Holiday Gifting Time! My Favorite Toys for Babies Birth to 18 Months

By Dr. Victoria Smith, PT, DPT, MPH | Ascend Physical Therapy, LLC

Shopping for a little one this holiday season? Those baby toy aisles can feel overwhelming! As a pediatric physical therapist, I look for toys that give children opportunities to explore, move, and interact with the people around them.

Here are six of my favorites for the first 18 months, along with simple ways to make them part

of everyday play. Keep scrolling for more info on each toy!

Of note, I am an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases for the linked items.

Choose for your child’s current abilities and interests, and always follow the manufacturer’s age guidelines. The play stages below are suggestions, not milestone deadlines.

1. Rattles and Easy-to-Grasp Balls

A favorite for: Early looking, reaching, and grasping.

Lightweight rattles and balls with open spaces give little hands places to hold. A gentle shake adds a sound for your baby to notice, while the shape offers opportunities to explore with their hands.

Why I love them: One simple toy can invite looking, reaching, holding, and bringing both hands together.

Try this: Hold the toy near the center of your baby’s body and give them time to look and reach. Offer it from either side during another turn. For a newborn, start by showing the toy and moving it slowly rather than expecting them to hold it.

Shopping tip: Choose sturdy infant toys with securely enclosed rattles and no loose pieces.

2. Tummy Time Mirrors

A favorite for: Supervised floor play from the early months.

Sometimes an interesting face makes tummy time a little more inviting—even when it’s your baby’s own reflection! A baby-safe floor mirror gives your child something to look toward while practicing lifting and turning their head.

Why I love them: A mirror creates a reason to look up, and it gives you a chance to get face-to-face with your baby.

Try this: Place a shatter-resistant baby mirror in front of your child during a short tummy time session. Get down beside them, smile, and talk about what you see: “There’s your nose!” Keep sessions manageable and respond to your baby’s cues.

Tummy time is for babies who are awake and supervised. Always place babies on their backs for sleep, with toys out of the sleep space.

3. Soft Sensory Books

A favorite for: Looking together early on, then reaching, grasping, and exploring.

Cloth books with contrasting pictures, different textures, and crinkly pages offer plenty to investigate. Your baby doesn’t need to understand a story to enjoy sharing a book with you.

Why I love them: You can use the same book in different ways as your child grows—from looking at a picture together to reaching for a page and playing peekaboo.

Try this: Show one page at a time and name what your baby notices. Pause for their response, whether that’s a look, a sound, or a reach. Let them touch and explore while you stay nearby.

Shopping tip: Look for washable books with secure seams and securely attached features.

4. Ring Stackers

A favorite for: Babies beginning to sit and explore objects, and toddlers practicing more precise hand movements.

A ring stacker offers plenty of play before a child can stack the rings in order. Taking rings off, holding one in each hand, and banging them together are all ways to explore.

Why I love them: The rings can become part of movement play, too. Their placement can invite a child to turn, reach, or move toward a toy.

Try this: Start with taking rings off the post. Offer one ring at a time, then model putting it back. For a child who already crawls, place a ring a short, achievable distance away.

PT tip: Follow your child’s current skills. Keep rings within comfortable reach when sitting balance is still developing, and save reaching outside their base of support for when they’re ready. Be "on guard" and ready to help them sit if they loose their balance.

5. Toy Piggy Banks with Large Coins

A favorite for: Older babies and young toddlers interested in putting things in and taking them out.

A toy piggy bank can make “in and out” play especially satisfying. Children can explore grasping a large toy coin, letting it go, and figuring out how to place it through the slot.

Why I love them: There are several ways to participate. A child might start by emptying the bank or dropping coins into an open compartment before using the slot.

Try this: Offer a coin and say, “Put it in!” Then pause and let your child try. If the slot is frustrating, open the bank and use the larger opening. You can name colors and count together without expecting your baby to know them yet.

Shopping tip: Use only the large, age-appropriate toy coins supplied with the product. Keep real coins away from babies and toddlers.

6. Sturdy Push Toys

A favorite for: Children who are ready to practice supported standing and stepping.

A sturdy push toy can offer another way to explore movement as a child develops standing balance and begins taking supported steps.

Why I love them: Some models also have activities children can enjoy while sitting, giving the toy more than one use.

Try this: Once your child is ready, offer a short, clear path on a level surface and stay close enough to assist. Choose a stable toy that resists tipping and does not roll away faster than your child can manage.

A push toy is different from a seated baby walker with wheels. Use the push toy!

Before You Wrap It

Read the age label, inspect toys for loose or broken parts, and check for recalls. Avoid small parts, accessible button batteries, and loose high-powered magnets. Keep the needs of the youngest child in the household in mind when shopping for siblings, too.

For children with developmental differences or disabilities, consider how easily they can reach, hold, activate, and enjoy a toy. A simpler action, a supported position, or your help stabilizing the toy may make play more accessible.

My Favorite Part of Any Toy Is Playing Together

You don’t need every item on this list. Pick something that interests your child, get down on the floor together, and give them time to explore. Shared play offers opportunities for connection, conversation, and discovery—and no particular toy is required to reach the next milestone.

Save this guide for your holiday shopping, or share it with a grandparent looking for gift ideas!

Have questions about choosing toys for your child’s movement skills? Reach out to Ascend Physical Therapy, LLC for individualized guidance.

These recommendations are for general education and do not replace an individualized assessment. Follow product age guidelines and supervise play.