The Best Toys for 7-Month-Old Babies, According to Families

Visual development remains vital throughout a child’s first year. Mirrors are ideal for both visual development and interactive play. According to Kristen Miller, director of education for Celebree School, “A mirror is also a great conversation starter, as you can point out facial features and emotions.” Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Double-Feature Mirror has a baby-safe, shatter-proof mirror on one side and visually appealing high-contrast cards on the other.

The Double-Feature Mirror can be placed on the floor for tummy time or attached to cribs, changing tables, and more. The high-contrast design on the non-mirror side was specifically made with science in mind, the images created based on laboratory research of baby visual development. Meanwhile, the mirror can help with facial recognition, which is vital for social development as your baby ages. All in all, Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Double-Feature Mirror stands out as a great toy for visual development.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

At 7 months, babies are still excited to explore their world. Tactile toys are essential. Fat Brian Toys’s pipSquigz Loops come highly recommended from Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. If you’re looking to provide your little one a tactile experience they won’t tire of quickly, you can’t go wrong here.

These suction cup toys stick to one another or surfaces and play areas. Made from graspable materials, your baby can shake the plastic rattles while exploring various textures and bold colors. The loops conveniently suction to flat surfaces, allowing your baby to play at their high chair or out at a restaurant. In addition to creating a delightful tactile experience, these bend-able toys encourage hand-eye-coordination and the development of essential motor skills.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

A massive amount of brain development takes place in the first year of life, especially in regards to language acquisition. Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, y Deditos de los Pies/Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is a brief bilingual book designed specifically for babies and a great toy for cognitive development, social interaction, and language skills.

A take on the classic, “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” song, this adorable 12-page book invites children’s participation. You can act out the well known lyrics in both English and Spanish while pointing to the various body parts referenced. Sarno agrees this is a great tool for learning, stating, “Use these books to build additional language opportunities by pointing at the various pictures, or act out the songs with your body to see if baby tries to imitate you.”

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

This short book, which adapts Five Little Ducks, (a counting song by the much beloved children’s entertainer Raffi) is the perfect means to capture your little one’s attention while teaching them some rudimentary number skills. This book also comes recommended from Sarno, who states “Repetition is fun and educational at this age as babies may start to recognize certain words.”

“You can’t go wrong with Raffi,” says Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump. “My daughter was obsessed with him from infancy. As a toddler we took her to a concert and she was shouting the names of songs out like a teenager at a rock show.” Short, sweet, and beautifully illustrated, Five Little Ducks tells the story of a mother duck watching her babies grow up. For young babies, the repetition and rhymes will grab their attention as they start understanding simple words. The book also has staying power for older kids, who will grow to appreciate and even relate to the story over time. And since it’s based on a classic Raffi tune, this book can be sung as easily as it can be read.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

At 7 months old, your little one will be exploring their world more and more and maybe even starting to crawl! It’s very important to encourage babies to continue to develop their muscles as they learn to control their bodies. The Infantino Pat and Play Water Mat is an inflatable, narwhal-shaped mat that stimulates the senses on multiple levels to encourage enriching play essential to muscle control.

The narwhal’s belly, which fills with water, comes with six floating characters for babies to both watch and attempt to grab—babies have a world of sound, shapes, and colors to explore here. Excellent for both tummy time and sit and play, this mat is an all around winner, great for 7-month-olds.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

At 7 months, your baby will still be interested in touching anything and everything they can get their hands on. Melissa and Doug Rollables Farm Friends help your little one build invaluable motor skills while helping them direct all that grasping energy toward appropriate places. These animal-shaped balls are made from material that Melissa and Doug describe as “firm enough to roll, and soft enough to squeeze.” This and the bright, enticing colors will definitely attract your little one.

These small, rollable balls are meant to fit little hands easily as well as introduce your baby to a few common farmyard animals like pigs, cows, and horses. Some balls make a light rattling noise to encourage your baby to shake or throw their new friends. While a seemingly simple toy, babies love a good ball and Rollable Farm Friends provide just that.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

A combination blanket and plushie, Little Giraffe Luxe Dog Plush Giraffe Lovey Blanket is perfect for babies ready to find their first comfort object. Made from impossibly soft faux fur, this 14-inch blanket will provide a cozy, soothing outlet for fussy babies. It’s easy to fold up and slip into your diaper bag or stroller carriage too, so it’s perfect for on-the-go soothing.

As every parent knows, babies are messy. Therefore, many may be hesitant to invest in high-end plushies and blankets that will only end up covered in drool, spit-up, and beyond. However, another major perk of Little Giraffe Luxe Dog Plush is how simple it is to clean. It can easily be hand-washed or machine washed on a delicate cycle. All in all, this is a high-quality, low-maintenance friend for your little one sure to provide loads of comfort.

**Age range: 6+ months | *Batteries required:* N

In my experience with my baby girl so far, Skip Hop delivers some of the best toys out there in terms of durability, price and entertainment value. Their Farmstand Beetbox Crawl Ball is no exception. For little ones beginning to explore cause and effect, this adorable motion activated anthropomorphic beet moves and makes noise in response to your baby’s touch.

In addition to playing three beatbox style songs, the Beetbox Crawl Ball rattles in response to shaking and rolling. There’s big motivation right there to keep your little one chasing their new buddy to elicit more noise and excitement. Plus, the leaves stemming from Beetbox’s head are easy for little hands to grab, so babies will be able to scoop up this toy once they catch it. While your baby will need plenty of supervision, this toy provides a lot of fun for babies while teaching them valuable lessons about cause and effect.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y

These types of interactive balls are a classic baby toy and nursery staple for a good reason: a ball within a ball is fascinating to a baby. And you can’t go wrong with Munchkin’s Shake’n Strain Bath Ball. Designed to be used both in the tub and on the playmat, this ball is an affordable choice with plenty of impressive features to ensure your baby’s comfort and safety while keeping them entertained.

Made from bright material to catch your infant’s eyes, the Shake’n Strain Bath Ball sports a soft, holed top easy for baby to grab and chew. This ball is ideal when introducing bath toys—its simple design won’t be overwhelming. The Shake’n Strain Bath Ball can gently float for baby’s entertainment or be used to strain water over your little one. And outside of bathtime, this is a safe toy to simply hand to your baby when you need a minute. All in all, this versatile toy is a great choice for interactive play in and out of the water.

Age range: 6M+ | Batteries required: N

During the second half of their first year, babies start learning about spatial awareness. One great choice to help in this arena is the classic shape sorter—babies fit blocks in a hole that matches their corresponding shape.

There are a lot of similar toys on the market, but Fisher Price’s version stands out. The kit’s blocks are large and chunky, very easy for babies to grab onto, and the range in colors allows parents to start introducing shapes, colors, and counting during play. All blocks easily fit inside the carrier case, which comes with a handle to make this toy easy to transport for on-the-go play. A shape sorter is a highly recommended 7-month old toy, and Fisher Price’s Baby’s First Blocks is of top-notch variety.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

Looking to motivate your little one to work on that hand-eye coordination? Then KiwiCo Piano, Xylophone and Shaker Set is a must. This set comes with both a xylophone (with keys babies can press to make sounds) and two wooden shakers. Exploring the music they can make with their hands is plenty of motivation to get your 7-month-old to work on their coordination.

Known for high-quality educational toys, KiwiCo really delivers with their Xylophone and Shaker Set. Made from smooth, high-quality wood, it’s easy for baby to bang on the xylophone and fiddle with the shakers without any risk of injury or discomfort. It’s a great way not only to build coordination but encourage an early interest in music and art. Plus, the product is 100% baby safe. As any parent knows, babies love to put anything and everything in their mouths. This playset uses baby-safe paint and is free of lead, BPA and phthalates.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N