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Quick Summary
The best toys for newborns promote their exploration of vision, hearing, fine and gross motor skills, language and tummy time. Experts recommend looking for products that are easy to grab, safe to chew on, offer multiple textures and make noises.
I’ll never forget the very slow drive home from the hospital after our son was born. (Remember that final scene in Knocked Up, when Seth Rogan’s character is driving 5 miles per hour down PCH? That was my husband.) By the time we got home, we were in the throes of near-constant feedings and diaper changes…and brainstorming how to engage our little one during his short wake times. At that point, I had been writing about baby toys for roughly five years, but it was my first hands-on experience as a new parent. Buying the best toys for newborns was a whole different story. I was overwhelmed, to say the least.
The newborn stage is recognized as the first three months postpartum, during which baby’s eyesight is still developing. By the end of this period, your little one will be able to independently hold their head up, roll over and even start to laugh. During this time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends reading and singing to baby often — and even before they’re born. When you bring baby home, the AAP also advises that parents and caregivers participate in bonding activities involving toys like finger puppets, board books, soft toys and games such as peek-a-boo or singing “Pat-a-Cake.”
“When I’m thinking about qualities of toys for newborns in those earliest months and weeks, you want things that kids can hold easily to work on that fine motor control,” says Sarah Lytle, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN), who also suggests seeking out toys that are chewable, textured, noise-making and have mirrors or high contrast images on them. With this information in mind, I rounded up all of the age-appropriate toys and books to help facilitate playtime with your baby and encourage them to reach those milestones.
How I Chose the Best Toys for Newborns
To determine the best toys for your newborn, I started by following general guidelines from the AAP and spoke with Dr. Lytle for insight into what features to look for to support baby’s development. Additional information was provided by Lori Caplan-Colon, Speech Language Pathologist and founder of Montclair Speech Therapy, Jody LeVos, Ph.D., an education and child development expert, and Gina Posner, M.D., F.A.A.P., a board-certified pediatrician at MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, California and What to Expect Medical Review Board Member.
I then considered the more than 20 newborn toys I registered for, as well as those I bought after my son was born. Since What to Expect aims to update recommendations annually, I took suggestions from parents and caregivers in the What to Expect community as well. This way, I was able to consider a wide range of toys that parents have already attested to their babies loving in order to provide you with plenty of options for your child.
Freelance writer Maria Masters originally contributed to this article.
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What’s included: Mobile, sensory links, two black and white card sets, standing card holder, black and white mittens, wooden book, silicone rattle with removable ball, play guide
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Lovevery takes the guesswork out of researching and purchasing age-appropriate toys. This kit is a playtime primer with eight different toys designed just for infants 0 to 12 weeks old. Another standout feature among all Lovevery toy subscription boxes? Each one comes with a handy play guide, which offers tons of suggestions for how to play with your newborn and expert tips about your baby’s development at this stage.
These are quite pricey, but parents say they’re well worth the investment, especially since their babies typically play with these toys long after the recommended stage. Plus, you can easily skip or cancel your subscription at any time.
"We started with the first kit with my now 2 year old and loved them! They’re expensive but I can definitely say there’s only one or two toys she’s never played with (and one of those was replaced with a new toy by lovevery since we got it) we got the looker kit back out for the second and my oldest was occupied flipping through the black and white cards for a good 20 minutes there’s soooo many toys my daughter came back to at an older age or played with in a new way later. I highly recommend!"
"We were gifted the first year of subscriptions for Lovevery and they are amazing! They are the only toys we have. I also love the little books they come with that explain how you can introduce them and what skill they are learning. The grandmas love them too! It’s amazing how every toy she has received so far she loves at different stages! She is 8months now. I am planning to get the subscription after our gifted one is complete!"
"Love Lovevery, I don’t buy any other toys. He is currently on his 3rd box but still enjoys the toys from his first box. Pricey yes, but I just like not having to think about what toys are safe and appropriate. I also love their app that shows you how to play with the toys."
What’s included: tummy time pillow, tummy time mirror, star lovey, black and white cards, grownup guide
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For another subscription that’s slightly less expensive than Lovevery, many parents have turned to KiwiCo’s crates. This one specifically caters to babies during the first month, and is dedicated to helping you bond with your baby. It comes with four developmental toys (a squishy pillow for tummy time, a lovey, high-contrast black and white cards and a four-panel mirror) along with a grownup guide that dives into the research and science behind baby’s milestones and how to best use each toy. It’s all about promoting the use of your little one’s vision, hearing and muscle control.
Want even more? You can choose between the Essentials ($50 per crate), or level up to get more products with the Plus ($80) or Deluxe ($90) crates.
"I subscribed to KiwiCo (Panda Crate) and loved their “Bond With Me” box I just received. My little one is 2 months and I really liked the tummy time mat it came with. I would rather receive a box of age appropriate developmental toys than go out browsing in the stores myself. I think having a few quality toys is better than purchasing a bunch that will not really be used."
"We have only had one month of panda crate, and we really like it! My LO loves the toys in it, and they come with ideas to do with your baby that aren’t apart of the box which is nice. It comes every 2 months and we are itching for our second box to arrive soon!"
"I have the KiwiCo panda crate and we love it. Toys are cool, quality is pretty good, and my LO is highly interested in each of them and plays on a daily basis, even after having them for 2 months already."
Each scale on this fish offers a unique texture for your little one to explore — including one with a mirror. The tail also has a squeaker feature for a surprising sound your baby will love to hear (and later, press down on!). Since it’ll probably end up in their mouth, it’s conveniently washable, though one parent warns that the mirror warped after laundering. Other parents were shocked by how much larger it was than they expected.
"Baby plays with this fish on his back like how cats attack your hand if you’ve pet their bellies for too long…. All extremities kicking, there’s some biting. My toddler is also obsessed and steals it most of the time."
“Books with simple lines, bold patterns and black-and-white pages are the best for your baby to ‘read’ when developing,” says Caplan-Colon. This book fits the bill with cute and friendly drawings of butterflies, grasshoppers, bees and other garden bugs that are in black-and-white to help develop baby’s vision.
The story is simple, too. With only a few words per page, baby will eventually be able to associate the specific bug with the exact drawing to expand her vocabulary. And while she won't seem super interested at this age, stick with it — the AAP recommends parents read to children starting in infancy, as it helps improve literacy skills later in life.
If your baby loves these books as much as my son does, you can stock up on plenty of other titles from the same brand. We have one about ocean animals, sports and baby’s world.
"We do the same three books every night. The 123s of Kindness, You’re my little cuddle bug, and Hello Garden Bugs (high contract book). I feel like the high contrast book is more for newborns, but he still loves it at 7 months and I think ending with a book that is just calmly looking at pictures helps him wind down! Also doing the same books in the same order seems to help him understand it’s bedtime. We have tons of books and read them in the morning and evening too, but always do the same 3 for bedtime."
"As for books, my boy loves anything high-contrast. We read "Hello, Baby Animals" almost every day, and for Christmas I'm getting him "Hello, Garden Bugs" :)"
Best Mirror Toy for Newborns
Baby Einstein Flip for Art High Contrast Floor Activity Mirror
No, your newborn isn’t too young for tummy time. The AAP recommends newborns start tummy time as soon as they’re home from the hospital (supervised and for short increments of time, of course).
Giving your newborn a toy during tummy time, like this Baby Einstein activity mirror, will encourage her to stay there longer, Caplan-Colon notes. The toy features a baby-safe mirror framed with contrasting black-and-white and primary-color images and patterns, all of which will help develop baby’s vision. The flip-through flashcards attach to the wedge and are also removable, so you can stash them in your diaper bag for an on-the-go toy.
I have a Baby Einstein mirror thing that has flash cards of black and white images and high contrast images that I put down when he does tummy time! He loves the images and occasionally I’ll catch him staring at himself in the mirror.
If there’s one consistent recommendation in the What to Expect Community pages, it’s to invest in an oball. This one by Bright Starts is super lightweight and has plenty of finger holes, making it easy for tiny hands to grasp. Parents also rave that it’s surprisingly durable, while others share that it’s considerably smaller in size than they anticipated.
"One of our friends who has a toddler bought this for our LO since theirs loved it. Ours really loves it too! Easy to grab and she loves sticking her tongue through the gaps. It's pretty entertaining to watch her with it lol."
"I just got this ball for my son at target and he LOVES it. His eyes light up and he tries to put it in his mouth. It’s great for tummy time as well- he enjoys tracking it while I roll it."
Feeling comfort is essential to newborns, and loveys serve as a miniature emotional support system. I was gifted this set of three giraffes, which are part-lovey, part-blanket, and my son has to have at least one near him ever since. The polyester material is super soft and machine washable. Needless to say, it’s become my go-to gift for pregnant friends and family members.
"We use a pair and a spare from angel dear! Comes in packs of 3 so if you lose one there’s more of the same. My 2 year old is still attached to his and we have started introducing them to our 9 month old. We just give it to her all the time besides sleep."
Best Educational Toy for Newborns
Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Book - Itsy Bitsy Spider
What’s better than baby hearing “Itsy Bitsy Spider?” Having baby’s caregivers read it to her, of course! Each page of this classic nursery rhyme book from beloved brand Melissa & Doug is full of interactive details, like ribbons for rain and peek-a-boo suns. As your baby gets older, she’ll enjoy practicing motor skills by turning the plush pages, lifting flaps and playing with the textures throughout the book.
I participated in New Mom School, which allowed me to connect with fellow parents who had recently given birth. During one session dedicated solely to tummy time, the expert speaker recommended this rolling mirror because of its multitude of benefits in a single toy. Having the mirror helped my son with tummy time, and months later, the wheels promoted crawling.
The Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book features those important high-contrast, black-and-white (and red!) images that will captivate your newborn. Plus, one-word “stories” help baby connect the pictures with the words to develop her vocabulary as you read to her. The soft fabric pages also crinkle, adding a sensory layer to the experience for your little one. The book has an attached hook, so you can tether this to your stroller for on-the-go entertainment.
[The] Peek-a-boo crinkly book [is the] only book my baby likes right now. She loves seeing high contrast black and white images on it, has a crinkle sound loved by baby.
Dimensions: 24.8 x 24.8 per tile, 0.47 inches thick
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When I was researching the best play mats, I wanted something that was cushioned, easy to clean and didn’t cramp my architect husband’s style in our living room. House of Noa’s beautifully designed play mats easily blend into our surrounding decor, and the tiles can easily break down whenever we need to clean or clear up our space. I’ll admit, these were much more of a splurge, but they’ve never warped or worn down, even after months of playtime (my son is now 1 years old!).
"We got the house of noa play mat for my little one for Christmas and we do love how it looks in our living room! Although I will say some of the corners easily pop up if I accidentally hit them with my foot, but easy enough to fix! We also have a big dog and so far it’s held up with the dog walking on it! Easy to wipe down and super cute! My little girl loves it so far"
Babies are endlessly amused with toys that crinkle, especially as they learn that they can use them to make sound. This sweet little elephant crinkle toy has a squeaky interior to teach baby cause-and-effect, and it comes with ribbon tags that baby can grasp and play with as she gets older.
Made with eco-friendly ink that’s safe for little ones
Cons
Cards aren’t waterproof
Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
Age range: Newborn and up
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Your baby will love staring at these sturdy, high-contrast black-and-white pictures. Each of the six double-sided cards features a bold black-and-white image of an animal that baby can see and use to build tracking skills as her vision develops. And because these cards are easy to throw in your diaper bag, you can use them for on-the-go playtime and learning.
The cards feature rounded corners, so baby won’t poke herself on a sharp-cornered edge. They also have a matte lamination finish but aren’t waterproof. So if your baby is in a "put everything in my mouth" phase, you may want to consider handling the cards yourself, or they could become warped.
Boppys are ideal for tummy time — and once your baby is 2 months old, she’ll be ready for her own mini Boppy. This tummy time pillow sports a black-and-white rainbow fabric designed for baby to be able to see and has a crinkle rainbow toy and a teething ring attached for her to practice motor skills. The toys are also removable, so as your baby grows, you can swap out them with other favorites. And, when the pillow gets dirty, you can toss it in the washing machine. Just note that it’s only intended for tummy time support as it isn’t large enough to help baby sit up on her own.
This First Years rattle is a multi-textured toy that’s decorated with bright colors and patterns designed to encourage visual tracking, says Caplan-Colon. Caregivers can move the toy up and down and from left to right for baby to follow with her eyes. Your little one can also readily grasp its easy-to-grip limbs. It also comes with soft teething surfaces, ideal as your baby begins sprouting teeth or is just exploring by putting items in her mouth.
"Because kids are exploring the world with their mouth, you want to make it interesting," Dr. Lytle says. "Think about things that have nubs or bumps or ridges, and there are lots of rattles and different handheld toys for infants that have that."
One of Caplan-Colon’s top picks for newborns is the Fisher-Price Kick and Play Piano Gym. “This mat allows for a variety of ways to play: lay and play, tummy time, sit and play and take-along,” she explains. It has light-up piano keys for babies to kick their feet at, which also helps with motor skills and introduces cause-and-effect. Baby can develop her vision with the included mirror and patterned archway, while the flashing lights and music bring additional sensory stimulation to keep her engaged.
Although the toy takes up a lot of floor space, you can easily fold the mat part and lay it against the wall when not in use. As your child becomes more mobile, you can remove the toys from the arch to be used as individual play items, increasing the longevity.
Another comforting toy for newborns? This snuggly otter, which offers up to 30 minutes of music and sounds and a gentle light. It also mimics a breathing motion, which can help soothe your baby. And when you remove the batteries, which are included with your purchase, you can easily throw it in the washing machine.
"we use white noise for sleep but we have started giving our baby this otter for wind down at bedtime and he loves it … it plays some music and he will do his own version of singing along sometimes - it's the cutest! I find the otter really soothing too :) - we then take it out of crib and turn on the white noise machine for sleep."
Playing music for your baby might help improve their brain development — and we love how this Finding Nemo-themed activity mat plays 20 minutes of tunes along with a sweet little light show from the Mr. Ray canopy. Engage baby’s senses by letting her lay on the mat and watch and listen to the musical light show. Many caregivers raved about how they were finally able to keep their newborns entertained with the light show, some saying it kept them interested for up to an hour.I purchased this for a friend’s baby shower, and it quickly became her son’s go-to for tummy time in those first few months.
As she grows, she can start practicing motor skills by batting at and grasping the toys that hang overhead. And, she can practice tummy time while entertained by the interesting sounds by using the included pillow.
This cuddly soft owl rattle is another popular option for newborns and is intended to be a sensory delight for your little one. Its body is shaped like an “O” for baby to easily grasp, while the different textured fabrics give her a lot to experience by touch.
The owl’s head has a ringing ball and the wings have crinkly paper, all of which baby can feel or hear. Plus, the brightly contrasting patterns and large black-and-white eyes can be used to practice visual tracking with baby on as you slowly move the rattle from left to right and top to bottom.
If you haven’t seen a Mortimer the Moose attached to every other stroller handle or diaper bag by now, you will soon. While it has tons of features great for newborns, such as high-contrast patterns to help with vision tracking and chewable antlers, many parents love it especially for being an easy toy to bring on-the-go. It has a hook so it can attach to strollers and is small enough to toss in your diaper bag, perfect for entertaining baby on a walk, running errands or at a restaurant.
The plush toy features a squeaky tummy, knotted fabric legs and playful fabric hooves that will stimulate baby’s developing senses with sounds and patterns and develop fine motor skills with various textures to touch. The toy also comes with a squeaky tummy which helps with auditory awareness and further captivates your little one. She might start to stick the antlers in her mouth now to explore, or chew on them later as it makes a great teething toy.
Remote control makes it easy for parents to turn off
Cons
Batteries not included
Power: 2 AAA batteries for remote; 4 C batteries for soother (not included)
Weight: 2.55 pounds
Dimensions: 8.7 x 11.9 x 5.22 inches
Age range: Newborn and up
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Sometimes toys can help your baby wind down for a nap or bedtime. Parents say this soothing device has been a game-changer for their baby’s sleep routine — it emits gentle lights and 25 different melodies and sounds (like gently crashing ocean waves) designed to lull them into dreamland. Essentially a sound machine, parents can turn it on or off via remote control up to 12 feet away, so you don’t have to worry about startling your slumbering newborn. Just remember, avoid clipping this to a car seat or crib since it can create an unsafe environment for your little one.
We just celebrated my son's first birthday and this board book has been a part of our bedtime routine since we brought him home. The puppet feature (just stick your finger in and move the puppy’s head around!) keeps him engaged, and he now loves grabbing onto it. It’s a simple story and a quick read, but he smiles at every page. Even better? There are a number of different “little” main characters to choose from, including a giraffe, horse and so on.
What’s included: Two wrist rattles and two foot rattles
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One of the most adorable things has been witnessing my son start to notice his hands and feet. These noise-making ankle and wrist rattles are a helpful way to encourage this recognition while also providing your baby with a fun activity that encourages him to move his arms and legs to make noise. Velcro attachments make it easy to take them on and off. Some parents did call out, however, that the noise could be louder to further engage their newborns.
"also look up rattle socks on Amazon. This helped him get interested in his feet and with rolling into his side"
What to Consider When Buying Toys for Newborns
Before you purchase a toy for a newborn, take these factors into consideration:
High-contrast images. Because baby's eyesight is still developing, high-contrast images and patterns are easier for them to see and will likely hold your infant's attention. "Babies really focus on when one color ends and another begins, which helps them notice edges and shapes," says Dr. LeVos. Use toys with black-and-white images and patterns for baby to look at and help practice tracking by moving it in front of their face.
Sound. Another great toy for a newborn is a simple soft toy that makes some noise, suggests Caplan-Colon. This will also help baby practice tracking as they look for the source of the sound. You can also introduce baby to new sounds by playing soft music, singing or simply by changing your voice as you read or talk. Look for toys that play music or sounds as well as those that crinkle or squeak.
Books. Remember that it's never too early to read to baby to start honing language skills, too. “Books are also really great because they can grow with your child as your child grows,” Dr. Lytle says. “Even if you have a picture book for a newborn, you might start by flipping the pages, and just flipping the pages might be enough for them, without ever even looking at the content on the pages. And then as they develop their attention span over time, you might start pausing on a page and pointing at an object, whether it's a cat or a dog or maybe you're going to identify colors.”
Mirrors. By using toys with mirrors, your baby will begin seeing and noticing their own reflection. “It’s a really novel experience for a kid to see themselves in a mirror, and it can be really fun,” Dr. Lytle says. “You can point to their nose in the mirror, and then point to their nose on their face. Start to make that correspondence, and eventually they’ll make that connection.”
Interaction. Better than any toy is playtime with caregivers. "Play and learning are not separate in early childhood," says Dr. LeVos. "When there's an opportunity to engage, it's that much more enriching." And it doesn't take much, she explains. "Even just a positive sound is enough for a baby to realize that mom likes what I'm doing. That's how they start to learn boundaries." In order to make playtime more enriching, sing and talk to your baby as much as possible and narrate what you're doing, like shaking a rattle. Your engagement will even help develop early milestones related to language and social skills.
Safety. Babies this age should always be closely supervised, especially when playing with any type of toy. Because baby's crib should be free of any loose items according to the AAP’s sleep guidelines, never leave any toys, stuffed animals or blankets with them when they sleep. You should also carefully inspect toys for any loose parts that could be a potential choking hazard, like buttons or beads. In general, the AAP stresses to make sure toys and any parts are larger than baby's mouth so they can safely chew on them.
FAQs
How many toys does a newborn really need?
Your newborn doesn't require a chest full of toys — they'll delight in just hearing your voice or gazing at your face. That said, though baby may not do much with toys at this age, you can still show them toys and use them during your time together.
"What we know from decades of research on child development is that kids learn, first and foremost, from the people around them," Dr. Lytle says. "We can also think about just being face to face with babies, smiling at them, talking to them, waiting for their response. Be really interactive with them, and those protoconversations will eventually build into actual conversations that you can have with them."
How much can I expect to spend on newborn toys?
Another thing to note: You don't have to seek out high price tags or intricate features for your baby's toys. Reading library books together, looking at interesting images (again, your face is the best for them to gaze at!), singing and listening to soft music or gently dancing together all make for nice playtime activities.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.