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Best pram toys for newborns, babies and toddlers, as recommended by parents

A pram toy is a must-have for any parent looking to keep their little bundles of joy entertained while on the go. Here’s our pick of the best pram toys for babies.

By Laura Cooke | Last updated Jan 12, 2026

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baby playing with a pram toy

Whether they crinkle, squeak or rattle, newborn pram toys are a great buy, either as baby shower gifts or for your own new arrival.

Not only can a good pram toy keep your baby engrossed and calm while out and about in a pushchair, it can also help with their sensory development.

But with so many newborn pram toys on the market, it can be tricky to know which toy is best suited to your tot.

So we’ve trawled expert review sites and the Mumsnet forums to find out which newborn pram toys parents recommend. This ensures that we bring you the most honest and in-depth recommendations, carefully vetted by the very people who use these products daily.

As with our guides to the best lightweight strollers, the best umbrella strollers, the best travel systems, the best running buggies, the best baby car seats and the best baby carriers, our roundups highlight a range of products to suit families of all kinds and budgets of all sizes.

Read next: How to clean a pram, including tried-and-tested tips from Mumsnetters

Best pram toys at a glance

1

Best overall pram toy

Lamaze Captain Calamari
Best overall pram toy

Lamaze Captain Calamari

What we like
  • High-contrast colours

  • Big enough to grasp easily

  • Lots of activities to stimulate the senses

What we don't like
  • A bit pricey

Key specs

Price: RRP £15 | Recommended age: Up to 6 months | Machine washable: Wipe clean only

Our verdict

Perhaps the least-threatening pirate to ever sail the Seven Seas, Lamaze’s Captain Calamari engages all the senses, with eight knotty activity legs, a crinkly hat, clacking rings and a surprise mirror all waiting to be discovered by little hands. He’s super soft so is perfect for cuddles too.

The charismatic captain comes with a chunky clip so he can be easily and securely attached to pushchairs and lightweight buggies. You would have to have a heart of stone not to be charmed by this baby favourite.

Read next: The best pushchairs, according to parents

2

Best budget pram toy

Where's Mr Lion? Buggy Book
Best budget pram toy

Where's Mr Lion? Buggy Book

What we like
  • Easy to grasp

  • The surprise mirror at the end is always a hit

What we don't like
  • Nearly the same price as the full-sized book

Key specs

Price: RRP £6 | Recommended age: Up to 3 years | Machine washable: No

Our verdict

Who’s lurking beneath the colourful felt flaps? Your child will love discovering Mr Lion, Mrs Giraffe and the rest of the gang in this brand-new buggy version of the bestselling baby book Where’s Mr Lion?.

This brightly-coloured board book can be easily attached to pushchairs with the handy strap, so your little one can always enjoy this childhood favourite no matter where you go.

Read next: The best lightweight buggies, as tried and tested by parents

3

Best pram toy for teething

Matchstick Monkey Original Teether
Best pram toy for teething

Matchstick Monkey Original Teether

What we like
  • Made from BPA-free silicone

  • Easy to grip

  • Soft bumps help to massage sore gums

  • Can be used as pre-training toothbrush

  • Easy to clean

What we don't like
  • A little pricey for a single toy

  • Babies might get bored with a single toy

Key specs

Price: RRP £8 | Recommended age: From three months | Machine washable: Wipe clean only

What Mumsnet users say

· Recommended product
Matchstick Monkey has been the best teether. I know you say little one can’t hold them yet but it won’t be long until they can. I used to hold it for mine & then they soon started holding on.
See Post
Our verdict

The Matchstick Monkey Original Teether is a fantastic choice for soothing sore gums during the teething phase and keeping little ones entertained on the go. Its ergonomic, lightweight design and soft silicone texture make it easy for tiny hands to grip, while the soft bumps on the monkey's head gently massage gums—even those tricky back molars.

Available in 10 bright, eye-catching colours, it’s as fun as it is functional. Although it can't be attached to a pram, its durable, BPA-free, and easy-to-clean design makes it perfect for tossing into a changing bag for outings. Plus, it doubles as a pre-training toothbrush to encourage healthy brushing habits early on.

Read next: The best travel systems to buy for newborns

4

Best sensory pram toy

Lamaze Freddie the Firefly
Best sensory pram toy

Lamaze Freddie the Firefly

What we like
  • Comes with teether

  • Lots to stimulate the senses

What we don't like
  • Pricey

Key specs

Price: RRP £16 | Recommended age: Up to six months | Machine washable: Wipe clean only

Our verdict

Who doesn’t love Freddie the Firefly? This smiley, colourful and multi-textured bug features a wide range of activities so baby can crinkle, squeak and rattle to their heart’s content.

Freddie also comes with a tethered teether to help provide relief for sore gums. Easy to attach to buggies and prams, Freddie the Firefly makes the perfect addition to play mats and activity centres too.

Read next: The best double buggies, as tested by parents

5

Best educational pram toy

Joyreal Black and White Sensory Toy Set
Best educational pram toy

Joyreal Black and White Sensory Toy Set

What we like
  • Good value for money

  • Includes a variety of toys which come in a nifty storage bag

  • Good for tactile and vision development

  • Small enough to slip into a bag if needed

What we don't like
  • Children might outgrow these by 12 months

Key specs

Price: RRP £20 | Recommended age: From birth to approx. 12 months | Machine washable: No

Our verdict

Black and white toys are excellent for developing a baby’s eyesight, as the high contrast between the two colours captures their attention and helps improve focus. The Joyreal Black and White Sensory Toy Set is perfect for keeping babies entertained on the go. This versatile set includes a baby lion spiral pram toy that easily attaches to a stroller's bumper bar, a cute teddy bear rattle, a soft black and white baby book featuring adorable animal illustrations of foxes, zebras, and lions, along with charming clouds, rainbows, and suns, plus a baby-safe mirror and eight black and white sensory cards. All these items come neatly packed in a handy storage bag—ideal for popping into your pushchair’s basket or changing bag to switch up activities while out and about.

The baby lion spiral pram toy features three engaging hanging parts: a shaking koala that makes a sound, a mirror to capture your baby’s attention, and a pressable cloud that produces a gentle BB sound. The lion's crinkly ears add extra sensory stimulation. The soft book, designed with convenient slings, is lightweight and perfect for attaching to the stroller, a car seat handle, baby crib, playmat, or baby gym for even more versatility.

Read next: The best baby carriers, as reviewed by parents

6

Best pram toy gift

Jellycat Avocado Book
Best pram toy gift

Jellycat Avocado Book

What we like
  • Velcro strap allows for easy attachment to buggies and prams

  • Lovely illustrations

What we don't like
  • Pricey

  • Children might grow out of it quickly

Key specs

Price: RRP £14 | Recommended age: From birth upwards | Machine washable: Wipe clean only

Our verdict

It’s difficult not to smile when presented with the quirky Jellycat Avocado Book, complete with a cute pair of dangly feet.

Your baby is sure to love lifting the flaps in this fun crinkly fabric book to find out how an avocado grows up. And if avocados aren’t your thing, Jellycat also does a carrot and a sweetcorn version too. Ideal for priming them for all those lovely vegetables when weaning eventually comes around.

Read next: The best baby carrier backpacks to buy

7

Best rattle pram toy

Tiny Love Sunny Stroll Activity Arch
Best rattle pram toy

Tiny Love Sunny Stroll Activity Arch

What we like
  • Develops fine motor skills, senses, and language and communication

  • Comes with a teether

  • Folds up well for travel

What we don't like
  • More expensive than other pram toys

Key specs

Price: RRP £27 | Recommended age: From birth to 4 months-plus | Machine washable: No

Our verdict

The Tiny Love Sunny Stroll Activity Arch is guaranteed to elicit some gummy smiles from baby, who will be entertained by the rattle toys, mirrors and the fascinating baby-activated fan that will certainly draw their attention.

The flexible plastic arch can be easily attached to most buggies using the chunky plastic clips and can also be clipped to car seats. Just don’t use it while driving as the car seat handle acts as a roll cage to protect your baby in the event of an accident. A toy attached to this bar may stop this safety feature from working as well as it should.

Read next: The best baby car seats for newborns

8

Best bumper bar pram toy

Bright Starts Take Along Toy Bar
Best bumper bar pram toy

Bright Starts Take Along Toy Bar

What we like
  • Great value

  • Velcro straps make the toy easy to attach and remove

What we don't like
  • Noise may prove irritating for parents after a while

  • Requires batteries

Key specs

Price: RRP From £8 | Recommended age: From birth upwards | Machine washable: No

Our verdict

The Bright Starts Take Along Toy Bar is a real feast for the senses. Featuring larger-than-life jungle characters which are familiar to fans of this particular brand, this toy bar rattles, spins, lights up and plays four tunes, which your baby is sure to love. It will be a sure-fire hit, all for the bargain price of just a tenner.

Read next: The best car seats for toddlers

9

Best colourful pram toy

Lamaze Activity Spiral
Best colourful pram toy

Lamaze Activity Spiral

What we like
  • Bright and cheery

  • Easy to attach to prams and carriers

What we don't like
  • Spiral can slip to the side if pulled

  • Fewer activities than on other pram spirals

Key specs

Price: RRP £20 | Recommended age: From birth upwards | Machine washable: Wipe clean only

Our verdict

Lamaze, the makers of Mumsnet’s favourite octopus Captain Calamari, are also the brains behind this multicoloured activity spiral.

Easily wrapped around pram bars, this tactile toy is soft, crinkly and springy, and features some brightly-coloured, friendly animal faces to keep your little one company on journeys both long and short. And they’re great for cuddles too.

Read next: The best sensory toy for kids

10

Best pram toy book

Peter Rabbit Buggy Book
Best pram toy book

Peter Rabbit Buggy Book

What we like
  • Affordable

  • Beautiful classic illustrations

What we don't like
  • Paper can be chewed or torn off

Key specs

Price: RRP £6 | Recommended age: From birth upwards | Machine washable: No

Our verdict

This charming buggy book is filled with beautiful illustrations from Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter, showing exactly how this mischievous bunny originally looked before the James Corden film.

Nice and chunky for little hands, the book can be easily attached to buggies and car seats via the large plastic clip. The Peter Rabbit Buggy Book is a great price to boot, making it the perfect baby gift for newborns and beyond.

Read next: The best toys for babies from six months

 

What are the benefits of using a pram toy?

There are several benefits to using a pram toy. A quality toy that crinkles, rattles, squeaks, plays music and so on can help to encourage sensory development. Those that come with a teether are perfect for sore gums too. Pram toys help to keep babies occupied and happy while on the go, which makes for calmer and happier journeys all round.

Read next: Can you take a pram on a plane? Everything you need to know about travelling with a pushchair

How do I choose the best pram toy?

There are a number of things to consider before buying a newborn pram toy.

  • Is it age-appropriate? Make sure the pram toy you buy is suitable for the age of your baby. For example, older babies may appreciate a toy that includes a teether to gnaw on.

  • Attachment: Where does the pram toy attach? Is it a spiral that wraps around the bar? Does it fix over the top of the pram with the toys dangling down for baby to play with? Most pram toys are pretty easy to attach, but if you want to prevent baby from pulling it off when they get a bit older and stronger, go for something that attaches securely and can’t be easily tugged off.

  • Function: What does the toy do? Is there enough there to keep your little one entertained?

  • Budget: Always think of your budget. Some of the pricer toys may be all-singing and all-dancing, but your baby may be just as happy with a cheaper option.

What is the best pram toy for newborns?

Mumsnetters love the cute and cuddly Lamaze Captain Calamari. With his crinkly hat, knotty legs and concealed mirror, he is a hit with young babies and would be a welcome addition to any pram.

How we chose our recommendations

Our list of the best pram toys has been compiled by an experienced parenting journalist. We scoured Mumsnet forums to find out which pram toy for newborns our users, i.e. real-life parents, rate highly - and which ones they weren’t impressed by.

We also consulted consumer watchdogs and took note of what they looked for in pram toys for newborns and which brands they were recommending to their readers.

Finally, we collated all that information and then cross-checked our shortlist with other expert review sites to see which pram toy for newborns had received the best recommendations from hundreds of parents up and down the country.

About the author

Laura Cooke spent nearly 19 years writing for local newspapers before going into freelance journalism.

Laura’s career began with an apprenticeship on her local newspaper when she was 18, studying at City College Brighton and Hove. Over the following years, Laura’s byline appeared in numerous local newspapers and magazines across Sussex. Career highs include leading a successful campaign that won her a regional media award. Career lows include writing an obituary for a cat…

Since then, she has written for a range of publications including the i Newspaper, Business Insider and Stylist, and has researched and written a large number of baby product round-ups for Mumsnet.

Laura lives with her husband and two daughters, aged six and 10, in the south of England.

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