The Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds, Tested by Babies and Moms
How quickly those precious newborn days go! One moment baby is curled up in your arms, the next they’re reaching the halfway mark of their first year. At 6 months old, baby is busy learning and exploring, and may be rolling, reaching for toys, handling objects and beginning to sit with less support.
So what can parents do to help support those emerging skills? One way is to offer opportunities for play that match what baby is ready to do. “Kids this age are at the stage of full-blown exploration,” explains Dr. Mark Coster, PhD, founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for children of all ages. “While it’s still early for problem-solving and logic, it’s time for varied sensory experiences through sounds, colors and textures.”
To help you find the best toys for this age, we’ve drawn on expert guidance, parent feedback, product research and previous testing with families in their own homes. Our picks are grouped by the skills and types of play they support, from reaching and grasping to exploring textures and sharing sounds together, so you can find something that suits baby’s interests now.
For this update, The Bump Editors reviewed the existing toys and added new selections using parent survey feedback, PR submissions and product research. We organized the toys by the developmental skills and types of play they support. From there:
- We drew on previous testing with five parents and their 6-month-olds. Since all children develop at their own pace, each toy was matched to a baby with the right developmental skills for that toy (for example, toys intended for seated play were tested by babies who were able to sit upright).
- Every product tester used the individual toys with their child during playtime and evaluated them based on criteria including ease of use, play and entertainment value, learning and skill-building, quality and durability, value for money and, of course, baby’s reaction. No new testing was conducted for this update.
- We consulted with three experts, including pediatric physical therapist Giselle Tadros, to understand key developmental priorities and safety considerations.
- We used feedback from surveys of parents within The Bump community regarding their experience with specific toys.
- We followed toy safety recommendations outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
- We checked manufacturer age recommendations and availability for the selected products.
- Because no two families are alike, we combed external forums, reviews and message boards to see how these toys performed for a variety of families.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.
At six months, baby may be on the verge of rolling and beginning to sit with less support, so strength-building activities like tummy time and supported sitting are still super important. “By 6 months, many babies are sitting with less support and starting to reach, rotate, or lean without toppling every time,” says Dr. Giselle Tadros, a pediatric doctor of physical therapy. Not all babies love tummy time, or trying to sit, of course, but a few well-designed toys can make these activities fun for both baby and parent. Having a few toys on hand that give baby something to look at and reach toward during supervised floor play offers opportunities to practice these emerging skills.
- Provides support for seated play
- Six engaging toys within arm’s reach
- Rotating tray flips to snack tray
- Easy to clean with removable foam insert
- Converts to booster seat as baby grows
- Activity chair is very lightweight
- Larger babies may not fit well in the seat
The Bright Starts SuperSeat Playful Paradise gives baby six sensory toys to spin, tap and grab during supported seated play. Its foam insert helps hold baby steady, while the rotating tray keeps activities within reach and flips around for snacks. Later, it converts into a booster seat for mealtimes. The seat provides support while baby explores the toys; it doesn’t teach independent sitting or replace floor play. Our tester Macie’s 6-month-old daughter especially enjoyed the crinkly leaf and bead-filled spinner. “My baby immediately started playing with the toys and I did not have to show her how to use them,” Macie tells us.
Macie found setup straightforward and cleanup simple thanks to the wipeable surface and removable foam insert. However, the lightweight build felt less durable than heavier models, and removing a tray section to get baby in and out was fiddly. Even so, it became a daily favorite: “My baby really enjoys this activity seat and I would say it’s one of her favorite toys at this stage. She still uses it daily.”
Age rating: 6+months | Dimensions: 22.4" (L) x 22.4" (W) x 22" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“I think this toy is great for helping baby build muscle strength and helping them to learn to sit up unassisted. The seat provides great support and allows baby to be comfortable in a sitting position. I do feel this seat has helped develop my baby's ability to sit upright without support. She has progressed so much since using this activity seat.”
- Streamlined wooden design
- Easy to clean
- Activities positioned within baby’s reach
- Larger footprint
- Higher price point
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This wooden activity center is designed to grow with baby, beginning as a sensory station for supported seated play and eventually transforming into a standing activity table for toddlers. In the baby-seat mode, attached activities like spinning drum and bead maze are positioned within easy reach, giving baby plenty of opportunities to practice reaching, grasping and turning moving parts during supervised play.
Parents will appreciate the table’s streamlined wooden design, which feels equally at home in a living room or nursery. The built-in seat supports baby during activity play, while time on the floor gives them opportunities to practice rolling, reaching and developing sitting balance.
As baby becomes more mobile, the center evolves with them, eventually offering a wooden roadway for toy cars and other activities designed for standing play. That being said, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s developmental requirements for using the seat: the 6-month age rating alone doesn’t establish readiness.
Age rating: 6+months | Dimensions: " (L) x " (W) x " (H) | Batteries required: No
- Offers reaching and rolling opportunities
- Lightweight and easy for baby to grab and toss
- Soft rattle sound adds extra appeal
- Sustainably made from durable rubberwood
- Smaller than it looks online (fits in the palm of an adult hand)
- May not hold attention as long as nibble-friendly toys
Reaching, rocking, inching forward—a rolling toy can give baby something interesting to move toward during floor play. That’s what our tester Samantha A. found with the Roller Classic. Light enough for little hands to grab, the simple wooden toy gave her baby opportunities to reach and explore as her movement skills developed.
“In just 3 days of using the toy and my baby constantly having to reach for it as it rolls away, she learned to get on her knees and start rocking,” our tester Samantha tells us. That was her daughter’s experience; toys offer practice opportunities rather than accelerating milestones. And once her daughter realized the toy could roll, the game clicked. “She started throwing and pushing it away, then shimmying to grab it again.” Each session turned into a mini workout in disguise, and it quickly became the first toy she reached for during playtime. Even when she tired of the chase, her six-month-old enjoyed rolling onto her back to shake it and hear the gentle rattle inside.
Crafted from rubberwood, the Roller Classic feels sturdy despite its palm-size build, and Samantha found it held up to daily drops and tosses. “It didn’t even cross my mind that the toy would break at all,” shares Samantha. “There are no loose parts, and everything feels nice and sturdy. The toy can definitely last years.” Samantha noticed the bright colors kept her daughter interested, too, though it couldn’t compete with her teething toy for long stretches of attention. She appreciated having another way to play: “Lots of toys for 6-month-old babies are usually teething toys,” she reflected. “So this one is a breath of fresh air, and it improved my baby’s physical movement.”
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 2.6" (L) x 2.2" (W) x 2.6" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“One thing that I loved about this toy was how it taught her to push, kick, and toss toys around. She learned quickly that it will roll away and therefore she tries to do it whenever she has time on the floor to play. It’s a great toy for her age. I noticed a huge difference in her movement and getting her to be more physical. She started holding herself up on her knees and rocking.”
At six months, baby is hard at work developing their hand-eye coordination. They may be starting to pass objects from one hand to the other, while looking at and examining things with newfound focus. You’ll likely notice their fascination with exploring toys, too—turning them over, reaching for different parts, and taking in each detail. These toys give baby opportunities to practice reaching for what they see and coordinating their hands as they explore.
- Repeated reaching and grasping play
- Engaging textures and colors
- Durable and easy to clean
- Portable for playtime on the go
- Baby may need help refilling the shell
Designed for infants 6 months and older, this 12-piece plush toy invites little ones to reach, grab and pull out a variety of colorful “ingredients” from a smiling taco shell. Parents can refill it for another round, giving baby opportunities to practice grasping and transferring pieces between their hands. Filling and sorting offer new ways to play as baby grows.
“At this age, my baby enjoys disassembling the toy much more than trying to put it back together,” our tester Shannon shared. “We got into a good rhythm of me putting the toy together and him taking it apart, several times over.” Her baby explored it on his back, on his tummy and in supported sitting—and the excitement was easy to spot: “My son loved it and showed his excitement by reaching for it, kicking his feet and smiling. He has showed this reaction each time I bring out the toy.”
Shannon also appreciated that the taco shell comes pre-assembled, so it’s ready to use right out of the box. The varied textures include two teether pieces and crinkly fabric, giving baby different surfaces to explore with their hands and mouth. It’s also lightweight, making it a smart pick for travel or tossing in the diaper bag for entertainment at a restaurant. Plus, there’s bonus play value as children grow—Shannon’s preschooler loved identifying colors and shapes on the fabric, “in addition to taking my order at her taco stand and making me a great taco!”
Age rating: 6+ months | Dimensions: 3.1" (L) x 10.1" (W) x 9.5" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“We have played with this toy in multiple positions, including laying on his back, laying on his belly, sitting, and supported sitting. He was able to pull out a piece and bring it to his mouth or bring it to his other hand at his midline. The varied textures kept him interested and exploring.”
- Rings can stack in any order
- Rattling ring adds an extra auditory element
- Allows for open-ended play
- Cleanup is simple
- Center post is a bit lightweight
- Hard plastic rings may not appeal to all teething babies
Stacking toys offer plenty to explore before baby can actually stack. The Sassy Stacks of Circles adds a clever twist: every ring has the same size opening, so as baby grows, they can stack the rings in any order. For now, placing rings within reach gives baby opportunities to look, reach and grasp.
Our tester Amber said her son found plenty of ways to explore. “At six months, my baby is mostly practicing grasping, bringing toys to midline and putting them in his mouth, and the size and shape of these rings made that really easy for him to do,” she told us. Lightweight and textured, the rings were easy for him to hold, shake and chew. Amber found that the bright colors kept him nicely engaged without overstimulating him. The rattling ring quickly became a favorite, keeping him focused as he learned to shake it on his own. As baby grows, the set offers opportunities for stacking, sorting and talking about colors and numbers together.
“It’s also helpful for practicing depth perception as I scatter the rings slightly out of reach—he tries to scoot or lean forward to grab them, and he’s often successful.” While he isn’t stacking yet, Amber appreciated the different ways he could use the rings now. She added that the toy is “simple, but it invites open-ended play that works at different developmental levels,” keeping it useful beyond the first year.
Quality-wise, Amber described the rings as durable during play and mouthing, though she found the center post a bit lightweight compared to the rings themselves. Still, she felt the set offered excellent value: “It’s such a classic toy that grows with a child from infancy into toddlerhood. It’s the kind of simple, open-ended toy that every playroom should have.”
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 5" (L) x 4.5" (W) x 9" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“The toy offers a lot of versatility. At this stage, he’s enjoying grasping, mouthing, and shaking them, but as he grows, we’ll use them for stacking, sorting by size, and even counting practice. It’s simple, but it invites open-ended play that works at different developmental levels. While it’s not necessarily his single favorite toy, it’s one we reach for often because it’s easy, engaging, and adaptable. I see it holding play value beyond his first year as he develops the skills to stack the rings on his own.”
- Reusable alternative to disposable tissues
- Varied textures and patterns
- Wide opening for reaching and pulling
- Needs refilling after tissues are pulled out
This tissue box toy is a win for babies who love grasping and pulling—and parents who’d rather not sacrifice an entire box of tissues or wipes to playtime. The toy’s wide opening and textured fabric “tissues” make it easy for little hands to grasp and pull, giving baby the satisfaction of an immediate result from their movements. Each of the 12 tissues features a different texture or pattern, giving baby an added opportunity for sensory exploration, too.
The box is deep enough to give baby opportunities to reach inside for more tissues and practice coordinating what they see with their hand movements. And a zippered opening on the bottom makes it easy for parents to replace the tissues or add other age-appropriate toys, transforming it into a versatile little “discovery box” that can evolve as baby grows.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 8" (L) x 8" (W) x 9" (H) | Batteries required: No
- Varied textures and sounds
- Soft bees for hands-on exploration
- Hive stores all five bees
- Handle for taking on outings
- Some parents note the bees are smaller than they imagined
This sweet beehive toy offers plenty of opportunities for sensory exploration and discovery. Inside the hive are five little bees, each with its own sound, texture, or tiny mirror for baby to investigate. Baby will love pulling the bees out and putting them back in, while practicing hand-eye coordination and beginning to explore the concept of object permanence. Parents, meanwhile, will appreciate the toy’s built-in storage: When playtime is over, all five bees can be tucked neatly back inside the hive, and the built-in handle makes it easy to take the whole thing along for playtime on the go.
Age range: 0+ | Dimensions: 5.9" (W) x 6.6" (H) | Batteries required: No
As baby becomes more confident sitting and gains greater control over their gross motor skills, their fine motor skills are developing too. Around six months, parents may notice that baby is increasingly interested in touching and exploring a toy’s textures, tags and other securely attached features. These toys encourage baby to grab, hold, shake and manipulate objects, all while helping them practice their emerging fine motor skills as they grip toys with their whole hand.
- Bendable frame that’s easy to grasp
- Lightweight for little hands
- Rattle and spinning mirror to explore
- Wipe clean only; interior can’t be scrubbed
- May not hold attention for long at 6 months
A toy that makes gripping easy gives your 6-month-old opportunities to practice using their hands. And the Baby Einstein Grip & Spin Oball Rattle Toy is designed with those little hands in mind. The bendable frame has holes that give tiny fingers places to grip, making it easy for baby to grab, hold and turn the toy to explore what’s inside.
“The small holes in the toy are the perfect size,” our tester Chantelle confirms. “They aren’t too big for baby’s hands to get stuck, but they are big enough for him to easily grasp the ball and hold onto it himself.” Her 6-month-old reached for the toy instantly and could grab it easily without it rolling away (though, being 6 months old, he was mostly interested in mouthing it). The rattle and spinning mirror drew his attention briefly, but she suspects the toy will really shine as he grows. “I think once he crawls, he will love going after the ball and will be more interested in the other unique sensory aspects of this toy, like the spinning component inside the ball, the mirror and the rattle.”
The ball’s lightweight design made it manageable for her baby to hold, and Chantelle found the plastic frame durable during use. She noted it wipes clean easily, though the interior can’t be reached. Overall, she found it to be “a fantastic toy option to practice fine motor skills”—with features she expects her baby to explore more as he grows.
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: 4" (L) x 4" (W) x 4" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“Overall, this is a fantastic toy that offers fine motor skills practice while being very engaging with multiple sensory features like the rattle, mirror, and spinning disks inside. It’s easy for a 6 month old baby to grip and begin to explore, and will be great for a crawling baby to chase after. The value is great and you could easily pass this on to multiple kiddos based on the quality.”
- Varied textures, colors and sizes
- Simple grasping and rolling play
- BPA-free
- Some parents note discoloration over time
This set of 10 textured balls gives baby plenty of opportunities to practice grasping, rolling, and holding, all of which exercise their developing fine motor skills. Each ball offers baby a chance to feel a new texture and shape, while exploring different colors and sizes with their little hands, and seeing how each moves and reacts to their touch. Parents can help baby play by rolling balls toward them or offering one within reach, giving baby opportunities to reach, grasp and turn it in their hands.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: N/A | Batteries required: No
- Wooden design
- Three stages of play designed to grow with baby
- Varied textures and activities to explore
- Larger footprint
This convertible toy is designed to grow alongside baby, offering different ways to play as their skills develop. During tummy time, it folds into an angled activity board that gives baby things to look at and reach toward. When baby can sit independently, it unfolds into a low activity table, then transforms into a taller play table once they’re ready to stand.
Seven built-in activities, including a crinkly corn, apple-flap mirror, squeaky ladybug, pop-up silicone radish, carrot rattle, and bead maze, offer baby plenty to discover, from different textures and sounds to simple cause-and-effect play. Caregivers can demonstrate features baby isn’t able to activate as of yet. Parents will appreciate its wooden design and the fact that it can tuck under furniture when not in use.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 21" (L) x 18.1" (W) x 6.9" (H) | Batteries required: No
- Bright, fun colors
- Great size for little hands
- Sturdy design
- Some parents say it’s smaller than expected
This cheerful and chunky little truck offers baby an engaging way to practice their developing fine motor skills as they grasp the truck and experiment with pushing it along the floor. As the truck rolls, the colorful beads in its back “pop” and move, giving baby an immediate visual and auditory response to their actions and for early cause-and-effect play.
The moving beads also give baby something to watch as they push the truck, or as a caregiver rolls it within view. As baby becomes more mobile, it can become a fun toy to move with across the floor.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 3.7" (L) x 4.9" (W) x 4" (H) | Batteries required: No
At six months, baby may be beginning to notice that their actions make something happen. According to Lohiser, infants this age are surprised and delighted by peek-a-boo activities and drop-through play. These actions may seem simple, but they give babies opportunities to explore cause and effect, with caregivers helping where needed. At this age, baby is also becoming more observant, studying objects with greater focus and curiosity. As such, it’s a fun time to introduce toys that invite them to look closely, interact and see what happens next.
- Pop-up action gives baby something to watch and anticipate
- Easy to operate
- Soft, plush, durable design
- Fun for both babies and toddlers
- Pricier than other options in this category
- Must wait for the fox to retreat before turning off
The classic jack-in-the-box gets a softer, baby-friendly makeover with Baby GUND’s Fox in a Box. Tap the soft-sided box and a plush fox pops up and plays music, giving baby a chance to explore cause-and-effect. For younger babies, the surprise alone is enough to capture their attention. As they grow, they’ll start to anticipate what’s coming next and eventually learn how to make it happen themselves. It’s the kind of simple, surprising play that sparks curiosity.
Our tester Amber said her 6-month-old was instantly intrigued: “At this stage, my 6-month-old mostly interacted with the toy by grabbing for the box and trying to put it in his mouth, but he was definitely intrigued when the fox popped out and sang. He would pause, stare and listen, which showed me it was capturing his attention.” She even noticed him catching on “that something fun was going to happen.” Older children may find new ways to enjoy it too: Amber’s toddler loved tapping the box to activate the fox on his own.
“The songs and pop-up action are entertaining without being overwhelming, and the fact that it has two modes makes it feel more versatile than a standard pop-up toy,” Amber tells us. We love that the soft, plush construction, and Amber was impressed with the quality: “While the fox mechanism is electronic, it doesn’t feel fragile or overly delicate. I think this toy will easily last through multiple children and could be passed down without issue.” Cleanup was simple with spot cleaning, and the toy stood up well to grabbing and pressing from both toddler and baby. The only quirk? If you want to switch it off mid-song, you’ll need to wait until the fox retreats back inside. Still, Amber tells us, “I can see it being engaging for several months and even more fun once he’s old enough to understand cause and effect.”
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: 6.25" (L) x 6.25" (W) x 6.25" (H) | Batteries required: 3 AAA batteries
Our product tester says:
“The toy does a good job helping babies learn cause and effect. For my baby, he learns that when the box opens, the fox comes up. As he gets older and learns how to tap the box, he will also develop this even more.”
- Colorful wheel captures baby’s attention
- Great for seated play
- Offers practice grasping, spinning and releasing
- STEM.org authenticated
- Wheel can tip over if baby spins it too hard
- Wipe-clean only
- Plastic balls could get lost over time
Object permanence is one of baby’s first big “aha!” moments—the realization that things don’t just vanish when they’re out of sight is a huge step for little ones. The Sassy Wonder Wheel Ball Drop gives baby a chance to explore that idea. The colorful spinning wheel has four chambers where baby can drop a ball. As the wheel whirls, the balls disappear and then reappear at the bottom, giving baby something to watch and anticipate with each spin.
“My baby instantly loved the brightly colored spinning wheel,” Macie told us. “She loves spinning it even without using the included balls.” After some modeling from mom, Macie’s baby began dropping the balls in herself, watching with excitement as they traveled around the wheel and plunked out at the bottom. The textured balls add extra sensory appeal, and the thrill of the fast spin kept her baby coming back. “She immediately smiled and jumped/moved her arms around in excitement,” Macie says, adding that it quickly became one of her baby’s favorite toys—they played with it multiple times a day.
While the wheel can tip over if baby pushes too hard, Macie noted it was easy for her daughter to spin and play once mom steadied the base. She also praised its durability. “The quality is great and the materials used feel high quality,” Macie says. “The toy functions exactly how it should and seems very durable. I think this toy would last years as long as the included balls do not go missing.”
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 10" (L) x 8" (W) x 4.5" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“This toy engaged my baby's senses in multiple ways. She loved the spinning wheel and seeing how fast it could go. She also loved the textured ridges on the spinning wheel. The included plastic balls also have different textures. The balls make a loud ‘plunk’ noise when dropped into the spaces on the wheel, and it really caught her attention. I think this toy definitely helped my baby understand object permanence better than a game of peek-of-boo. She loved seeing the wheel spin and the balls coming and going quickly.”
- Comes in a set of four books
- Great for both babies and toddlers
- Colors appear when the pages get wet
- Pages need to dry for the colors to disappear again
At 6 months, baby may be enjoying their bathtime, and these color-changing bath books make the daily routine feel like extra-special play time. What start as simple black-and-white pages transform into vibrant illustrations as baby splashes, dips, or submerges the books in water, creating a fun surprise and encouraging them to observe closely as the images change.
The black-and-white high-contrast designs give baby something to focus on, while handling the books in the water is great practice for grasping, reaching and moving toys. Parents will appreciate that there are four books in the set, which will help keep baby interested and provide something new to discover each bath time—and mean there is always a dry book to start with.
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: 3.5" (L) x 3.5" (W) | Batteries required: No
- Several moving parts to grasp, turn and pull
- Different textures and shapes to explore
- No batteries required
- Some features may require adult help
- Some parents report that the silicone attracts dirt
This activity cube is a good fit for babies who are eager to explore the world with their little hands and mouths. Its flexible silicone is easy for baby to grasp, squeeze, and pull. Each side of the cube offers something new to discover, with features such as a rotating bead ball, a pop-up peekaboo dog and pull-out flower that encourage baby to touch, manipulate, and see what happens when they interact with each element.
With its mix of different textures, shapes, and moving parts, the cube offers plenty of sensory stimulation while helping baby practice their grasping skills and hand-eye coordination. It also encourages close observation as they investigate the cube’s smaller details, making this a toy that can keep curious little hands and minds busy.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 6” (L) x 5” (W) x 7” (H) | Batteries required: No
- Four modes for different stages of floor play
- Movement encourages watching and reaching
- Button activates sounds and songs
- Requires three AA batteries
- Some parents report it may be difficult to clean
This soft duck gives baby something to watch and reach for now, then follows as they become more mobile. A dial underneath lets parents choose between four modes designed for tummy time, sitting, learning to crawl, and crawling. For a 6-month-old, its movements can encourage reaching during floor play, with the crawling modes offering new ways to play later on.
Pressing the heart-shaped button on the duck’s back activates sounds and songs, introducing cause-and-effect play. Baby may need help pressing it at first, but you can demonstrate and give them a turn to try.
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: N/A | Batteries required: 3 AA batteries
At six months old, baby is exploring everything. They’re discovering the world around them with their hands, feet, and mouths, taking in new textures, shapes and sensations. Toys can offer plenty of opportunities for this kind of tactile exploration, from fabrics and surfaces that invite little fingers to feel and investigate to teething rings that offer different textures to mouth, whether or not teething has begun. At this age, even the simplest toy can offer baby new textures to discover.
- Lightweight with two easy-to-grasp rings
- Varied textures for hands and gums to explore
- Made from natural rubber
- Pricier than many simple teethers
- Requires hand cleaning
Six-month-olds love exploring with their hands and mouths, and this Sophie the Giraffe teething ring offers plenty of opportunities for tactile exploration. Made from the same natural rubber as the original Sophie the Giraffe, this teether has a soft, flexible body and firmer spots like ears and horns for teething relief. Its lightweight design also makes it easy to lift, turn and pass between hands––skills baby is practicing at this age.
Raised dots and ridges add variety for fingers and gums to explore. Parents will appreciate that this teether wipes clean easily, feels durable and looks appealing enough to tote everywhere. For families who already love the original Sophie, it’s a familiar face in an easy-to-hold shape.
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: 0.2" (L) x 3.9" (W) x 4.7" (H) | Batteries required: None
- Budget-friendly price
- Easy-to-grasp handles
- Textured surfaces on both ends
- Surface clean only
With easy-to-grasp handles and textured surfaces on both ends, this silicone carrot gives baby plenty to explore for a budget-friendly price. The handles offer little hands a place to practice gripping and bringing the teether to their mouth, while the different textures provide variety for mouthing and chewing. It’s also easy to clean––useful for a teether that’s likely to be dropped between bites.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 1.2" (L) x 3.3" (W) x 4" (H) | Batteries required: None
At six months, baby is listening closely to the world around them, taking in the sounds, words, and rhythms of language. That’s why pediatricians and parenting experts often recommend “narrating your day” so baby can hear you talking about everything from making breakfast to getting dressed. Toys can give baby another fun way to practice listening and responding to sounds. Those sounds don’t have to be complicated: beads moving inside a rattle or the crinkle of a fabric book can capture baby’s attention. Other toys offer music and songs to enjoy together. As you name what baby sees, sing along or pause to respond to their babbling, you turn toy time into a playful exchange that introduces the sounds and rhythm of language.
- Encourages sibling and parent–child interaction
- Plays 16+ signature phrases and four songs
- Soft, cuddly body doubles as a comfort item
- Quiet/loud switch for sensory sensitivities
- Some parents say the songs are too short
- Six-month-olds may need help to activate the songs
If you’re looking for a toy that offers songs and phrases to share with baby,, the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll is a standout choice. Developed with early childhood specialists, the touch-activated plush doll recites familiar phrases and sings songs from the beloved show, offering caregivers opportunities to sing along and respond to baby’s sounds and expressions.
The doll has a soft body and a quiet/loud switch for adjusting the volume. While the buttons are intuitive for older toddlers, Amber noted her 6-month-old needed help to activate the songs. Still, she adds, “it’s easy for parents to jump in and press the buttons, which makes playtime together very simple and enjoyable.” She also enjoyed it for sibling play, with her toddler pressing the buttons while baby held the doll and listened.
With its mix of comfort and entertainment, it’s a toy that can grow with children, offering baby a musical companion for supervised play now and more ways to join in with songs and phrases as they get older.
Age range: 6+ months | Dimensions: 8.4" (L) x 11" (W) x 12.75" (H) | Batteries required: Yes
Our product tester says:
“What made the toy fun was the variety of ways we could play with it. When Ms. Rachel said “peek-a-boo,” we could mimic the game ourselves or use the doll to act it out, which made my baby smile and laugh. When she sang, my toddler loved making the doll “dance,” and he would dance right alongside her, while the baby watched and grinned. The familiar songs gave us lots of chances to use our imagination and add extra layers of play, rather than just pushing a button over and over. The sounds are repetitive in nature, but in a way that children enjoy!”
- Encourages language skills through shared reading
- Chew-proof, waterproof and drool-proof design
- Bright illustrations keep baby’s attention
- Lightweight and portable for on-the-go play
- Babies may need help turning pages at this age
For baby, books are as much for chewing and crumpling as they are for reading. Indestructibles books are designed with exactly this fact in mind—they’re rip-proof, waterproof and chew-proof, so baby can explore the pages with their hands and mouth. Meanwhile, the bright colors and simple peek-a-boo theme give caregivers plenty to point out and talk about during shared reading.
Our tester Caitlyn’s baby was hooked from the start. “He immediately grabbed the book and was quick to start chewing on it and staring at each page. He squeals every time I read the book to him and gets visually excited (kicking legs and cooing) when I turn the pages.” Caitlyn especially appreciated the opportunities for interaction: “This book is designed perfectly for language and sensory development. The story is very engaging for caregiver and baby bonding.”
Made of tightly woven material, the book stands up to chewing, crumpling and drool, while the waterproof pages can be wiped clean and washed without being ruined. While Caitlyn did find that her 6-month-old needed help turning the pages, its small size made it easy for him to hold. “It is as simple as just handing it over to your infant for endless entertainment.”
Age range: 0+ months | Dimensions: 0.2" (L) x 7" (W) x 7" (H) | Batteries required: No
Our product tester says:
“My infant absolutely loves this book to play with. I give it to him during every wake window because it keeps him extremely engaged and entertained. The bright colors grasp his attention and he loves to grab the thin/easy-to-hold pages to swing the book around and also chews on it.”
- Beads to watch and follow
- Gentle rain-like sound
- Fun, vibrant colors
- Some parents report lack of durability
This handheld sensory rattle is essentially a baby-friendly rain stick, combining soft, soothing sounds with a mesmerizing visual experience. As baby turns it over, the colorful beads slowly tumble from one end to the other, giving little eyes a chance to follow their movement, practicing visual tracking while listening to the soft sound they make.
The easy-to-grasp design is sized for little hands, so baby can practice holding it and––as their hand control develops––experiment with turning it over themselves, introducing an early lesson in cause and effect. It’s also a fun toy for shared play: parents can tip the rattle, pause to let baby watch and listen, then hand it over for them to hold and explore.
Age range: 0+ months| Dimensions: 7" (L) x 5" (W) x 2" (H) | Batteries required: No
When it comes to the best toys for 6-month-olds, look for options that match baby’s interests and the skills they’re beginning to practice. You don’t need a large collection––a few toys that offer different ways to play can give baby plenty to explore.
You’re likely to encounter plenty of toys designed to provide a variety of sensory experiences. However, there’s no need to overdo it at this age, Coster emphasizes. “Sometimes, a good toy will be incredibly simple, offering a single type of sensory experience, catering to their touch, vision or hearing.” Bonus points if the activities range from simple to complex, so the toy can grow with baby as they develop.
And while the right toys can encourage exploration and motor skill practice, they shouldn’t be viewed as shortcuts to developmental milestones. “The biggest misconception I see is the idea that a toy accelerates a milestone,” Tadros says. As she explains, rolling, sitting and reaching depend on baby’s physical readiness. Toys offer opportunities to practice, rather than speeding up that process.
At six months old, many of the toys you hand your little one will go straight into their mouth. That means you’ll want to keep an eye on the size of the toy, as well as what it’s made from. According to the AAP, all toys and parts should be larger than your child’s mouth to prevent choking. Check regularly for loose or damaged parts, too. In addition, Coster says “BPA-free plastic or wood are good materials for babies of this age.” To keep things simple (and safe) look for toys whose manufacturer age range includes six months, and follow any additional developmental requirements––for example, being able to sit independently.
What’s more, your 6-month-old may be rolling and reaching farther, so their play space needs attention, too. Keep small objects and cords out of reach, and stay close during play, especially when baby is practicing sitting. A playmat can provide a place for floor play, but it doesn’t replace supervision.
About the writer
Madeline Weinfield is a contributing writer to The Bump and a mom to a baby girl. For The Bump she has written extensively about everything from the wearable breast pumps to the most practical (and stylish) clothes for postpartum moms. She loves watching her daughter learn and explore through play and will forever delight in watching her face light up when she successfully pulls a fabric “tissue” from its toy box.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Experts
Lisa Lohiser, EdD, is manager of early childhood development research at Fisher-Price’s Play Lab, where she provides insights into how kids learn and play and how to best support their development. She has a doctorate in education with a focus on learning and teaching in social contexts, as well as a Master’s degree in creativity and change leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
Mark Coster, PhD, is the founder and chief editor of STEM Geek, a website dedicated to STEM activities and toys for kids of all ages. He is an organic chemist with more than 20 years of experience in chemistry research and teaching. As a father of three, Coster is also passionate about the power of STEM toys.
Dr. Giselle Tadros, PT, DPT, IBCLC is a pediatric Doctor of Physical Therapy, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, and the founder of Milk Matters PT and In-Home Pediatric PT, with clinical locations in West Caldwell, Ramsey, and Martinsville, New Jersey. Dedicated to empowering families through every stage of early development, Dr. Gigi specializes in helping babies move better, feed easier, and grow stronger. Their cutting-edge approach to tongue tie allows parents to navigate the joys and milestones of childhood with confidence.
Resources and Studies
American Academy of Pediatrics, How to Buy Safe Toys, December 2024
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.
Product testers featured in this article
Samantha A., mom of a 6-month-old; Amber B., mom of a 6-month-old; Chantelle H., mom of a 6-month-old; Caitlyn M., mom of a 6-month-old; Macie S., mom of a 6-month-old; Shannon W., mom of a 6-month-old
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