The 13 Best Toys for 10-Month-Olds
A lot happens as baby reaches the 10-month mark—after all, they’re approaching toddlerhood! As your child hits new milestones, they’ll need playthings that continue to stimulate and challenge their developing minds. That’s why the best toys for 10-month-old infants are those that allow them to build on the skills they already have, while also inspiring them to learn more about themselves and the world around them. Not sure where to start when it comes to picking out the best toys for 10-month-olds? Below, discover top-rated picks for baby to enjoy at this age—plus, get expert tips to foster baby’s progress.
At this age, baby is picking up new skills every day, and their unique personality is beginning to shine through in their behavior. Expect your 10-month-old to communicate through gestures (think waving and clapping), and by imitating speech sounds, says Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. To build on these skills, you could clap when your child accomplishes a new feat during playtime (such as stacking toys together) or sing along to a musical toy.
“Books should always be a go-to for developing social and emotional skills,” says Sarno. Board books with cute, silly rhymes or textured pages offer a great way to introduce baby to new animals, shapes, colors and new concepts. Plus, adds Jennie Monness, an early childhood educator and co-founder of Union Square Play, 10-month-olds will begin to point at objects or poke things with their forefingers, making touch-and-feel books all the more relevant.
In terms of physical milestones, infants at this age may start pulling themselves up to stand, picking up small items and continuing to fine-tune their hand-eye coordination. This may translate to banging toys and other objects together (to experiment with noise of course!), putting things into containers and taking them out or even dropping items over and over again while seated in their high chair, explains Monness.
With all this in mind, opt for 10-month-old toys that align with their new interests and abilities—or, pique their curiosity by letting them play with household objects. Monness recommends metal condiment cups, clear salad spinners and plastic apothecary jars. They all offer safe, unique ways to introduce your kiddo to independent problem-solving while helping them work on their fine motor skills, like the pincer grasp. When it comes to play, the opportunities are truly endless for a 10-month-old.
Before treating the infant in your life to a new plaything, you’ll want to make sure it’s fun and engaging (of course) but also age-appropriate. According to developmental experts, these are the top features you should consider when picking out toys for a 10-month-old:
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Various textures. Plush playthings have their place, but you don’t want to limit your child’s toy box to soft objects only. “Clanking, clinking and banging, are all ways that a 10-month-old is investigating properties of objects, and the cause that their actions have on their environment,” explains Monness. This is why she suggests choosing toys made of various textures for baby to explore through multiple senses.
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Multipurpose designs. At 10 months olds, baby is on the cusp of a lot of big social and physical milestones, says Sarno. For this reason, you’ll want to choose toys that have multiple uses and that can grow with your child. Push toys that can be played with while sitting, kneeling or walking are a great for multiple stages.
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Developmental features. Infants at this age are refining their grasp, hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. Monness suggests looking for toys that allow baby to build on these blossoming developments, like a crawling tunnel or a pikler triangle.
Ready to browse the best toys for 10-month-old infants? Here, our favorite playthings on the market to help baby reach (and surpass!) new milestones.
Educational animal toys
First up on our list of the best toys for 10-month-olds is this farm-themed play set. According to Sarno, the sweet little animals can help baby develop fine motor skills, learn sound recognition and consider sharing. While your little one probably won’t be able to take apart and connect the toys by themselves at this age, it’s a skill they can work on, making this an engaging playtime option for months to come.
Vibrant stacking toy
The best toys for 10-month-olds are those that inspire baby to use multiple skills at once—just like this stacker. The plaything is a modern update of a classic toy, consisting of eight vibrant, textured rings. Your infant will love creating (and taking apart) the vibrant tower, and they won’t even notice they’re learning their colors and building hand-eye coordination as they do so.
Hide-and-seek play mat
Keep playtime interesting with this baby play mat. Sarno recommends this pick because it comes with vehicles that can be hidden in pop-up tunnels for baby to find—at this age, your child is sure to be fascinated by mini versions of hide and seek! Designed for slightly older infants and young tots, this play mat is sure to entertain your kiddo as they develop new skills. What’s more, the mat and cars fold into a convenient carrying case, so you can easily take these 10-month-old toys on the go. Available in a fairy- or space-themed design.
Animated plush bunny
Whether you’re shopping for a 10-month-old gift or a just-because toy for the little one in your life, you can’t go wrong with this animated bunny. Designed for interactive play, the sweet rabbit sings and plays peek-a-boo, helping baby’s budding social skills develop. This too-cute toy for 10-month-olds is also available as a puppy, a penguin and an elephant.
Fruit-shaped teethers
At the 10-month mark, most infants are teething. Even if a new tooth isn’t popping through, many little ones love exploring the world around them via their mouths. Sarno recommends these fruit-shaped teething toys, because of their fun textures and easy-to-grip design. And if baby is experiencing teething discomfort, pop these in the freezer to offer cool, soothing relief.
Montessori drop box toy
Teach baby the concept of object permanence with this simple Montessori toy. As they drop the ball in the wooden box and learn how to take it out via the drawer, they’ll become more familiar with cause-and-effect exploration, and strengthen their hand-eye coordination. Better yet, the wooden toy for 10-month-olds is made from FSC-certified, sustainably sourced wood and water-based finishes.
Colorful activity cube
This activity cube features five sides of fun for baby to discover. As they explore this colorful toy, they’ll find more than 75 songs, sounds, melodies and phrases that will introduce them to concepts like colors, numbers and animals. Designed for little ones between the ages of 9 months and 3 years, this activity cube is sure to be a playtime staple for years to come.
Wooden blocks
Introduce your child to math at a young age with the help of this toy for 10-month-olds. The play set consists of multiple wooden blocks in different shapes and sizes to spark your kiddo’s creativity. It even comes with a tray that can be used as a base for wobbly block buildings and for storage when playtime is over.
4-in-1 push toy
Is your little one itching to take their first steps? Whether they’re crawling, scooting or standing, this 4-in-1 toy will keep them engaged at every stage. The convertible design can be used for seated play (thanks to its light-up musical panel), as a push toy, a shopping cart or even a stroller for stuffed animals.
Sensory board book
Sarno is a fan of this board book for infants because of its many textures. Baby can touch and feel different sea creatures on every page, encouraging them to have new tactile, visual and social experiences.
Educational play kit
This age-appropriate play kit is thoughtfully curated with a number of standout toys for 10-month-olds. Inside, you’ll find playthings that will inspire your curious kiddo to experiment with gravity, cause and effect and balance. “Babies at this age love putting things in containers and taking them out,” says Monness, which is what makes the wooden egg cup and clear canister set standout picks included in this kit. Plus, this play set also comes with a “'How I Feel” board book to help your little one build emotional intelligence and explore their feelings.
Musical plush toy
Searching for a musical toy for baby—or maybe an educational plaything? You’re in luck—this smiley critter offers the best of both worlds. The plush toy’s light-up belly changes colors and plays songs to stimulate infants, while also teaching them about colors and shapes. When it’s time for bed, choose from various lullabies and soothing sounds to lull baby to sleep.
Shape-sorting train toy
Last but not least is this shape-sorting train toy for 10-month-olds. The 12-piece set includes several cars, shapes and stacking blocks to familiarize your child with counting, color-matching and organization. Eco-conscious parents will love that it’s made from recycled milk jugs—plus, it’s dishwasher-safe so it can be deep cleaned after playtime.
About the experts:
Jana Sarno, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. She has worked as the vice president of applied behavior analysis at North Shore Pediatric Therapy and as an infant development program administrator at Coyne & Associates Education Corp.
Jennie Monness, is an early childhood educator and the co-founder of Union Square Play a global virtual parenting community and play space in New York City.
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