16 Must-Have Baby Toys 2023
We’ve all been there. Baby is developing new skills each week and it’s time to engage with them through play! With millions of options thrown at us through the internet, it’s important to know which are the best baby toys on the market. As a first time mom of a now 1 year old, I researched almost every type and brand of toy available. I found that there were a few things I needed to consider. Safety, affordability, educational benefits, and material were at the top of my list when making my purchase.
My first plan of action was to prioritize safety. This means understanding what is appropriate for your little ones age group. Don’t purchase anything to small or sharp as baby will put EVERYTHING in their mouths (they’re teething, after all)! Avoid materials with paints that chip, woods that splinter, unsanitary plastics, and stuffed animals with small beads that can easily fall off. These can all be choking hazards or toxins.
Number two – affordability. You will see certain brands offering the most versatile, safe, and educational options on the market.. but the price point? Sometimes a little scary. I was lucky enough have many quality baby toys gifted to me, but the reality is that they are expensive. The price point is well worth it in my opinion as most of these brands use non-toxic, natural materials that are quality tested with proven safety. That’s more than enough for me.
Third – educational benefits. Most babies haven’t developed most of their motor skills yet so focusing on this really makes a difference! Certain toys can help aid baby functions such as reaching, grabbing, holding, and stimulating sensory systems. Make sure to have plenty of baby toys on hand to target each of these motor skills. Now let’s get into the list of the best baby toys I’ve found so far in 2023!
Every baby needs an activity center to keep them engaged while also developing those leg muscles. The Fisher-Price Animal Wonders Jumperoo kept my son very engaged as he learned to tap, twist, pull and bounce all at once. It also plays music and makes sounds to capture babies attention. He was able to use this from about 6 months to 11 months when he got too big.
Before transitioning to the Jumperoo Baby Bouncer, my son engaged with this EVERY DAY. He loved to bat at the dangling toys and watch the lights and sounds come out of the piano. It really engaged his sensory skills. Ok, so maybe he never really grasped the concept that if you kick the piano, sounds come out, but he sure loved watching it light up! I was able to use this until he was about 8 months when he started pulling the bars off and kicking the piano so hard it flew across the room. A true beast.
As newborns, babies are essentially color blind so it’s important to purchase toys with high contrast. I used this mirror toy to encourage his visual development with high contrast and colorful options. He loved feeling the textures and seeing himself in the mirror. The best part is that he still loves it today at over a year old!
I’ve seen this damn fish everywhere, so I just had to get it. It’s brightly colored, the scales have different textures, and it’s plush with a crinkly bag sounds when squeezed. This is perfect for developing the senses of touch, sound, and visual skills!
The reason this tummy time mat works so well is because it encourages baby to push up on their hands. Baby will want to see what’s floating beneath them which helps strengthen their arms when they push up to look below. The water part also aids in balance when they push – another win!
Every baby needs an activity cube. They offer so much when it comes to developing sensory skills. I purchased the B. Toys Wooden Activity Cube for my son and he uses it every day! It offers baby to explore, pulling, pushing, grabbing, twisting, and turning. It’s also brightly colored and eye catching (which my son loves).
This right here. This is my sons FAVORITE toy. The pull strings are made of a rubbery, food grade silicone which is great for teething. It encourages pull techniques and grib. It also has small buttons around the edge that pop when pushed which calls for baby to use his fingers one at a time. Not to mention, baby will find it absolutely hilarious when the strings dangle across his head (in my experience, at least)!
This tissue box toy is super cheap and offers baby a chance to learn what floating is. The tissues are super light and float around when tossed. Super interesting for baby! Use it enough and baby will develop the skill of putting the tissues back into the box.
Babies naturally like to strike things – hopefully it’s not you! That is what makes this toy perfect. As babies auditory senses develop, encouraging music can help baby have fun while learning. I love this toy in specific because it’s made of natural wood rather than plastic. It also offers several different sounds rather than just one. Be careful you don’t get bonked on the head when baby picks up those drum sticks (I’m speaking from personal experience)!
Too often, bath toys are overlooked. This slide track is so visually engaging for your little one that they won’t be able to look away! It suction cups directly to the side of the bath and contains gears that turn with the flow of water.
If you’re a mom, you’ve already seen this. It is HEAVILY marketed, for good reason! It flashes different colors of lights and spouts water out that can sprinkle baby for a good giggle. The only issue I found is that the battery needs to be unscrewed and plugged in through a USB cable. This isn’t as convenient as popping in a new battery, but I’m assuming it has to do with preventing electrocution as it is a water toy. Regardless, my son loves bopping this around in the tub.
Another great option – the carrot harvest Montessori toy. This encourages both pushing and pulling by removing the carrots and putting them back “underground”. It offers different textures of wood and felt with brightly colored carrots.
This is an excellent “car toy”. All the different textures and colors of this book are perfect for sensory development. The book is made of a crinkle fabric and each tail hanging off the book offers a unique texture from silky to fuzzy.
So maybe not a toy, but pretty close. This little guy is great for your little one who is beginning to teethe! It comes in other shape options too such as apples, corn, pea pod and a fruit kabob.
This rattle toy is great due to its durability, lightweight, and sturdiness. The way the ends are shaped make it easy for baby to hold onto when batting it around. My little one loved it – I’m sure yours will too!
I couldn’t finish this post without mentioning the most popular (and arguably the best) brand of baby toys on the market today. I have quite a few of their items, but let me tell you, they are on the pricier side. For good reason! Every piece I own from them is crafted with child development in mind targeting growth and development in every aspect. They also use sustainable, natural materials rather than cheap plastics. I linked Lovevery’s main page above. They organize their kits well by age group. My only regret is not buying more!
With all of the options on the market today, sifting through hundreds of baby toys can be too much for a busy parent! I hope this post provides guidance as I have purchased each of these myself. These toys are what worked best for me and my baby. I hope they will benefit your little one too!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links of products I’ve tried and love myself.