Life is exciting if you’re aged 6-12 months. Your little one will be into everything and is bound to be dazzled by the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season. Yes, they’ll probably be more fascinated by the box than what’s inside, but the best baby toys 6-12 months are anything that supports them to learn, develop and grow. Look for open-ended toys that can be played with in lots of different ways. Anything textured makes for a good holiday gift, and even better if they are chewable (most babies will have started teething by six months). Here are our top 10 best gift ideas for babies 6-12 months. Happy holidays!
Our Top 10 Best Gift Ideas For Babies 6-12 Months
1. Someplace To Fire Their Imagination…
It’s never too early to start imaginary play. If you’re looking to invest in a holiday gift that keeps on giving, look no further than the DockATot Tent of Dreams. Use it as a calm and comforting nook for storytime now – and to foster a love for reading – or as a pretty way to store their soft toys. As they grow, watch their imagination blossom as they play on their own, with you or with friends and family.
2. Something To Explore…
The Skip Hop Explore and More 3-stage Activity Center is a great investment gift. It can be used for a long time as your child develops. Stage 1 is an ideal gift idea for babies 6-12 months. Pop your six-month-old in and watch them sit, swivel, bounce and play with lights, sounds and clip-on toys. There’s even a ‘discovery window’ that lets your baby learn cause and effect. Once they start standing up, cruising and walking, switch to stage 2, when the center turns into a table they can hold on to and interact with. Stage 3 converts to a play table – just add a seat!
3. Something To Stack (And Spin)…
Searching for a fun, original stacking toy? We have one with a real twist. Fat Brain Toys Spin Again is a stacking toy that spins – and is one of the best baby toys 6-12 months we’ve seen. Drop the vibrant discs onto the threaded corkscrew pole and go 'ooooh' as they spin fast and smooth to settle onto the reversible base. This visually stimulating toy will keep your little one enthralled as they practice their hand-eye coordination and baby engineering skills!
4. Something To Scoot…
Your baby’s brain is like a sponge and there's no better time to get them started on languages. If you want to encourage your baby to become a multi-linguist, gift them the Chicco Walky Talky. Let them scoot around the kitchen while you get some chores done, and allow the Chicco to entertain them with the ABCs, colors and common phrases in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese! Catchy tunes and colorful lights make it all super-fun.
5. Something To Topple …
The best playthings look good – and play even better. Fat Brain Toys Tobbles will catch your baby’s attention through bright colors and then fascinate them once they start playing. Is it a stacking toy? Can the spheres spin? What happens if the pieces topple? The six uniquely weighted Tobbles pieces have been designed to carefully balance, suitably nest, recklessly spin and tower far above your baby’s expectations. An ideal gift for encouraging sensory exploration, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and visual spatial awareness.
6. Something To Ride On…
If your little adventurer is ready to explore outdoors, support them with a trike. We like the Doona Liki, which is foldable (handy for you) but also supports your baby to appreciate a sense of independence and autonomy. Start them off in the stroller and, as they grow in size and stature, let them pedal, developing their motor skills, balance and coordination and sense of direction. Because it’s a gift, why not treat them to the stylish Liki Midnight? With a bold all-black design, this edition includes elevated black faux-leather handlebars, a black anodized aluminum parent handle, and elegant faux-leather diamond-stitch backrest and seat.
7. Something To Sort…
Activity cubes are the toy of choice in most waiting rooms, and with good reason. They’re contained, in that they don’t generally have too many loose parts to get lost, babies love them and they are engaging, fun and great for development. We love Fat Brain Toys Oombee Cube. Not only are the shapes tethered to the cube (so none get lost under the couch), but they’re delightfully chewable, too!
8. Something For Meals…
All babies want to feel part of the family, especially at mealtimes. Let them join in the action at the table with the packaway Phil & Teds Lobster high chair. Mealtimes provide opportunities to practice motor skills, develop communication and cognitive skills and support social and emotional development – and the lobster enables your baby to do this anywhere. Just tighten the lobster’s ‘claws’ onto any table, pop your baby in and away you go!
9. Something For Bath Time…
Splashing around in water is the ultimate playtime treat for many babies. From feeling the water on their skin and learning to distinguish different temperatures, make it even more fun with the Boon Pipes Building Bath Toy. Use the five shapes individually or put them together to make a chain. They stick on so the water goes back in the tub, not on the floor. Bet you never thought leaky pipes could be so much fun!
10. Something To Touch, Push And Pop
Tactile toys that encourage little fingers to explore, touch and push will allow your baby to get the most out of sensory play. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Duo does all that – and more. On one side, each silicone button is embossed with a different shape and labeled with its matching word in English and in Braille. Flip the whole thing over and this time, the buttons are smooth and the words match the colors.
Pssst! Need some more ideas? Shop the best baby toys 6-12 months.