The Best Gifts for 6-Month-Olds, According to Experts (and Parents)

Here’s a book that babies can chew on — in addition to reading. It’s part of theIndestructiblesseries and is made of durable yet flexible material that’s that’s rip- and waterproof. It’s lightweight, too, which means a 6-month-old can easily hold it in their hands and actually flip through the pages. (The pages make for an excellent on-the-go teether as well.)

Here’s a boxed set of new board books from beloved children’s-book author and illustrator Jon Klassen. (You might already be familiar with his other works, likeI Want My Hat Backand my older son’s personal favorite,The Dark.) The set includes a book about an island, a farm, and a forest through simple yet imaginative pictures and poetic language. For more of the best new children’s books released this year, head to our listhere.

Also included in the above roundup is the board-book version of this sweet story about play by Julie Flett. My younger son actually received this as a birthday present, and it’s become one of his favorites. As author and illustratorRuth Chanexplains, “Flett is of Cree and Métis descent, and its importance is clear in her illustrated representation of the children and animals, as well as in the inclusion of Cree words throughout.”

Stacking cups are a staple at this age as they help babies develop their fine motor skills. They’re also a versatile toy that can grow with them and be used for bath time, pretend play, and more. These stacking cups from Lalo are made with silicone and have a hexagonal shape and different perforations on the bottom.

At around 6 months, babies begin to get their teeth in, which can be painful and cause fussiness. A silicone teether can help them soothe their sore gums and keep them occupied at the same time. This set includes seven rings in different colors and textures that can be stacked into a tower.

Stacy Seebode, a chef and mom to a 7-month-old boy, says that this rattle with silicone balls is “crazy popular” among the babies in her neighborhood parent group and with her own kid as well. It’s also great for teething.

Here’s a beautiful wooden musical toy from PlanToys that ripples and click-clacks as it’s moved.

For another type of teething toy, consider this dinosaur that’s made with soft cotton. Part lovey and sensory toy, it is covered in ribbon tags and has a braided silicone ring and knotted feet for chewing on. It also has crinkly fabric inside for added entertainment.

This compact activity mat fromMs. Rachelis lightweight and foldable, making it easy to throw in a diaper bag or under the stroller for on-the-go entertainment. It’s soft with bright and high-contrast colors and has interactive flaps for discovery. It also has a mirror on one side, making it great for tummy time.

Yes, it has lights and plays music and doesn’t necessarily fit into the Montessori philosophy or aesthetic, but it’s such a mesmerizing toy for little ones that it’s a classic for a reason. I called it “baby TV” because both my kids would be entranced by it for minutes at a time. It plays ten classic masterpieces, from Chopin to Mozart, while colorful lights flash along to the rhythm of each melody.

At around 6 months, babies are beginning to move around on their own, andAlexandra Figueras-Daniel, a research assistant professor at the National Institute for Early Education Research says a toy like this beet that plays beatboxing music when it’s rolled is a great way to encourage crawling. When the baby pushes it, the beet’s pointed bottom makes it wobble and rock in an unpredictable path while producing fun beatbox riffs and rattle sounds that she says entices children to chase after it.

Figueras-Daniel also recommends this wobbly little penguin for experimenting with cause and effect. The toy stands back up after your little one bats at it, while a built-in bell makes a soothing, tinkling sound as it sways from side to side.

Sarah MacLaughlin, a social worker and the author ofWhat Not to Say: Tools for Talking With Young Children, explains that brain-building can develop through back-and-forth interactions with caregivers in a process called “serve and return,” and a ball is the perfect toy to encourage that. Rolling the ball, coupled “with lots of eye contact and laughing, is good for their motor skills and social-emotional development as it draws the connection between the child and the adult,” says MacLaughlin. Strategist senior writer (and resident toy expert) Liza Corsillo bought this ball in abug printfor her baby when he was a 6-month-old because she liked its cute illustrations, size, and classic playground-ball crosshatch texture.

Cantor says that a standing mirror like this one is also great for this age. Babies can look at themselves during tummy time and also play with it while lying on their stomach. Because it’s soft, you won’t have to worry about it falling over and hurting them.

Do not underestimate the appeal of a stuffed animal, especially ones from Jellycat. My kids own several versions of this bunny, and they’re all very well loved. They have a nice weight to them, are supersoft, and can withstand a lot of snuggling. They’re stuffies that will last them through their toddler years and beyond.

This light-up drum is the perfect size for helping a little one practice sitting up. Food writer and Eater’s former restaurant editor,Hillary Dixler Canavan, says that her daughter liked leaning forward on it and, of course, banging on it. Canavan especially appreciates the fact that the noises and drum music are actually cute. “I really can’t overstate how rare it is to find noise-making toys that don’t make you want to crawl out of your skin,” she says. “This one — even the drum melodies it plays on its side — is truly tolerable!”

Figueras-Daniel also recommends these stacking blocks that come with little animals. She notes that while they may be a little more challenging for a 6-month-old than the above styles (the manufacturer suggests them for 12-month-olds and up), looking ahead to the next developmental step is important in early-child education. This set encourages fine motor skills and serves a double purpose: stacking blocks and also putting animals inside each box. “The little animals add another level of interest to the game,” she says. Of course, knocking them over is just fine, as that teaches babies cause and effect, according to her.

This motor-skill-honing cube is a more flexible (and therefore perhaps easier) version of rigid shape sorters you’ll see populating toy guides for this age. (Figueras-Daniel calls it “almost like the precursor to a shape sorter.”) Instead of having hard edges, the box’s sides consist of elastic strings in various weave patterns that will challenge a 6-month-old to insert objects without frustrating them. Unlike other shape sorters, babies can reach inside to pull the blocks out, making it much more interactive and rewarding for baby.

For another type of in-and-out toy, Figueras-Daniel also loves this little insect cage that comes with a plushy butterfly, ladybug, caterpillar, and cricket. The compact, eight-inch size and soft handle make it easy to bring along with you.

Sometimes, babies need extra motivation to start crawling, and this roaming crab, which is the newest version of thepopular bee toythat I and other Strategist parents swear by, will do just that. Unlike the beet above, this toy lights up and moves around on its own while playing (very cute) music. You can choose between a circular pattern for beginners or a random one to keep them guessing as they master the skill. It also includes a teether and rattle, both of which stack on top of the crab, making it a four-in-one, grow-with-your-child toy.

To accompany the light-up drum, try these little egg-shaped shakers that fit perfectly into baby hands, helping them practice grasping and clutching skills while teaching cause and effect.

If you’d rather take the guesswork out of gifting age-appropriate toys to the 6-month-old in your life, consider KiwiCo’s Panda Crate, a subscription service that sends out a box of toys tailored to their age every other month. Corsillo likes these boxes because “they are full of things I would be excited to get as a standalone toy,” she says. For example, the “Let’s Listen!” box geared toward 6- and 7-month-olds includes a piano xylophone and shakers for promoting motor skills and introducing sound and movement. Corsillo particularly likes the play scarves and wood scarf keeper, which are a variation on the ubiquitous play-tissue boxes found in other kits. “The keeper looks like a rabbit hutch and has beads you can move along each of the bars, so it incorporates more ways to play,” says Corsillo.

While they won’t be walking for a few months, a walker with wheels can keep them stable when they’re ready to take their first steps. This wooden walker from Le Toy Van comes with 45 chunky blocks in a rainbow of colors and shapes.