Toys for 0–1 Year Olds

In the first months, babies follow faces and contrasting shapes with their eyes and turn towards sounds. Around three to four months, they start reaching and grasping. By six months, many babies pass objects from hand to hand, explore everything with their mouth and enjoy sounds they make themselves. Towards the first birthday, they put objects in and take them out, stack and knock down. Every child develops at their own pace, but toys that match these steps make play easier and more fun.

• From birth. A ball-shaped rattle and teether: rotating rings click softly, beads rattle inside and soft rubber handles are easy to grip and chew. See rattles and teethers.
• From 6 months. Soft sensory blocks with raised numbers, stacking rings and a teddy figure that can also go in the bath, and a 6-in-1 activity cube with textures, a shape sorter and colourful details. More in sensory toys and developmental baby toys.

Safety comes first. Check the age label, avoid small detachable parts and choose toys without sharp edges. Babies put everything in their mouths, so choose materials that can be cleaned easily. A toy should be light enough for small hands and have one or two clear features: a sound, a texture or a shape to explore. More is not better at this age. A few toys that you swap from time to time keep a baby interested longer than a full basket.

The best toy for a baby is still a parent. Show a toy slowly, let your baby follow it with their eyes and reach for it. Name what you do: "listen, it rattles", "this one is soft". Repeat games your baby enjoys; repetition is how babies learn. Short play moments throughout the day are enough, and it is fine to stop when your baby looks away or seems tired.

For the next stage, see toys for 1–2 year olds. All baby toys are gathered in baby toys.