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Babies between six and twelve months are curious explorers they’re rolling, sitting, crawling, and grabbing everything they can. At this stage, playtime is more than just fun, it’s essential for brain development, hand eye coordination, and sensory growth.
Finding the best baby toys for 6-12 months can feel overwhelming with so many options available. That’s why I’ve carefully selected toys that are safe, engaging, and developmentally supportive all tested by real parents and aligned with expert guidance from the NHS play and learning recommendations.
In this guide, you’ll find quick picks, detailed reviews, and practical buying tips to help you choose toys that nurture your baby’s senses and curiosity.
Comparison Table
| Product | Key Features | Price Range | Why I Recommend It |
| Tomy Toomies Hide N Squeak Eggs | Shape sorting, squeaky play | £10–£15 | Classic toy for coordination and colour recognition |
| Lamaze Mix & Match Caterpillar Soft Cuddly Toy | Sensory textures, bright colours | £20–£25 | Perfect for tummy time and tactile play |
| Taf Toys Wonder Baby Tissue Box | Crinkle tissues and sensory learning | £15–£20 | Keeps babies entertained safely |
| While and Wonder Sky Edition: Baby’s First Sensory Water Mat | Tummy time water mat | £20–£25 | Strengthens core muscles and curiosity |
| Melissa & Doug Multi Sensory Pineapple Soft Stacker | Soft stacking toy with textures | £18–£25 | Great for early coordination |
| Taf Toys Savannah Discovery Cube | Textures, rattles, mirrors | £20–£25 | Boosts sensory and motor skills |
| Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch & Move Sensory Train | Soft building blocks with movement | £20–£30 | Encourages crawling and creative play |
| Clementoni Soft Clemmy Activity Cube | Interactive soft cube | £15–£20 | Safe, chewable learning fun |
| Clementoni Clemmy Sensory Bucket with Soft Blocks | 20 soft blocks in storage bucket | £18–£25 | Perfect for building and sensory exploration |
| Fisher Price Rock a Stack | Classic stacking rings | £10–£12 | Simple and effective for hand eye coordination |
| Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar | Musical light bar | £25–£30 | Encourages sensory and sound exploration |
| Fisher Price Bop & Groove Tiger | Musical toy with lights | £25–£30 | Engages babies with rhythm and movement |
| B. Toys One Two Squeeze | Soft stacking blocks with numbers | £20–£25 | Great for sensory and cognitive growth |
| Fisher Price Crawl ‘n Colours Chameleon | Crawling toy with lights and sounds | £25–£35 | Motivates movement and curiosity |
| Ravensburger 3 in 1 Bird’s Nest Stacking Cups | Stacking and nesting cups | £10–£15 | Classic for coordination and bath play |
How I Picked These
To create this list, I focused on safety, sensory stimulation, durability, and real parent feedback. Every toy meets UKCA and CE safety standards and supports key baby milestones like sitting, grasping, and crawling.
Each recommendation balances fun and development, encouraging exploration while keeping playtime safe and simple.
Parent Tip: Choose toys made from non toxic, BPA free materials and ensure they’re easy to clean drool is guaranteed at this stage.
Best Baby Toys for 6–12 Months
Tomy Toomies Hide N Squeak Eggs
These colourful eggs pop open to reveal squeaky chicks, keeping babies entertained while teaching shapes and colours. Durable and safe for little hands, it’s a timeless classic that encourages fine motor skills. A simple toy that sparks curiosity and keeps babies happily exploring every day.
Pros:
- Great for fine motor skills
- Safe and sturdy design
- Affordable and long lasting
Cons:
- Pieces can get lost easily
Best for: Early learners and sensory play
“This one stood out because it’s simple, durable and keeps babies busy exploring shapes and sounds.”
Lamaze Mix & Match Caterpillar Soft Cuddly Toy
This soft, vibrant caterpillar is full of textures, mirrors, and crinkles, perfect for tactile exploration. Great for tummy time, it encourages babies to touch, feel, and discover. Machine washable and engaging, it’s a cuddly toy that combines comfort with early sensory development for curious little hands.
Pros:
- Engages multiple senses
- Perfect for tummy time
- Machine washable
Cons:
- Longer toy, needs space
Best for: Sensory exploration and cuddly play
Expert Tip: According to the NHS, toys with varied textures support early sensory and language development.
Taf Toys Wonder Baby Tissue Box
A fun way to practice grasping and hand eye coordination, this soft tissue box lets babies pull and explore safely. Encouraging focus and curiosity, it’s compact and washable. While its novelty may fade over time, it’s a simple, interactive toy perfect for developing fine motor skills.
Pros:
- Encourages grasping
- Promotes focus and curiosity
- Washable fabrics
Cons:
- Limited long term use
Best for: Fine motor skill practice
While and Wonder Sky Edition: Baby’s First Sensory Water Mat
This water mat turns tummy time into a playful adventure with floating sea shapes. Babies strengthen neck and shoulder muscles while exploring textures and colors. Leak resistant, travel friendly, and compact, it’s a fun, safe way to encourage early physical development and sensory discovery.
Pros:
- Strengthens muscles
- Leak resistant design
- Compact and travel friendly
Cons:
- Needs refilling occasionally
Best for: Tummy time and sensory play
Pro Tip: Tummy time mats help babies develop strong neck and shoulder muscles essential for crawling.
Melissa & Doug Multi Sensory Pineapple Soft Stacker
A cheerful stacking toy with soft rings that introduce shapes, textures, and coordination. Perfect for hand eye skill development, it’s safe and durable for repeated play. While limited in stacking height, it’s a wonderful, tactile toy that keeps babies engaged and helps build early problem solving skills.
Pros:
- Soft and safe
- Encourages hand eye coordination
- Great for early stacking practice
Cons:
- Limited height stacking
Best for: Hand coordination and sensory growth
Taf Toys Savannah Discovery Cube
A small cube packed with flaps, mirrors, textures, and sounds for multi sensory exploration. Portable and washable, it encourages curiosity, focus, and early learning. Best used on flat surfaces, this cube is a versatile toy for stimulating a baby’s senses and keeping them happily engaged with new discoveries.
Pros:
- Multi sensory stimulation
- Portable design
- Washable
Cons:
- Best used on flat surfaces
Best for: Sensory discovery and focus
Clementoni Soft Clemmy Touch & Move Sensory Train
A soft, colorful train with moving parts encourages crawling and imaginative play. Safe for teething babies and perfect for cause and effect learning, it’s slightly bulky but highly engaging. A toy that motivates movement, creativity, and hands on exploration, helping babies connect play with discovery.
Pros:
- Soft and safe for teething
- Encourages crawling
- Teaches cause and effect
Cons:
- Slightly bulky for small spaces
Best for: Crawlers and creative play
Clementoni Soft Clemmy Activity Cube
Interactive cube featuring soft blocks and shapes for tactile learning and cause and effect play. Compact and washable, it’s ideal for small spaces. Babies can press, pull, and explore textures safely, making it a gentle, engaging toy that supports early learning while keeping their attention focused.
Pros:
- Perfect for tactile learning
- Washable and soft
- Compact design
Cons:
- Fewer activities than others
Best for: Tactile and cause and effect play
Clementoni Clemmy Sensory Bucket with Soft Blocks
Soft blocks in a reusable bucket encourage stacking, squeezing, and imaginative play. Chew safe and easy to store, they’re perfect for early building and tactile exploration. Dust can settle over time, but overall, it’s a versatile, safe, and engaging set for developing motor skills and sensory awareness.
Pros:
- Great value
- Soft and chew safe
- Easy storage
Cons:
- Blocks may attract dust
Best for: Early building and sensory play
Fisher Price Rock a Stack
A classic stacking ring toy that teaches colors, sizes, and coordination. Simple, durable, and timeless, it’s perfect for daily developmental play. Babies can explore cause and effect while practicing hand eye skills, making this a low cost, highly effective toy for early learning and concentration development.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Classic and durable
- Encourages coordination
Cons:
- Very basic features
Best for: Everyday developmental play
Parent Tip: Simple toys like stackers are ideal for teaching cause and effect through repetition.
Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Musical Activity Station
This activity station combines lights, music, and interactive play, engaging visual and auditory senses. Perfect for sitting babies, it introduces early language cues and encourages exploration. Battery operated and colorful, it keeps babies entertained while supporting focus, sensory development, and early cognitive skills.
Pros:
- Interactive lights and sounds
- Language options
- Perfect for sitting babies
Cons:
- Battery operated
Best for: Musical exploration and focus
Fisher Price Bop & Groove Tiger
A lively tiger toy that bounces and lights up with music, encouraging movement and rhythm. Engaging and fun, it introduces early coordination while promoting active play. Slightly loud at times, but a joyful, energetic toy that keeps babies physically active and entertained.
Pros:
- Fun rhythm introduction
- Engaging lights
- Encourages movement
Cons:
- Slightly loud for some parents
Best for: Rhythm and coordination development
B. Toys One Two Squeeze
Soft, colorful blocks featuring numbers and animals for tactile play and learning. BPA free and durable, they encourage squeezing, stacking, and early cognitive development. Easy to handle and long lasting, this set supports exploration, problem solving, and sensory engagement for babies developing fine motor and learning skills.
Pros:
- Great for learning and squeezing
- BPA free and soft
- Long lasting
Cons:
- Needs drying after washing
Best for: Cognitive growth and touch learning
Fisher Price Crawl ‘n Colours Chameleon
A crawling companion that moves and lights up, motivating babies to follow and crawl. Durable, interactive, and engaging, it promotes gross motor skills while teaching cause and effect. Best on flat surfaces, it’s a fun and playful way to encourage active exploration and early movement development.
Pros:
- Encourages active play
- Fun light and sound cues
- Durable design
Cons:
- Works best on flat floors
Best for: Crawling motivation and activity play
Ravensburger 3 in 1 Bird’s Nest Stacking Cups
Classic stacking and nesting cups suitable for bath and floor play. Helps babies develop coordination, problem solving, and fine motor skills. Versatile, durable, and easy to clean, this simple toy is perfect for both educational play and fun, everyday engagement with little hands and curious minds.
Pros:
- Versatile stacking fun
- Improves coordination
- Suitable for bath play
Cons:
- Simple design
Best for: Bath time stacking and coordination
Buyer’s Guide – What to Look for
When I was shopping for toys for my baby, I quickly realised it’s not about quantity it’s about choosing toys that match your baby’s stage and curiosity.
Here’s what matters most:
- Safety: Always check for UKCA or CE marking and avoid small detachable parts.
- Developmental Value: Look for toys that support sensory, motor, and cognitive milestones.
- Ease of Cleaning: Choose washable materials or smooth surfaces.
- Durability: Babies chew, throw, and drop everything durability is key.
- Engagement: Simple toys that do more than flash lights often keep attention longer.
Expert Tip: According to NHS Play Advice, responsive play between parent and baby supports language and social development.
Safety & Extra Tips
- Supervise play at all times.
- Clean toys regularly to prevent bacteria buildup.
- Rotate toys to maintain excitement.
- Avoid toys with cords or detachable small parts.
Parent Tip: Introduce one or two toys at a time. Babies engage more deeply when not overwhelmed with options.
FAQs
What toys help a 6 month old learn?
Toys with textures, lights, or sounds help develop touch, vision, and hearing.
Are soft toys safe for 6 month olds?
Yes, as long as they’re baby safe, non toxic, and free from small parts.
How often should I clean baby toys?
At least weekly, or daily for toys used during teething or bath play.
Do electronic toys help with development?
In moderation sensory toys that encourage interaction are best.
Conclusion
These best baby toys for 6 12 months in 2026 are carefully chosen to inspire curiosity, support early learning, and make playtime joyful.
If I had to choose one all rounder, it would be Tomy Toomies Hide N Squeak Egg, it’s versatile, safe, and perfect for both solo and parent led play.
I know picking the right toy can feel overwhelming, but I hope this guide helps you make a confident, happy choice for your little one.
