Research-backed
Six-month-olds begin sitting without support and show curiosity about things around them. They try reaching out to objects they like and put things in their mouth (1). So, here’s our list of the best toys for six-month-old babies to keep them safe and healthy while having fun. These toys are designed to provide adequate sensory and motor stimulation to babies, which helps in their overall development.
However, choosing the right toy may be challenging with diverse options available. So, take a look at the different toys listed below to find one that suits your child’s interests.
Top Picks
25 Best Toys For 6-Month-Old Babies In 2023
1. Best BPA-Free: Green Toys Tug Boat
Make your baby’s bath or pool time more enjoyable with this floating boat. Your child can collect water and pour it from the spout mouth.
Pros
- Easy to clean and dishwasher-safe
- Lightweight body
- Easy to hold
- Made of recycled plastic milk jugs
- BPA-, phthalate-, PVC-, and lead-free
Cons
- May develop molds
- May not hold your child’s attention for long
2. Best Fun-To-Stack Blocks: B. Toys One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks
This ten-piece baby block set comes in vibrant colors and offers multiple uses. Each block features numbers and animal figures that babies can play with. Before buying, have a look at this video for more details
Pros
- Comes in a clear bag for easy storage
- Free of BPA
- Squeezable and chewable material helps soothe teething pain
- Easy-to-grip blocks are fun to stack
Cons
- May trap water inside
- Child can bite off the edges, leading to a choking hazard
3. Best Safety-Certified: Manhattan Toy Snuggle Pod Sweet Pea First Baby Doll
Baby pea comes in a soft sleeping pod. If your little one loves to cuddle with their toys, pick this soft plush toy for babies. Before buying, have a look at this video for more details.
Pros
- Made of satiny soft material
- Perfect for snuggling in bed
- ASTM-certified
- Meets CPSC, EN71, and Health Canada safety standards
Cons
- May be poorly sewn
- Fingers may stick between the ribbon bow while playing
4. Best Machine Washable: Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
This jumperoo is a 360-degree rotating seat suspended from elastic ropes, enabling the baby to jump and turn easily. Have a look at this video for more details.
Pros
- Machine-washable seat pad
- Engaging toy pieces
- Three-level seat adjustment suits the growing baby
- Encourages children to jump by playing music andflashing lights.
Cons
- May be loud
- Seat fabric might be slightly rough
5. Best Musical Toy: Vtech Drop & Go Dump Truck
This is a small truck that plays songs and phrases is an ideal single-along musical toy for six-month-olds. It is available in two vibrant colors and comes with a spring mechanism that drops the ball into a bucket when pressed.
Pros
- Push along design helps develop fine motor skills
- Dropping ball into the bucket helps teach cause and effect
- Comes with three buttons that play melodies and phrases
- Free of BPA
Cons
- Pull string may be short
- Some small parts may pose a choking hazard
6. Best Bath Toy For Toddlers: Munchkin Float And Play Bubbles Bath Toy
Make bathing fun for any baby with this rattling ball. It comes with four toys that spin and rattle and have cute characters inside them. You can use these bath toys for interactive play.
Pros
- Easy to grasp
- Easy to dry
- Can be played outside water
- Good toy for developing hand-eye coordination
Cons
- May not be durable enough
- Some may not be watertight
7. Best For Improving Dexterity: Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack And Baby’s First Blocks Bundle
The set includes a block bundle and a stacking toy for infants. It is fully recyclable and a good gifting option. The colorful blocks and rings promote color recognition and can play an important role in improving your child’s development skills.
Pros
- Includes an easy-to-carry storage bucket
- Helps improve hand-eye coordination
- Easy-to-grasp design helps improve dexterity
- Improves problem-solving skills
- Good toy for introducing shapes and colors
Cons
- Quality of the lid could have been better
- Rings may be smaller than expected
8. Best For Teething: Infantino Sensory Balls, Blocks, & Buddies Activity Toy Set
These 20-set textured blocks and balls make for good teething toys for six-month-olds. This is a compact set of activity toys for babies including sensory balls, counting blocks, and animal toys to keep your child engaged.
Pros
- Squeezable toys help improve finger muscles
- Textured toys helps soothe sore gums
- Comes with an easy-to-carry bag
- BPA-free
- Easy to wipe clean
Cons
- Might be slightly bulky
- Holes in the toy may be difficult to clean
Caution9. Best Light And Music Baby Toy: Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station
This light and music toy is suitable for your baby to play with during their tummy time. It plays content in three languages, comes in an attractive design, helps develop fine motor skills, and instills a love of music.
Pros
- Features three modes – animals, colors, and xylophone
- Comes with an adjustable stand for convenient use
- Plays content in three languages–English, Spanish, and French
- Easy-to-store portable body
Cons
- Stands may not be sturdy
- Stickers may peel off
10. Best Huggable Toy: Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
Putting your baby to sleep becomes as easy as pie when you have a soothing toy like this glow seahorse. It is available in two different colors. A gentle press activates music to teach the baby cause and effect, it can be used as a squeeze toy for tactical exploration as well.
Pros
- Plays soft sweet music for five minutes to help the little one sleep quickly.
- Comforting glow to aid sleep at night
- Plush huggable body
- Includes a volume control
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- Sounds to be a tad loud
- May not be easy to operate for some
Quick fact11. Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set
This set of six multi-textured balls enhances your baby’s tactile senses and fine motor skills. It is smooth to touch and easy to play with.
Pros
- Different balls offer different textures
- Balls are easy to grasp and hold for babies
- Bright colors enhance visual skills
- Free of BPA
Cons
- May be prone to molds
- Slightly heavy and do not bounce
12. Skip Hop 3-Stage Interactive Activity Center
Designed in collaboration with pediatricians, this activity center encourages babies to bounce, jump, and play. The play center can also double up as an activity center for coloring and other games.
Pros
- Comes with four detachable rattling and squeaky toys for sensory stimulation
- Made of ABS plastic
- Has a 360-degree rotating seat for easy view of feet
- Helps develop motor skills
Cons
- May not be easy to assemble
- May not be highly portable
13. Vtech Pull And Sing Puppy
This cute little puppy comes with wheels, thus allowing the baby to take it along anywhere. It also plays music so your baby can enjoy listening to various songs and phrases.
Pros
- Three colorful buttons enhances fine motor skills
- Glowing nose plays music and attracts the baby’s attention
- Helps familiarize the baby with numbers and colors
- Comes with volume control and automatic shut-off features
Cons
- String might be slightly short
- May be smaller than you expect
14. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learn Baby Walker
Sit and play, stand and play, or even push and play–this toy becomes more exciting as it transforms and grows with your little angel. The toy plays music and phrases for the baby to listen to and learn.
Pros
- Easy to grasp
- Encourages baby to walk
- Attracts baby’s attention using light up keys
- Suitable toy for introducing the alphabet, numbers, and colors
- Easy to install the batteries
Cons
- May flip over easily
- May not come with screws to assemble
15. Baby Einstein Octopus Orchestra Musical Toy
Let your music-loving baby create their music with this cute blue octopus. The musical toy includes Discover and Composer modes that allow babies to play different instruments.
Pros
- Large baby-friendly buttons
- Helps develop listening skills
- Helps play different instruments through colorful instruments
- Attracts baby’s attention by flashing light
Cons
- Not ideal for rough play
16. The Play Gym By Lovevery
This play gym offers everything that can keep your little darling engaged while improving their cognitive and motor skills. The playmat includes five development zones and comes with an organic ball, a teether, and a wooden batting ring.
Pros
- Grows with the baby.
- Easy to set up and dismantle
- Black and white learning card sets help improve focus
- Toys dangling from the frame encourage the baby to reach out and grab them
- This play gym grows with the baby
- Machine-washable
Cons
- May not be highly portable
- Velcro attachments on the toy may not be durable enough
17. Haba Snug-Up Doll Luis First Boy Baby Doll
Place this soft, snuggly doll beside your baby to keep them comfortable. It is also an ideal toy for your baby to role-play. The printed face with wide brown eyes, freckles, and smile makes it endearing.
Pros
- Washable in a machine
- Made of soft material
- Cuddly doll can be made to sit up
- Neatly sewn
- Safe and chewable
Cons
- Size may be smaller than expected
18. VTech Crinkle & Roar Lion
Introduce your baby to letters and numbers with the help of this little lion. The lion is made of soft material that your baby can hug and cuddle while sleeping. It plays over 50 songs and melodies and also produces funny sounds when shaken. With crinkly feet, ribbon tags, and textured rings, it is an appropriate textured toy for sensory exploration.
Pros
- Can be easily attached to cribs and strollers
- Includes a baby-safe mirror to build self-awareness
- Can be cleaned using a baby wipe
- Washable interiors
- Comes with a volume control
Cons
- Quality of the buttons may not be great
- Quality of the sounds could have been better
19. Skip Hop Follow-Me Bee Crawl Toy
If you want to encourage your baby to crawl, setting them up behind this attractive toy can do the trick. The toy moves in circular and random patterns to make the baby chase it.
Pros
- Removable bee toy rattles when shaken
- Toy plays music and flashes colorful lights
- Helps develop gross motor skills
- Suitable for all crawling stages
- Comes with movable rubber beads to soothe teething pain
Cons
- May require adult supervision
- Child may not be able to match the speed of the toy
20. Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror
Encourage your baby to use this mirror toy for self-discovery and visual development. This floor mirror includes textured crinkled leaves for peek-a-boo play, and the soft frame makes it safe for your baby. Also, it can be an engaging tummy time toy for six-month-olds.
Pros
- Mirror helps the baby recognize human faces and build self-awareness
- Offers visual stimulation
- Easel stand allows for the mirror to be placed upright on the floor
- Improves visual perception
Cons
- Mirror reflection may be distorted
- Mirror may not stand up well
21. Fat Brain Toys Tobbles Neo
Made of ABS plastic, this stacking toy is known for its safe and durable design. The six dual-colored spheres of different shapes and colorful themes make stacking fun.
Pros
- Helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Develops visual-spatial skills
- Free of BPA
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Toys once stacked may fall easily
- May not be possible to stack the toy without the base
22. Baccow Baby Toys Musical Learning Table
This musical learning table helps enhance baby’s brain development through the exploration of different sounds and shapes. It plays animal sounds and also flashes different colored lights and helps introduce the baby to colors, shapes, and animals.
Pros
- Adjustable legs enable placement of the table in sitting or standing positions
- Encourages creative play
- Ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings
- Made of safe, smooth and non-toxic materials
Cons
- May not be sturdy enough
- My be smaller than you expect
23. SmartNoggin NogginStik Developmental Light-Up Rattle
With this light-up rattle toy for infants, you can assess your baby’s growth and development more precisely. It flashes different colored lights, which helps develop visual senses, and the textured surface offers tactile stimulation.
Pros
- Rattle sound ignites auditory senses
- Slim and easy-to-grasp body
- Free of BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalates
- Comes with a booklet to guide parents
Cons
- May require adult supervision
- May be slightly heavy
24. iPlay, iLearn Musical Turtle Toy
This turtle comes with multiple buttons that light up and play different sounds and music. It also moves around and makes the baby crawl after it. Furthermore, it plays songs and introduces the baby to numbers and letters of the alphabet.
Pros
- Made of shatterproof ABS plastic
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor play
- Two language modes–English and French
- Comes with a volume adjustment button
Cons
- May require frequent battery replacement
- Child’s fingers may get stuck in the toy while playing
25. Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother Musical Crib Toy
Image: Baby Einstein The sound of waves hitting the shore relaxes your mind. This sound machine can recreate that sound to help soothe your baby.
Pros
- Plays music with light effects for around 25 minutes
- Easy to clean with a damp cloth
- Can easily be placed on crib rails
- Adjustable volume with remote control features
Cons
- May require frequent battery replacement
- Volume levels may be loud
How To Choose The Right Toy For A Six-Month-Old Baby?
Consider these factors when choosing the right toy for your child.
- Safety: Avoid toys with small pieces that may lead to a choking hazard. Also, ensure the toys are made of non-toxic material and do not have sharp edges to keep your child safe. Check for safety certifications for further assurance.
- Music and light: Toys like baby drums, musical animals, etc., can make a suitable pick for this age. Bright colors, lights, and fun sounds can attract your child’s attention, engage their visual and auditory senses, and improve their creativity and learning.
- Developmental milestones: Choose toys that support cognitive skills, gross and fine motor skills, language skills, and emotional and social skills, as they help your child achieve their developmental milestones on time. Select toys that encourage problem-solving and improve hand-eye coordination.
- Durability: Ensure the toy can handle rough play and last long to grow with your child. These toys should be easy to maintain and not break or get damaged easily.
[ Read : Babyhug Jungle Safari Foot To Floor Ride-On Review ]
Heather Welch, a play advocate, mother of two, and an expert in children’s products and toys, says, “Babies at six months are still developing their sense of sight. Therefore, encouraging your baby to gaze at mirrors can be helpful. Eye-catching toys, such as baby gyms, cubes, or activity sets that are vibrantly colored and include small baby-safe mirrors can help in stimulating their vision.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose specializes in writing about children’s products, toys, and gifts. She undertakes extensive research to ensure the products are child-friendly and safe. As six-month-olds need entertaining and stimulating toys, Priti’s personal choice is Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo. With its flashing lights and music, it improves your child’s sensory skills and its three-level seat adjustment suits your growing baby.
Battery-operated or moving toys encourage the baby to follow them and become more mobile. These toys improve the child’s gross motor skills and aid in strengthening the muscles of their neck, back, hands and legs. Musical toys and bright toys with colorful lights improve sensory development in children. Ensure your baby’s safety by buying toys that do not have any choking or strangulation hazards. Pick a toy of your choice from this well-curated list of best toys for six-month-old babies.
References:
2. Health risks of exposure to bisphenol A (BPA); PubMed
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