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The Best Toys for Infants to Make Playtime More Fun

My Family Life Reviews Team
Written By My Family Life Reviews Team
Last updated: Apr 4, 2025, 11:23 AM
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Toys for infants

Engaging with your infants during playtime is not only fun but also a valuable opportunity for their development. Quality toys for infants play a crucial role in helping children explore, learn, and have endless fun. From classic puzzles to musical instruments and cuddly companions, our selection caters to a variety of preferences. In this article, we’ll reveal our favorite pick, the Melissa & Doug Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide Toy for Infants, with an ocean-themed twist. Regardless of your budget or your child’s age, you’re bound to discover a toy that your little one will adore. Explore more options below to enrich your child’s playtime experience.

View all Contents
  • Toys for Infants: Buying Guides
    • Things To Look for Before Buying Toys for Infants
  • People Also Asked
  • Why Trust Us?
  • Contributors
  • Related Reads

Our Top Picks of Toys for Infants

  • Melissa & Doug Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide Toy: Best Overall (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓
  • BEST LEARNING Learning Cube: Fun Choice (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓
  • Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle Toy: Best Value (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓
  • Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack Baby Toy: Most Durable (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓
  • Skip Hop Teething Toy: Most Versatile (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓
  • Manhattan Toy Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy: Most Colorful (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this toys for infants ↓

Detailing the Best Toys for Infants of 2025

Melissa & Doug Rollables Wooden Ocean Slide Toy

Best Overall
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The Melissa & Doug toys for infants are the perfect activity toy for infants and toddlers aged 1+. Providing a high-quality wooden slide tower with a built-in bead maze and three rollables – shark, crab, and octopus with chime – this set encourages imaginative play, teaching kids about ocean life in the process. The interactive design of the wooden slide and rollables also encourages young kids to explore cause and effect and develop fine motor, problem-solving, and sensory skills. For example, children can turn the sea star to start the rolling movements of the colorful creatures. Parents will love how this toy helps develop their child’s skills while providing hours of fun. It’s made from high-quality FSC-certified materials and includes a durable funnel, adding another layer of playtime fun. Young children are sure to benefit from exploring cause and effect while also developing fine motor, problem-solving, and sensory abilities through playing with this stimulating set, designed to foster lifelong learning.

Product Pros
  • Lightweight, allowing easy transportation
  • Well-made and durable
  • Engaging for multiple age groups 
  • Reasonably priced
Product Cons
  • Not enough shapes/activities for older children.

BEST LEARNING Learning Cube

Fun Choice
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The BEST LEARNING Toy for Infants is an educational musical activity center that is perfect for infants, babies, and toddlers from 6-12 months old. It has a host of features that make it attractive to consumers, including its impressive roster of awards. This interactive cube engages children’s curiosity with essential sights, sounds, songs, and knowledge. The cube has six different sides, each with a different function button. These buttons teach the child the letters of the alphabet, numbers, colors, music, animal sounds, and musical instruments.  This cube will help your child become knowledgeable on the basics while still keeping things fun. The colorful LED lights on the color side will light up when pressed, giving a visual treat. Through playtime with this cube, your child can develop skills all in a safe and risk-free way since the cube requires AAA alkaline batteries that are included in the package. 

Product Pros
  • Engaging design
  • Good educational toy 
  • Music and lights are fun
Product Cons
  • Placing batteries correctly can be tricky

Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle Toy

Best Value
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The Bright Starts toy for infants is a great choice for newborns and older babies alike. This toy offers stimulating tactile and visual experiences, while also being an excellent tool for development. The two mini flexible Oballs are easy to hold and offer textured surfaces for babies to explore with their gums. Plus, the colorful rattle beads create fun sounds that babies will find entertaining, and the clear textured rattle allows them to see the colorful beads inside. Easy to clean, this toy is safe for infants with BPA-free materials. For cleaning, simply use a damp cloth and mild soap. This toy is small and light enough to take you anywhere you want to go with your little one. This toy offers great value to parents, as it provides hours of delightful entertainment while also aiding in the development of their child’s fine motor skills, exploration skills, and cognitive skills. This toy will quickly become your baby’s favorite plaything!

Product Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Sleek and stylish design 
  • Affordable price point
  • Lightweight and easy to carry
Product Cons
  • Battery life is limited

Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack Baby Toy

Most Durable
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The Fisher-Price toy for infants includes the classic roly-poly ring stacking toy for infants and toddlers. It features five colorful, soft-to-touch rings that are perfect for grasping and shaking. The top ring, which has a shiny surface with rattling beads inside, provides sensory stimulation for your little one. Then, the bat-at-rocker base adds an element of fun, as it wobbles and rocks when baby bats at it. As they grasp, shake, and stack the rings, they will become more adept at using their hands and fingers in fine motor tasks. The wibbly-wobbly base also encourages movement which assists in developing gross motor skills. This toy is sure to provide hours of entertainment and be a favorite of your little one. Not only does it offer tons of fun and development, but it’s also durable and completely safe for kids aged 6 months and older.

Product Pros
  • Aids in cognitive development
  • Colors and shapes engage baby’s senses 
  • Encourages auditory reaction 
  • Durable and safe for a baby
Product Cons
  • May be too large for younger babies

Skip Hop Teething Toy

Most Versatile
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The Skip Hop teething toys for infants with multi-sensory rattle and textures are a great choice for animal lovers and for babies who are in need of stimulation. The baby’s hands can stay active as they explore all the different textures, patterns, and sounds available on the toy. This cute companion is ideal for fun at home or on the go. This teether toy also provides a safe, soothing way to relieve babies’ sore gums while they’re teething. Apart from that, the toy can be easily attached to strollers, car seats, or infant carriers, so babies can take their toy along wherever they go. With its versatile use and engaging features, this teething toy is an excellent choice for parents who want to introduce their babies to a world of discovery and fun.

Product Pros
  • Cute and interactive design
  • Interesting shapes, textures, and noises to explore
  • Perfect size for little hands
  • Flexible neckerchief teether
Product Cons
  • Not suitable until baby is at least 4 months old

Manhattan Toy Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

Most Colorful
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The Manhattan toy is a perfect teething toy for infants. It features a continuous maze of BPA-free teething tubes that can be refrigerated to provide extra comfort. It also promotes clutching, thanks to the center cube with its tapered corners, which also encases a quiet, yet pleasing rattle to help provide auditory stimulus.  This classic toy for infants is also a must-have for parents and becoming a go-to toy for babies. With the attention to detail that goes into the production of this pick, you can ensure that it has been rigorously safety-tested. Overall, this teether toy is an excellent choice for any parent looking for an engaging baby toy that promotes development and comfort. 

Product Pros
  • Easy for babies to hold and chew
  • Can be used to help teach dexterity
  • Colorful and attractive to infants
  • Easy to clean
Product Cons
  • May not last long for toddlers

Toys for Infants: Buying Guides

Choosing the right toys for infants can be tricky. In making sure that your child gets the best toys that are both fun and developmentally beneficial, it’s essential to consider all of the product features carefully. Here’s a comprehensive buyers’ guide to help you make an informed purchase and ensure your little one has a blast while learning and growing:

Things To Look for Before Buying Toys for Infants

Safety

When selecting toys for infants, safety should be your first priority. Look for non-toxic materials such as wood and plastic and sturdy construction that prevents small pieces that might pose a choking hazard or other dangers to young children. Ensure the toy is designed for your infant’s age range, and read the warning information on the packaging.

Developmental benefits

Toys should not only provide entertainment, but they should also promote motor skills, cognitive development, problem-solving, and other essential skills. Choose toys designed to help these skills grow, such as puzzles, shape sorters, and stacking rings. Also, select toys containing bright colors, different textures, and buttons for sensory stimulation.

Durability

Infants can be hard on their toys, so look for ones designed to make it through many years of play. If a toy seems flimsy or too delicate, chances are it won’t stand up to the wear and tear of babies teething, chewing, and tugging.

Versatility

Choose toys that can be used in multiple ways or in combination with other items. Toys like balls and blocks can be used differently as infants age and can encourage creative thinking and imaginative play.

Stimulation

Look for toys that offer stimulating visual or auditory experiences with bright colors and sounds that babies find fascinating. Infants can benefit from this kind of stimulation as it helps with their overall development.

Interactivity

Toys for infants that enable two people or pets to play together are great options, as they can teach important social skills while enhancing development. Musical instruments or dolls that interact with one another can also help develop early motor skills in infants.

Educational value

Along with interactive play, try to find toys that offer learning opportunities, such as counting games, shape recognition activities, or alphabet puzzles. Use this opportunity to start introducing numbers, colors, and letters at an early age through fun activities.

Age range

Be sure to select a toy appropriate for your infant’s age group so it doesn’t become too easy too quickly when they outgrow it or lose interest in it. Most toys indicate which age range they are appropriate for, but you may have to consider your child’s individual interests if they are outside the typical age range of the toy you’ve chosen.

Price

When shopping for baby toys, keep your budget in mind so you get the most value out of your purchase. Consider deals online or at stores if available, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality while still staying within your budget.

Themes & characters

Infants often gravitate towards characters they recognize from TV shows or movies, making them ideal gifts because they come at a low cost but hold their attention over time due to familiarity. Look into popular TV shows, such as Paw Patrol or Frozen II characters, as well as doll collections from brands like Baby Alive, to appeal to young children’s senses of adventure and imaginative play.

People Also Asked

What are the best toys for infants?

The best toys for infants are those that encourage exploration, help develop fine motor skills, and are safe to use. Examples include soft toys, blocks, shape sorting sets, music makers, bathtub toys, puzzles, etc.

Are these toys safe for my baby?

These toys are designed to adhere to safety regulations, so they are safe for your baby's use. It is important to read the age recommendations and warnings on the packaging of any toy you purchase for your infant.

Is there a way to determine which toys are age-appropriate for my baby?

Most toys will list an age recommendation on their packaging so you can determine which ones are appropriate for your infant's age and skill level.

What type of toys should I avoid buying for my infant?

It is crucial to avoid buying toys for infants with small removable parts or sharp edges that can become choking hazards or other unsafe features. Plus, avoiding any electronic or battery-operated toy with flashing lights or noise is vital, as these can overstimulate young babies.

How often should I buy new toys for my baby?

It is generally suggested that you buy new toys for infants every 3-6 months in order to keep playtime fresh and stimulating. It is also a good idea to regularly inspect and replace any worn-out or broken pieces of existing toys.

Are there any tips to ensure my baby enjoys playing with the new toys?

Ensuring the new toys offer a range of activities and create an engaging play experience can help ensure your baby enjoys playing with the new toys. Introducing the new toy with enthusiasm is also sure to help get your infant excited about it!

To what age range do these toys cater?

These toys typically cater to infants 0-12 months old, although some may specifically target particular ages within this range, such as 0-6 months or 6-12 months.

What developmental benefits do these toys offer?

These types of toys offer developmental benefits such as aiding in cognitive development by helping develop problem-solving skills through puzzles and shape sorting sets, encouraging fine motor skills by helping strengthen hand-eye coordination, and stimulating sensory growth by providing different textures and sounds to explore through different types of soft and noisy toys.

Are these toys encouraging the development of physical, cognitive and/or motor skills?

Yes, these types of toys can aid in physical, cognitive, and motor skills development by allowing infants to explore different shapes and textures, sort objects into categories, practice hand-eye coordination, enhance problem-solving skills, and stimulate sensory exploration through sound, sight, and touch experiences.

Are there any educational value in these toys for infants?

Yes, many of these types of infant toys offer educational value as they can help introduce basic concepts such as numbers, letters, colors, and shapes while also engaging their creativity through imaginative play sets like dolls and stuffed animals or vehicles like cars or trucks.

Why Trust Us?

You can trust My Family Life to provide practical tips and product recommendations that genuinely prioritize your family's best interests. As parents ourselves, our mission is to create a supportive community where you feel empowered and informed, knowing that we genuinely care about making your parenting experience as smooth and joyful as possible.

Contributors

My Family Life Reviews Team
My Family Life Reviews Team
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