Babies learn long before they utter their first eagerly anticipated word. In fact,their learning begins in the quietest moments.
For instance, a glance at your face matters. A small hand reaching and curling around your finger matters also. Even dropping their toy and watching you respond by picking it up and giving it back plays a role in their early learning process.
After a time, those precious moments shape how infants begin to understand the new world surrounding them. Play, attention, and interactions between you and them create meaning. These types of experiences give them what they need to learn during their first year.
This guide breaks down the best toys for infant development at Safari Ltd. It will help you choose age-appropriate, touchable toys that make everyday play more meaningful.
Guidelines for Choosing the Best Developmental Toys for Infants
A few simple rules of thumb can help you choose toys that support learning during your baby’s first year. Keep the following in mind when shopping for their toys:
- Prioritize safety & grip: Choose toys made with safe materials and smooth finishes. Lightweight shapes help babies hold toys and explore them longer.
- Keep play simple: Pick toys that invite hands-on interaction and response.
- Choose open-ended toys: Select toys without a single goal or outcome.
- Focus on safe, age-appropriate materials: For newborns especially, non-toxic materials and soft construction matter most. Toys should be designed for early use and safe exploration.
You can apply these guidelines at every age and stage of infant development below.
Best Toys for Infant Development (0 to 3 Months)
The best toys for infant development support early brain development through simple sensory input. At this stage, vision and hearing develop first. Toys that are easy to see and easy to process help support that growth.
High-contrast visuals play an important role during this stage. Black-and-white patterns help babies focus and begin tracking movement. Sound adds yet another layer of learning. Gentle noises support early auditory awareness as babies start noticing changes in their environment.
Texture also matters at this age. Soft materials give babies something safe to grasp and explore, especially during tummy time and early reaching.
High-Contrast and Visual Toys
Black-and-white items like High-Contrast Flash Cards support early visual focus and tracking. Safari also offers dangling figures, such as animal stroller toys, that introduce gentle movement for looking and reaching.
Sound and Grasp Toys
Soft rattles introduce early awareness of cause and effect. Clutch-style toys like the Sunni Clutching Toy help support grasp practice through easy-to-hold shapes and textures.
Texture And Early Books
Fabric books like the adorable Story Pals Dinosaur Book introduce tactile input during early play. Soft pages and textures give babies something safe to explore with their hands and mouths.
Best Toys for Infant Development (3 to 6 Months)
Between three and six months, babies become more active during play. Hand control improves, and movement becomes more intentional. Reaching, squeezing, and kicking help build coordination as babies interact more directly with their surroundings.
Learning during this stage often comes from repetition and response. Babies begin noticing how their actions lead to results. A squeeze creates a sound. A push causes movement. Texture and resistance also become more interesting as oral exploration increases.
Sound and Cause-and-Effect Toys
Toys that respond to squeezing or shaking help babies notice patterns. Discovery Blocks with Sounds introduce texture and gentle noise through simple movement. Repeating these actions helps babies connect what they do with what happens next.
Grasping and Teething Toys
As hand strength develops, clutch-style toys become more engaging. The Popping Flower Clutch offers easy and soothing grip points while supporting teething. These toys encourage squeezing, mouthing, and controlled hand movement during play.
Floor Play and Movement Toys
Water play mats support full-body movement during early play. Spread one out on the floor, and your child can practice pushing up and reaching forward while exploring shifting shapes and colors.
Options like the Koala Water Play Mat encourage repeated movement, which helps build early strength and body awareness during tummy time.
Comfort and Visual Engagement Toys
Some toys support quieter moments within active play. Mirrors encourage visual focus as babies track movement and changes in reflection during floor time. The Rainbow Discovery Mirror supports this kind of attention.
Meanwhile, soft comfort items like the Aroar-a-Saurus Blanket provide a familiar texture that helps ease transitions between play and rest.
Best Toys for Infant Development (6 to 12 Months)
Older infants explore with purpose, and crawling, scooting, and pulling up create new ways to interact with toys. Their busy little hands work together more often, supporting early problem-solving.
Toys at this stage encourage movement and simple experimentation. Stacking, rolling, and pushing help develop motor skills. Open-ended designs allow babies to return to the same toy in new ways as abilities grow.
Stacking and Early Problem-Solving Toys
Toys that stack or balance invite trial and error and develop a baby's fine motor skills. The Tulu 9-Piece Set supports simple problem-solving as babies experiment with placement, balance, and shape. Repeated attempts help build coordination and persistence.
Crawling and Chase Toys
Movement becomes a key part of play as babies begin to chase objects. Rolling toys encourage crawling and forward motion. The Discovery Ball Toy adds texture and loops, giving babies something to explore once they grab or catch it.
Bath and Water Play Toys
Water play introduces new sensory routines during bath time. The Fucsia Dragonfruit Toy adds color and soft texture for water-based exploration. Babies can squeeze and float the toy to see how actions create small, predictable responses.
Sound and Rhythm Toys
Sound toys support early rhythm and coordination. Shaking and tapping introduce variation in tone and volume. Tools such as the Rainmaker Rattle Stick support percussion play and easy gripping.
The Musical Eggs Set, on the other hand, encourages repeated movement and auditory awareness.
Comfort and Early Pretend Play Toys
Some playthings support calmer moments or early imitation. Soft items like the Sun Soother Plush help with wind-down routines.
Plush animal toys, including the Eco Nation Sea Turtle and the the Ombrez T-Rex Toy, encourage simple pretend play as babies hug, carry, and explore familiar forms.
Explore More at Safari Ltd
You can find more infant toys for development in the Baby & Toddler Toy Collection. The collection makes it easy to shop by stage and toy type.
