Nine toys for the first six months: two play gyms, rattles a newborn can hold, teethers sized for small hands, high-contrast cards and a tummy time prop. Every pick carries a manufacturer age grade that starts at birth.
Last updated: October 2026
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How we chose these toys
This is a research-based guide. The picks come from published reviews at Wirecutter, BabyGearLab, What to Expect and other parenting review sites, checked against manufacturer specifications and retailer listings. Every product below is a consensus pick that shows up across several of those roundups.
Every pick was checked against the CPSC recall database on October 25, 2026. None of the nine products is under an active CPSC recall or CPSC safety warning. Age grading for every pick comes from the manufacturer listing, and each age range starts at birth and covers the 0–6 month band. Materials are stated exactly as the manufacturer and retailer listings state them. Pros and cons summarize points raised in published reviews.
Safety notes for this age band
Follow the age grading on the box for every toy, including the picks in this guide. Check each toy before play for loose parts, cracked plastic, worn stitching and frayed cords, and take a damaged toy out of use. Supervise play at this age, including tummy time. Soft toys and clip-on toys belong in awake, supervised play and travel. Keep them out of the crib and every sleep space. Wash teethers and fabric toys the way the care label directs, and keep batteries and battery covers secured on any toy that uses them.
The quick picks
Start with where your baby spends play time: on a mat, in a stroller, or held in arms. Tap any pick to jump straight to the full breakdown.
Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym & 2 Maracas
Model GDD08 · ASIN B0793D9WBY
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe baby lies on the mat and kicks the piano keys at the foot of the gym. Each kick lights a key and plays a note, a song or an animal sound. Five linkable toys hang from the arch for batting and grabbing: a mirror, a BPA-free elephant teether, a crinkle panda, a rattle lion and monkey cymbal clackers. The set adds two soft maracas for held shaking. The keyboard detaches for tummy time and take-along play, the three Smart Stages levels change the content as the baby grows, and the mat goes in the wash.
Specifications
Age grade
0+ months (manufacturer range birth–36 months)
Ways to play
4: Lay & Play, Tummy Time, Sit & Play, Take-Along
Sounds
65+ songs, sounds and phrases across 3 Smart Stages levels; 5 light-up piano keys
Included toys
5 linkable toys plus 2 soft maracas
Batteries
3 AA, included
Care
Machine-washable mat
Dimensions
36.02 × 27 × 17.99 in
Item weight
3.9 lbs
Pros
Piano answers kicks with light and sound right away
Keyboard detaches for tummy time and travel
Mat is machine washable
Stages carry the gym from lay-and-play into sitting play
Cons
Mat padding feels thin on hard floors in published reviews
Music and sounds need batteries
Songs repeat often at the first stage
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#2Best premium play gym
Lovevery The Play Gym
Model 9000001 · ASIN B075R8BXXC
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Play Gym is a wooden-frame mat with five zones around the edges: high-contrast pictures, a fabric panel, a teething ring station, a mirror area and a hiding pocket. Five detachable toys and three card sets swap in and out, and the included Play Guide walks through setups month by month. The mat runs on no batteries and makes no sounds of its own. A cover drapes over the frame to turn the gym into a small fort for older babies.
Specifications
Age grade
0+ months (manufacturer)
Zones
5 development zones on the mat
Includes
5 detachable toys, 3 card sets, Play Guide, Play Space Cover
Materials
Sustainably sourced wooden legs; teething toys in organic cotton and silicone as listed
Batteries
None
Dimensions
43 × 38 × 24 in
Item weight
7.6 lbs
Pros
Quiet play with no lights or electronic sounds
Play Guide gives a setup for each stage of the first year
Cover converts the frame into a fort
Materials and finish draw steady praise in published reviews
Cons
Highest price in this guide
Large footprint on the floor
Hanging toys sit high for the youngest newborns
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#3Best first rattle
Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether
Model 200930 · ASIN B000BNCA4K
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Winkel is a ball of soft, continuous loops around a center cube. A newborn’s fingers catch a loop from almost any angle, and the cube answers with a quiet rattle. The loops flex for mouthing and teething, and the whole toy weighs about three ounces, so young babies hold it early. It can go in the refrigerator for a chilled teething surface.
Specifications
Age grade
0–2 years (manufacturer)
Material
BPA-free loops; the manufacturer lists the material as polyurethane
Sound
Quiet rattle in the center cube
Care
Surface wash only; do not submerge in water
Dimensions
5.02 × 4.04 × 3.54 in
Item weight
About 3 oz
Pros
Loops give a grip from every side
Light enough for the youngest babies in this band
Rattle stays quiet
Refrigerates for a cold teething surface
Cons
Surface wash only, so cleaning takes care
Loops collect lint and hair between washes
One sound only: the soft center rattle
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#4Best stroller toy
Lamaze Freddie the Firefly Clip & Go
Model L27024A · ASIN B000I2Q0F4
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forFreddie clips to a stroller bar, car seat handle or diaper bag and hangs at batting height. The wings crinkle, the body squeaks and chimes, one wing hides a peek-a-boo mirror, and a tethered ladybug teether hangs within reach. The black-and-white patterns on the wings face the youngest babies, and the bright colors take over as vision develops. Use Freddie for awake time in the stroller and car seat, and unclip it for floor play.
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#5Best travel toy
Manhattan Toy Baby Whoozit, 6 Inch
ASIN B0000A1Z3X
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Whoozit is a soft round face with seven short arms in black-and-white patterns. Each arm hides a noisemaker: crinkle in one, a squeaker in another, rattles in others. A mirror hides under the big red nose. The hook-and-loop strap fastens the toy to a stroller or carrier, and the 6-inch size fits a diaper bag. Babies track the face, bat the arms and work through the sounds one arm at a time.
Specifications
Age grade
0+ months (retailer listings give 0–3 years)
Material
Ultra-soft cotton velour as listed
Features
7 arms with hidden noisemakers: crinkle, squeakers and rattles; mirror under the nose
Attachment
Hook-and-loop strap for stroller and carrier
Size
6 in
Pros
Black-and-white arms suit newborn vision
Each arm makes a different sound
Straps on for car rides and stroller walks
Soft body is easy to hold against a chest or lap
Cons
Mirror under the nose is small
Light velour shows dirt quickly
Youngest babies need the toy held close to reach the arms
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#6Best high-contrast cards
Wee Gallery Black and White Art Cards for Baby
Model wg105 · ASIN B001CBEGCO
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThese sturdy cards print a bold black-and-white animal on each side. Prop a card where a newborn lies, stand two or three along the edge of a play mat for tummy time, or hold one at arm’s length and move it slowly side to side. The illustrations use thick lines and simple shapes that read clearly at the short distances newborn eyes handle. The cards also lean on a nursery shelf as simple art.
Specifications
Age grade
0–1 years (manufacturer)
Format
Double-sided cards with black-and-white animal art
Material
Cardboard as listed
Dimensions
7.1 × 5.1 in
Pros
Bold patterns sized for newborn viewing distances
Works for back play, tummy time and tracking games
Sturdy board holds up to daily propping
Doubles as nursery shelf art
Cons
Cardboard corners bend once babies mouth the cards
Display stands are a separate purchase
One animal style per set; more sets cost extra
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#7Best teether
Smily Mia Penguin Teether, Light Blue
Model M12030-1 · ASIN B08NQ169XF
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Penguin is a one-piece silicone teether shaped like a mitten with a penguin face. The baby’s hand slips inside and grips the inner bar, so the teether stays on the hand through early grasping. Two small arms and the penguin’s beak give soft points to mouth. The single-piece build has no separate parts, and the listing rates it dishwasher safe for cleaning.
Specifications
Age grade
0–6 months (listing)
Material
Silicone; the brand lists it as food-grade and BPA-free
Design
One-piece hand teether with an inner grip bar
Care
Dishwasher safe as listed
Dimensions
2.09 × 4.41 × 3.66 in
Item weight
1.66 oz
Pros
Stays on the hand, so it drops less often
One piece with no parts to separate
Soft silicone suits early mouthing
Dishwasher cleaning per the listing
Cons
Sized for the youngest babies; most outgrow it near 6 months
Fit over the hand varies by baby
Silicone picks up lint between washes
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#8Best wooden rattle
Manhattan Toy Skwish Natural Rattle and Teether
Model 209620 · ASIN B001QKIVO0
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Skwish is a web of wooden dowels and beads strung on elastic cords. It squashes flat under a hand or a chest during tummy time and springs back to shape. Beads slide along the dowels and click as a soft rattle. The Natural version carries a clear finish, so the wood grain shows. Babies grab the dowels, shake the beads and mouth the smooth wood.
Specifications
Age grade
0+ months (retailer listings give 0–3 years)
Material
Renewable rubberwood with a non-toxic, water-based finish as listed
Design
Wooden dowels and beads on elastic cords; compresses and springs back
Sound
Sliding beads rattle
Dimensions
5.5 × 5.5 × 5.5 in
Item weight
3.2 oz
Pros
Squash-and-spring shape rewards early pushing and grabbing
Bead rattle stays soft in volume
Natural finish shows the wood
Open structure gives many grip points
Cons
Elastic cords need a quick check before play
Heavier than the fabric rattles in this guide
Costs more than basic plastic rattles
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
#9Best tummy time prop
Infantino Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support
Model 216-180 · ASIN B0711KTLVY
Product image: retailer product media.
Who it’s forThe Prop-A-Pillar is a caterpillar built from two C-shaped pillows. One pillow props a baby’s chest during tummy time and lifts the head clear of the floor, with a detachable BPA-free teether and a plush sun toy in front for reaching. The two pillows stack into a C-shaped seat support for babies learning to sit. The patterned fabrics give a tummy-down baby stripes, dots and solid colors to look at.
Specifications
Age grade
0 months and up (manufacturer)
Material
Polyester as listed
Design
Two stackable C-shaped pillows: tummy time prop and seated support
Includes
Detachable BPA-free teether and plush sun toy
Care
Spot clean as listed
Pros
Chest prop helps babies hold a tummy time position longer
Two pillows convert into early seat support
Front toys give a target for reaching
Fabric patterns hold a young baby’s gaze
Cons
Spot clean only
Seated support stage passes quickly
Takes floor space beside a play mat
Check price on AmazonPrice and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
Three checks before you buy
Three quick checks keep a first toy purchase matched to the baby in front of you.
Age grading on the box
Every pick in this guide carries a manufacturer age grade that starts at birth. Follow the grade printed on the box for any toy, and give toys graded for older babies to older babies. Babies under six months mouth everything they hold, so skip toys with small parts or pieces that pull off.
Loose parts and cleaning
Run a hand over seams, cords, clips and teether surfaces before the first use and once a week after. Take a toy out of use when stitching opens, plastic cracks or elastic wears. Match the cleaning method to the care label: the Fisher-Price mat machine washes, the Winkel takes surface washing only, and the Smily Mia teether lists dishwasher cleaning.
Space, sound and batteries
Measure the floor before a play gym arrives: the Lovevery frame spans 43 by 38 inches, and the Fisher-Price gym spans 36 by 27 inches. Decide how much sound the room can take. The two gyms sit at opposite ends: the Fisher-Price plays 65+ songs and sounds on 3 AA batteries, and the Lovevery makes no electronic sound at all.
More toy guides by age
See the full Toys by Age index for guides covering 6–12 months, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, 3 years and 4–5 years as they publish.
