The Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds, According to Child Development Experts

Six-months-olds love to look at themselves in the mirror, so use that to your advantage. "A book with a built-in mirror lets your baby be the star," says Dr. Lytle.

Beloved children's author Eric Carle's ‘My First I See You' book has mirrors among the whimsical illustrations and charming rhymes. When your child sees himself, point him out excitedly and use his name. Say something like, "Look, that's you, Jayden." Playing with a mirror is beneficial to your baby's development as they learn how to focus their vision and identify faces. And, it'll help keep baby engaged and interested during tummy time. Encourage him to follow the book's directions to roar like a lion and flutter like a butterfly as you go.

Pages: 14

Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 7 inches

A toy with a suction cup, like the Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center, sticks securely to baby’s high chair tray so he can entertain himself (for a few minutes at least) while you are otherwise nearby, but occupied.

He can spin the wheel to set off the cascading beads and a blur of colors, while creating a rattling sound. It’s a lot for baby to look at, which is perfect for 6-month-olds who have a more sophisticated level of visual tracking. Batting or pulling at the wheel helps develop hand-eye coordination. At 8 inches tall, the toy can fit into large diaper bags for entertaining your child when you’re dining out.

Weight: 2.4 ounces

Dimensions: 5 x 6 x 8 inches

Dr. Abelowitz recommends an unbreakable mirror for little ones to look at their own reflections. The Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror has a lightweight frame that sits on its own, allowing your baby to stare into it during tummy time or even hold up and move around. Get down on the floor with your little one and play a game of peekaboo, popping in and out of the reflection, to combine a few of baby’s favorite things in one and encourage interaction with each other, suggests Dr. Lytle.

The soft construction also comes with crinkly, textured leaves and fun toys attached to the corners that encourage tactile exploration and visual development. And, the mirror gives baby a fairly clear reflection, even though it’s not made of glass.

Weight: 10 ounces

Dimensions: 10 x 10 inches

Books with flaps not only encourage a love of reading and help establish your nightly bedtime routine, but they also help baby explore and work his fine motor skills, says Dr. Lytle.

"Look for a book with resilient, sturdy flaps that your baby will be better able to manipulate," she says. The 'Babies Love Colors' board book offers just that with large, colorful flaps and thick pages that are easy for baby to turn.

Point to the animals on the page and say the word, then offer encouragement for any sounds he responds with. "Language use becomes more and more important at this age as babies are vocalizing more," Dr. Lytle says. "Early babbling is important as babies respond in their own ways even if they aren’t making fully formed words."

Pages: 12

Dimensions: 5 x 0.9 x 5 inches

Since baby is rolling, you may want to trade that activity mat for an activity center that will keep him happily entertained in one place.

The Skip Hop Baby Activity Center offers a 360-degree rotating seat so baby can twist and bounce. It has four toys on the main console: peek-a-boo clouds that pop up and squeak, a wobble lamb with rattle beads, a sun bead mover with a spinner, and a swaying toy that moves back and forth. At baby's feet, he'll find a kick-to-play piano. There's even a window to let him see his feet while he makes music. Just make sure you're using this toy only with an infant who can hold his head up without needing assistance.

When your little one is too big to use this as a bouncer, it can transform into a standing toy and later, a play table.

Weight/height recommendations: Do not use with children over 25 pounds or taller than 30 inches

Weight: 15 pounds

Dimensions: 31 x 31 x 18.5 inches

There's a reason that the rave-reviewed First Years Stack N Count Cups set is one of the best toys for your 6-month-old. The list of activities you can do with them is virtually endless, as infants can use them to hold, bang, chew on and more. During tummy time, as your baby lies on a mat, you can stack the cups just out of reach. "They will try to reach them, and that's actually good for them," Dr. Shapiro says. "It helps them control their balance. And also, it's fun for them!"

Their simplicity also adds to their appeal, says Dr. Shapiro. "They do not need any type of batteries, and you can travel with them," he says. "Those are the toys that I like: things that are simple, they help problem solve, and they're easy to carry all over."

These colorful cups come in a pack of eight. Each has a hole on the bottom (making it great during bath time), as well as big numbers to help practice counting. They easily stack together, making for compact storage.

Weight: 4.9 ounces

Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.25 x 2.5 inches

With 10 chunky, easy-to-hold geometrically shaped blocks, your baby can get started on his career as an architect. He can stack the blocks, bang them together, take them in and out of the included storage basket, then do it all over again while he works to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Because the top of the storage basket is a shape sorter, your little one can use it to work on his problem-solving abilities as he gets older. The handle on the basket makes this a fun take-along toy, and all the blocks fit neatly inside for quick and easy clean up.

Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.3 x 5.5 inches

Each ball in this bath toy set holds a surprise inside, either an animal or a toy that spins. Baby can bat at them as they bob along in the tub or in a small water table or sensory bin. They can also pick them up and shake them to set the rattling beads in motion. What’s more, textured rings around the bubbles move freely, so your little one will have fun manipulating them, even without the presence of water. The hard plastic toys are BPA-free and mold-resistant.

Weight: 3.2 ounces

Dimensions: 7 x 6.5 x 2.3 inches

Dr. Abelowitz says that a ring stacker is “good for hand eye coordination and play time,” and this Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker Wooden Ring Educational Toy is a parent- and baby-approved pick. You can help your little one stack up each of the eight brightly-colored wooden pieces while narrating what each color is and counting the rings as they pile up.

Note that while it’s recommended for little ones 18 months and older, lots of reviewers say that their babies had fun playing with this earlier on, from holding the rings in their hands to watching older siblings or parents stack up the rings in front of them.

Weight: 14.4 ounces

Dimensions: 8.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches

Does your little one always try to reach for your keys? Consider, then, First Years' First Keys for your baby. This lightweight set of five colorful keys can help teach your child hand-eye coordination. Dr. Shapiro says little plastic keys are great for helping your little one with “passing things from one hand to another,” adding that they're easy to carry for on-the-go play.

What's more, the rounded edges of each key mean that it's no problem if your baby puts them in his mouth to use as a teether. A handy ring holds all the keys together so that none of them get lost. They make a click-clack noise when your baby jangles them around, but it's not too loud (meaning it's a great pick to have in public spaces).

Dimensions: 3 x 1.5 x 5.2 inches

This ball-style rattle has it all: beads that spin, shakers, disks that move up and down, a mirror for baby to check out his reflection, blocks for counting and identifying colors, a button that plays sounds and music, and more. Its open sides are easy to grasp from any angle, and at just over 6 inches all around, it's highly portable. Entertain your little one while they're in their high chair, bring it on walks or in the car, or roll it across the floor to encourage your tiny tot to crawl towards it.

Weight: 10.2 ounces

Dimensions: 6.34 x 6.34 x 6.26 inches

This adorable plush toy is made of different fabrics to stimulate baby's senses — they'll love exploring the different feelings of everything from silky satin to textured terry. The colors and patterns are bright and engaging, too. Plus, the farm animal's neck has a ring toy with two buttons for baby to push for songs, phrases, letters, shapes and colors. And for parents concerned about all that noise? The toy has an extra feature you'll surely appreciate: an automatic shutoff that helps preserve battery life and give you a break.

Weight: 8.8 ounces

Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.8 x 6.5 inches