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Babies are fickle creatures. Get them the wrong gift, and it'll be tossed aside to the corner of the room, never to be picked up again. Avoid that disappointment with one of these best toys and gifts for 6-month-olds. The following products — perfect for baby boy gifts or baby girl gifts — all come recommended by an expert, scores of Amazon reviews, or personal parenting experience. Before compiling the list, we wanted to consider where six-month-olds are at in their physical and mental growth, so we consulted a childhood development specialist.
"Six-month-olds are just starting to sit independently and get around by rolling or scooting on their bellies," Lisa Lohiser, Ed.D., Manager of Early Childhood Development Research at the Fisher-Price Play Lab tells Woman's Day. According to Lohiser, babies at this age are beginning to comprehend action and reaction, meaning toys that showcase cause-and-effect are great for their growing understanding of the world around them. She recommends toys for 6-month-olds with different textures (for touching and teething) as well as music and lights for a sensory experience. Overwhelmed? Don't be! Just pick one of the tried-and-true baby gifts ahead.
The best toys for 6-month-olds in 2024:
Best Toys That Encourage Crawling
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot
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Best Car Toy for Baby
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Baby Crawl Around Car
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Best Books for 6-Month-Old Baby
'See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book' by Roger Priddy
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Best Baby Walker
Bright Starts 4-in-1 Shop ‘n Cook Walker Shopping Cart
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Best Sensory Toys for 6-Month-Old
Kiddopark My First Baby Tissue Box
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If you're searching for gifts and toys for kids of other ages, be sure to check out our complete list of toy gift guides for every age, at the end of the article.
Best Toys That Encourage Crawling
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot
Best Toys That Encourage Crawling
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot
According to Lohiser, this Learning Bot touches on four different areas of growth: gross motor, cause and effect, fine motor, and early academics. Perhaps most valuable of all, though, is it encourages crawling by engaging with the baby and moving away. (I can personally attest that both my baby and my toddler were delighted by this toy.) Ages 6 months- 5 years
Best Car Toy for Baby
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Baby Crawl Around Car
Best Car Toy for Baby
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Baby Crawl Around Car
How cute is this little car? It may be adorable, but it also fosters an understanding of cause and effect as baby interacts with the dashboard and all of its musical features. It will require a few minutes of assembly, but parents and grandparents rave that children love their new set of wheels. Ages 6 months- 3 years
Meet Spike, baby's new favorite Ankylosaurus. This toy not only helps with grasping ability, but the color scheme will also help them identify and sort colors blue, green, yellow, and orange. (I speak from personal experience; my son cannot get enough of this little spiked dome.) Ages 6 months+
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Best Books for 6-Month-Old Baby
'See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book' by Roger Priddy
Best Books for 6-Month-Old Baby
'See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book' by Roger Priddy
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Books are one of the keys to a healthy bedtime routine, and this sensory board book encourages babies to touch and explore various textures, colors, and actions to build on their curiosity and interaction with the world. With over 11,ooo ratings and an average of 4.8/5 stars, we'd say it's a safe bet baby will like the book! Ages 0- 1 year
Sleep Sack for Baby
Little Planet Wearable Baby Blanket
Sleep Sack for Baby
Little Planet Wearable Baby Blanket
Give baby (and parents) a good night's sleep with this breathable, wearable blanket that comes is four cute colors and patterns. The two-way zip is especially convenient for nighttime changes. Sizes range from S (0-6 months) to L (12-18 months).
This popular book character from The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes to life in the form of an activity toy. Baby can pull, jiggle, squeeze, and chew. It's an easy toy to toss into a diaper bag and interactive enough to keep the little one busy for an entire car ride. Ages 0+
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Best Baby Walker
Bright Starts 4-in-1 Shop ‘n Cook Walker Shopping Cart
Best Baby Walker
Bright Starts 4-in-1 Shop ‘n Cook Walker Shopping Cart
Parents rave about this interactive toy, which comes with a removable cart top. Even if the little one doesn't need their first pair of walking shoes yet, they can still play with the shopping cart elements like a busy board. Ages 6-36 months
RELATED: Best Baby Shoes for New Walkers
Best Baby Pool Toys
SwimSchool Baby Splash Play Mat
Best Baby Pool Toys
SwimSchool Baby Splash Play Mat
For the baby just beginning to get comfortable with water, consider a splash mat with a built-in backrest. This option, from The Original SwimSchool, also comes with stacking rings and a tower to help build dexterity while lounging. The most important part, though, is the canopy for sun protection. Ages 6-24 months
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Best Sensory Toys for 6-Month-Old
Kiddopark My First Baby Tissue Box
Best Sensory Toys for 6-Month-Old
Kiddopark My First Baby Tissue Box
Have you ever given a baby a tissue box? There goes four dollars. (Or, you know, whatever a box of tissues costs in your area.) This sensory toy gives them the same feeling of pulling tissue after tissue out of the box, only you can refill it with the included crinkle paper. This one comes with three crinkle papers and eight colorful cloths, so baby can get feel the different materials. Ages 6-12 months
Best Music Toys for 6-Month-Olds
Fisher-Price Mix & Learn DJ Table
Best Music Toys for 6-Month-Olds
Fisher-Price Mix & Learn DJ Table
For a baby, musical instruments are the best thing since sliced bananas. This set comes with three piano modes, multi-colored lights, and 12 engaging activities. But perhaps best of all, the set comes with three learning levels to grow with your little one. Ages 6 months- 3 years
Best Blanket for 6-Month-Old Baby
Little Giraffe Chenille Baby Blanket with Satin Trim
Best Blanket for 6-Month-Old Baby
Little Giraffe Chenille Baby Blanket with Satin Trim
If you didn't get one of these for your newborn, it's not too late. Little Giraffe blankets are on the expensive side, but that's why it's a gift, right? They are impossibly soft and ideal for babies, toddlers, and kids, depending on the size. (Your teen might even be caught sleeping with a scrap of it years from now.) No age listed
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Best Travel Toys for 6-Month-Old
iPlay, iLearn Plush Baby Rattle Toys
Best Travel Toys for 6-Month-Old
iPlay, iLearn Plush Baby Rattle Toys
Four farm animals walk into a barn and…well, there's a joke in there somewhere. These animals double as rattles that will improve baby's fine motor skills. They just so happen to happily live in this portable plush barn! Ages 3 months- 12 years
Best Developmental Toys for 6-Month-Old Baby
VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube
Best Developmental Toys for 6-Month-Old Baby
VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube
This activity cube has made it through both my children's grubby paws and come out impressively unscathed. The five sides all play to a different skill; some sides light up, others play music, and some do both. Ages 6 months- 3 years
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Best Teething Toys for Babies
Lil' Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether
Best Teething Toys for Babies
Lil' Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether
Teeth are just beginning to emerge around six months, and babies will need one, two, or 10 teething toys. Infantino's highly reviewed silicone teether comes in a variety of "edible" shapes, including a carrot, apple, corn, pea pod, and fruit kabob. It's easy to clean and freezable for extra soothing. Ages 0+
Fine Motor Skills Toys for 6-Month-Old
Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack Toy
Fine Motor Skills Toys for 6-Month-Old
Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack Toy
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Fisher-Price's version of this classic toy improves on the original by adding a wobbly base, so baby will practice grasping the rings and holding the tower steady. Over 45,000 Amazon reviewers have given it five stars, meaning your baby will likely be entertained . . . for as long as their attention span can manage. Ages 6 months- 4 years
Best Baby Doll for 6-Month-Old
Tikiri Baby Aria Doll
Best Baby Doll for 6-Month-Old
Tikiri Baby Aria Doll
This editor is not a doll person, so an endorsem*nt of Tikiri dolls goes a long way. These handmade figures come in a variety of characters and outfits, but all of them are made of soft, organic cotton — so when baby drops her, she won't make a sound. Ages 0+
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Best Montessori Toys for 6-Month-Old
Adena Montessori Play Kit
Best Montessori Toys for 6-Month-Old
Adena Montessori Play Kit
Montessori is all about discovery at a young age, and this three-item kit will help baby do just that. There's a spinning wheel that reveals new colors, a ball with fun-to-feel fabrics, and a mirror, so they can see their favorite person: themselves (aka the mysterious other baby in the room). Ages 6 months+
Best Shoes for 6-Month-Old
Ozzneck Shoes Kids' David Soles, Boots & Slip-Ons Convertible Shoe Set
Best Shoes for 6-Month-Old
Ozzneck Shoes Kids' David Soles, Boots & Slip-Ons Convertible Shoe Set
What baby doesn't need more shoes? This versatile set includes two pairs of shoes and two pairs of removable soles, making it easier than ever to change baby's footwear. Sizes range from 5 (5-11 months) to 10 (46-56 months).
"These are such well made shoes and so cute too! Being able to easily transition from outdoor to indoor without having to completely take off the shoes is priceless with a toddler," writes one 5-star reviewer.
Maggie Panos
Freelancer Writer
After over a decade as a digital editor, Maggie Panos is navigating freelance writing and full-time parenting. She covered entertainment for POPSUGAR from New York and San Francisco before setting down roots in tree-covered Portland and focusing on local journalism. A self-proclaimed "okay baker", Maggie is interested in all things lifestyle — especially if those things involve Bravolebrities.
Kate Franke
Editorial Assistant
Kate Franke (she/her) is the editorial assistant at Woman’s Day. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!