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Holiday Toy Guide

Discover my favorite toys for every age group! Each toy listed has been tried and tested, whether in therapy sessions or as a mom. By clicking on the links, you'll be supporting my work through affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you. For more great ideas, check out my full Amazon store here!

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0-6 Months

  1. B. Toys Baby Blocks   These blocks are perfect for babies 3-6 months to begin working on mobility such as reaching in tummy time, rolling to get them, and holding with 2 hands.  They are soft so do not hurt if they accidently drop them!  

  2. Baby Einstein Ocean Glow Sensory Shaker This is one of my go to toys to work on tracking and to help calm babies.  The music is not too loud and the lights are not flashing.  It is perfect to throw in a diaper bag and take on the go as well!

  3. Let's Count Soft Book Crinkle books are perfect for little ones.  By 3-4 months, they are starting to reach more and the crinkle sound helps provide feedback to encourage more reaching.  I like this one because it has a clip as well to hang on the stroller and babies can use it for months! 

  4.  Fisher Price Baby Play Mat A good play mat is one of my must have items for new babies.  They can start using them from day one!  I love the piano on this one to encourage kicking as well as looking up in tummy time.  This is one of my favorites to transform to help with early sitting around 6 months as well!  

  5. Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes  This is one that for some reason all babies love!  The button is easy to hit once they are a little older but the music is perfect for early play in sidelying or tummy time.  

  6. Melissa & Doug Flip Fish I have come to love when families have this toy.  It has a lot of different sensory input and babies love exploring the different scales.  

  7. Oball  This is my number one favorite first toy.  It is perfect for little fingers to grasp and light weight enough to easily hold.  This is a must have for all new babies!  

  8. Manhattan Toy Links to Go  Links are another must have toy for new babies.  They are easy to grasp and easy to travel.  They can be used to help link other toys as well to the play mat or stroller!   

Tummy Time Toys

  1. Taf Toys Tummy Time Book  I love this option because it includes high contrast images as well as a mirror.  These are my 2 favorite things to use with young babies in tummy time.  

  2. Hape Penguin Musical Wobbler  This is a perfect toy for babies beginning to reach and pivot in tummy time.  It provides musical feedback when they hit it and moves a little encouraging them to move! 

  3. TumTum Wedge  This is one of my favorite therapy items.  It was invented by a PT and is perfect for helping with tummy time.  Sometimes adding an incline can make tummy time a little easier. 

  4. NogginStik  This is another baby picked favorite.  It changes colors and keeps baby engaged during tummy time.  It is perfect to work on tracking in tummy time!  

  5. Tummy Time Water Mat  The edges of these are inflatable which allows a perfect way to prop the chest for babies 3-4+ months.  The water moves making it a little more challenging and helps to encourage weight shift in tummy time needed for rolling and crawling!  

  6. Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Up Bar  The way this is angled is ideal for babies 5+ months beginning to reach in tummy time.  The rattle in the middle is always a favorite! 

  7. Sassy Wonder Wheel  The sound of this is always enticing for babies to look up at in tummy time.  As they get older, it is also an easy way to get them to reach up to try and spin.  

  8. Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother  The soft music and calming sights is perfect to engage newborns on up in tummy time.  I also love it for sidelying! 

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Toys for Rollers & Crawlers

  1. Munchkin Caterpillar Spillars  Stacking cups is a cheap and engaging way to keep your baby occupied for awhile.  It is a great open ended toy to allow for exploration and cognitive growth.  This set is also perfect later in the bath or water table! 

  2. Sassy Stacks of Circles  I like this one because of the different textures with each ring.  They rings can also be their own separate toy! 

  3. B. Zany Zoo Activity Cube  This is a very sturdy toy with lots to engage and interact with during play.  Just watch it is not ideal for new sitters who may fall!  

  4. LeapFrog Little Office Learning Center  As your baby begins to stand, this is an ideal toy to keep them engaged with.  I like the different activities and babies often love it!  Bonus tip: if you take 2 legs off your baby can sit or kneel to play with it! 

  5. Adena Montessori Ball Drop  This one has balls with different textures and weight.  Any ball drop is good for working on letting go as well as grip to hold to different weights.  

  6. Battat Nesting Sorter Set  I was introduced to this toy by a family and love all the options!  It is great for stacking, putting toys in and out, and eventually sorting shapes!  

  7. Infantino Textured Multi Ball Set  This is always well loved.  If you do not already have blocks, look into the combo set here as well! 

  8. VTech Sit-To-Stand Walker  This is one of my favorites for babies from 4+ months and up.  The front comes off for lots of fun in tummy time or leave the front on to work on sitting and reaching!  

  9. Fat Brain Suction Kupz  Babies love trying to get these off the high chair tray!  I often use them as well on the fridge to encourage standing or reaching.  

  10. Battat Pop Up Pals  I finally got this one to use myself in therapy!  Love having them begin with closing all of them and then progress to using the different options to open.  Perfect cause and effect toy.  

  11. Fisher Price Fish Bowl  After I have had several babies love this one, I had to add it to the list.  I do like how it is clear for baby to see when you drop a toy inside!  

New Walkers

  1. Melissa & Doug Polk A Dot Book  Toddlers love this book.  It is a great way to keep them entertained in the car or on the go!

  2. Fat Brain Marble Run  This toy provides endless hours of fun while also working on spatial awareness, cause and effect, and more!  

  3. Melissa & Doug Jumbo Peg Puzzle  This is a great first puzzle to work on matching and fine motor skills.  With only a few pieces new walkers love it! 

  4. Little Tikes First Slide  This is a great way to progress motor skills as your new walker begins to learn to climb steps.  It folds up too for easy storage! 

  5. Soft Play Couch There are many different options but they are all great for toddlers!  I love how these grow with them too and can be used for years. 

  6. Fisher Price Walk Bounce and Ride Toy  Toddlers love this ride on toy.  It can be used inside or a great option for outdoor play!

  7. Melissa & Doug ABC Block Cart  These blocks provide endless hours of building and creativity.  The cart is wonderful for a new walker to pull along and learn to walk backwards too! 

  8. Step2 Dino Dig Sand and Water Table  This water table is sturdy and ideal size for toddlers.  It can be used for water or any type of sensory play.  

  9. Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Tunnel  Even though your toddler is now walking, it is still great to crawl at times!  This can be easily stored too. 

  10. Mega Bloks  These got hours of use in our house with lots of movement and creativity to build towers, castles, and more!  

  11. Pound a Ball  This provides great sensory input as well as hand strength, coordination, and more.  

  12. Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Piggy Bank  I have had this toy for years and it is still going strong!  Toddlers love to discover how to put the coins in and open the door.  

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Active 3-4 Year Olds

  1. Ball Catch Set  The velcro glove makes it ideal for a young child learning to catch.  It promotes hand strength as well to help pull it off the glove.  

  2. Fat Brain Bilibo by Moluk  So many open ended play ideas with this toy as well as a great indoor and outdoor toy for vestibular input!  

  3. Fat Brain Squigz  These provide many options for building and we use to always have some on hand when travelling as well!

  4. Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set  This set is an ideal way to keep kids running and active.  It works on throwing, hand eye coordination, and more.  It easily adjusts for growing kids!

  5. PicassoTiles Magnetic Tiles  Adults and kids love these.  They are great for whole families to build and design together.  They can be used on any surface that is magnetic too!  

  6. Balance Stepping Stones  These are one of my favorite stepping stones.  They are perfect for obstacle courses and playing floor is lava!  They stack easily as well.

  7. Playskool Sit n Spin  Another great option for those seeking movement and sensory input! 

  8. B. Toys Let's Go Bowling  This set is a lot of fun with a ball that lights up but is light weight too!

  9. Radio Flyer 3 Wheel Scooter The 3 wheels allow for them to work on balance to pull with one leg while not always tipping over.  Love using these for balance and coordination!  

  10. Melissa & Doug Jumbo Cardboard Building Blocks  These have been used for years and are very well loved in our house.  Perfect for an active, imaginative child!  

  11. Strider Balance Bike  Both tricycles and balance bikes are great for this age to begin to learn pre bike skills.  

  12. Little Tikes Trampoline  This is one of the only trampolines I like.  I do not like the larger ones as there is a high rate of injury.  This one is ideal for one child who is learning to jump and to provide sensory input.  

  13. Step A Trail Obstacle Set  Another option that is great for building obstacle courses both indoors and outdoors!  

  14. Fat Brain Teeter Popper  This one is great for working core strength, balance, coordination, and providing sensory input all while having fun!  

  15. Waliki Hopper Ball  I love using this to work on leg strength, balance, coordination and endurance.  This was another hit the boys were always on!  

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