In the first year, play means looking, grabbing, shaking and chewing. These seven toys are safe for babies, easy to hold, and simple enough to understand. They are the toys I’d give a new parent.
Every product below links to a live Amazon US listing that was checked for an in-stock offer for this guide. The card shows Amazon’s current price and availability, so always confirm the age grading, size and options on the listing before you buy.
Safety note: follow the age grading on the box and the listing, and supervise play. Toys with small parts, magnets or marbles are not for children under 3, and I flag them in the reviews below.
1. Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
- The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes inspires a lifelong love of music with hours of entertainment; volume control is musi…
- Teaches babies about music and cause and effect as they push the large button to hear 10 classical masterpieces from Cho…
- Colorful lights dance to the melody to captivate your baby and encourage both auditory and visual development
A palm-sized music player with one big button, a light show, and short classical melodies. It is the toy that lives in the diaper bag: babies can press it themselves from about 3 months, and the volume has two settings.
Best for: Car seats, strollers and waiting rooms.
Verdict: The easiest first cause-and-effect toy. Keep it on the low volume setting.
2. Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle
- 2 mini flexible, teethable Oballs are easy to hold
- Colorful rattle beads create fun sounds to entertain and delight baby
- Textured rattle is clear so baby can see the colorful beads. BPA Free
The classic Oball lattice with beads inside the clear centre, so it rattles when it moves. The holes make it easy for tiny hands to grab long before a baby can hold a normal rattle. It is light and tough.
Best for: Newborns learning to grasp.
Verdict: A cheap, clever grab-and-shake toy. Wipe it often, because it goes everywhere.
3. Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether
- BABY TEETHING TOY MADE FOR LITTLE HANDS: The Winkel features a mesmerizing maze of soft, continuous BPA-free teething tu…
- DEVELOPMENTAL BABY TOY: Babies are instantly drawn to this colorful and lightweight infant toy. The Winkel promotes clut…
- TIME-HONORED CLASSIC: With over 25 years engaging babies and soothing even the fussiest of teethers, the Winkel is a per…
A loop of soft, flexible tubes in bright colours with a gentle rattle in the middle. Babies can grab any part of it, chew the tubes, and pass it from hand to hand. Check the listing for cleaning instructions.
Best for: Babies from 0 months who grab and chew everything.
Verdict: A design classic that does three jobs: rattle, teether and grasping toy.
4. beiens High-Contrast Black and White Crinkle Book
- Interesting Cloth Book For Babies: Baby born with blurred vision, and gradually increased on 3 months. High contrast bab…
- Capturing Your Child’s Attention: Baby boys or girls love these early learning toys. There are crinkle paper and bibi so…
- Safe Materials for Your Baby’s Health: Our baby touch and feel books from soft polyester. Non-toxic, strong stitching, h…
A soft fabric book with bold black-and-white pictures for newborns and colour pages for later. It crinkles, it can stand up as a tummy-time screen, and it goes in the wash. Simple, but it gives a young baby something they can actually see.
Best for: Newborns and early tummy time.
Verdict: The best low-cost buy for the first three months.
5. Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book
- High-contrast patterns and bold colors help to develop baby’s vision.
- Learn red, green yellow and blue in English and Spanish.
- Each flap reveals an animal to name and learn.
A chunky soft book with a mirror, crinkle pages, textures and a teething corner. Sassy designs for babies from birth, and the mirror page is usually the favourite once babies start smiling at faces.
Best for: Car rides and tummy time from birth.
Verdict: A cheerful soft book with something to do on every page.
6. iPlay iLearn Baby Rattle Set, 10 pieces
- 10 Bright Primary colored Rattles/Teethers for different stages of baby’s development.
- Each rattle has different grips, shapes and tasks to assist in fine motor skills.
- Variety of textures will assist in tactile development of touch, taste and smell. Numerous sounds will expand babies’ se…
Ten different rattles and teethers in one box: a drum, a ring, a dumbbell, a stick and more. Quality is fine for the price, but check every piece before use and throw out any that crack. Some pieces are better for 3 months and up.
Best for: Gift baskets and families that want variety.
Verdict: Good value variety. Check the pieces and rotate them.
7. Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar
- The Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station is a multisensory toy that engages baby with colorful light…
- 3 modes: Xylophone Mode helps baby create a song. Animal Mode teaches animal names and sounds. Color Mode teaches 6 colo…
- When baby presses a button or spins the rattle drum, the toy bar responds with music and lights to engage, support fine …
A musical activity bar with light-up buttons and a slide that plays tunes. It works as a tummy-time toy and later as a sit-up toy on the floor. Like most electronic baby toys it can get loud, so use the volume switch.
Best for: Babies from 3 months who like lights and music.
Verdict: A lot of play for the price. Best in short sessions.
Final Thoughts
Start with the high-contrast book and the Oball for newborns, add the Winkel when grabbing starts, and keep electronic toys for short sessions. Here is every product in this guide with its Amazon ASIN:
- Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy — ASIN B000YDDF6O
- Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle — ASIN B008J1QP7Y
- Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether — ASIN B000BNCA4K
- beiens High-Contrast Black and White Crinkle Book — ASIN B0892JY6NZ
- Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book — ASIN B07QJVHBVN
- iPlay iLearn Baby Rattle Set, 10 pieces — ASIN B071YCHDX1
- Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar — ASIN B06Y1192MF
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