The 17 Best Toys for 7-Month-Old Babies, According to Parents and Experts

Improved depth perception, better color vision, 3-D POV—there’s a lot going on behind those wide eyes of theirs. Your 7-month-old is not just recognising you from across the room, they’re beginning to grasp themselves in it too. As baby learns how their movement coordinates with vision, mirrors make for quite the toy for developing their sense of self. “A mirror is also a great conversation starter, as you can point out facial features and emotions,” says Kristen Miller, director of education for Celebree School. Manhattan Toy Wimmer Discovery Mirror serves both with its baby-safe, shatter-proof mirror on one side and visually appealing high-contrast cards on the other.

Rotating 360 degrees, the mirror can easily be placed on the floor for tummy time or seated play, while its rectangular design affords baby full-body reflection—an amazing perk when you consider just how much mirrors help with facial recognition and depth perception. On the flip side, the high-contrast black-and-white graphics offer visual stimulation to support your 7-month-old's focus.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

When baby is this eager to explore their world, tactile toys are essential. The pipSquigz Loops by Fat Brain Toys come highly recommended from Jana Sarno, BCBA, a board-certified behavior analyst and the chief clinical officer of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. If you’re looking to provide your 7-month-old a tactile experience they won’t tire of quickly, these silicone suction-cup toys are a keeper.

Made from graspable materials, your baby can shake, spin and flip the plastic rattles while exploring various textures and bold colors. The loops conveniently suction to flat non-porous surfaces, allowing baby to play in their high chair at home or out at a restaurant. Beyond creating a delightful tactile experience, these bendable loops help strengthen hand-eye coordination and emerging motor skills.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

A massive amount of brain development takes place in the first year of life, especially in regards to language acquisition. Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, y Deditos de los Pies/Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is a brief bilingual book designed specifically for babies and a great toy for cognitive development, social interaction, and language skills.

A take on the classic, “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” song, this adorable 12-page book invites children’s participation. You can act out the well known lyrics in both English and Spanish while pointing to the various body parts referenced. Sarno agrees this is a great tool for learning, stating, “Use these books to build additional language opportunities by pointing at the various pictures, or act out the songs with your body to see if baby tries to imitate you.”

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

Adapting Five Little Ducks by beloved children’s entertainer Raffi, this board book is a fun means to capture baby’s attention while teaching them some rudimentary number skills. This book also comes recommended from Sarno, who states “Repetition is fun and educational at this age as babies may start to recognize certain words.”

“You can’t go wrong with Raffi,” says Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump. “My daughter was obsessed with him from infancy. As a toddler we took her to a concert and she was shouting the names of songs out like a teenager at a rock show.” Short, sweet, and beautifully illustrated, Five Little Ducks tells the story of a mother duck watching her babies grow up. For young babies, the repetition and rhymes will grab their attention as they start understanding simple words. The book also has staying power for older kids, who will grow to appreciate and even relate to the story over time. And since it’s based on a classic Raffi tune, this book can be sung as easily as it can be read.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

With crawling on the horizon and eyes capable of seeing almost as far, toys that continue to develop baby’s muscles as they learn to control their bodies are a must. If your little one’s newfound mobility has them constantly rolling, stretching and reaching, the Infantino Pat and Play Water Mat is a great way to help them build strength and coordination safely.

The inflatable whale fills with water, creating a satisfyingly squishy base where colorful characters float and ‘swim’ as baby taps and pushes. Durable, easy to drain, and just the right size for small spaces, this sensory mat brings the wonder of water play minus the mess. And all while keeping your 7-month-old moving—and mesmerized.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N

At 7 months, your baby’s urge to touch anything and everything they can get their hands on is only ramping up. Melissa and Doug Rollables Farm Friends help channel all that grasping energy into play that builds invaluable motor skills. These animal-shaped balls are made from material that Melissa and Doug describe as “firm enough to roll, and soft enough to squeeze.”

Designed to fit little hands easily, the four rollable balls introduce baby to pigs, cows, chickens and horses with bright, attractive colors sure to make a lasting impression. Some even rattle softly, rewarding every shake or roll with gentle sound feedback. And if your mini farmer-in-the-making can’t get enough, you can always expand the petting zoo to Rollables Safari Friends.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

Some babies bond early with a favorite soft toy and this plush lovey makes a worthy first attachment for when separation anxiety enters stage left. The Luxe Dot Plush Giraffe Lovey Blanket combines the coziness of a blanket with all the comfort of a cute stuffed animal. Made from impossibly soft faux fur, it offers a soothing texture to help calm fussy moments or ease transitions when you’re called elsewhere.

At 14 inches, it’s easy to fold up and slip into your diaper bag or stroller carriage too, so it’s perfect for on-the-go soothing. And while it feels luxuriously soft, there’s no need to fear the drool or spit-up. The plush blanket is surprisingly easy to care for. Simply machine-wash on a delicate cycle or hand-wash as needed. High-quality, low-maintenance and endlessly cuddly, this lovey is the kind of companion babies (and parents) quickly fall in love with.

**Age range: 6+ months | *Batteries required:* N

For little ones beginning to explore cause and effect, this adorable motion-activated beet is one for the toy box. Simply switch it on, and watch it move and make noise in response to your 7-month-old’s touch. Empowering for baby and a favorite among parents. “In my experience with my baby girl so far, Skip Hop delivers some of the best toys out there in terms of durability, price and entertainment value, shares mom of one Erin W. “Their Farmstand Beetbox Crawl Ball is no exception.”

In addition to playing three beatbox-style songs, the Beetbox Crawl Ball rattles in response to shaking and rolling. There’s big motivation right there to keep your little one crawling after their new buddy to elicit more noise and excitement. Plus, the tactile leaves stemming from Beetbox’s head are easy for little hands to grab and scoop up once they reach it.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: Y

Spatial awareness is a big lesson in the second half of baby’s first year. As they begin to move and make sense of their surroundings, how they relate to objects is par for the course. The Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks set introduces that concept in the simplest, most satisfying way: pick up a block, find the matching hole, drop it in and repeat.

The bright, chunky pieces are perfectly sized for little hands to grasp, helping baby practice coordination and problem-solving before eventually graduating to naming shapes, colors and counting with you. When the fun’s done, the ten blocks easily fit inside the carrier case, which comes with a handle for take-along play.

Age range: 6+ months | Batteries required: N

It’s quite the ‘aha’ moment when baby realizes they can make sound happen with their own hands. A young Mozart they may not be, but they are on the right track for mastering motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cause and effect. With every tap and grab, The Hape Put-Stay Rattle Set helps your 7-month-old connect action with reaction (all while keeping them wildly entertained).

The brightly colored trio of sea-inspired rattles each make a unique sound when shaken, rewarding every movement with a new tone. Perfectly sized for baby’s developing grip, each ‘band member’ includes a sturdy suction cup that sticks to smooth surfaces, keeping playtime contained even when baby is rocking it out in their high chair. The baby-safe rattles also feature soft, food-grade silicone too so no fear if baby decides to take a teething break mid-concert.

Age range: 0+ months | Batteries required: N