'Perhaps most important is a caregiver that will get down on baby’s level and play with them, helping them make all those big discoveries,' says Lohiser. That's certainly what babies are doing as they pat, squeeze, bang, kick, and gnaw on the fascinating objects you give them. 'Think about toys that help them explore with their senses.'

'For babies, the focus should be on toys that encourage milestone development,' says Lisa Lohiser, Opens a new window Ed.D., Manager Early Childhood Development Research at the Fisher-Price Play Lab.

But otherwise, with so many different toys to choose from, how do parents pick the right ones? This is particularly important for 3- to 6-months-old, who tend to explore the world around them mouth-first toys for babies at this age should above all be free of choking hazards. A baby playing is actually hard at work making new connections in their brain and mastering gross and fine motor skills.īabies can and will play with anything around them, but toys specially designed for your baby's age will be appealing, as well as safe. Babies grow fast – you'll be bowled over by how quickly your baby develops skills like sitting up, rolling over, and grasping objects.