The Best Toys For Six-Month-Olds

Splashin’kids Inflatable Water Mat

Some kids just can’t get into tummy time, but by six months, most are well on their way to at least tolerating it. One way to entice them is to set them us with some quality tummy time toys. By providing stimulating toys specific to tummy time, youngsters can improve their gross and fine motor skills, strengthen their entire body, and work on sensory development, all while laying on their tummy. If you think it sounds like a gimmick, think again. This inflatable water mat provides plenty of stimulation, with bright colors, floating toys, and the unique sensory experience of laying on an inflatable tummy mat that holds water underneath them.

Pros:

• Bright, engaging graphics encourage hand-eye coordination and development
• Water and air helps with sensory development
• Comfortable to lay on, enticing babies to stay on their tummy for longer

Cons:

• Only use with children who can lift their head and shoulders fully
• There is a strong smell, so be sure to air properly before use

Sassy Fishy Fascination Station High Chair Toy

We get it — keeping a child at the table can be a real hassle. That’s why we’ve included this delightful toy that’s specifically designed to stick to a high chair, keeping your tot engaged at a time when being squirmy is less than ideal. With colorful beads, rotating and spinning parts, and silly rattles, this toy will keep your youngster entertained during the feeding process. Not just for distraction, this toy also works wonders to develop hand-eye coordination and grasping techniques.

Pros:

• Suctions to other surfaces, such as vehicle windows and bathtubs
• Completely washable, which is crucial for table time messiness
• Can be removed from the suction and used anywhere as a teether or toy

Cons:

• Distracting at mealtime isn’t always the best policy for getting children to eat
• The suction could be stronger

Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy

Shaped like a phone to encourage pretend play, this musical toy helps to inspire a lifelong love of sound. With bright, flashy colors, attached teething beads, and complete volume control, this is a definite must for tossing in the diaper bag for those moments when you just need a few beats to yourself. Easy to wipe clean, this little handheld toy doesn’t have a lot of nooks and crannies to worry about the germs building up — just wipe it down, and they’re good to play again.

Pros:

• Designed to grow with your child from 3 – 36 months
• Includes ten melodies
• Volume control is a lifesaver for parents and caregivers

Cons:

• The songs don’t play consecutively
• The plastic parts aren’t the most durable

Childom Kids Musical Instruments

While many parents and caregivers groan at the thought of introducing music to a child, let alone a six-month-old, hear us out: music is essential. Because it ignites all areas of childhood development at once, it’s important to expose youngsters to both the delightful sounds and energy of not just listening to and playing music for themselves. This wooden set is thoughtfully designed to grow with your youngster, appropriate for a six-month-old’s repetitive banging and a three-year-old’s early singing. Bright and colorful, this durable set will last for years to come.

Pros:

• Includes maracas, a xylophone, shakers, tambourine, and more
• Bright, beautiful toxic-free paint colors
• Also comes with a wooden stacking toy

Cons:

• The included bag isn’t the most durable
• The paint can chip after repeated banging or rough play

Mini Tudou Baby Blocks

These stacking blocks do double duty as teethers — which, if you ask any six-month-old, they’d likely say is key to what makes a toy a favorite. Learning how to stack blocks is a part of developmental growth that relies on hand-eye coordination, early math skills, and spatial reasoning development. So while it may just look like your little one is stacking a few blocks, there’s a lot more at work here than what meets the eye. Made of food-grade silicone, the varying edges and knobs on these blocks make for pretty wonderful teething surfaces.

Pros:

• Beautiful neutral-toned colors
• Includes 12 stacking blocks
• Early STEM toy

Cons:

• The stacks aren’t the most stable
• Water can get in the blocks upon washing, so we recommend using a damp towel

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the must-haves for six-month-old toys?
While babies don’t need a lot, it can be nice to have a well-rounded arsenal of toys to encourage development as well as distraction. Beads, activity cubes, stacking cups, books, and textured balls are all favorites. Additionally, push cars, stacking blocks, dolls, and a variety of textured toys are always a good idea. And of course, musical instruments and art supplies are a perfect choice — it’s never too early to expose your young one to the arts.

How many toys should a six-month-old have?
The answer might surprise you, as it’s far less than what you might think. Too many toys are a distraction and can put a damper on attention span and creativity over time. We recommend about ten thoughtfully chosen toys that each engage a specific developmental need for a varied and entertaining array that will please you and your kiddo alike.