The Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds, According to Parents (and Experts)
As a mom of two little ones, I know how quickly those precious newborn days go! By the time baby hits the halfway mark of their first year, they’re a world away from that swaddled helpless newborn. At six months old, babies are busy learning and exploring, mastering skills like grabbing, crawling, and sitting.
“Kids this age are at the stage of full-blown exploration,” explains Mark Coster, PhD, founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for children of all ages. “While it’s still early for problem-solving and logic, it’s time for varied sensory experiences through sounds, colors, and textures.”
So, what are the best toys to support these emerging skills? We’ve consulted play experts for tips and safety guidelines and rounded up our favorite developmental toys for 6-month-olds based on age-specific developmental categories. Read on to make playtime even more enriching, and be sure to check out our toy guides for 5-month-olds and 7-month-olds.
Choosing the best developmental toys for your 6-month-old can be overwhelming. With so many options on the market, narrowing down the best options is almost as challenging as changing baby’s diapers when they become more mobile! To streamline your decision-making process, we aim to do the bulk of the research so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through online retailers. Here’s how we put together this roundup of toys for your six-month-old:
- We consulted with early childhood experts to understand key developmental priorities and safety considerations to keep top of mind.
- We followed toy safety recommendations outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
- We surveyed over 400 parents within The Bump community regarding their experience with specific toys.
- Because no two families are alike, we conducted extensive market research, scouring external forums, reviews and message boards to see how these toys worked for variety of children.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
Pretend toy set for imaginative play
- Hours of entertainment -150 songs, sounds, and phrases stimulate imagination
- Need to support baby until they can sit up independently
As a mom of two, I truly appreciate a toy that not only enhances my boys’ imaginations, but also adapts as they grow. The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Sit & Steer Driver Activity Center is the perfect imaginative toy for 6-month-olds. Its realistic car dashboard design features interactive lights and over 150 songs, phrases and sounds, making it incredibly engaging. This toy promotes fine motor skills and introduces cause and effect, all while fostering imaginative play. Jessica*, a mom of one, noted that her little one “loves to play and investigate all the car parts.” The realistic yet playful steering wheel and dashboard inspire imaginative scenarios, allowing babies to mimic driving and unleash their creativity.
Age range: 6 to 36 months | Batteries required: Y
Our community says:
“It keeps baby busy for hours!” Jessica*, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Interactive teether for tactile play
- Stays put with suction cups
- Provides teething relief
- Easy to clean
- Doesn’t suction to all surfaces
At six months, tactile toys are essential for baby’s development, supporting their physical, cognitive, and sensory growth. In my experience, I’ve always found that my two little ones are drawn to pick up toys with varying textures and materials. The Jumble Jangle Baby Teething toy boasts a variety of shapes and textures—while it’s made of teething-safe silicone, it also has smooth wood rings for play variation, making it a fantastic Montessori-style option for 6-month-olds, while the textured silicone components add sensory stimulation and tactile interest for babies. Brenna, a mom of a 6-month-old, says that not only did her baby love “exploring items of different textures with her mouth,” but that Jumble Jangle Baby Teething Toy was fantastic at “easing discomfort from teething.”
Age range: 0 to 24 months | Batteries required: N
Our community says:
“It suctions to her high chair! She uses it while we eat dinner, and it keeps her entertained.” – Brenna, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Ring stacker for hand-eye coordination
- Vibrant colors and textures
- Teething-friendly
- Easy for baby to grasp
- Keeps baby’s attention for prolonged periods
- Rings are small and can get lost
Stackable rings are a classic choice for a baby’s toy box, and for a reason. But Sassy’s Stacks of Circles’ takes things a step further with rings that vary in size, color, texture and weight to create interest for your 6-month-old, while still giving them the opportunity to stack and develop hand-eye coordination without frustration. The chunky rings make it easy for baby to grasp, and are designed to build fine motor skills during this critical stage of development. Dionne, mom of a little one, says that her baby “loves the multiple ways of play this toy offers including teething in the textured rings, banging two rings together, shaking the ring full of beads, sliding the rings on the floor and more importantly, stacking and dismantling the rings from the tower.”
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Our community says:
"He loves the colors and the fact that the rattles have different textures!" - Rhea, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
“It keeps her attention more than any other toy!” – Chana, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Light-up toy to teach cause-and-effect
- Easy to use
- Functions assist motor skills
- Three languages
- Some parents say it isn’t durable
Understanding cause-and-effect helps your little one make sense of the world around them, and what better way to facilitate this phase of development than with a fun toy? Baby Einstein Curiosity Kaleidoscope teaches and reinforces cause-and-effect by responding to your 6-month-old with light, color and sound as they manipulate the colorful handles. When baby squeezes a colored handle, the dome glows in the corresponding color, helping them understand that their actions lead to specific outcomes. Nicole, a mom of one, told us, “[My daughter] was able to figure out the buttons to make the lights and music go, even at 3 months old.” The changing colors give baby an instant response, reinforcing cause-and-effect with the concept that their movements create different visual effects.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y
Our community says:
“I love that she can play independently at such a young age.” – Nicole, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Chewable soothing toy
- Easy for baby to grip
- Made of food-grade silicone
- Dishwasher safe
- Can attract hair and lint
Babies begin teething at around 4 to 7 months old, and my experience with my boys is that by 6 months old, a quality, soothing teether toy wasn’t just a nice-to-have, it was a requirement. Finding a suitable soothing toy at this age is crucial, and the Smily Mia Reindeer Silicone Teether stood out to our team as the best choice. This teether not only provides relief during the teething phase but also offers an engaging textured design that babies go ga ga over. Mollie, a mom of one, tells us, “[my daughter] loves chomping on the textured arms and antlers.” She added that the teether was, “so easy for her to hold onto. She can successfully get any part of the toy to her mouth so she’s never frustrated with it.”
Age range: 3+ months | Batteries required: N
Our community says:
“This toy has been a favorite since my daughter was four months old.” – Mollie, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Easy-grasp toy car
- Easy to hold
- Great first toy car
- Bright, fun colors capture baby’s attention
- Some parents complain about quality of plastic
Remember when your newborn baby grasped your finger for the first time? This grip, known as the palmer grasp, is a natural reflex that causes those tiny fingers to curl around an object (or you!) As baby grows, grasping becomes more voluntary, and toys that promote this development are incredibly beneficial. Enter Oball Easy Grasp Rattle & Roll Toy Sports Car. The soft, flexible Oball roof is designed with plenty of holes for your little one’s fingers to grip. "This was the first toy car my daughter could reliably grab and push around her,” says Daniel, a dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump. “It was a great way to get the effectiveness of Oball rattles onto what was obviously, even to her little eyes, a toy car." Oball technology, when combined with fun rattling noises and wheels that zoom across your floor, encourages baby to grip, move and crawl, encouraging active play and enhancing your little one’s grip!
Age range: 3+ months | Batteries required: N
Our community says:
“We bought this for our daughter when she was very young, but it stayed with us through toddlerhood.” – Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump
Soft sorting toy for fine motor skills
- Multiple textures appeal to baby’s senses
- Sorting and grasping promote fine-motor skills
- Care instruction not specified
Sensory play is an excellent way to promote fine motor skills development with your six-month-old. Melissa & Doug Market Basket Fill & Spill comes with an adorable mesh grocery bag and four grocery items with varying sensory elements to let baby practice fine motor skills while having fun! “Six-month-olds are just starting to sit independently and get around by rolling or scooting on their bellies,” says Lisa Lohiser, EdD, manager of early childhood development research at Fisher-Price, adding that “the best toys for 6-month-olds can be played with while sitting or lying on their tummy. Sit-at toys with lots of textures and activities provide a great core and fine motor workout.” Melissa & Doug’s Market Basket toy has food items to inspire your little learner to handle: a carrot that squeaks, lettuce that crinkles, a plush tomato with a rattle inside, and a milk container that chimes.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Baby swing for muscle strengthening
- Adjustable extension straps compatible most swing set frames
- Grows with your child
- Easy to set up
- Mixed opinions on fit for age range
What’s better than a swing that adjusts to meet baby’s growing needs? TP Toys Quadpod Baby Swing Seat offers a comfortable headrest for your 6-month-old, complete with the safety of a three-point harness. The swing seat transforms from a cradle seat to a bucket swing, up to a single platform seat for kids ages 4+. Swinging engages your little one’s core muscles, and the repetition of swinging builds muscle strength at every stage. The joy of swinging keeps little ones engaged for longer play sessions, allowing plenty of muscle use and strengthening.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Plush toy for comfort
- Soft and plush
- Cute singing voice
- Encourages peek-a-boo play
- Mixed opinions on functionality
Six months is one of my favorite ages—with my little guys, I found that this was where they really started to show their personalities. Baby can recognize familiar faces, laugh and enjoy their reflections in a mirror. I often refer to this age as the “peek-a-boo age,” as I've discovered that this game effectively comforts little ones when they are upset or need distraction. Enter Gund Flappy the Elephant, our pick for best comforting toy for 6-month-olds. Flappy is a toy that was enjoyed and passed down from my older child to his little brother, and over three years later, it still works beautifully! Flappy the Elephant plays peek-a-boo when you press his left foot, hiding behind his oversized soft ears, and sings songs to your baby when you squeeze his right foot. This toy is ultra-soft and plush, and the child-like voice is such a comfort to little ones at this age, just as they are beginning to reach for toys and grasp soft objects.
Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: Y
Fidget toy for independent play
- Easy for baby to hold
- Colorful and tactile
- Some dislike plastic hardness
At six months, baby is starting to explore and move around! The main challenge during this stage is finding ways to keep your little one engaged in independent play, allowing you to tackle your own to-do list. Manhattan Toy Company has been a trusted toy brand since 1978, and the Click Clack Ball is an excellent, simple toy that will occupy your baby for extended periods. The Click Clack Ball rattles when shaken and has multiple colorful textured knobs to twist and teethe on. Multiple features and eye-catching colors and patterns attract baby’s attention and hold it for solo play, which I always felt rare for my boys at this age!
Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N
Interactive musical plush
- Customize Scout with child’s name and favorites
- Pairs with computer or smartphone
- Simple, plush design
- Must re-personalize every time the battery dies
- Some parents had difficulty personalizing
When it comes to learning at each stage, LeapFrog is a household name. LeapFrog My Pal Scout is customizable (via your phone or computer) and can “learn” your child’s name, favorite color, and more. Personalized learning engages little ones, while Scout’s bright colors, light-up features and playful personality make him engaging and fun for your baby, promoting growth through interaction. Caregivers can even set a sleep timer with My Pal Scout to sing personalized lullabies to lull baby to sleep!
Age range: 6 to 36 months | Batteries required: Y
Object permanence box for visual development
- Montessori-style toy
- Sustainable wood material
- Bright, primary colors
- Mixed opinions on the ball sizes
Montessori toys are often made from wood and other natural materials, making them safe and inviting for six-month-old babies to explore. The Adena Montessori Object Permanence Toy is fantastic for helping little ones understand object permanence and expand visual development. Placing the bright primary colored balls teaches babies that objects exist even when they can’t see them, stimulating both visual focus and object tracking. We love that the design encourages exploration, allowing babies to grasp and manipulate the balls, improving fine motor skills. Adena Montessori Object Permanence Box is a fantastic tool for supporting visual development in a fun and engaging way!
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Stimulating activity cube
- Durable, sturdy design to ensure safety
- Keeps baby entertained for extended play durations
- Automatic shut-off keeps caregivers happy!
- Some parents complain about toy’s quality and longevity
Need a toy to appeal to baby’s senses? With 25 fun songs in an adjustable volume (overstimulated parents, rejoice!), 14 manipulatable features and 4 light-up buttons, VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube is a clear winner for best stimulating toy for 6-month-olds. Five panels of fun in bright colors and a variety of learning tools is sure to get baby excited about play. Learning about animals, shapes, instruments and the sounds they make, VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube will keep your little one busy. Motion sensors activate funs sounds when baby shakes or manipulates the cube, providing additional stimulation.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y
Tumblers for spatial awareness
- Sustainably made from rubberwood trees (chemical-free)
- Painted using organic pigments and water-based dyes
- Not ideal for teething
Plan Toys Sensory Tumbling set only looks basic– the three little wooden ball-shaped toys have a flat top, encouraging movement as they roll and tumble, which helps babies understand how objects move in space. This cute set is our pick for spatial awareness development, as this critical emerging skill is fostered in both cognitive and physical development. As your baby becomes more mobile, coordination is increasingly important as they begin to crawl and reach for objects. Spatial awareness is essential as baby grows in social interactions with others and reach and maneuver around their own space.
Plan Toys' Sensory Tumbling set is not only fun for rolling around—each tumbler features a different sensory object. One has a mirror for baby to gaze at themself, one has three wooden balls for them to shake like a rattle, and one has fluffy fabric to encourage tactile senses.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Musical playset to encourage active listening
- Range of interesting music toys
- BPA, phthalate and lead-free
- Soft, neutral colors
- Pricey
KiwiCo is incredibly in tune with little one’s monthly developments and milestones. Their Let’s Listen set comes with four unique toys that appeal to baby’s sense of hearing. We love the somewhat unconventional musical playset offered up, including play scarves, a wood scarf keeper, a round wood shaker and a waterfall shaker. The round wood shaker encourages grasping, and when baby shakes it, the beads inside make noise. In contrast, the waterfall shaker involves tilting and turning, promoting listening and illustrating cause and effect. While play scarves might seem like an odd addition to a toy encouraging active listening, parents or caregivers can wave them to music to help baby visualize rhythm. The scarf keeper has little beads that can be moved back and forth to make sounds and increase fine motor skills, and the scarves can be tucked inside the slats. BONUS: For 50 percent off the first month's subscription of any KiwiCo crate, use discount code THEBUMP.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
When it comes to the best toys for 6-month-olds, remember that for the most part, baby isn’t going to be very picky yet. With that said, it’s a good idea to buy a variety of toys that’ll help them meet those all-important 6-month baby milestones.
Six-month-olds are just starting to sit independently and get around by rolling or scooting on their bellies, says Lohiser. “That’s why the best toys for 6-month-olds can be played with while sitting or lying on their tummy. Sit-at toys with lots of textures and activities provide a great core and fine motor workout,” explains Lohiser.
Baby’s fine motor skills are more developed than they were a few months ago, so your little one can now hold and manipulate items. According to Lohiser, infants this age are surprised and delighted with peek-a-boo activities and drop-through play. These actions may seem simple, but in actual fact this type of activity teaches children about cause and effect.
Six-month-olds are also exploring everything through their senses. Coster says, “Toys that react to the push of a button, or squishy toys that change their shape when you squeeze them are popular with this age group, as are indestructible books that baby can hold during storytime.” Rattles, balls, cups, bath toys and activity cubes are also great choices for this age group, he adds.
And though you’ll find lots of toys that provide a variety of sensory experiences, there’s no need to overdo it at this age, Coster emphasizes. “Sometimes, a good toy will be incredibly simple, offering a single type of sensory experience, catering to their touch, vision or hearing.” Bonus points if the activities range from simple to complex so the toy can grow with baby as they develop.
At 6 months old, you can be sure that every toy you hand your little one will go straight into their mouth. That means you’ll want to keep an eye on the size of the toy, as well as what it’s made from. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all toys and parts should be larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking. In addition Coster says “BPA-free plastic or wood are good materials for babies of this age.” To keep things simple (and safe) look for toys that are specifically rated for 6 months, since these are designed with age-based safety concerns and skills in mind.
What’s more, your 6-month-old will soon be on the move, whether it’s scooting, crawling or pulling up to stand. “While this impulse to explore is beautiful in its own right, you’ll have to double down on safety around 6 months old,” says Coster. “And that means lots of falling and tumbling! In other words, a playmat or a playpen is a must whenever you can’t directly supervise baby’s playtime.”
About the writer:
Christine Carpenter, a New York storyteller and devoted mother of two little boys, uses her craft to connect with and support other women in motherhood. With over a decade of experience in fashion accessories, Carpenter excels in product development and has a keen passion for innovative, life-enhancing products. Her expertise spans the entire product supply chain, from concept to delivery. Carpenter has contributed articles and personal essays to The Bump, Motherscope, The Kindred Voice and Mantra Wellness.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Lisa Lohiser, EdD, is manager of early childhood development research at Fisher-Price’s Play Lab, where she provides insights into how kids learn and play and how to best support their development. She has a doctorate in education with a focus on learning and teaching in social contexts, as well as a Master’s degree in creativity and change leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
Mark Coster, PhD, is the founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for kids of all ages. He is an organic chemist with more than 20 years of experience in chemistry research and teaching. As a father of three, Coster is also passionate about the power of STEM toys.
American Academy of Pediatrics, How to Buy Safe Toys, July 2021
The Bump September 2024 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of over 400 parents from among The Bump community. We asked about their child’s favorite toy, what they and their child enjoyed about it and what skills it helped their child develop.
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