Best of Toys: 6-12 months

At this age, your baby is becoming more active and exploring their environment. Babies are beginning to understand the "cause and effect" aspect of toys; and, closer to a year old, babies are starting to engage in container play. Remember that babies will be able to take out objects before they can put objects in, so it is definitely typical for your baby to just want to turn over all containers and make a mess. For container play, take a box or bowl and put a few legos or blocks into it, and let your baby figure out how to get the objects out.

Here are some examples of the types of toys that are (in general) developmentally appropriate for this age. As a disclaimer, these are my favorite types of toys to recommend to families in general, but I am not sponsored by any of these companies. The appropriateness of a toy is going to depend on your baby's developmental trajectory, which can vary greatly.

1) Cause and Effect Toys: Your baby is learning that when they do something, it causes a reaction (if I drop a ball, it ends up at the bottom of the ramp; when I push a button the toy sings a song). Here are some toys that help teach that:

Ball Drop Toy

ToyDaze Montessori Wooden Object Permanence Box

FisherPrice Brilliant Basics Boppin' Activity Bugs

2) Stacking Toys: These types of toys start teaching stacking skills, fine motor skills, how to take something "out" (container play) and put back "in." It also introduces babies to the idea of order and big versus small.

The First Years Stack Cup Toys

Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring

3) Fine Motor Toys: Around 6-7 months, your baby is learning how to sit unsupported. With this increased core strength and stability, your baby will start using their hands to manipulate toys.

Pop Tubes Sensory Toy

Fat Brain Toys Dimpl

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank

Again, these are examples of the types of toys to look for for this age range. And, many of these toys can be used at older ages too. For example, the Fisher-Price piggy bank comes with numbered coins to practice counting, and the toy itself has several stages that provide a different level of challenge.

The biggest thing that I tell parents is to not buy a lot of toys! Buy a few toys that are appropriate, and teach your child how to play with what you have. Use bowls, measuring cups, and spoons as musical instruments, in the bath tub, or to practice container play. More toys is not necessarily better for your baby, and it is important that the babies have to be active with the play. Toys that only require your baby to push a button are often over-stimulating (lights and sounds), and engage repetitive motions versus creative play and problem solving. If you have any questions or have your favorite toys for this age group, please comment below!