The 24 Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds, Recommended by a Mom of Two

Dr. Abelowitz recommends an unbreakable mirror for little ones to look at their own reflections. The Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror has a lightweight frame that sits on its own, allowing your baby to stare into it during tummy time or even hold up and move around. Dr. Lytle suggests you get down on the floor with your little one and play a game of peekaboo, popping in and out of the reflection, to combine a few of baby’s favorite things in one and encourage interaction with each other. Even though the mirror isn’t made of glass, it still gives baby a fairly clear reflection.

The mirror also comes with crinkly, textured leaves and fun toys attached to the corners that encourage tactile exploration and visual development.

For an interactive toy that baby will use as they grow, this Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank is an excellent option. It features bright colors and over 40 different sounds, making it engaging for baby. It helps teach them hand-eye coordination as they try to get the coins into the slot on top or open the door themselves to take the coins out. Even just grabbing the coins and passing them from one hand to the other is a great way for them to practice their fine motor skills.

"My daughter loves to push its nose and hear it oink," says Shelley Gingrich, What to Expect's Executive Director of Brand Solutions. "It's a great toy to help develop fine motor skills too; I loved watching her figure out how to use her little fingers to drop the coins into the slot on top. She's nearly 2 and she still loves to play with it."

Clearly, the Fisher-Price piggy bank is a great long-term toy, too. When I pulled this toy out of storage for my 6-month-old, my 3-year-old immediately started playing with it. They both love the sounds, music, and the challenge of figuring out how to get the coins into the bank. I also appreciate that the coins are large enough that if they end up in my baby’s mouth, I don’t need to worry about her choking. 

Small, inexpensive and entertaining, this Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy is a great option for parents who really want a toy to take on-the-go. The chunky handle makes it easy for babies to hold by themselves, and the portable size means it’s ideal to toss into a diaper bag or hand to baby when they’re in the stroller. It features 10 different melodies that babies can easily switch on their own, all of which parents swear aren’t as annoying as some other musical toys. (There’s a volume control for parents who don’t want to listen to these songs on repeat, though.)

“It is super portable; it’s easy to throw in a diaper bag for a quick or long trip,” says Sarah Darby, Senior SEO Strategist with What to Expect who has a 1-year-old. “The tunes are repetitive, but they’re honestly less annoying than other similar toys, and (very importantly) it has an off switch so it isn't randomly making noise in the toy bin. And he actually still plays with and likes this toy at almost 2, which is always a plus!”

This was such a hit with my children, too, that I immediately ordered a replacement when we lost our first one. My kids loved switching the music on their own, but they also loved just sitting there and listening to the songs while watching the lights flash in front of them. At 6-months-old, babies don’t have much of an attention span, and this kept them busy for far longer than most other toys. The battery life also lasts a surprisingly long time.  

The adorable VTech Baby Lil' Critters Moosical Beads is made of different fabrics to stimulate baby's senses: They'll love exploring the textures of everything from silky satin to rough terry. The colors and patterns are bright and engaging, too. Plus, the farm animal's neck has ring toys to spin and two buttons for baby to push for songs, phrases, letters, shapes and colors. For parents concerned about all that noise, the toy has an automatic shutoff that helps preserve battery life and will give your ears a break. 

Reviewers rave about the volume control and how soft and plush the cow is. They also say that there’s a lot for baby to play with, and that it helps teach them things down the line, like the ABC’s and colors.

Dr. Abelowitz says that a ring stacker, like this highly-rated Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker, is good for hand eye coordination. Baby can easily grab the thick rings and safely bring them to their mouths. It encourages parent-child interaction, too: Help your little one stack each of the eight brightly-colored wooden pieces while narrating what each color is and counting the rings as they pile up.

Olivia DeLong, Senior Editor, says her daughter has played with this stacking toy for years. "I think she was initially drawn to them because of the vibrant colors," she says. "They are durable and have held up over time, but what we love most about them is their versatility: They teach shape, color and size-differentiation skills, and also help with fine motor skill development. A total win-win!"

Note that while it’s recommended for little ones 18 months and older, lots of reviewers say that their babies had fun playing with this earlier on, from holding the rings in their hands to watching older siblings or parents stack up the rings in front of them.

As baby starts to get more mobile (by now, they’re likely able to roll on their own), you may want to trade their activity mat for an activity center that will keep them happily entertained in one place. The Skip Hop Baby Activity Centeroffers a 360-degree rotating seat so baby can twist and bounce. It has four toys on the main console for baby to practice fine motor skills: peek-a-boo clouds that pop up and squeak, a wobble lamb with rattle beads, a sun bead mover with a spinner, and a swaying toy that moves back and forth. There’s also a kick-to-play piano at their feet so they can practice gross motor skills, too, plus cause-and-effect when they realize pressing the keys makes music play. 

"We called it her 'office' — she would spin and play with the various toys," says Jeanne Beacom, Campaign Performance Manager. "It's also very adaptable. When she was smaller, we could prop blankets around her to help her stand up a little better, or put books under the foot plate to make sure she had her feet properly supported."

When your little one is too big to use this as a bouncer, it can transform into a standing toy and later, a play table. Parents love the versatility and how it can grow with your little one, with some even noting that their kids have played with it for years.

Designed for 5- and 6-month-olds, the The Play Box from Lalo is designed to help baby reach milestones. Inside you’ll find six toys, each one targeting at least one developmental skill; from a rolling toy that helps hone fine motor skills and visual tracking, to a soft block that helps them practice grasping and explore different textures. The box can be purchased alone or as part of a subscription, which delivers a new box every other month until baby is 2 years old. Parents appreciate that Lalo’s toys are sustainably-made with non-toxic materials, so they don't have to worry when baby inevitably puts these toys in their mouth.

With 10 chunky, easy-to-hold geometrically-shaped blocks, baby can stack the blocks, bang them together or take them in and out of the included storage basket. These actions will help them develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while they have fun exploring the shapes with their hands (and their mouths, too!). My duaghters played with this long after the 6-month mark and I loved tha the handle transformed it into af un take-along toy. That, and the fact that all the pieces fit neatly inside for quick and easy cleanup. 

Other parents agree that it’s great for learning shapes and, because the top of the stroage basekt is a shape sorter, they'll be able to hone in on problem-solving skills as they grow. 

Infants love to hold, bang and stack cups, but they tend to chew on them as well — which is why I love Maison Rue’s eight-piece set. Crafted with 100% food-grade silicone, these are safe on gums but resilient enough to smash together as baby strengthens their newfound grip. Plus, a few of the cups feature holes in different shapes at the bottom, so they double as a bath toy. (Although the brand notes you can also shine a light through them to project different shapes on the walls in the dark or at night.) 

They’re also great for tummy time. As your baby lies flat on a map, you can stack the cups just out of reach. Lightweight and portable, these nestle together in a stacking tower, making them a breeze to store and even pack in a bag for on-to-go play. 

Books with flaps help baby explore by working their fine motor skills, says Dr. Lytle, who adds that you should “look for a book with resilient, sturdy flaps that your baby will be better able to manipulate.” The 'Babies Love Colors' board bookoffers just that with large, colorful flaps and easy-to-turn thick pages. Both of my daughters used to love flipping through this book – they liked the size and seemed captured by the colorful illustrations. They read it long after that 6-month mark, because as they learned to identify colors and letters, they enjoyed pointing them out.

It’s amazing how something as simple as a set of sensory balls can entertain a 6-month-old. These Miniland Sensory Balls come with a set of six different balls made of 100% natural rubber, which means they’re soft for baby to handle and the six different textures make them easy to grip. 

Jamison Hermann, Senior Producer at What to Expect, says these balls were a hit for both his eldest daughter and now his youngest. "The variety of sizes, colors and textures is fun for her to explore," he says.

I had these for both of my daughters around the 6 month age and they were a hit for each of them. They loved to grab them, examine them and roll them all around, chasing after them once they got old enough to start crawling. As they got older, they could still play with these and loved tossing them around. They are so simple and easy to stash when not in use; plus, I loved the all-natural material.

A toy with a suction cup, like the Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center, sticks securely to baby’s high chair tray so they can stay entertained while you’re occupied (but in the same room, of course!). They can practice motor skills and hand-eye coordination by spinning the wheel to set off the cascading beads and a blur of colors, while creating a rattling sound. It’s a lot for baby to look at, which is perfect for 6-month-olds who have a more sophisticated level of visual tracking. At 8 inches tall, the toy can fit into large diaper bags for entertaining your child when you’re dining out. Parents appreciate how versatile this toy is, with some saying they use it on activity centers and even in the bath. 

Six-month-olds love to look at themselves in the mirror, so use that to your advantage with this interactive book. Beloved children's author Eric Carle's ‘My First I See You' book has mirrors that you can use to point to baby and say their name among the whimsical illustrations and charming rhymes.

Playing with a mirror is beneficial to your baby's development as they learn how to focus their vision and identify faces. And, it'll help keep baby engaged during tummy time. Parents love how they can use this book over and over again because of the mirror, and as baby gets older, they’ll understand the story, too.

Each ball in this set olds a surprise inside, either an animal or a toy that spins. Baby can bat at them as they bob along in the tub, or in a small water table or sensory bin. They can also pick them up and shake them to set the rattling beads in motion, honing in on their fine motor skills and learning cause-and-effect. What’s more, textured rings around the bubbles move freely, so your little one will have fun manipulating them, even without the presence of water. The hard plastic toys are BPA-free and mold-resistant.

I’ve used these with both my 6-month-old and my 3-year-old, and both love playing with them. They float nicely and what I really like about them is that they don’t get moldy; the water doesn’t get inside, so they’re easy to clean and store. My baby also loved the rattle sound that they make when you shake them.

Does your little one always try to reach for your keys? The First Years' First Keys allows them to have their own set while teaching fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Dr. Shapiro says little plastic keys are great for helping your little one with “passing things from one hand to another.”

What's more, the rounded edges of each key mean that it's no problem if your baby puts them in his mouth to use as a teether. A handy ring holds all the keys together so that none of them get lost. They make a click-clack noise when your baby jangles them around, but it's not too loud (meaning it's a great pick to have in public spaces). In reviews, parents say that they love the simplicity of these: They’re easy to take anywhere. 

For a great multi-purpose rattle, check out the HOLA Baby Grab and Spin rattle. It offers numerous ways for baby to flex their budding fine motor skills, with beads that spin, disks that move up and down, a mirror for baby to check out their reflection, blocks for counting and identifying colors, and a button that plays sounds and music. Its open sides are easy to grasp from any angle, and at just over 6 inches all around, it's easily portable. Entertain your little one while they're in their high chair, bring it on walks or roll it across the floor to encourage your tiny tot to crawl towards it. Parents say their babies were entertained for long stretches of time by this toy because of the bright colors and many ways to play.

After 6 months, little ones love to stuff smaller toys into larger toys — even if it’s just a bag, bin or box. That simple concept is what makes this Melissa & Doug Wooden Surprise Gift Box so genius. The small, cloth-covered wooden box can be filled (and emptied) with various complementary toys, each one offering a different sensory experience. There’s a squeezable ball with a chime, a textured crinkle cloth and a cloth book, as well as a mirror at the bottom of the box, there’s a mirror. 

I bought this for my youngest daughter when she turned 6 months old, and she loved everything about it: opening the box to discover new toys, taking the toys out and stuffing them all back in the box. As she got older, she started using the box to hold trinkets she found around the house, and even now, at 3 years old, she still loves playing with the tiny bear. 

The Ms. Rachel Sensory Learning Farm features multiple types of sensory play, from ribbons to a plush cow to crinkle flaps, that aid in developing fine motor skills like grasping and flipping. It can be folded flat and laid out like a book, with eight different farm animal environments for your little one to look at. You can also fold it up to look like a standing barn. 

Because this is compact, soft and foldable, it’s great for taking on the go whether you’re traveling or just need a toy for the diaper bag

Even though the 6-month-old mark might be a little young for the kind of imaginative play little ones often engage in with baby dolls, my daughters still showed interest in them. The Wonder & Wise Bundle Baby Doll is a good option for infants because it’s soft like a stuffed animal and small enough for them to comfortably hold.  A big bonus is the fact that it comes with a removable swaddler blanket, diaper and knit cap, allowing it to grow with your baby as they get older.

Perfect for budding artists, the GUND My Little Artist Playset comes with a small, plush carrying case shaped like a paint palette and four sensory toys. Inside, you’ll find a squeaker toy shaped like a paint tube, a crinkly paintbrush, a red crayon that rattles and a mini stuffed bear complete with a beret and artist’s apron.

Thanks to their soft and plush feel, these can be used as early as the newborn stage and can be thrown in the washing machine for easy cleaning. While small, they can grow with your baby for a while – my daughters have similar sets they’ve played with for years. I an art set isn’t your thing, GUND makes these in a variety of styles, including a Peter Rabbit-themed watering can, tackle boxes, golf bags, a mini purse and even a food truck! 

The adorable Skip Hop Baby Stack & Crawl Crab is meant to grow with your baby. For the youngest set, the soft top can come off and be used as a teether. It also acts as a three-piece stacker with lights and sounds. As your little one begins to crawl, you can set up the crab to move – it goes in a circular pattern and stays close, encouraging them to follow along. For advanced crawlers, you can adjust the crab movements to follow a random pattern for a more challenging chase. 

The crab also features three different songs and multiple sound effects that babies will love listening to. The whole toy helps with the development of fine and gross motor skills, hand/eye coordination and visual tracking. Not to mention, it’s silly, colorful and fun!

My daughter received an Itzy Ritzy Link & Love teething toy when she was a few months old, and she absolutely adored it. Even as an older toddler, she’ll snuggle with it before naps or when she’s going to sleep. I always appreciated that it was so easy to bring just about anywhere, and I loved the little hook that allowed me to dangle it from the stroller when we were going for walks. 

This toy has a silicone teether attached, which my daughter relied on to soothe her sore gums. But even after teething ended, she liked exploring the different sensory elements, like the soft and fuzzy attachments, ribbons and clinking rings.

Made of a super soft and fuzzy, Kissy, The Penguin is truly adorable and large enough for little ones to hug tight. Even better, it’s entertaining and interactive. When you press the “sing” foot, she sings and moves her wings to the beat. When you press the “play” foot, she lifts her wings up and down in a motion meant to simulate blowing kisses. 

My daughter loved playing with this the first year of her life, and honestly, she still gets a little entranced when she stumbles across it these days. GUND makes a whole assortment of animals, including interactive elephants and bunnies that earn equally high praise from fellow parents.

This Baby Einstein and Hape Magic Touch Piano is one of the best toys my daughter has ever received — not only because she loves it but also because it’s gorgeous and unique. Shaped like a tiny piano and constructed of durable wood, its colorful graphics and songs delight for months.   

There are three different ways to play (freestyle, instructor and composer), which allows little ones to create their own music, play songs or follow the included sheet music, respectively. At 6 months old, my daughter loved listening to the music, but as she got older, she became more interested in composing her own tunes. Now, she enjoys following basic notes.    

Another reason I think it’s worth buying is the fact the volume is adjustable (low or high) and the songs aren’t annoying. That and the Montessori-inspired, aesthetically pleasing appearance make it one of my favorite gifts to give on birthdays.