The Best Toys for 3-Month-Old Infants, Tested by a Mom and Baby

Created specifically with little fingers in mind, the Bright Starts Oball Easy Grasp Shaker Rattle features flexible, yet firm material on each end for baby to squeeze and hold. The textured handle contains colorful beads that create a soft rattle sound with every move.

As 3-month-olds are still working on developing their grasp, I found many rattles to be too heavy or simply too big for my baby to hold on her own. Thanks to the easy-grasp design of the Oballs, this was my 3-month-old’s favorite rattle since she could loop her fingers through the ends and actually hold it herself. She enjoyed the soft sounds it made when she moved it around and even chewed on the ends of it like a teether. Although some customers found the rattle sound to be too soft, I found it to be perfect for my 3-month-old as it was loud enough to get her attention without startling her or being overstimulating.

While this rattle earned high scores in every category, I awarded it 10 out of 10 scores for durability and value for money. I was shocked that it was priced at less than four dollars! We’ve owned other Bright Starts Oball products in the past and they’ve lasted for many years, so there’s no doubt in my mind that this rattle will stand the test of time. I anticipate that it could be passed down to multiple children, which I don’t typically expect from toys at this price point.

Dimensions: 2.2" (H) x 5.5" (W) x 2.2" (L) | Weight: 1.4 oz. | Age rating: 0 to 36 months | Care instructions: Wipe clean

Curated specifically with 3-month-olds in mind, The Charmer Play Kit by Lovevery will encourage baby to make new discoveries using their mouth, eyes and hands, earning it a spot as our top pick for sensory exploration. Each kit comes with a variety of age-appropriate toys, as well as a play guide full of expert tips to help parents understand the “how” and “why” behind each included item.

Overall, this play kit was an easy favorite for both me and my baby, earning 10 out of 10 scores in every category. I found many of the toys, such as the mirror, crinkle paper and soft book to be perfectly in line with my 3-month-old’s current abilities, and there were other items that she will grow into in the coming weeks. I was especially impressed with the mirror, as it was at the perfect angle for my baby to actually see herself and we didn’t have any issues with getting it to stand up, unlike other floor mirrors we’ve used in the past.

A subscription, which delivers a play kit every two months for the first year, is required. However, you don’t have to worry about signing your life away, as you can easily skip a delivery or cancel the subscription at any time by logging into your online customer account. In the past, I've felt that the Lovevery kits were higher priced than what I was willing to spend myself. But after handling the kit myself, I’m actually impressed by every aspect of it; it’s well worth the money.

Dimensions: N/A | Weight: N/A | Age rating: 3 to 4 months | Care instructions: Wipe clean

If your little one isn’t a fan of tummy time, an interactive toy like this one from Baby Einstein is sure to make the experience more enjoyable. This stimulating light bar is easy for small hands to activate and is full of auditory and visual delights. Plus, it’s easy to wipe clean (in case of inevitable messes), and its sounds can be played in English, Spanish or French, depending on your preference.

My daughter was intrigued by the flashing lights and music for short durations during tummy time and I found it to be especially useful to distract her once she started getting tired or fussy while on her tummy. Although she’s often content laying her head down during tummy time, the flashing lights on the light bar encouraged her to prop herself up on her arms and hold her head up high, which is ultimately what earned this light bar a spot as the best 3-month-old toy for strength building.

At just under $20, I gave the Baby Einstein Grow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station 10 out of 10 scores for durability and value for money. While the lights and music are entertaining for baby at a young age, I appreciate that it can also help them learn animal sounds and colors in three different languages as they get older. It can also be propped up using the stand on the back for seated play once baby is able to sit up.

Dimensions: 8.9” (H) x 12.6” (W) x 5.9” (L) | Weight: 1.1 lbs. | Age rating: 3 to 36 months | Care instructions: Wipe clean

Another standout pick in our roundup of the best toys for 3-month-olds is this adorable animated penguin. The sweet, singing stuffed animal is a favorite of Sarno’s because of how it supports cognitive development and can be used to teach imitation skills and concepts like object permanence. But my favorite thing about this toy? It was stimulating for baby and kept her entertained despite not having an array of bright, flashing lights or contrasting colors. In fact, she was actually engaged with this toy longer than many other toys that we’ve used, earning it 10 out of 10 scores for child’s reaction and ease of use.

My baby loved watching Kissy the Penguin’s arms move while it sang and talked about blowing kisses. I laid her on her tummy in front of it and she pushed herself up as long as she could to watch the penguin move. Unlike other toys that use flashing lights to attract baby’s attention, I appreciate that it wasn’t overstimulating no matter how long we played with it. My baby is also just starting to roll over more regularly, and there were numerous times where she would roll herself toward Kissy The Penguin, so I loved that the super soft, cuddly plush wouldn’t hurt her if she rolled into it.

Dimensions: 12” (L) x 5” (W) x 5” (H) | Weight: 1 lb. | Age rating: 0+ months | Care instructions: Spot clean

The Playskool Glo Worm provides a unique and innovative way to soothe your little one through pre-programmed lullabies and up to two minutes of personalized recordings, such as a voice message or favorite song. The plush soother toy allows caregivers to choose between cry detection (which can be activated for five hours at a time) and energy save mode (which won’t activate for baby’s cries but can still be activated by pressing its chest).

Although the Glo Worm appears to largely be geared toward nighttime, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until after 12 months of age before allowing baby to sleep with stuffed toys. For this reason, I chose to use the Glo Worm as a daytime comfort toy for my 3-month-old. During her wake windows, I laid the toy next to her while I was nearby. If she started to get fussy, it would activate either the voice recording or pre-programmed lullabies—whichever setting we had selected—and she would instantly calm and perk up to listen.

At times the cry sensor was overly sensitive and would activate just from her babbling or cooing. However, in times where she was starting to get upset, it helped postpone the tears long enough for her to get a few more minutes of tummy time or for me to complete a task—which any parent or caregiver will surely appreciate.

Dimensions: 7.4" (L) x 2.9" (W) x 12" (H) | Weight: 8.8 oz. | Age rating: 0+ months | Care instructions: Machine washable

Touch plays an important role in early development and how babies perceive the world around them. It’s how they take in information about shape, size, temperature and texture. The Winkel’s unique design of smooth, bendable loops encourages tactile exploration and hand-to-mouth coordination. Once they get a little older, it can also be refrigerated and used to provide cooling relief for baby's sore gums while teething—although you might find that baby enjoys exploring the slick, chilled tubes even sooner than that.

My 3-month-old loved the Winkel and immediately was able to grab it without assistance, thanks to its lightweight design and narrow loops. Unlike other handheld toys, she was able to hang onto it for extended periods of time and if she dropped it, she was able to grab onto it herself again. She was amused by the soft rattle sound when she waved the Winkel around, but she especially enjoyed rolling from her back to her side while licking and chewing on the smooth tubes. Although she isn’t teething quite yet, she was fascinated with the Winkel after it had been refrigerated and always seemed to enjoy the cooling sensation on her hands and mouth.

Compared to other toys we’ve used, the Winkel kept her entertained the longest, despite its simple design and lack of flashy features, earning it 10 out of 10 scores in every category. It has been a favorite for my baby and it continues to be one of the first toys that we reach for every day. Its smaller design is perfect for throwing it in the diaper bag when leaving the house and I often find myself reaching for it during diaper changes when she’s extra squirmy. If you’re looking for an easy-to-hold rattle and sensory teether, the Winkel will be a quick favorite for you and baby!

Dimensions: 5" (L) x 4" (W) x 3.8" (H) | Weight: 6 oz. | Age rating: 0+ months | Care instructions: Wipe clean

Not only will the Infantino Spiral Activity Toy Racoon keep baby entertained during stroller rides, but baby won’t be able to resist reaching for the three dangling toys as they bounce and sway, which is why we awarded it the top spot for best 3-month-old toy for encouraging reach. The spiral design wraps around the stroller bar and features a variety of contrasting colors, textured fabrics and sound effects to engage baby’s developing senses.

My 3-month-old loved watching the dangling toys, which include a selfie apple mirror, a bird rattle and a flower teether, move with each bump and turn. She stayed busy during our morning walks trying to grab for them but was too little to reach quite yet. Although it was designed to wrap around stroller bars, my 3-month-old even enjoyed playing with it on the floor, and was especially interested in the crinkle sounds from the selfie apple mirror toy and the raccoon ears. She was able to hold onto it easily while rolling from her back to her sides and chewing on the teething ring.

Priced at under $15, I know this is a toy that will last a long time—we’ve had another version of this same Infantino toy for nearly six years, and used it for multiple kids, and it’s still in great condition—that’s why I awarded the Infantino Spiral Activity Toy Racoon 10 out of 10 scores for durability and value for money. If you’re looking for a high-quality toy that will help encourage baby to reach, while also keeping them entertained while on the go, this is the perfect toy for you.

Dimensions: N/A | Weight: 7.8 oz. | Age rating: 0 to 3 years | Care instructions: N/A

The Wee Gallery Art Cards provide six large, sturdy flashcards, which were designed with baby’s developing vision in mind. Baby’s vision is rapidly developing during the first 12 months of life, and the contrast of black and white images is easiest for newborns to see. They also aid in cognitive brain development, learning and memory through simple repeating shapes and edges.

Each of the six cards is double sided, featuring a black on white design on one side and white on black design on the other, for a total of 12 images. Although the designs appear very simple, the high-contrast patterns grabbed my 3-month-old’s attention and kept her focused as she studied each card. These cards actually kept her attention longer than many other toys, including those with flashing lights and sounds. They also gave my 3-year-old the opportunity to get involved—he enjoyed holding the cards for his baby sister and telling her about the different animals shown.

Some parents feel the cards are expensive, but I found them to be fairly priced for the quality, which is why I awarded them 10 out of 10 scores for value for money. These cards feel very durable and high quality, and I expect that they will last many years and could be passed down to future children. The brand also offers a variety of other collections, including pets, jungle and woodland themes, so there is sure to be something for everyone.

Dimensions: 5" x 7" | Weight: 7.4 oz. | Age rating: 0 to 1 year | Care instructions: Wipe clean