These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (2024)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (1)

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Babies are fickle creatures. Get them the wrong gift, and it'll be tossed aside to the corner of the room, never to be picked up again. Avoid that disappointment with one of these best toys and gifts for 6-month-olds. The following products — perfect for baby boy gifts or baby girl gifts — all come recommended by an expert, scores of Amazon reviews, or personal parenting experience. Before compiling the list, we wanted to consider where six-month-olds are at in their physical and mental growth, so we consulted a childhood development specialist.

"Six-month-olds are just starting to sit independently and get around by rolling or scooting on their bellies," Lisa Lohiser, Ed.D., Manager of Early Childhood Development Research at the Fisher-Price Play Lab tells Woman's Day. According to Lohiser, babies at this age are beginning to comprehend action and reaction, meaning toys that showcase cause-and-effect are great for their growing understanding of the world around them. She recommends toys for 6-month-olds with different textures (for touching and teething) as well as music and lights for a sensory experience. Overwhelmed? Don't be! Just pick one of the tried-and-true baby gifts ahead.

The best toys for 6-month-olds in 2024:

If you're searching for gifts and toys for kids of other ages, be sure to check out our complete list of toy gift guides for every age, at the end of the article.

Best Toys That Encourage Crawling

Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (13)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (14)

Best Toys That Encourage Crawling

Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot

According to Lohiser, this Learning Bot touches on four different areas of growth: gross motor, cause and effect, fine motor, and early academics. Perhaps most valuable of all, though, is it encourages crawling by engaging with the baby and moving away. (I can personally attest that both my baby and my toddler were delighted by this toy.) Ages 6 months- 5 years

Best Car Toy for Baby

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Baby Crawl Around Car

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (15)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (16)

Best Car Toy for Baby

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Baby Crawl Around Car

How cute is this little car? It may be adorable, but it also fosters an understanding of cause and effect as baby interacts with the dashboard and all of its musical features. It will require a few minutes of assembly, but parents and grandparents rave that children love their new set of wheels. Ages 6 months- 3 years

Best Educational Toys for 6-Month-Olds

Cerbru Fun Dinosaur

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (17)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (18)

Best Educational Toys for 6-Month-Olds

Cerbru Fun Dinosaur

Now 17% Off

Meet Spike, baby's new favorite Ankylosaurus. This toy not only helps with grasping ability, but the color scheme will also help them identify and sort colors blue, green, yellow, and orange. (I speak from personal experience; my son cannot get enough of this little spiked dome.) Ages 6 months+

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Best Books for 6-Month-Old Baby

'See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book' by Roger Priddy

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (19)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (20)

Best Books for 6-Month-Old Baby

'See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book' by Roger Priddy

Now 36% Off

Books are one of the keys to a healthy bedtime routine, and this sensory board book encourages babies to touch and explore various textures, colors, and actions to build on their curiosity and interaction with the world. With over 11,ooo ratings and an average of 4.8/5 stars, we'd say it's a safe bet baby will like the book! Ages 0- 1 year

Sleep Sack for Baby

Little Planet Wearable Baby Blanket

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (21)

Sleep Sack for Baby

Little Planet Wearable Baby Blanket

Give baby (and parents) a good night's sleep with this breathable, wearable blanket that comes is four cute colors and patterns. The two-way zip is especially convenient for nighttime changes. Sizes range from S (0-6 months) to L (12-18 months).

'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' Activity Toy

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (22)

'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' Activity Toy

This popular book character from The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes to life in the form of an activity toy. Baby can pull, jiggle, squeeze, and chew. It's an easy toy to toss into a diaper bag and interactive enough to keep the little one busy for an entire car ride. Ages 0+

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Best Baby Walker

Bright Starts 4-in-1 Shop ‘n Cook Walker Shopping Cart

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (23)

Best Baby Walker

Bright Starts 4-in-1 Shop ‘n Cook Walker Shopping Cart

Parents rave about this interactive toy, which comes with a removable cart top. Even if the little one doesn't need their first pair of walking shoes yet, they can still play with the shopping cart elements like a busy board. Ages 6-36 months

RELATED: Best Baby Shoes for New Walkers

Trendy Baby Toy

Dancing Cactus Mimicking Toy

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (24)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (25)

Trendy Baby Toy

Dancing Cactus Mimicking Toy

Now 46% Off

This viral baby toy has taken the internet by storm. It comes equipped with 120 songs to wiggle and dance to, or it can parrot baby's babbles back to them, which always elicits a funny reaction. Ages 6 months- 6 years

Best Baby Pool Toys

SwimSchool Baby Splash Play Mat

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (26)

Best Baby Pool Toys

SwimSchool Baby Splash Play Mat

For the baby just beginning to get comfortable with water, consider a splash mat with a built-in backrest. This option, from The Original SwimSchool, also comes with stacking rings and a tower to help build dexterity while lounging. The most important part, though, is the canopy for sun protection. Ages 6-24 months

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Best Sensory Toys for 6-Month-Old

Kiddopark My First Baby Tissue Box

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (27)

Best Sensory Toys for 6-Month-Old

Kiddopark My First Baby Tissue Box

Have you ever given a baby a tissue box? There goes four dollars. (Or, you know, whatever a box of tissues costs in your area.) This sensory toy gives them the same feeling of pulling tissue after tissue out of the box, only you can refill it with the included crinkle paper. This one comes with three crinkle papers and eight colorful cloths, so baby can get feel the different materials. Ages 6-12 months

Best Music Toys for 6-Month-Olds

Fisher-Price Mix & Learn DJ Table

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (28)

Best Music Toys for 6-Month-Olds

Fisher-Price Mix & Learn DJ Table

For a baby, musical instruments are the best thing since sliced bananas. This set comes with three piano modes, multi-colored lights, and 12 engaging activities. But perhaps best of all, the set comes with three learning levels to grow with your little one. Ages 6 months- 3 years

Best Blanket for 6-Month-Old Baby

Little Giraffe Chenille Baby Blanket with Satin Trim

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (29)

Best Blanket for 6-Month-Old Baby

Little Giraffe Chenille Baby Blanket with Satin Trim

If you didn't get one of these for your newborn, it's not too late. Little Giraffe blankets are on the expensive side, but that's why it's a gift, right? They are impossibly soft and ideal for babies, toddlers, and kids, depending on the size. (Your teen might even be caught sleeping with a scrap of it years from now.) No age listed

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Best Travel Toys for 6-Month-Old

iPlay, iLearn Plush Baby Rattle Toys

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (30)

Best Travel Toys for 6-Month-Old

iPlay, iLearn Plush Baby Rattle Toys

Four farm animals walk into a barn and…well, there's a joke in there somewhere. These animals double as rattles that will improve baby's fine motor skills. They just so happen to happily live in this portable plush barn! Ages 3 months- 12 years

Best Developmental Toys for 6-Month-Old Baby

VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (31)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (32)

Best Developmental Toys for 6-Month-Old Baby

VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube

This activity cube has made it through both my children's grubby paws and come out impressively unscathed. The five sides all play to a different skill; some sides light up, others play music, and some do both. Ages 6 months- 3 years

Best Tummy Time Water Mat

Inflatable Tummy Time Mat

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (33)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (34)

Best Tummy Time Water Mat

Inflatable Tummy Time Mat

Now 30% Off

Tummy Time is extremely important for babies to strengthen their core muscles. This inflatable mat will encourage them to do so while capturing their attention with floating sea creatures. Ages 3-24 months

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Best Teething Toys for Babies

Lil' Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (35)

Best Teething Toys for Babies

Lil' Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether

Teeth are just beginning to emerge around six months, and babies will need one, two, or 10 teething toys. Infantino's highly reviewed silicone teether comes in a variety of "edible" shapes, including a carrot, apple, corn, pea pod, and fruit kabob. It's easy to clean and freezable for extra soothing. Ages 0+

Fine Motor Skills Toys for 6-Month-Old

Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack Toy

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (36)

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (37)

Fine Motor Skills Toys for 6-Month-Old

Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack Toy

Now 26% Off

Fisher-Price's version of this classic toy improves on the original by adding a wobbly base, so baby will practice grasping the rings and holding the tower steady. Over 45,000 Amazon reviewers have given it five stars, meaning your baby will likely be entertained . . . for as long as their attention span can manage. Ages 6 months- 4 years

Best Baby Doll for 6-Month-Old

Tikiri Baby Aria Doll

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (38)

Best Baby Doll for 6-Month-Old

Tikiri Baby Aria Doll

This editor is not a doll person, so an endorsem*nt of Tikiri dolls goes a long way. These handmade figures come in a variety of characters and outfits, but all of them are made of soft, organic cotton — so when baby drops her, she won't make a sound. Ages 0+

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Best Montessori Toys for 6-Month-Old

Adena Montessori Play Kit

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (39)

Best Montessori Toys for 6-Month-Old

Adena Montessori Play Kit

Montessori is all about discovery at a young age, and this three-item kit will help baby do just that. There's a spinning wheel that reveals new colors, a ball with fun-to-feel fabrics, and a mirror, so they can see their favorite person: themselves (aka the mysterious other baby in the room). Ages 6 months+

Best Shoes for 6-Month-Old

Ozzneck Shoes Kids' David Soles, Boots & Slip-Ons Convertible Shoe Set

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (40)

Best Shoes for 6-Month-Old

Ozzneck Shoes Kids' David Soles, Boots & Slip-Ons Convertible Shoe Set

What baby doesn't need more shoes? This versatile set includes two pairs of shoes and two pairs of removable soles, making it easier than ever to change baby's footwear. Sizes range from 5 (5-11 months) to 10 (46-56 months).

"These are such well made shoes and so cute too! Being able to easily transition from outdoor to indoor without having to completely take off the shoes is priceless with a toddler," writes one 5-star reviewer.

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (41)

Maggie Panos

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After over a decade as a digital editor, Maggie Panos is navigating freelance writing and full-time parenting. She covered entertainment for POPSUGAR from New York and San Francisco before setting down roots in tree-covered Portland and focusing on local journalism. A self-proclaimed "okay baker", Maggie is interested in all things lifestyle — especially if those things involve Bravolebrities.

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (42)

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Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts (2024)

FAQs

These Top Toys for 6-Month-Olds Make Great Baby Gifts? ›

The AAP says that, for babies around this age, toys that are brightly colored, help kids see the world from different positions (like sitting up or tummy time), mirrors and cause-and-effect toys are just right for this stage.

What toys do babies need at 6 months? ›

The AAP says that, for babies around this age, toys that are brightly colored, help kids see the world from different positions (like sitting up or tummy time), mirrors and cause-and-effect toys are just right for this stage.

What to give a 6 month old baby as a gift? ›

For a six month old baby, some great gifts include feeding sets, sensory toys, pop-up and stacking toys, bath toys, plush toys, play mats, water mats, floor mirrors, activity centers, sorters, shakers, and fun books.

Which of the following is the best toy choice for a 6 month old? ›

Soft and textured toys: Soft toys such as stuffed animals, cloth books, or textured balls are great for babies to touch and explore. Blocks: Blocks with different colors and textures can help babies develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

What do you get a 6 month old baby? ›

Think: stacking toys and games (ones with different-size rings or multi-colored cubes); toys that encourage crawling (cars, trains and balls that roll, light up and make music); roly-poly toys (they right themselves when rolled over); toys that encourage pulling up to standing (make sure they're sturdy!); and colorful ...

How does a 6 month old play with toys? ›

4 to 6 months old

Your baby now has more control of his head, hands and legs. He's able to roll over, push himself onto his arms and even kick at an object. Compared to newborns, 4- to 6-month-olds also have better hand-eye coordination; by month 6, he'll likely be able to pass toys from hand to hand.

What should a 6 month old be doing developmentally? ›

At 6 months, your baby will start using sounds to express emotion. They may mimic sounds they hear, like "ma,” “da,” “ah,” “oh" and even "no!" Your little one will begin to recognize familiar faces, reach and grasp for toys and will soon be crawling — start preparing your home (and yourself) for a mobile child!

What age do babies sit up? ›

At 4 months, a baby typically can hold his/her head steady without support, and at 6 months, he/she begins to sit with a little help. At 9 months he/she sits well without support, and gets in and out of a sitting position but may require help. At 12 months, he/she gets into the sitting position without help.

How do I make my 6 month old feel loved? ›

  1. Happy Talking. Research suggests that newborns prefer their mother's voice to other voices (Decasper & Fifer, 1980). ...
  2. Eye Contact. ...
  3. Attuning and Engagement.
  4. Playing (Interactive Play and Respecting Independent Play) ...
  5. Smiling. ...
  6. Singing or Playing Music. ...
  7. Reading and Warmth. ...
  8. Rituals and Routines.
Feb 17, 2024

What do 6 month olds like to play with? ›

Your baby might love wooden spoons, balls, building blocks and the ever-popular plastic stacking cups.

What are 3 toys that are appropriate for babies? ›

Early Childhood Development Toys By Age
  • Rattles - Build grip and tactile stimulation.
  • Mirrors - Improve focus on faces and objects (8-12 inches away). ...
  • Musical mobiles - Stimulate hearing, stimulate infant to make sounds.

Can 6 month old eat eggs? ›

Overall, eggs are a fantastic choice for your baby's first foods as they're getting used to solids (at around 6 months). Not only are they delicious, but they're also full of high-quality protein as well as other key nutrients that are essential for your baby's development.

How many naps should a 6 month old have? ›

An average 6 month old baby needs 3 naps per day, with 2 - 3 hours of awake time in between sleep periods. The period of wakefulness before the first nap tends to be the shortest of the day, and most babies are ready for that first snooze after 2 hours of wake time.

What foods can 6 month old eat? ›

You can start weaning with single vegetables and fruits – try blended, mashed, or soft cooked sticks of parsnip, broccoli, potato, yam, sweet potato, carrot, apple or pear. You could also try baby rice mixed with your baby's usual milk. Make sure any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.

How do I mentally stimulate my 6 month old? ›

6 Smart Ways to Stimulate Baby's Mind
  1. Sing Songs. Babies love music, so give your playtime a soundtrack. ...
  2. Play Music. Whether you're into classical music or The Beatles, listening to music has been linked to better aptitude in math. ...
  3. Make Errands Fun. ...
  4. Become a Storyteller. ...
  5. Play with Sensory Toys. ...
  6. Go for a Walk.

What toys do babies actually need? ›

Good toys for young infants:

Things they can reach for, hold, suck on, shake, make noise with—rattles, large rings, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and vinyl and board books.

Do babies need toys before 6 months? ›

Having your baby play with toys is integral to their development. You can begin around the first month of age as your child becomes attuned to the world around them. Over time, interaction with toys helps your baby learn and develop social, problem-solving and emotional skills.

Which toy would be developmentally appropriate for a 6 month old infant quizlet? ›

A stuffed animal is the most appropriate toy for a 6-month-old infant because its safe and cuddly and requires only gross motor movement.

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