The 20 Best Toys for 2-Month-Olds
Newborn babies snooze a lot—but by the time they hit the two-month mark they’ll likely be a little more alert during the day, so it’s the perfect time to introduce play to your routine. But how do you entertain baby when they’re still learning how to hold their own head up? With toys of course! The best toys for 2-month-olds help refine baby’s blossoming motor skills and satisfy their newfound need for social interaction. You never know, the right toy may even elicit baby’s first smile.
Not sure what to look for? Read on to discover expert tips and safety considerations to keep in mind when shopping for your little one, then browse our favorite developmental toys for 2-month-old infants.
The best toys align with baby’s abilities. At 2 months old, baby is going through a period of rapid growth and development. According to Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, communication skills begin to develop around this stage. You’ll notice baby looking up at your face, turning their head toward your voice and calming down when you speak to them or hold them. They may also begin to coo and make sounds beyond a simple cry.
To that end, Sarno recommends creating a language-rich play environment for your little one: “Read to them or describe their day. Use different inflections and voices to stimulate their senses,” she suggests. “This is how they’ll learn about what’s going on around them.” To help you with this task, stock up on high-contrast board books, flash cards, puppets and musical toys. Remember that pretty much anything can serve as a toy at this age—it’s all about how you interact with it. For example, while baby is too young to grasp a rattle, you can shake it from left to right to encourage visual tracking skills. Here are a few other milestones typically reached by infants at this age—baby may be:
- Beginning to smile at people
- Briefly bringing their hands up to their mouth to self-soothe
- Beginning to follow things with their eyes, and recognizing people at a distance
- Making smoother movements with their arms and legs
- Holding their head up when lying on their stomach
Kristen Miller, director of education for Celebree School, a nationwide franchise, reminds parents that every child develops at their own pace. Of course, if you have any concerns about baby’s progress, reach out to your pediatrician.
As baby’s skill sets progress, it’s important to provide them with age-appropriate toys to help them grow socially, emotionally and physically. Here are a few expert-tips to help you choose and use the best toys for 2-month-olds:
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Focus on natural materials. When it comes to toys, Miller advises focusing on natural materials—think wood, natural rubber and even silk—in order to introduce baby to different textures.
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Look for high-contrast colors. At 2 months old, baby’s eyesight is not yet fully developed. Both experts recommend toys that feature high-contrast colors like black and white, as this color palette is engaging without being overstimulating. “Simple pops of color like red and orange sprinkled throughout black and white can get their attention too,” adds Sarno.
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Choose playthings with realistic characters. It’s natural to gravitate towards cute cartoon characters or whimsical illustrations. But Miller suggests adding a few books or toys with realistic depictions of people, animals and vehicles to your toy box; in the long run, this will help baby recognize these objects in real life.
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Narrate playtime. Babies don’t need a lot of toys, but what they do need is human interaction. As you play (or simply get on with day-to-day tasks), speak to baby in a soft tone of voice and describe each action that you take. “Talk, read, make facial expressions—and have fun with it!” says Sarno.
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Supervise playtime and check that toys are age-appropriate. Always check the manufacturer age guidelines for toys, and don’t give baby anything that’s too advanced for their stage of development. It’s also important to supervise baby while they play, and never leave them unattended on an elevated surface.
Ready to start your search? From cushy play mats for tummy time to crib mobiles, rattles and more, browse our favorite toys for 2-month-olds below.
Play mat
Tummy time encourages baby to lift their head and strengthen those head, neck and shoulder muscles. According to Miller, the best play mats are designed with soft colors and textures, and often feature a baby-safe mirror. One of our favorites is this top-rated mat, which has five different play zones and is safe to use from the newborn days right through to toddlerhood.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
Tummy time toy
The Flip Fish from Melissa & Doug has earned a spot among the best toys for 2-month-old babies. Why? This multi-sensory plaything is the perfect addition to tummy time. Bright colors and a friendly face will instantly attract baby’s eye, but it’s the crinkly scales, squeaker tail and hidden mirror that’ll maintain their attention.
Age rating: 1+ months | Batteries required: No
Light-up rattle
Encourage baby’s eye-tracking skills by shaking a rattle back and forth. Sarno likes this option from SmartNoggin. Designed by early childhood experts, it has a light-up head that changes color from red to blue to green with just a gentle shake or tap—perfect for holding your little one’s attention during tummy time. Other elements we love include an easy-to-grasp handle, soft rattle sound and child-friendly mirror on the base.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: Yes
Learning cube
Here’s another expert-approved toy for 2-month-olds: The Wimmer Ferguson Learning Cube. Designed to engage baby from birth, this soft cube has a different sensory activity on each side. According to Sarno, the ribbons and crinkle paper help infants learn about various textures and sounds, while the high-contrast pattern supports visual development.
Age rating: 0 to 4 years | Batteries required: No
Soft book
Soft, textured books make great tactile toys for 2-month-olds. This pick from Jellycat has a soft plush cover, colorful illustrations and tons of crinkly fins, shiny tails and squiggly tentacles to touch and explore.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
Musical plush toy
Baby still can’t do much at 2 months old, but they love to watch and observe. Sit this soft and cuddly elephant in front of them, and watch their delight as it gently flaps its ears, sings a jaunty tune and plays a game of peek-a-boo.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: Yes
Age-appropriate playset
Build connection with your little love in those early weeks with the help of this Montessori-inspired playset from Lalo. Inside, you’ll find monochrome flash cards, a lovey, a play scarf, sensory books and more. Together, they can boost several areas of baby’s development, including sensory, social-emotional and motor skills. The best part? You can sign up to Lalo’s play box subscription service to receive curated boxes every two to three months that align with your child’s changing interests.
Age rating: 0 to 3 months | Batteries required: No
Pacifier toy
Next up on our list of the best toys for 2-month-olds is this sweet paci by Wubbanub. The silicone pacifier is attached to a soft plush animal that baby can cuddle. Plus, the nipple is BPA- and phthalate-free and has a rounded tip to encourage a natural latch.
Age rating: 0 to 6 months | Batteries required: No
Soothing crib toy
Baby may be a little more alert than they were a month ago, but let's face it: they still spend a vast portion of their day asleep. That’s why we like this soothing crib toy by Baby Einstein. It attaches to most crib railings and offers a 25-minute light and sound show, so your little one can set sail for a night of sweet dreams.
Age rating: 0 to 3 years | Batteries required: Yes
Sound machine
The sound machine isn’t technically a toy, but it’s a great way to soothe baby on long journeys or at home. The portable white noise machine has six soundtracks including ocean waves and pure white noise. It comes in a few cute animal designs, and has a padded fabric cover constructed from chew-safe materials (because babies are liable to put anything in their mouths). The best part? You can also play your kiddos favorite tunes via Bluetooth, or connect it to the WavHello VoiceShare app and record your own voice singing, shushing or reading a bedtime story. Genius!
Age rating: N/A | Batteries required: Yes
Monochrome flash cards
Since your newborn can’t move around and physically explore their environment yet, they experience the world through sight and sound. That’s why we love these flash cards by Wee Gallery. The monochrome cards clip onto a stroller or diaper bag and help prompt active conversation on daily walks, while running errands or any other time your mini is watching the world around them.
Age rating: N/A | Batteries required: No
Newborn toy set
Thoughtfully designed with newborns in mind, this deluxe set has everything you’ll need to help your little one explore their ever-expanding world. With it, you’ll receive a tummy time mirror, black-and-white flash cards, a curated board book, a patterned swaddle and a milestone pillow to record precious memories in baby’s first few months. Bonus: This would also make for a great 2-month-old gift!
Age rating: 0 to 2 months | Batteries required: No
Textured stroller toy
This colorful stroller toy doubles as a fun stuffed animal that your little one can enjoy for months to come. Designed to nurture baby’s sensory development, the firefly is made of various textures and interactive elements to pique your infant’s attention. In particular, your newborn is sure to love the mirrored details and the delightful sounds (which also introduce the concept of cause and effect). It’s easy to see why this parent-approved plaything has tens of thousands of positive reviews on Amazon!
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
Crib mobile
Next up is another toy for 2-month-old infants from the Wimmer Ferguson collection. This crib mobile has interchangeable graphic cards, meaning you can change up the pattern as baby grows. Start off with the monochromatic design, then move onto the colored patterns in red, blue and yellow.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
Plush rattle toy
This too-cute stroller toy can be played with at home or on the go. It’s made up of two plush avocado halves to prompt sensory play. One features a peek-a-boo rattle pit that’s sure to surprise and delight your little love. Better yet, the 2-month-old toy can also easily be clipped onto your stroller, diaper bag or anything in between.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
Hand puppet
Hand puppets offer yet another great way to communicate through play. Slip this blue giraffe puppet over your hand and tell a story or use it to narrate an imaginary conversation with baby. It’s made from GOTS certified-organic cotton yarn and doesn’t have any dangerous loose parts. Oh, and when it gets a little dirty, you can even pop it in the wash.
Age rating: 6+ months | Batteries required: No
Eco-friendly bath toy
Though baby isn’t splashing around the bath just yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy a bath toy or two. This floating boat (featuring Sophie the Giraffe!) will make bath time more enjoyable for many months to come. Plus, you’ll appreciate that it’s made out of all-natural materials and is free from holes to prevent mold and bacteria.
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
High contrast book
Books are a go-to gift at any age, and this high contrast board book is perfect for a 2-month-old. It’s filled with simple yet realistic illustrations of animals rendered in black, white and a selection of bold primary colors. As you read the book to baby, test out some animal noises to make story time more engaging and fun.
Age rating: 0 to 3 years | Batteries required: No
Wrist rattles
To support motor skills and sensory exploration, Sarno says parents can put wrist rattles on baby, which make sounds as they kick and move their legs and arms. This pair by Infantino can be worn on the wrists or ankles, and have built-in teethers for infants. Another fun way to incorporate music and movement is to dance with baby by moving their arms and legs in time to popular nursery rhymes like “Wheels on the Bus” or “Pat-a-Cake.”
Age rating: 0+ months | Batteries required: No
We get it—there are a a lot of toys out there, and it can be hard to find age-appropriate options that meet your little one’s stage of development. To streamline your search, we browsed dozens of newborn-friendly playthings from leading baby brands and trusted online retailers—this way, you don’t have to spend hours scrolling. When selecting the best toys for 2-month-olds, we considered several factors, such as age rating, material, value, style and, of course, safety. We also read user reviews to get the lowdown on how these products have worked for real families, and didn’t consider anything with less than an average four-star rating. Lastly, to ensure we’re highlighting 2-month-old toys that are safe and fun, we chatted with an early childhood expert and a behavior analyst to understand essential features and safety considerations to keep top of mind as you shop.
Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Kristen Miller, director of education for Celebree School, is a leader in early childhood education.
Jana Sarno, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
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