Best baby toys from newborn to 12 months: tested by parents

Who would have thought that eggs could be so much fun? Tomy’s Hide and Squeak Eggs are a huge hit with babies and toddlers, and come recommended by lots of parents thanks to the bright colours, fun expressions, and different ways you can play with them.

Younger babies from six months can have fun holding them, taking the eggs out of the shell and exploring the different colours. As they get a bit older, the toy also works as a shape sorter with each egg having a different shape on the bottom that slots into its own unique spot in the egg carton, boosting your child's developing problem-solving skills. 

For an extra bit of fun, when you press each egg you hear a cheerful cheeping sound that babies absolutely love. This is a toy that can be enjoyed from six months up to three years - an egg-cellent (sorry!) in addition to your child’s toy box.

Our tester Laura says, “My daughter is almost 2 years old and the Hide and Squeak Eggs are still one of her favourite toys to play with - we bought them for her when she was around nine months old. She particularly likes colour-matching the faces on the eggshells with egg colour.”

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The Bright Starts OBall is one of those cool baby toys that both babies and toddlers love. It’s a simple concept - a flexible and soft ball with holes in it. However, the high contrast bright colours and easy-to-grab shape make it the ideal toy for infants.

As your new baby grows, they will enjoy using the OBall as a teether and a fun shape to wrap their mouth around. It can also be rolled, chased and thrown. When squeezed, it has just enough flex to be satisfying and is robust enough to provide years of fun.

“This was a great toy that both my children enjoyed, especially when my son could sit up as he loved to roll the ball away and reach for it which was great for helping him develop his hand-eye coordination,” says our tester, Gemma.

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Freddie The Firefly is a popular toy for keeping babies entertained whether at home or out in the pushchair. The colourful cuddly toy is made from soft velour material so babies can squeeze and cuddle it, with different textures and sounds to aid sensory development.

Each part of Freddie’s body is made from a different coloured and patterned fabric with extra features for your baby to explore, such as a mirror to look at themselves, crinkly wings and a squeaker. There’s also a teether for them to bite and chew on which is kept in a little pocket and a clip on Freddie’s head to attach him to your buggy

Two rings hang off the bottom so your baby has something to reach for when you’re out and about which helps develop fine motor skills. The toy also encourages tactile stimulation to help babies learn through their hands and mouths. 

It’s a toy that can be squeezed and cuddled from birth but still has plenty to offer as your baby grows up. Our tester Laura says, “Freddie was a big hit with my daughter from birth, especially due to his bright colours and crinkly wings. While she’s less interested in this toy now that she's a toddler, it was used everyday, particularly on stroller walks, for almost a year.” 

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While tummy time is important for helping to strengthen your baby's muscles, not all babies are a fan and can quite quickly start to cry, and become irritable and tired. You can help make tummy time more comfortable and engaging by giving your baby something fun to look at, like this Wendergo Tummy Time Inflatable Water Mat.

A soft inflatable mat with lots of colours and characters to hold your baby’s attention, it’s made from BPA-free PVC with fun sea creatures that float and move when the mat is filled with cold or warm water. Even babies who don’t like being on their tummy will be tempted to push themselves up to see and follow the creatures on the mat. This water mat also helps to strengthen the muscles in your baby’s neck and shoulders. 

Be careful as trapped water can cause mould and the manufacturer does recommended washing and drying it before use. But for £10, we think it’s great value, especially as you can use the mat inside your house and outside on warmer days.

Sophie La Girafe is an award-winning classic that has been loved by babies and parents for decades. A cross between a squeaky toy and a teether, Sophie is crafted from natural rubber that has been sourced from the Hevea tree and has soothing properties for teething babies (don’t forget, when those first pearly whites finally appear, it'll be time to invest in a good baby toothbrush too).

Sophie’s smiley face is adorable, and her high-contrast spotted pattern is great for eyes that haven’t yet developed fully. She is soft to the touch and easy to grab. In addition, when squeezed gently, she makes a gentle bleat which helps with hand-eye coordination and teaches action and reward principles.

Our tester Gemma says, “My daughter loved squeezing Sophie and playing with her and moving the toy from hand to hand. Most of all, she enjoyed chewing on Sophie’s head, legs and arms, which helped when she was teething, especially when it was particularly bad.”

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With music, lights, colours and animals, this musical toy by Baby Einstein has been designed to make tummy time more fun and keep babies engaged for longer. The toy bar lies flat on the ground so that babies are encouraged to lie on their tummy and lift up their neck.

The bar lights up by touching the coloured buttons or spinning the rattle so babies can get plenty of sensory stimulation. There are three sound modes: animals, colours and xylophone so that your baby can learn as they play. It also has a stand to prop up the bar for when your baby can sit up. For this reason, the toy bar can grow with your child so it will still get plenty of play when they are moving around. 

Thanks to the noises and colours, the Glow & Discover Light Bar is a toy that promotes learning through sensory play and also encourages fine and gross motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, and building up strength for moving around.

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The Bright Starts 5-in-1 Your Way Ball Play Activity Gym and Ball Pit is a toy that has been designed with versatility in mind, offering different options as your child grows. It offers a comfortable and fun place to play when your baby is small, with five different options, including a ball pit (with 40 balls), for when your baby moves into toddlerhood. 

Younger babies can lie on the 48-inch mat during tummy time or play with the seven hanging toys, which include an elephant music player, crinkle toy, mirror, flashcards, hanging leaf toy and bead rattle. The mat even has adjustable walls so you can be sure your baby stays safe during playtime. Turn on the elephant and it will entertain your baby with over 20 minutes of melodies. 

Toys like this encourage babies to develop their motor skills as they reach and grab for toys as well as aiding physical development through tummy time play. Although it can be washed, one reviewer did say the mat shrank when machine-washed.

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Newborn development toys should have a range of textures, and these clever A-Z Sensory Play Balls are perfect for small hands and mouths to explore. They are excellent value, and babies will love to squish, throw and roll them. They also make fab bath toys to distract a reluctant child while you are washing their hair with baby shampoo too.

The six balls have come with textures that are interesting to feel and easy for small hands to hold and make a squeaking sound when squeezed. The different shape, size and textures help babies learn about spatial awareness, improve their hand-eye coordination as well as colour and shape recognition.

In addition, they are useful teethers. To keep them hygienic, wash them in hot, soapy water – just make sure they are dried carefully so they don’t go mouldy.

Our parent tester Laura says, “This ball set was one of my toddler’s favourite toys, especially around the six-month mark. The different textures and sizes are really appealing to little ones, and the balls are an excellent way to practise throwing when they get a bit older too.”

This is a cuddly toy that could soon become your baby’s best friend. The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Stages Puppy is a soft toy that plays music and helps teach babies their first words. It’s suitable from six months when they will enjoy hugging and squeezing the puppy and listening to the 75+ songs. 

As your baby gets older, the puppy changes to provide content suitable for your baby’s age, offering good longevity. Press the hands, foot, ear and the light-up heart to learn about body parts as well as colours, numbers and the alphabet. With over 100 first words and three levels of fun, there’s lots for babies to explore and learn.

Some parents say this toy is on the large side for younger babies, but they should get lots of fun and play out of it by around 10 months.

It’s never too early to start reading to your baby. Even as a newborn nestled in your arms, story time can be a lovely bonding experience for you and your little one. The That’s Not My… series of books have been around for years and are a great introduction to books for babies and toddlers, as well as helping them to develop language and sensory skills.

The touchy-feely books are very simple with repetitive text and colourful illustrations to entice babies to touch the different textures on each page. That’s Not My Bunny has different patches to stroke, such as rough paws, a fluffy tail and soft ears. There’s also a mouse to spot throughout the book.

As well as a wide variety of animal themed books, others in the range include That’s Not My Fire Engine, That’s Not My Robot and That's Not My Dinosaur. Our tester Gemma said “Both of my two children loved sitting down with these books during storytime, taking in the colourful pictures and running their fingers over the textures. We had a few from the range and they were all well read.”

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It’s likely that even if you don’t have a Ewan The Dream Sheep, you’ve heard of it. A cuddly toy which works as a sleep aid and a calming night light, Ewan has helped many babies (and parents) get a better night’s sleep. 

The toy plays soothing white and pink noise, including a womb and heartbeat sound to help calm your baby at bedtime and lull them into sleep. Other sounds include rainfall, a vacuum cleaner and a harp melody which are all combined with the sound of a parent’s resting heartbeat to help replicate the comfort of the womb. Combined with the soft pink nightlight, it can help calm restless babies. He can even be taken out in the pram or car for soothing on the go.

Some users find the 20-minute timer is too short and Ewan also isn’t machine-washable which isn’t ideal for a baby toy, but handwashing could be a small price to pay for a good night’s sleep.

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The Jumperoo has been a firm favourite with babies and parents since Fisher-Price first released it in 2004. It has so many features that will keep babies entertained while also helping them develop key skills - love that the seat spins through 360 degrees so that your baby can reach all the different toys. As they bounce and move around they’ll be advancing their gross motor skills too, making this great for sensory play.

The toys on the Jumperoo include spinners, clickers, a mirror and a bead bar which all help babies learn about cause and effect, develop their fine motor skills, and stimulate their senses. It’s incredibly safe too, thanks to the sturdy steel frame and soft spring covers to keep little fingers safe. The seat pad is also machine-washable and can be popped in the washing machine and tumble dryer, so any little accidents can be sorted out quickly and easily.

“Be warned this is not a small toy,” says our tester, Gemma. “However, if you have the space for it, you won’t regret it. Both of my babies had lots of fun jumping up and down in the Jumperoo and spinning round in the seat to play with the different toys.”

They might seem simple, but stacking cups are one of the best baby toys from six months old when it comes to development. They help build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as babies turn them in their hands and try to build their own towers. They also help to teach cause and effect as they knock down towers you build for them, and gross motor skills as they reach for the fallen cups.

These stacking cups from MTS also help with early colour and number recognition and are the perfect size for little hands. As your baby grows, stacking cups are sure to stay a favourite, with many toddlers and older children enjoying them, especially in the bath.

Although a baby at six months old most likely won't be at the first-steps stage yet, learning to walk is a huge milestone from approximately 10 months onwards, and the VTech Baby Walker is the ideal aid. For babies closer to six months, the activity panel on the front can be removed and played with on the floor, making for a brilliant interactive toy before they pull up to stand.

It has a shape sorter, gears to turn, animal buttons and a toy phone for endless fun. As your baby gets older and starts to pull themselves up, the baby walker provides support to help them strengthen, balance and prepare for the taking of those first wobbly steps. The interactive fun also appeals to toddlers far older than those learning to walk too - meaning you could be getting years' worth of fun for under £50.

Toy watering cans are always one of the best bath toys, providing hours of entertainment from the simple action of scooping water, tipping the can and watching it sprinkle back out.

Suitable for babies aged six months and above, the Nuby Fun Watering Can has a bright and engaging design with an easy-grip handle that’s perfectly sized for little ones to hold. 

Enhancing their sensory development, the Nuby Watering Can helps build hand-eye coordination and teaches children about cause and effect as they watch the bubbles wash off their skin by tipping or tilting the can. In the warmer months, it will make a brilliant addition to the paddling pool too.

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If your child is at crawling age, from around seven months, the VTech Crawl and Learn Ball will provide plenty of fun as they get on the move. If your baby is reluctant to start crawling, the ball rolls around to gently encourage them to move.

The ball has lots of fun features, such as bright colours and lights, to capture your baby’s attention, and big buttons that can be easily pressed by small hands to help them learn about numbers, animals and more. Not only has it been designed to help babies start crawling, but as they learn to reach out and push the toy along the floor, press the buttons and slide the turtle, it helps babies to develop fine motor skills as well as introducing cause and effect. 

During playtime, babies can also listen to the 12 melodies and four sing-along songs that are sung by the animals: the dog, cat, bear and rabbit. Be warned though, users say it doesn’t roll easily on carpeted floors.

If you want a break from the usual plastic toys, these rainbow coloured stacking rings make a gorgeous fun and educational toy for babies. Shape stacking toys like this one from Jaques of London help babies develop problem-solving skills.

While at first your baby may simply enjoy looking at the colourful stacking rings and exploring them with their hands, this is a toy that can be played with again and again as they get older and work out how to stack the rings in the right order. Putting the rings on the wooden stand helps them to develop fine motor skills, as well as resilience as they keep trying to put them in the correct order. Stacking toys also help children develop logic and reasoning skills.

A gorgeous wooden toy that will look lovely stored around your home, this is a great option for 10-month-olds, and will no doubt be played with for months and even years after.

The Manhattan Skwish is as unique and intriguing as its name! It’s suitable from birth, and babies of all ages will be drawn to its lovely bright colours and interesting shape. It's small enough for them to grasp and bright enough to hold their attention while you brush their teeth or trim their talons.

Babies from the age of six to 12 months will love turning this toy in their hands and exploring the beads that gently rattle and slide along the wooden dowels. It's also one of the best teething toys for babies as well. 

Made from soft materials that crinkle when touched, the Jellycat Jungly Tails Book is very popular with babies. With colourful animal illustrations and tails that stick out of the pages for children to touch and squeeze, the book provides lots of fun and learning through sensory play.

The book can be enjoyed by babies as they begin reaching and grabbing for things and older babies will enjoy finding out which tail the animals belong to. 

We like that there is a Velcro loop for attaching to your pram or infant car seat so your baby can be entertained while on the go. Unfortunately, it can’t be machine-washed which isn’t ideal when it’s likely to end up in your baby’s mouth.

Our parent tester Laura says, “The Jellycat Jungly Tails book is such a fun sensory toy for newborns and beyond. My daughter loved the bright colours and different textures for each tail. We regularly clipped it onto the buggy for outings, and it was the ideal stimulating read when she was small.”

Get your little one making music from an early age with these cute animal shakers by Skip Hop. The three colourful characters, Fox, Owl and Hedgehog, are easy to hold for young babies and each make a different sound. 

Each animal also has its own textured pattern to help develop your baby’s senses through play. Babies and toddlers can have fun shaking them and rolling the animals along on the floor, helping them develop fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination. 

Some parents say the sound of the shaking isn’t as loud as it could be but that may be welcome if you don’t want too much noise. We think these fun shakers could make a great first musical instrument for your baby.