Trying to figure out the best Christmas gift for a 6-12 month old?
Before I had kids I would just go a to supermarket and pick up something that looked fairly age appropriate for my friends kids, I had no idea! Now I’m a Mum I know parents often have to deal with an excess of toys that clueless-but-well-meaning-gift-givers have purchased, even though they know they probably wont get used.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be that guy!
Read on to see my top picks for gifts for 6-12month old that will be appreciated by baby and parents alike, written by the mother of an 11 month old.
How I Choose - Best baby toys 6-12 months
Picking out a toy gift doesn’t need to be stressful, but its easy to be overwhelmed with all the options out there. Toys can be fun, educational AND great for the environment (ie, not landfill within a few months) if you just do a little research.
But don’t worry, I’ve done all the research for you! I’ve spent countless hours reading through reviews written by other parents, not to mention I have an 11 month old myself so I know what works and what doesn’t with first hand experience.
Check out my top picks below!
HELLOWOOD Montessori Wooden Activity Cube
Best baby toy for keeping baby entertained for hours
HELLOWOOD Wooden Activity Cube
Why Parents Love It
This high quality product has parents raving about their kids being entertained for hours. They report that their children remain engaged and love learning through play with all the different activities on the block.
What You Need to Know
This 8-in-1 block contains including bead maze, shape matching, spinning gears, abacus, xylophone, teaching clock, sorting stacking and words learning
Size 18.6 x 17.5 x 16.8 cm
Made from solid rubber wood construction, water-based painting, non-toxic, ASTM Certified, 100% safe.
Suitable for 9 months - 5 years
Own1one Baby Blocks Soft Building Blocks
Best toy for building hand-eye coordination
Own1one Baby Blocks Soft Building Blocks
Why Parents Love It
Parents love that these soft blocks are safe for babies to chew on, because everything goes straight in for the taste test! They actually work as teething blocks too, double gift points!
The blocks help babies learn colors, numbers animals, fruits and patterns and parents love that they can clean them by throwing them in the washing machine!
What You Need to Know
The Babyhelen Baby Blocks comes with 12 blocks for babies and toddlers with beautiful colors.
It encourage early learning by teaching animals, colors, fruits, numbers, shapes and hand-eye coordination.
Size 23 x 17 x 7 cm
Made from silicone
Suitable for 0 months – 2 years
Machine washable
Oball Classic Ball
Why Parents Love It
Babies around 6-12months are usually going through teething so toys that double as teethers are high on parents’ wish lists. Anything to help those poor babies deal with the pain of growing new teeth!
The award winning flexible design of the OBall is recommended by parents all over the world and is great for interactive play with their babies.
What You Need to Know
The Oball Classic Ball is soft and elastic, a multi-shaped bite design with a soft molar touch and a massage function for baby's small teeth.
Size 10cm diameter
Suitable from newborn
World's Apart KidActive Kids Ball Pit with Balls
Why Parents Love It
Parents who have purchased this ball pit say their kids absolutely love it, some recommend you do the set up away from them as some babies are too eager to jump right in and play! They say it is easy to set up and pack away and keeps their kids entertained for hours.
Parents especially love that this ball pit comes with 30 colourful play balls and 3 sensory beanbags as well as mesh pee-a-boo holes.
What You Need to Know
The World's Apart KidActive Kids Ball Pit includes 30 colourful play balls and 3 jingle, crinkle and squeak bean bags
Size 80 x 80 x 30 cm
Made from fabric and plastic
Suitable for 6 months and up (baby should be able to sit alone)
Moonkie Baby Stacking Cups Toy
Why Parents Love It
These beautiful silicone stacking cups provide hours of fun, and are great for stimulating senses and developing problem solving skills. Parents say the silicone is a great alternative to plastic as the cups double as…you guessed it…teething toys!
The cups have holes in so parents love that they can be used as a bath toy or in the sandpit too.
What You Need to Know
The Moonkie Baby Stacking Cups Toy comes with patterns and colors to aid baby’s development.
The 7 Cups are made from 100% food-safe silicone, without any fillers. They are free of BPA, PVC, phthalates and can be used as bath toys.
Size 8.97 x 8.97 x 6.5 cm
Made from silicone
Suitable for ages 6 months and older
Hand Washable/Machine Washable
Rainbow Wooden Stacker Toy
Why Parents Love It
Parents love the cute packaging the My 1st Years Rainbow Wooden Stacker Toy comes in as its great for a gift. The stacker helps kids to develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills whilst they play.
Parents love the classic, simple design and say it looks great in the nursery.
What You Need to Know
Comes with its own gift box
Size 24 x 18 x 32 cm Made from wood
Suitable from 12 months
FAQs
I have put together a list of the most asked questions to help you figure out what is important when shopping for baby toys for 6-12months.
What toys should a 6-month-old baby have?
Well-made, safe, age-appropriate wooden toys are great for 6-month-olds. Toys that require baby to reach and grab or that have moving parts help with development.
Some other good options include soft fabric books with different textures, a rattle or two, and a musical toy. Babies love looking at themselves, so a mirror is always a big hit. Avoid anything with small pieces that could be choking hazards and battery-operated toys, which can be unsafe.
What toys do babies actually need?
It depends on the baby's age.
0-3 months: During this stage, young babies need plenty of things to stare at-bright colors and patterns are best as well as lots of tummy time. Soft toys that they can mouth are good too, as is a rattle type developmental toy.
3-6 months: This is when babies start to become more active, so they'll need something to grab onto and explore. Rattles, teethers, developmental toys and soft blocks are all good choices. Babies this age also love playing playing peek a boo and similar games.
6-12 months: Babies in this age group will love pulling things apart and putting them back together again. Blocks, nesting cups, and simple puzzles are ideal toys at this stage. Some of the best developmental toys are just household objects like a silicone spoon or plastic cups.
At what age do babies start to crawl?
Babies typically start crawling when they are around 8 months old. Some babies may start crawling sooner, while others may take a little longer. There is no "right" age for babies to start crawling – each baby will do it at his or her own pace and it will be the same throughout baby's life, so don't take the guidelines too rigorously.
Crawling is an important development milestone, as it allows babies to explore their surroundings and interact with other people and objects in their environment. Crawling also helps babies strengthen their muscles and coordination skills. If your baby isn't crawling yet, don't worry – he or she will get there eventually! Just be sure to provide plenty of opportunities for your baby to move around and explore.
Can babies watch TV at 6 months?
There is no solid answer, as different babies will respond differently to television at 6 months old. Some babies may be able to watch educational programs without issue, while others may become agitated or stressed. It is generally recommended that parents consult with their pediatrician before allowing their baby to watch television but some experts suggest babies shouldn't watch TV until they are at least 24months old.
Do I have to entertain my 6 month old all the time?
No, you don't have to entertain your 6-month-old all the time. In fact, it's important for babies to spend time exploring their surroundings and interacting with various objects and people. This helps them learn and develop new skills including gross motor skills and fine motor skills.
There are plenty of activities you can do together as a family, or even just by yourself, to keep your baby entertained. Board books, musical toys, and brightly colored mobiles are all great options. You can also take your baby for walks in the park or go on drives in the car. And don't forget to talk to your baby! Narrating what you're doing as you go about your day will help foster a love of language in your child.
Can you over stimulate a 6 month old?
Yes, you can over stimulate a 6 month old. Excessive stimulation (or over-excitement) can lead to an overload of the nervous system in babies and young children, which may cause them to become overly active, hyper, or irritable. It can also lead to problems with sleep, eating, and toileting.
It's important to remember that every child is different and will react differently to various levels of stimulation. So it's important to always be mindful of your child's cues and adjust your level of stimulation accordingly. Some children can be over stimulated with just a simple toy. If you're not sure how your child will react, it's always better to start out slowly and increase the level of stimulation as needed.
What can a 6 month old baby do?
A 6-month-old baby can probably do a lot more than you think! This age is a time of great exploration and learning as babies start to develop their abilities to think, feel, and move.
Some of the things that babies can do at this age include:
• waving goodbye
• clapping their hands together
• bringing their hands to their mouth
• making vowel sounds like "ah" and "eh"
• rolling over from stomach to back and vice versa
• sitting up without help
• crawling on all fours or scooting around on their bottoms
What should a 1 year old know educationally?
By the time a child reaches 1 year old, they should be able to do the following:
-Identify their parents and other close family members
-Recognize common objects and understand simple words associated with them, such as "milk," "shoe," and " Daddy"
-Enjoy stories and songs
-Show interest in exploring new things and be able to maneuver around unfamiliar surroundings independently
-Start to develop a sense of self and can usually indicate when they are happy, sad, or uncomfortable
-Start to engage in imaginative play
So, which toy is the best choice for a 6-12 month old?
There is no one "best" choice for a 6-12 month old, as every child is different and will enjoy different toys. That said, all of the products listed above meet the criteria of fun toy, educational and good for the environment so any of these would be great picks.
I hope you’ve found the information above useful, as a first-time parent I often wish I had access to information like this so I could get fun toys as gifts, so I want to help other parents through the minefield that is parenthood!
All of the baby toys above are available on Amazon so click ‘Check price on Amazon’ to see which baby toys work best for you and your little one.
Thanks for reading!
