The Best Toys for 10-Month-Olds, According to Families
When my first baby was 10 months old, with toddlerhood around the corner, I realized it was up to me to create a stimulating environment that would challenge his developing mind. Toys for 10-month-old babies do just that: They allow ever-changing infants to build on skills they have while inspiring them to learn more about themselves and the world around them.
So which gifts are ideal? Consider what your 10-month-old is doing now. Chances are, they’re beginning to communicate via gestures like waving and clapping, and maybe even imitating speech, says Jana Sarno BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. Or perhaps they’re beginning to point at or poke objects, and pull themselves up to stand, says Jennie Monness, an early childhood educator and co-founder of Union Square Play. No matter which skills your child is working on, they’re likely to pick up new ones every day—and our picks for the best toys for 10-month-olds are sure to make playtime even more fun!
The best toys for your 10-month-old should grab their attention, pique their curiosity, and encourage them to practice new skills. But lots of toys tick those boxes. To narrow the list to just our favorites, we:
- Conducted a survey of parents nationwide, asking about their child’s favorite toys.
- Consulted a board-certified behavior analyst and early childhood educator on what qualities to look for in a toy for 10-month-olds.
- Considered toys we’ve used in our homes with our children; after all, The Bump team isn’t just a collection of pregnancy and parenting experts, many of us are parents ourselves.
- Conducted exhaustive market research, scouring external forums and reviews, to see how these toys held up for a wide variety of parents.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
Activity center for independent play
- Converts to toddler table and chair
- Durable and easy to clean parts
- Three color waves
- Pricey despite great value
- Youngest tester struggled to spin herself around when placed in the activity center seat
One mom I know calls this toy her baby’s “office” and the nickname couldn’t be more appropriate: This 5-in-1 activity station has every bell and whistle your 10-month-old needs to keep themselves busy. With six removable toys including an electronic piano, a spinning rattle and a tweeting bird, this adjustable play station entertained our product tester Brittany’s baby and toddler. “They love playing with the toys,” she said, which are easy to put on and take off, she adds.
When independent play is the goal, it’s great to hear from Brittany that, “It’s definitely stable and secure, and I feel 100% comfortable allowing my baby to utilize it.” She adds. “My daughter isn’t one to stay interested in something for too long, but she does stay entertained in the activity center for 15 to 20 minutes max.”
While you might think that all kids quickly outgrow these centers, this convertible model is an exception: Use the toys for tummy time, position your baby in the 360-degree turning seat, or install the baby balance board to help them with leverage. Later, use it as a toddler table, or add legs to the balance board to use as a toddler stool. “It’s not that difficult to transform it from one stage to the next, and it makes the value and length-of-use great,” Brittany says. “I think this product would definitely be able to be passed down to many children for many years.”
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y
Our community says:
There is a lot to learn from this activity center, particularly a lot of cause and effect. – Brittany S., mom of one
Sensory board book for tactile development
- Textured silicone features
- Helps with animal identification
- Length is just right for short attention spans
- Infants might not be ready to grasp animal facts yet
Sarno is a fan of this board book for infants because of its many textures: Baby can touch and feel different sea creatures on every page, encouraging them to have new tactile and visual sensory experiences simply by turning the pages. And I have to admit—these touch-and-feel books are fun for adults, too. It’s impossible not to reach for the sea turtle’s shell on the cover, or one of the other silicone elements throughout the book, which pictures a dolphin, seahorse, starfish, seal and other creatures found under the sea. Better yet, each page lists a fun fact. While they might skew a little above the average infant (did ya know sea turtles live up to 100 years?!) it’s never too early to start absorbing knowledge, and these tidbits definitely help keep things interesting for grown-up readers, too.
Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N
Plush toy for learning
- Buttons are easy to press
- Flat fill makes it manageable for little ones
- Some reviewers complain select songs play on repeat
This pillow-like plush elephant charmed Jodie, a mom of one: She called it “educational and cute” after it helped her baby learn to count, recite the ABCs and sing. Given the soft-eared stuffy has 45 songs and sounds, there are quite a few more lessons where those came from. The toy doesn’t just count and sing the ABCs when you press its foot: It plays songs about colors and shapes when you press its belly; lights up and of course, makes a stellar cuddle buddy. Parents love the rainbow light features, and agree it’s great for car rides. Plus, they say it entertains 10-month-olds as well as their older siblings, and sits up on its own when passed down to younger siblings practicing tummy time.
Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: Y
Our community says:
[My child likes] the singing and counting. – Jodie, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Push toy for gross motor skills
- Two “speeds” provide resistance to support early walkers
- Endless activity options to both entertain and teach little ones
- Great value
- Some reviewers say wheels can be slippery
- Bright colors and varied functions can be overstimulating
Push toys give infants on the move the support they need to activate those major muscle groups and (finally!) put one foot in front of the other. While the VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker features a detachable panel to entertain floor bound babies, too, the battery-powered activity board snaps neatly into place to roll on into the next gross motor milestone.
But what sets this toy apart isn’t its activity center, which features five colorful, light-up piano keys, an old-school telephone receiver, a shape sorter, a cow, gears, and more: It’s the adjustable, two-speed control switch that provides just enough rear wheel resistance to keep the youngest pushers from literally getting carried away.
Age range: 9+ months | Batteries required: Y
Interactive animal toy
- High and low volume options, plus off button
- Machine washable
- Just the right size for little ones
- Best on hard floors
The Wobble ‘n’ Go Woofer helps little ones learn cause and effect in the most delightful way—just press this plush blue puppy’s back to hear fun sounds and send it walking across the room. Parents in our survey raved about their baby’s reaction when a simple squeeze created such an effect, and about the way the toy automatically turned off after playing with no rogue, last-ditch barks. Crawlers enjoy following this pup around, a fun way to practice gross motor skills. Should they happen to prefer cats, there’s a feline option, too. Both wobble around adorably.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y
Soothing plush
- Machine washable
- Contains beans for weight and ultimate floppiness
- Sonic-welded plastic eyes to surpass all required safety standards
- Less engaging that animated alternatives
Sometimes all a 10-month-old needs from their plaything is comfort. This classic stuffy fits the bill thanks to the incredibly soft fur, a bean fill to create a bit of heft, and a 13-inch size that’s perfect for a full-body cuddle. It’s great for everything from games of pretend to soothing snuggles.
Sonic-welded plastic eyes that don’t budge means this toy brings parents comfort, too. This toy also comes in a nine-inch version, which may be more manageable for little ones.
Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N
Fine-motor skill-building train
- Dishwasher safe
- Made from and packaged in 100% recycled materials
- Plastic meets FDA food contact standards
- Lots of pieces can make cleanup a drag
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after raising two toddlers is that stackers and sorters are not to be underestimated. There is something magical about watching your baby—that one you made yourself!—use their itty bitty hands to both pick up and position small pieces with grace and precision. This 12-piece stack-and-sort locomotive replete with train engine, shape-sorting car, and cargo car, will help them hone those fine-motor skills—but not too quickly! Expect little ones intent on fitting the four shapes (circle, square, triangle, and star) into their respective holes to focus on their mission for a while. These shapes and corresponding cargo feature a variety of animals, colors, and numbers, so there’s even more to learn once your little one masters the basics.
Parents already finding their kids’ toy collection to be, well, a bit wasteful, will appreciate that this entire 12-piece set is made from 100% recycled plastic and packaged with recycled and recyclable materials. And because it’s easy to toss in the dishwasher, you can say yes when your baby insists on bringing pieces into the tub.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Advanced activity cube for hand-eye coordination
- Durable construct
- Wide variety of captivating features
- Buttons are easy for little fingers to press
- Adjustable volume and off button
- Some reviewers say sliding animals are designed poorly
This robust activity cube is the baby toy I can’t seem to get rid of even now that my kids are 2 and 4. They both loved it as babies and still can’t get enough of it, continuing to spend significant time fighting over—er, playing with—the cube every time it comes out of the closet. Their long-time commitment to a toy that’s designed for babies as young as 9 months old makes perfect sense considering its almost-endless list of features, all of which promote hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills: It has seven activities spanning two electronic panels. There are five numbered, colored piano keys, a spinner that points to different animals, a book with nursery rhymes, and their favorite analogue component, which is especially good for little ones working on coordinating their hand motions: four colorful sorting shapes.
Gears, spinning fruits, and moving animals only add to this toy’s allure as the Disney World of activity cubes. As a parent who has heard its soundtrack hundreds of times, I can tell you the 75+ songs, sounds, and phrases don’t get old—they get better as kids learn to select specific buttons with precision. Best of all, the toy keeps them busy for 10- to 20-minute spurts, whether they’re playing together or rallying for solo turns.
Age: 9+ months | Batteries required: Y
Tactile fidget toy
- Durable
- Food-grade materials
- Fun for all ages
- Largest bubbles can be difficult for little fingers to invert
One of the few new toys I got specifically for my second child, this fidget toy always seems to find its way into my own hands during playtime—it’s just that captivating. Each of the five bubbles, which vary in size and color, invert with a satisfying pop to keep big and little hands busy when a case of the antsies kicks in.
The 5.5-inch long play panel is the perfect size to slip into a diaper bag or carry-on, or even stick in a car’s back seat pocket to whip out when baby gets fussy. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about this toy finding its way into your little one’s mouth: If it happens, it happens since it’s made from durable plastic with 100% food-grade silicone, and all components are BPA-free.
Age range: 10+ months | Batteries required: N
Magical unicorn toy for independent play
- Perfect size for little hands
- Off-button
- Great price
- Also comes in dino version
Any parent knows that children very quickly take an interest in your phone. This friendly unicorn phone is made just for them, with an easy-to-grip rainbow handle and of course, no screen. The gift will launch your little one into independent play thanks to four jumbo buttons they can press without a parent’s help. The nose can also be pushed to light up the unicorn’s horn.
In play mode, the phone plays six sounds and melodies including a ring tone and “hello!”—just enough to keep 10-month-olds content for a bit. Your only job is to stand by with your own phone ready to record, since there’s nothing cuter than eavesdropping on a 10-month-old’s pretend phone conversation.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y
Fruit-shaped teethers for sensory exploration
- Dishwasher safe
- Mouth safe
- Vibrant fruit shapes help with object and color identification
- Reviewers say they don’t stay cold for long after freezing
These food-grade, BPA-, PVC-, and latex-free silicone teethers are as practical as they are aesthetic. The 5-pack includes vibrant fruit shapes like pineapple, strawberry, orange and grapes, each its own unique texture to hit the spot during tough teething phases. And yes, you’ll need five: Sprinkle one or two in your diaper bag, and pop the rest in the freezer to bring relief the next time baby shows signs of teething, like drooling, fussing, fever or swollen, red gums. The baby-palm-sized grip makes each teether extra manageable—all the better to soothe discomfort as cute but painful little teeth appear one-by-one.
Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N
Animated comfort plush
- Neutral color palette
- Two play modes
- Surface washable
- Not machine washable
- Songs vary, some versions don’t have “Do Your Ears Hang Low”
Peek-a-boo is a game any 10-month-old can get on board with, and this plush, animated bunny delivers an enthusiastic performance, with moving ears that droop to cover up its eyes during play. And that’s not all—Flora also sings, flapping her ears to keep the rhythm and keep baby equally animated and engaged. Adjustable audio makes this toy beloved by parents—just hold either foot for a few seconds to bring the volume down.
All that said, this soft stuffed bunny doesn’t need batteries to bring endless joy to a 10-month-old—that can be done with a touch of its fur, or a hug. So it’s no wonder, as parents learn early on, that when it comes to amassing a robust collection of stuffies for your little one, the limit does not exist!
Age range: 6+ months Batteries required: Y
Musical plush for cognitive development
- Hidden volume button
- Day and night modes
- No games, just press and play
While bugs top the list of things I’d prefer my kids not to play with, this plush critter is an adorable exception: The eight-legged bug has day and night modes controlled via a hidden battery pack that keeps parents in control. By day, 10-month-olds can appreciate songs and phrases while at night, sleepytime mode presents five-minute lullabies and soothing sounds: There are more than fifty total playback options.
To activate, little ones simply press the color-changing star on the critter’s tummy or any one of the it’s many legs, which feature various colors and patterns. Whether your 10-month-old uses this toy to learn to count, sing, identify colors or foster a genuine appreciation for bugs, you can bank on a happy customer who, at the very least, appreciates the varied fabrics and textures that make this bug extra nice to snuggle.
Age range: 3+ months | Batteries required: Y
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
At this age, babies are picking up new skills every day, and their unique personalities are beginning to shine through their behaviors—cue the awws. With this in mind, opt for 10-month-old toys that align with their new interests and abilities—or, pique their curiosity the old-school way, by letting them play with household objects. Monness recommends metal condiment cups, clear salad spinners and plastic apothecary jars. They all offer safe, unique ways to introduce your kiddo to independent problem-solving while helping them work on their fine motor skills, like the pincer grasp. When it comes to play, the opportunities are truly endless for a 10-month-old—so expect infants at this age to bang toys and other objects together (to experiment with noise of course!), put things in and take things out of containers, and even drop items over and over again while seated in their high chair, Monness says.
Books are another go-to for 10-month-olds developing social and emotional skills, says Sarno. Board books with cute, silly rhymes or textured pages offer a great way to introduce babies to new animals, shapes, colors and new concepts. Plus, adds Monness, with a 10-month-old’s newfound ability to gesture with their forefingers, touch-and-feel books—and any interactive play, really—are all the more fun.
Before treating the infant in your life to a new plaything, you’ll want to make sure it’s fun and engaging (of course) but also age-appropriate. According to developmental experts, these are the top features you should consider when picking out toys for a 10-month-old:
- Various textures. Plush playthings have their place, but you don’t want to limit your child’s toy box to soft objects only. “Clanking, clinking and banging, are all ways that a 10-month-old is investigating properties of objects, and the cause that their actions have on their environment,” explains Monness. This is why she suggests choosing toys made of various textures for baby to explore through multiple senses.
- Multipurpose designs. At 10 months olds, baby is on the cusp of a lot of big social and physical milestones, says Sarno. For this reason, you’ll want to choose toys that have multiple uses and that can grow with your child. Push toys that can be played with while sitting, kneeling or walking are great for multiple stages.
- Developmental features. Infants at this age are refining their grasp, hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. Monness suggests looking for toys that allow baby to build on these blossoming developments, like a crawling tunnel or a pikler triangle.
About the writer:
Elizabeth Narins is a Brooklyn-based mother of two and freelance writer who has previously held staff positions at Cosmo and Women’s Health. Her work has appeared in Scary Mommy, What to Expect, Parents, Health, Babycenter, and more. She’s the author of More Than Mom, a Substack about parenting, identity, and all the other stuff that keeps new-ish parents up at night.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Jana Sarno, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. She has worked as the vice president of applied behavior analysis at North Shore Pediatric Therapy and as an infant development program administrator at Coyne & Associates Education Corp.
Jennie Monness, is an early childhood educator and the co-founder of Union Square Play, a global virtual parenting community and play space in New York City.
The Bump September 2024 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of over 400 parents from among The Bump community. We asked about their child’s favorite toy, what they and their child enjoyed about it and what skills it helped their child develop.
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