Research-backed
Image: MomJunction Design Team
The best baby toys for newborns play a crucial role in helping your tiny tots meet their developmental milestones. The right toys can stimulate their visual, auditory, and tactile senses, improve their fine motor and other vital skills, and encourage them to explore their environment.
Lisa Holloway, an OB/GYN nurse practitioner and mother of three, says, “I have found that toys do not have to be complicated or expensive to be desirable to a child. Finding safe infant toys that are versatile and designed to allow your child to play with in unique ways is key.”
From musical toys and teether toys to activity books and mirror toys for babies, we have explored various newborn toys from trusted brands that can grab your baby’s attention and aid their development. Keep scrolling to learn more about these tried-and-tested newborn playtime essentials trusted by moms and dads. We also bring you a detailed buying guide and answer some FAQs.
Top Picks
13 Best Baby Toys For Newborns To Stimulate Their Senses In 2024
1. Best Multipurpose: Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym
Fisher-Price brings you the Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym that grows with your infant and allows them to play in four ways—lay and play, tummy time, sit and play, and take along. It is designed with the Smart Stages technology, where your munchkin can enjoy different content at different stages. The baby-friendly activity mat features five-light-up piano keys, a detachable keyboard, a repositionable toy arch, five hanging toys, including a teether and a mirror, and a padded mat. Invest in this activity gym to develop your baby’s sensory and gross motor skills and spark their curiosity. Check out this product testing video to learn more about this tried-and-tested infant toy.
Pros
- Multiple functions
- Educational toy
- Attractive and colorful design
- Easy attachable and detachable toy pieces
- Machine-washable mat
Cons
- Battery might not last long
"This playmat keeps my little one entertained for hours with its colorful buttons and long battery life. Despite minor flaws, it's a practical baby gear for home use and travel. The best part is that it is super long-lasting, and I plan on using it with my second baby too."
Do remember
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 43,553 positive customer reviews on Amazon attest to the product’s quality.
2. Best With Attractive Colors: Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy
Stimulate your baby’s auditory and visual senses, relieve their teething pain, and improve their fine motor skills with the Winkle rattle and teether toy by the trusted brand Manhattan Toy. This toy rattles when shaken and features a maze of soft, pliable plastic tubes that are easy to grasp with tiny hands. The safety-tested toy also doubles as a teether toy, and you can refrigerate it to soothe your baby’s painful gums. Take a look at this video detailing a reviewer’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Bright and colorful
- Easy to grasp
- BPA- and PVC-free
Cons
- May not be easy to clean
"This toy is easy for my little one to handle and even motivates her to grasp other objects. She may miss grasping it at times, yet she enjoys using it as a teether. It's super easy to clean and has proven advantageous during travel."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 30,870 positive reviews on Amazon are proof that this product meets customers' expectations.
3. Best Visually Stimulating: Bigib BeeSpring Spiral Hanging Rattle Toy
Are you looking for a toy that can be attached to a crib, stroller, or car seat? The tried-and-tested BeeSpring spiral rattle toy can be hung conveniently to the arch or handlebar of an infant car seat or a double stroller. Its strip and dot patterns and attractive bright colors stimulate the baby’s visual sense and keep the little one entertained. Tested for safety, the toy, made of soft, non-toxic cloth with plush filling, helps stimulate the baby’s muscles, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Check out this video to learn more about the newborn toy.
Pros
- Made of non-toxic material
- Soft and attractive
- Ideal travel toy
- Durable and easy to clean
Cons
- May not be slip-resistant
"I love this vivid, engaging baby toy. It fits nicely on our stroller, and with the sensory elements, such as the contrasting colors, flower rattle, gripper, and plush toy, it has been an absolute joy for my little one."
4. Best Comfortable: Pro Goleem Elephant Security Blanket
Introduce your infant to cuddly plush toys with this Pro Goleem elephant security blanket, which makes a perfect sleeping companion. The soft bubble texture of the baby-friendly blanket makes it ideal for cuddling and stimulating the child’s sense of touch, and it is also perfectly sized for tiny hands. Further, this blanket toy also produces a unique sound when your baby twists its ears.
Pros
- Soft and cuddly
- Easy to clean
- No pilling
- Comes packaged in a gift-ready box
Cons
- Stitch quality may not be up to the mark
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
About 12,289 reviewers on Amazon have given their seal of approval to the product.
5. Best Easy-To-Grip: The First Years First Rattle
Are you looking for a toy that doubles as a teether? Here is The First Years first rattle that comes with soft knotted antennas that can be chewed. This safe and effective rattle toy offers a comfortable grip, and its easy-to-grip legs are placed around the body to promote early grasping skills. The multi-textured and colorful toy helps stimulate the child’s visual sense and comes with a rattle that stimulates the auditory sense, offering lots of fun to your little one. This rattle toy can also serve as a hand-eye coordination toy.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Attractive and bright colors
- Fun rattle sound and crinkles
- Soft and multi-textured
- Suitable for babies aged three months and above
Cons
- May attract lint
"My baby and my pup are both in love with this toy. With its intriguing, crinkly features, it kept my child soothed and calm during teething. Also, it washes well."
Quick tip6. Best Clip-On Toy: Tomy Lamaze Mortimer The Moose Toy
Let your little one enjoy the crinkles and jingles by bringing home Mortimer The Moose. This “amoozing” toy features a variety of textured antlers that double as teethers and ring-shaped tails that encourage tiny hands to hold the stuffed animal toy easily. The fur body ensures it is ready to cuddle, and the knotted satin legs are designed for chewing. You can also attach this mom-approved toy to a stroller or double stroller, car seat, or crib with the help of the clasp, and the Moose squeaks when its tummy is pressed, making it one of the most versatile squeaky toys for newborns. It is an ideal toy for developing your baby’s visual and auditory senses, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.
Pros
- Soft, textured body
- Colorful design
- Textured antlers
- Easy to grasp
- Makes a great travel companion
Cons
- Stitching may not be firm enough
"My baby adores this versatile toy, particularly the textured moose antlers, its black and white side, and the satisfying sounds. Although it's not machine-washable, it is durable and a favorite on car trips, keeping my baby entertained for long periods."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
Over 7,415 customers on Amazon have opined that this is one of the best products in its category.
7. Best Lightweight: Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book
Improve your baby’s hand-eye coordination with the Sassy Peek-a-Boo activity book. This safety-tested soft book is designed with flaps that are ideal for tiny hands and help with early vital skill development. The crinkly flaps help stimulate the auditory sense, while the bright and attractive colors with high-contrast patterns stimulate the visual sense. Further, this book is machine washable and easy to maintain. You can also attach this peek-a-boo book to your little one’s stroller to engage them, making it one of the most lightweight infant playthings.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to grasp
- Lightweight design
- Attachable clasp
Cons
- Baby might outgrow the toy quickly
"I found the high-contrast pages of this book a delight. Even though my baby doesn't really engage with the flaps or animals, she cherishes it during her tummy time. It's a great baby gift, with its appealing black and white prints and a plastic link. It's well-made, soft, and crinkly, features that babies love engaging with."
8. Best With Mirror: beiens Baby Book
This tried-and-tested baby book by beiens includes nine different patterns, a baby-safe mirror, high-contrast images, and six colors to stimulate your little one’s tactile and visual senses, making it an interactive and soft sensory toy. It has a hanging loop that helps you attach the soft book to a stroller, double stroller, or crib. The baby-safe mirror attached to the book encourages your infant to focus on the human face and helps develop self-awareness. The book also has a colorful dial and a crinkly page that help improve fine motor skills.
Pros
- Great toy for parent-child interaction
- Made of safe materials
- Durable design
- Strong stitching
- Attractive colors
- Aids in visual development
Cons
- Button on the last page may pose a choking hazard
"My daughter was captivated by the book's vibrant colors and stimulating textures. Cleaning this fabric book is easy too. Although the crinkling sound is engaging, it's not hooking my baby's attention for extended periods. Nevertheless, it's conveniently lightweight and great for on-the-go fun. Worth considering!"
9. Best With Soft Corners: hahaland Baby Toys Kit
If you are looking for developmental toy sets, then the Hahaland baby toys kit, a trusted choice of parents for its proven performance, can be ideal. It includes ten rattle and teething toys with soft corners and easy-gasp handles. Each toy is individually wrapped and comes packaged in a gift-ready storage box. They are ideally shaped to fit into tiny hands, and the teethers attached to the rattles are made of food-grade silicone material, ensuring they serve as safe teething ring options for babies. These baby-friendly rattle toys help improve motor skills, promote hand-eye coordination, and cater to the auditory and visual senses, making them one of the best stimulating newborn toys. These toys can also be used for babies aged six months and above
Pros
- Made of durable and food-grade silicone material
- Textured surfaces
- Free of phthalates
- Non-toxic
Cons
- May not be easy to clean
"Despite the reduced noise level and water leak concerns, these toys offer a soft and comfortable chew experience for my teething baby. However, some pieces proved a bit bulky and challenging for my little one to grip. But, I like that these toys keep my baby happy and entertained while traveling."
10. Best Musical: Aitbay Plush Elephant Music Baby Toys
If you are looking for interactive playthings for babies, then bring home this tiny companion for your little one. The Aitbay plush elephant toy is designed for parent-child interaction and helps improve your child’s creativity, motor skills, and auditory and visual senses. It features big ears and catchy eyes and is made of plush material, making it ready to be cuddled. The safe stuffed animal toy also has three buttons: flower, heart, and round. Your tiny tot can press the flower button to enjoy soothing nature sounds, the heart button to listen to nursery rhymes, and the round button to play funny sounds.
Pros
- Made of safe ABS material
- Soft and cuddly
- Durable stitching
- Easy to grab
- Lightweight design
Cons
- May not be easy to open the battery compartment
"I found the soothing lights on this elephant toy to be an effective attention-grabber for my baby, while its melodies are simply magical. On the flip side, there's one elusive song we're still trying to identify. It's overall an adorable toy!"
Caution11. Best Wearable: Bloobloomax Wrist Rattles
Get your hands on the Bloobloomax wrist rattles to let your babies have lots of fun moving their hands and feet and improve their motor skills. Tested for safety and comfort, these rattles are easy to wear and wrap around, and the feet rattle comes with an elastic Velcro that secures it. The soft fabric makes them comfortable to wear, and the bright colors attract babies. Further, the mommy-approved wrist rattles and socks feature a bell each to stimulate their auditory sense.
Pros
- Breathable and soft fabric
- Non-fade print
- Cute stuffed animals
- Washable and easy to maintain
Cons
- Wrist rattles can be large for some babies
"I've been using these rattles for my child, who absolutely loves them. The bright and gentle fabric is easy to put on and take off. However, the socks tend to slip off; perhaps layering them over another pair would ensure they stay in place. Overall, a delightful product that keeps my baby engaged while honing fine motor skills."
12. Best Certified: Euyecety Baby Spiral Plush Toy
Keep your tiny tot engaged while carrying them in a carrycot, stroller, or double stroller with the spiral plush toy set by Euyecety. The attachable and detachable hanging toys can be wrapped to the bars in the infant car seat, crib, or carrycot. The hanging toys include a chicken that squeaks, a snail that jingles, and a mirror that improves self-awareness. This safe and effective toy set can help spark your munchkin’s imagination, enhance visual and auditory senses, improve concentration, and develop motor skills.
Pros
- Soft material
- Crinkling baby-friendly paper
- Non-toxic and BPA-free
- Safe for teething babies
- CPSIA-, ASTM F963-, EN71-, and CE-certified
Cons
- May not be slip-resistant
13. Best For Tummy Time: Pocket Panda Baby Mirror Toy
The tummy-time floor mirror toy by Pocket Panda has 3D cartoon images to make your parent-child interactions more exciting, and the rustling sound produced by the built-in sound paper helps improve your little one’s concentration. Tested to be safe for the baby, each page or flap in the mirror toy is filled with cotton, making it soft, and the toy comes with rich, attractive colors to stimulate the visual sense of your little one. Further, the one-piece design ensures the toy is safe for your infant to play with, and the mirror helps the baby with self-awareness, making it a nice addition to their toy family collection.
Pros
- Great for improving motor skills
- Soft and comfortable
- Water-resistant
- Fade-proof prints
- Smooth surface
Cons
- May be smaller than you expect
"My baby loves the mirror toy for tummy time. Although the mirrored image is a bit warped, overall, it helps stimulate my baby's visual development with contrast patterns. I appreciate the engaging sensory experience. It's definitely a great add-on to our routine."
How To Choose The Right Baby Toy For Newborns?
Keep the following factors in mind when buying a toy for newborn babies.
- Sound: Choose rattles or plush toys that produce sound to grab the baby girl or boy’s attention and help improve their hand-eye coordination.
- Bright colors and images: High-contrast toys with bright, attractive colors and bold patterns catch an infant’s attention. If you are opting for a toy book, choose a book with high-contrast images.
- Safety: Select a newborn toy that is carefully crafted with no tiny pieces that can pose a choking hazard or suffocation. Also, ensure the toy is made of safe materials and devoid of BPA, phthalates, etc.
- Age: Generally, baby toys come with a specific recommended age on the label. Opt for an infant toy that matches the developmental stages of your infant.
- Easy-to-grasp: Pick a toy that is easy to hold and designed for tiny hands.
Why Trust Momjunction?
Vibha Navarathna, the writer of this article, loves reviewing baby products. She does comprehensive research to recommend safe products for the parents of little ones. For this article, she has browsed various platforms and went through hundreds of reviews to curate the best baby toys for newborns. She has also included a buying guide to help her readers make the right pick. Vibha has also ensured that the toys listed here aid babies’ development and keep them engaged and entertained.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do newborns need any toys?
During the first few weeks and months after birth, your tiny tot needs a lot of attention and interaction. And after a few months of birth, toys can help develop their visual acuity and tactile senses.
2. What toys are appropriate for a newborn?
Newborns tend to shake their hands and feet actively and put everything they grasp in their mouths. You may choose rattles, large rings, teething toys, plush toys, textured toys, and squeeze toys for newborns (1).
3. When should I introduce toys to my newborn?
You can introduce toys to your newborn once they reach two months to stimulate their senses (2). Lisa Holloway says, “Newborns understand things way more than we give them credit for. During times when your baby is alert, maintain eye contact and speak to them. Toys can be a great facilitator for this interaction. Showing your baby a colorful object is a great way to stimulate them visually—while you do this, talk to them and tell them what they are seeing and hearing.”
Newborns become more curious about their environment and start to learn new things at around two months. They begin focusing on patterns, colors, sounds, and much more. So, investing in the best baby toys for newborns would greatly help in developing their motor and cognitive skills and stimulating their senses. Give them safe and engaging toys, and in no time, they will be conversing and interacting with you. Consult a child development expert to learn more about the right toy helpful for your little one.
Infographic: What Are The Various Kinds Of Toys For Newborns?
Toys for newborns provide essential sensory stimulation and are designed with safety and age-appropriate features, offering little ones a delightful and enriching experience. Check out the infographic below to discover the different types of toys that are a must-have for every newborn.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Good Toys for Young Children by Age and Stage
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/play/toys - Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2mo.html - Toy Buying Tips for Babies & Young Children: AAP Report Explained
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/What-to-Look-for-in-a-Toy.aspx
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