Best Baby Toys for 0–12 Months That We’d Buy Again
There are a lot of baby toys out there. And after raising babies of our own, we’ve learned that not every toy is worth buying.
So the six of us sisters got together, went through the toys in our own homes, and made a list of the ones we’d buy again.
These aren’t just toys that look cute online or happen to be popular right now. They’re toys we’ve personally owned, loved, and decided are worth recommending.
Whether you’re shopping for a baby shower, a first Christmas, or a first birthday, here are six of our favorite baby toys for ages 0–12 months.
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1. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. The Dimpl is a little sensory toy with colorful silicone bubbles that babies can push and pop back and forth.
We love that it’s small, easy to bring along, and doesn’t require batteries or make noise. It’s a great little toy to keep in the diaper bag for those moments when you need something to entertain your baby.
2. Skip Hop Explore & More Activity Center
If you’re looking for a bigger baby gift that will get plenty of use, this is one of our favorites.
The Skip Hop Activity Center has toys all around the seat for babies to explore as they grow. But our favorite part is that it doesn’t stop being useful once they’ve outgrown the baby stage.
It transitions from a seated activity center into a cruising play station and eventually into a toddler activity table.
We especially appreciate baby products that can grow with our kids instead of being packed away after just a few months.
3. Teether Ball and Rattle
A good teether is one of those little baby essentials that’s always nice to have around.
We love toys that give babies something to grasp, explore, and chew as they start discovering the world around them. A teether ball and rattle combines a few of those simple activities in one toy.
This is an easy, affordable gift for a baby shower or a baby’s first Christmas.
Shop: Amazon
4. Rattles, Balls, and Teethers Set
Babies don’t need complicated toys to stay entertained. Sometimes a collection of simple rattles, balls, and teethers is exactly what they need.
We love having a variety of little toys available for babies to grab, shake, explore, and discover. They’re easy to rotate throughout the day, and a set like this makes a practical gift for new parents.
Shop: Amazon
5. Crinkle Books
We are big believers that it’s never too early to introduce books, and crinkle books are such a fun place to start.
They’re soft, easy for little hands to explore, and make that satisfying crinkling sound babies seem to love. They’re also a simple way to introduce babies to books before they’re ready to sit through a full story.
We especially love gifts that encourage little moments of reading and connection from the very beginning.
Shop: Amazon
6. Baby Play Mat
A comfortable space for floor play is one of those baby items that can get used every single day.
From tummy time to reaching for toys, rolling, and eventually sitting and crawling, a play mat gives babies a designated place to explore.
We love that it’s a practical gift that can be useful throughout so many stages of a baby’s first year.
Shop: Amazon
Why We Made This List
We know how easy it is to accumulate toys, especially during the baby years. But more toys don’t necessarily mean more play.
When we sat down as sisters to make these gift guides, we wanted to focus on the things that had genuinely earned a place in our homes.
The toys we kept reaching for. The ones we were happy to pull out for another baby. And the ones we’d spend our money on again.
We hope this list makes shopping for the little ones in your life a little easier.
Because sometimes the best recommendations come from someone who’s already bought the toy, lived with it, and would happily buy it again.
Looking for Gifts for Another Age?
This post is part of our Toys We’d Buy Again gift guide series, where six sisters share our favorite tried-and-loved toys for every stage of childhood.
Explore our other gift guides:
- Best Toys for 1-2 Year Olds We’d Buy Again
- Best Toys for 3–4 Year Olds We’d Buy Again
- Best Toys for 4–6 Year Olds We’d Buy Again
- Best Toys for 6-8 Year Olds We’d Buy Again
XO -The Threads Between
