the noise and find toys that spark joy, encourage development, and are just plain fun for your little explorer.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll have a clearer picture of what makes a great toy for this stage. We’ll explore toys that boost motor skills, encourage sensory exploration, and even help with early problem-solving. Get ready to discover some fantastic options that will make playtime even more exciting for both you and your growing baby!
Our Top 5 Toys For 6 12 Months Recommendations at a Glance
| Image | Product | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
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Jyusmile Baby Toys 6-12 Months | 9.1/10 | Check Price |
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MINGKIDS Montessori Toys for 1 Year Old | 8.7/10 | Check Price |
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6-in-1 Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months | 9.3/10 | Check Price |
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ROHSCE Sensory Balls for Baby Sensory Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months for Toddlers 1-3 | 9.2/10 | Check Price |
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Baby Teething Toys for 0-6 6-12 Months Ages 0-2 | 8.8/10 | Check Price |
Top 5 Toys For 6 12 Months Detailed Reviews
1. Jyusmile Baby Toys 6-12 Months
Rating: 9.1/10
The Jyusmile Baby Toys 6-12 Months set offers a vibrant and engaging collection designed to spark your little one’s curiosity and development. This 3-in-1 bundle is packed with 24 individual pieces, including colorful building blocks, soft stacking rings, and textured sensory balls, all designed to grow with your baby from infancy through toddlerhood. It’s a fantastic way to introduce early learning concepts in a fun and hands-on manner.
What We Like:
- Versatile 3-in-1 Set: The bundle includes a generous 24 pieces with building blocks, stacking rings, and sensory balls, offering a wide range of play options.
- Montessori-Inspired Learning: These toys actively promote the learning of colors, shapes, textures, counting, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
- Engaging Sensory Experience: The soft, textured balls and squeaking feature provide stimulating sensory input for babies.
- Safe Teething Solution: Made from BPA-free, non-toxic, and soft materials, these toys are perfect for soothing sore gums during teething.
- Portable and Giftable: The included storage bag makes it easy to take these toys on the go, and the set makes an excellent gift for baby showers, birthdays, or holidays.
What Could Be Improved:
- Cleaning Instructions: While the cleaning instructions are provided, they are quite detailed and require careful adherence to prevent water damage.
This Jyusmile toy set provides a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience for babies and toddlers. It’s a well-rounded gift that encourages exploration and skill development.
2. MINGKIDS Montessori Toys for 1 Year Old
Rating: 9.0/10
The MINGKIDS Montessori Toys for 1 Year Old offers a delightful multi-sensory experience for your little one. This toy encourages exploration and learning through its unique design, making it a fantastic addition to any baby’s developmental journey.
What We Like:
- The MINGKIDS toy sparks curiosity. Babies can push shapes through elastic bands, exploring and experimenting.
- It’s made from safe, high-quality ABS plastic. The frame has rounded corners and soft edges, making it comfortable and gentle on baby’s skin.
- The six colorful blocks have fascinating textures. This promotes color and shape recognition, while textured surfaces enhance sensory perception.
- The toy is designed for safety and durability. The high-quality elastic cord is comfortable, skin-friendly, and won’t easily deform or hurt little hands.
- It’s an excellent gift choice. This baby activity cube makes a wonderful birthday, holiday, or Christmas present for boys and girls aged 12 months and up.
What Could Be Improved:
- The shape blocks are designed with fascinating textures to delight fingers, but some parents might prefer even more varied textures for advanced sensory input.
This MINGKIDS Montessori toy is a well-crafted and engaging learning tool. It’s a superb option for parents looking to foster early developmental skills in a safe and fun way.
3. 6-in-1 Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months
Rating: 9.1/10
Discover a world of learning and fun with this comprehensive 6-in-1 Baby Toy set, designed to grow with your little one. This Montessori-inspired collection offers a variety of engaging activities that support crucial developmental milestones for babies aged 6 to 18 months and beyond. From stacking and sorting to sensory exploration, these toys provide endless opportunities for your child to learn and play.
What We Like:
- Versatile 6-in-1 Design: Includes building blocks, stacking rings, stacking cups, suction cup spinner toys, wooden sorting toys, a sensory bin, and a storage bag, offering a wide range of play experiences.
- Educational Benefits: Promotes color and shape recognition, sorting skills, fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, cognitive flexibility, language skills, creativity, problem-solving, and logical thinking.
- 100% Safe Materials: Crafted from premium food-grade silicone and high-quality ABS, these toys are BPA and phthalate-free, ensuring safety for teething babies. They have passed stringent CPC/ASTM certification tests.
- Engaging Sensory Play: The sensory bin encourages exploration of textures and shapes, while the spinning toy with its strong suction cup provides entertainment on smooth surfaces, making it ideal for mealtime or travel.
- Durable and Chewable: Soft building blocks are perfect for stacking, squeezing, and chewing, and they feature embossed animals, shapes, and numbers for added learning.
- Ideal Gift Option: The beautifully packaged set makes a perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, and any special occasion for babies and toddlers.
What Could Be Improved:
- Age Range Nuance: While marketed for 6-12 months, some features like the wooden sorting puzzles might be more engaging for the older end of the 12-18 month range.
This toy set is an excellent investment in your child’s early development, offering a rich and engaging experience that supports their growth and learning through play.
4. ROHSCE Sensory Balls for Baby Sensory Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months for Toddlers 1-3
Rating: 8.7/10
The ROHSCE Sensory Balls are a fantastic set of textured balls designed to engage babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 3 years in sensory exploration and development. This 6-pack offers a variety of bright colors and soft, foamy textures, making them ideal for little hands to grasp, squeeze, and explore.
What We Like:
- Tactile and Multi-Textured Exploration: Each ball boasts a unique texture, providing rich tactile input that aids sensory development.
- Bright and Stimulating Colors: The vibrant colors capture babies’ attention and help them develop their vision and color perception.
- Safety First: Made from BPA-free, non-toxic materials, these balls meet US safety standards (ASTM, CPSIA) and have no small parts, eliminating choking hazards. They are also safe for teething.
- Auditory Stimulation: Squeezing the balls produces a gentle squeak, which is great for auditory development and attracting baby’s attention.
- Versatile Play: These balls encourage crawling, catching, throwing, and kicking, helping babies understand three-dimensional space.
- Stress Relief and Focus: They act as excellent stress relievers, helping to calm children with anxiety, ADHD, or autism, and can improve focus.
- Easy to Clean: A simple wipe with a wet cloth or wet wipes is all it takes to keep them clean.
- Perfect Gift Idea: They make wonderful gifts for newborns, babies, and toddlers, and are especially great for Easter basket stuffers.
What Could Be Improved:
- The “squeaking sound” may be a bit too subtle for some babies to consistently notice.
- While safe for teething, prolonged chewing might lead to wear and tear on the foamy texture over time.
These ROHSCE Sensory Balls offer a safe, engaging, and developmentally beneficial play experience for young children. They are a highly recommended addition to any baby’s toy collection.
5. Baby Teething Toys for 0-6 6-12 Months Ages 0-2
Rating: 8.7/10
Introducing a multi-sensory teething toy designed to soothe and stimulate your little one through those crucial early months. This innovative toy is perfect for babies aged 0-2 years, offering comfort during teething and engaging their developing senses.
What We Like:
- The 360-degree rotary teething ball offers 12 chew points and varied textures to effectively relieve teething pain and satisfy oral needs.
- Different textures provide a delightful tactile experience, aiding in sensory development.
- It doubles as a Montessori toy, with its bright colors, varied textures, and clicking sounds to capture baby’s attention and promote audio-visual development.
- Grip training is encouraged as babies learn to hold and manipulate the toy.
- Color perception is enhanced by the toy’s vibrant design.
- It’s made from safe, food-grade silicone and ABS, certified BPA-free and non-toxic, with no sharp edges to protect delicate lips and gums.
- The soft balls at the tips are designed for safe chewing without choking hazards.
- This teether is heat-resistant and can be easily disinfected by boiling, steaming, or UV light.
- It’s a wonderful, safe gift option for baby showers and holidays, suitable for newborns and infants.
What Could Be Improved:
- Parents should be mindful of the tip to not soak in boiling water for more than 1 minute during disinfection.
This versatile toy offers a safe and engaging experience for babies, making it an excellent choice for both comfort and development. It’s a thoughtful and practical gift for any new parent.
Choosing the Best Toys for Your 6-12 Month Old
The world of toys for babies aged 6 to 12 months is exciting! This is a time of rapid development. Babies are sitting up, crawling, and even pulling themselves to stand. They explore with their mouths, hands, and feet. Choosing the right toys will help them learn and grow.
Key Features to Look For
When picking out toys for this age group, think about what will engage your baby’s senses and motor skills.
- Sensory Stimulation: Look for toys with different textures, bright colors, and interesting sounds. Rattles, soft plush toys, and textured balls are great.
- Motor Skill Development: Toys that encourage grasping, squeezing, and reaching are important. Stacking cups, shape sorters, and soft blocks help develop fine motor skills. Toys that support crawling, like soft tunnels or low push toys, are also beneficial.
- Cause and Effect: Babies love to see what happens when they do something. Toys that light up, make a sound, or move when pressed teach them about cause and effect. A simple musical toy or a pop-up toy works well.
- Safety: This is the most crucial feature. Toys must be free of small parts that could be a choking hazard. Rounded edges and non-toxic materials are a must.
Important Materials
The materials toys are made from directly impact safety and durability.
- Wood: Natural wood toys are a popular choice. They are durable and often painted with non-toxic, water-based paints. Ensure the wood is smooth and splinter-free.
- Fabric: Soft fabrics like cotton, polyester, and velour are used for plush toys and rattles. These are great for tactile exploration. Make sure the stitching is strong to prevent stuffing from coming out.
- Plastic: Many toys use BPA-free plastic. This is a safe option when it’s clearly labeled. It’s often used for shape sorters, stacking toys, and musical instruments.
- Silicone: Food-grade silicone is safe for teething toys. It’s soft, durable, and easy to clean.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Several things can make a toy better or worse for your baby.
- Durability: A high-quality toy will withstand chewing, dropping, and general baby play. Well-made toys last longer.
- Ease of Cleaning: Babies are messy! Toys that are easy to wipe down or machine washable are a lifesaver for parents.
- Simplicity: Sometimes, simpler is better. Overly complex toys can overwhelm a baby. Toys that allow for open-ended play, where the baby decides how to use them, are often more engaging.
- Small Parts: As mentioned, toys with small, detachable parts are a major safety concern and reduce quality.
- Toxic Chemicals: Toys made with harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, or lead are dangerous and of poor quality. Always check for safety certifications.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how your baby will interact with the toy and what skills it will help them develop.
- Tummy Time Support: Soft, colorful mats or activity gyms with hanging toys can make tummy time more enjoyable and encourage lifting their head.
- Developing Grasping: Soft rattles or fabric books with crinkly pages help babies practice holding and manipulating objects.
- Encouraging Crawling: A soft tunnel or a gentle push toy can motivate babies to move forward.
- First Steps: Low, sturdy push walkers (once they are pulling up) can help build confidence for walking.
- Sensory Exploration: Textured balls, soft blocks with different patterns, or musical toys offer a rich sensory experience.
Choosing toys for your 6-12 month old is about supporting their natural curiosity and development. Focus on safety, sensory engagement, and opportunities for them to explore and learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the most important safety features for toys for this age group?
A: The most important safety features include being free of small parts that can be choked on, having smooth edges, and being made from non-toxic materials. Always check for age recommendations and safety certifications.
Q: How do toys help with a baby’s development between 6 and 12 months?
A: Toys help babies develop fine motor skills (grasping, stacking), gross motor skills (crawling, pulling up), sensory exploration (textures, sounds), and cognitive skills (cause and effect, problem-solving).
Q: Are plastic toys safe for babies?
A: Yes, plastic toys can be safe if they are made from BPA-free plastic and are clearly labeled as safe for babies. Look for reputable brands that prioritize safety.
Q: How often should I clean baby toys?
A: You should clean baby toys regularly, especially those that go in the mouth. Wipe down hard toys daily, and wash soft toys according to their care instructions. More frequent cleaning is needed if a toy has been mouthed extensively or if your baby is sick.
Q: What is a good first shape sorter for a 6-month-old?
A: For a 6-month-old, a very simple shape sorter with only a couple of large, easy-to-grasp shapes is best. They are still learning to manipulate objects. By 9-12 months, they can handle more complex ones.
Q: Are wooden toys better than plastic toys?
A: Both can be good. Wooden toys are durable and natural, while plastic toys can be brightly colored and easy to clean. The quality of the materials and construction is more important than the material itself.
Q: How can I encourage my baby to crawl with toys?
A: Place a favorite toy a short distance in front of your baby to motivate them to reach for it. A soft crawl-through tunnel can also make movement fun and exciting.
Q: What are teething toys, and why are they important?
A: Teething toys are designed for babies to chew on when their gums are sore from teething. They are usually made from safe, soft materials like silicone or natural rubber and help soothe discomfort.
Q: Should I buy electronic toys for my 6-12 month old?
A: Some electronic toys can be beneficial as they teach cause and effect. However, it’s important not to rely solely on them. Simple, non-electronic toys encourage more imaginative play and sensory exploration.
Q: How many toys does a baby this age need?
A: Babies don’t need a lot of toys. A few well-chosen, versatile toys that encourage different types of play are more beneficial than a large quantity of items.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.