The best baby toys for 6-12 Months: Fun, learning, and expert-approved

This may look like a simple toy, but it’s packed with potential for developing a variety of important skills, from problem-solving to shape sorting and colour recognition. We've chosen this as our best overall toy for 6-12 month olds because we love everything about the Baby Mori Wooden Shape Sorter – not just for its educational value but also for how engaging it is, as well as its beautiful design and sleek, natural finish. We love that it's safe for little ones with its soft corners and non-toxic paints too, because you just know they'll be putting the shapes up to their mouths!

Crafted from natural beechwood and linden plywood, this toy helps your little one build fine motor skills as they match shapes to their correct slots. As they play, they’ll also learn about different shapes and colours in a hands-on, fun way. It’s not just a toy - it’s a learning tool that looks great in your home and is kind to the planet, too!

Our mum tester, Melissa, said: "Mum tester Melissa shares, "The design is beautiful, and the quality of the material makes me feel confident it could be passed down to future kids as they outgrow it. The shapes are the perfect size for little hands, and I love that they’re a bit different from the usual squares and triangles—think diamonds and more unique shapes. Plus, the neutral design is a big win for me; it fits perfectly with any nursery or playroom!"

One thing we wish could be improved with this toy is storage options as we're sure the shapes will be easily lost in a toy box!

It was also shortlisted for a 2020 Mother&Baby Award.

This toy is our pick of the best for little ones who are learning to stand and walk because it is fun and engaging for babies, and supports their first steps safely while doubling up as an activity table they can sit and play at.

Parent testers loved the walker's bright flashing lights and vibrant colours, instantly catching their toddler's attention and keeping them engaged and entertained as they navigated around. The range of activities provides additional stimulation, promoting cognitive and motor skill development. Parents also loved the compact design, making it easy to store away when not in use.

Parents also commented on how easy it was to clean, as it could be easily wiped down. It's also great for supporting those first steps and balance. However, if you'd prefer an alternative to a baby walker and a toy that doesn't move, you might prefer the SMOBY Play Table, which is coming up later in this list.

Keep in mind that the product doesn't include batteries though, so you'll need to buy these separately.

Read the full VTech First Steps Baby Walker review.

We chose this adorable toy as the best for your 6-month-old because it's super cute and easy to grasp for little hands. We love that the toy is designed with a loop that can quickly hook onto a pram, car seat, or fit in a changing bag to take on the go. Plus, thanks to one of the textured rings in the middle, it can help with teething pains, and the different materials can help with sensory exploration.

Our parent tester loved the design of the Melissa & Doug Multi-Sensory Peek-a-Boo Berry! She thought it was a simple design but still engaging. As someone who's not a fan of bright colours, our tester also found the red design lovely.

It might not be ideal for older babies looking for more stimulation, but we think it's ideal for smaller teething babies who are practicing motor-control and want a little friend with them in their car seat or buggy at all times.

The Smoby Little Activity Table is definitely the best toy if you're looking for engagement! It is designed to help develop children's fine motor skills, balance and more, so there is plenty going on to keep little one interested and active. Our parent tester, Charlotte, found that it kept her son focused, and he loved exploring the different elements.

While some baby activity tables can be garish, this one is great. It has soft colours and a gender-neutral design that focuses on interactive elements rather than clashing with everything else in your home. Our tester mentioned that it was a bit tricky to build, but she found her little one loved it and couldn't fault the product once it was built.

This wooden rainbow stacker earns its spot as best for design with beautiful, neutral colours that makes it ideal for passing on to siblings and friends' little ones, too! It's made from natural beechwood and has smooth edges for safety.

Our parent tester, Melissa, loved the toy's subtle design, especially compared to the bright colours of the Melissa & Doug Multi-Sensory Strawberry. While some might prefer brighter colours to engage little ones, we love that the stylish design and colours makes it lovely as a nursery decoration too!

The wooden rainbow stacker is easy for little hands to hold, and our tester also mentioned that it looked nice displayed in her daughter's nursery.

This learning toy suits your baby's needs as they grow and provides plenty of ways for them to play, making it our best pick for cognitive development.

Each of the six eggs cracks open to reveal different faces and colours so they can play hide-and-seek, shape sort, colour match, and more. Some found that the eggs must be pressed firmly to hear the chicks 'chirp' so this may take some practice for little hands to get the knack of.

Our parent tester loved how engaging the TOMY Toomies Hide and Squeak Eggs were. They were her grandchild's favourite toy to play with. They're also great for boosting cognitive and physical development.

Don't forget that the separate parts of this toy can be stored away in the gg container, making it easy to keep together in your child's toy box or cupboard.

Stacking toys offer unlimitless play opportunities, which is why we've chosen these as our best for multipurpose play. Unlike some other stacking toys though, our tester thought these Rosa & Bo Woodland Friends Nesting Babies were beautifully designed and easy to hold. Being BPA-free, she also found it reassuring to know they were safe if her baby decided to chomp on them.

The toys create a fun element of play where your baby can help to develop their hand-eye coordination, as well as help to develop early number concepts, and as they're designed so that they can also be used in the bath, bath time can be both fun, functional and educational!

The tester, Melissa, was slightly concerned that when they weren't stacked, they could be broken by falling on them or being thrown. So, if you were looking for an alternate stacking toy with different materials, the Wooden Rainbow Stacker would be an excellent choice.

Dolls are fantastic for role play games, and Baby Annabell Sleep Well Doll stands out as it is soft and suitable for use from birth, which is why we've chosen this tour as our best for pretend play! Soft, cuddly, and perfect for bedtime, the adorable doll is designed to comfort and soothe your little one.

Some found the doll to be on the small side, but we think this is beneficial for playtime as little ones can easily hold and interact with the doll from an early age. Plus, it means it's easy to take out and about, so your child can enjoy their doll while in their buggy.

The built-in sound device makes it extra special. You can record up to five minutes of a bedtime story, lullaby, or even a message from a loved one. Simply press Baby Annabell’s tummy, and the recording plays up to six times, creating a calming, familiar sound to help your baby drift off to sleep. However, we recommend removing it from the cot once your little one is asleep. Keep in mind that you'll need to remember to buy batteries separately as they don't come included, but they do take AAA batteries, which are easy to find.

Our parent tester Melissa said, "This is a really sweet first doll suitable for little ones from birth. It has a little rattle inside the doll for soothing sounds when it moves, but it's incredibly soft!"

As your little one starts to explore the world, learning about cause and effect is a big part of their development. You’ve probably noticed that when they’re given a meal, they delight in dropping their cutlery or beaker—often repeatedly. While this "game" might be endlessly fascinating to them, it can quickly wear thin on tired parents! That’s where Little Dutch's Spiral Tower comes in, providing hours of fun (and a bit of relief).

We've chosen this colourful, five-piece stacking set as our best pick for cause and effect play as it is perfect for little hands to explore and learn from. Simply drop the balls onto the top layer and watch them roll and swirl down in a delightful cascade. It’s entertaining, helps develop hand-eye coordination, and teaches your child about cause and effect in a playful, educational way.

Mum tester Samantha said, “While the balls can be a bit noisy as they double up as rattles, this is such a great game for teaching cause and effect! I love the muted colours of the spiral tower and balls, and the size is perfect—no worries if your little one wants to chew on them. Even two years later, it’s still a favourite in our house! Plus, it’s super easy to clean!”

Our best activity tray for Bumbo seats, this is designed to fit perfectly on your little one’s Bumbo Booster Seat with Removable Tray and turns their chair into a fun, interactive play station. The tray features a variety of activities, from spinning toys to textured surfaces, all designed to engage and entertain your baby while supporting their fine motor development. Whether reaching, grabbing, or exploring, this tray encourages movement and curiosity in a safe, easy-to-clean setup.

Our parent tester, Charlotte, said, "This is such a sweet little table for the Bumbo! Leo is too big for his Bumbo, so we removed it a while ago. However, to my surprise, he was interested in this table while I was setting it up. Like an activity table, it has a few fun attachments that caught his attention and kept him busy for quite a while!"

Keep in mind, of course, that you'll need to have a Bumbo seat for the tray to work effectively as they're designed for each other - but it can also be used on any smooth service.

We love the 2-in-1 Baby Bath Seat & Activity Table and have chosen it as our best pick for bath toys as it offers a clever combination of bath time support and entertainment for your little one, making it a handy addition for parents. The seat attaches securely to the bathtub using suction pads and features an adjustable activity tablet, perfect for keeping your baby occupied during bath time.

However, our mum tester, Charlotte, points out that assembly can be tricky. Plus, she noticed a sharp piece of plastic on the yellow leaf part that could be a safety concern when handling it, making her a little wary of putting her son in it.

It's a nice concept, but our mum tester found it could use small tweaks to improve the functionality.