Although the baby aisle is full of toys, infants really don’t need much entertainment besides you. But there are a few toys for newborns that I recommend for parents, especially as your baby approaches the 3-month mark.
This list covers birth through the 3 month old stage, and it’s short on purpose. As your baby gets older, you’ll see my toy recommendations are sorted into 11 different toy categories, which I use for our toy rotation.
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Most newborn toys are really for you, not the baby, and that’s ok. For babies, I still use these categories loosely, although not every category has a toy that I recommend at this age.
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Developmental Milestones for Babies 0-3 Months Old
The first official checkpoint is at 2 months. These come straight from the CDC’s 2 month milestone checklist, which lists what most babies (75% or more) can do by then. I grouped them the way the CDC does.
Social and emotional
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face
- Seems happy to see you when you walk up
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
Language and communication
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
Thinking and problem-solving
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement and physical
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
Notice how many of those are about you. Looking at your face, calming when you talk, smiling back. The CDC’s own tips for this age are basically talk, read, sing, cuddle, and do tummy time with toys at eye level. So the toys below are helpers, not the main event. Here’s how the skills line up with play:
| What they’re working on | Play Category | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Holding their head up on their tummy, moving arms and legs | Gross motor and tummy time | Gross motor |
| Opening their hands, grabbing on | Fine motor | Fine motor |
| Looking at a toy for a few seconds, watching you move | Open-ended and sensory | Open-ended, Sensory |
| Reacting to sounds, making sounds other than crying | Musical toys and books | Musical, Books |
| Looking at your face, smiling, calming to your voice | You! (no shopping needed) | Free ideas |
🍎 A quick teacher (and mom) note: milestones are a range. One of my boys seemed to hit everything early and the other took his sweet time. Both were fine. If something is nagging at you, bring it up at your next well visit. You know your baby best.
Gross Motor and Tummy Time Toys for Newborns
Holding their head up on their tummy is on the 2 month milestone list. Daily tummy time is the best way to practice this… But it’s almost universal that babies hate tummy time!
Giving them something to look at and keep their attention helps them stay on their tummies longer. Our gross motor toy guide has more ideas as they get bigger.
Even this early, you can start short stretches of independent play with your baby on a mat next to you.
Baby Einstein Ocean Explorers Sensory Splash Water Play Mat
Tummy time toys like a water mat or a mirror make those few minutes on their bellies a lot easier.
As they get older, they start pushing the pieces around with their fingers, so it turns into a fine motor toy too. It’s inexpensive, it folds flat, and it doesn’t take up floor space when you’re done.
Baby Einstein Ocean Explorers Sensory Splash Water Play Mat
A water mat is a great way to spruce up tummy time when your baby is little. It helps them move their head and arms for gross motor control. As they get older they can start to use their fingers to push around the objects for fine-motor development.
Bright Starts Activity Play Gym
Both of my kids loved the Bright Starts play gym, and it lasted way longer than I expected. It’s also one of the best toys for 3 month olds, right as they start to swing at things. This play gym also shows up on our baby and 1 year old hub as a top pick.
Bright Starts 5-in-1 Your Way Ball Play – Jumbo Play Mat
Both of my kids loved this play gym as infants. From laying on their back watching the singing elephant, to tummy time on the silky mat, to propped up with the included pillow, and when they are ready to sit and play, it converts to a ball pit!
- Includes 40 balls with carrying case for easy storage
- Cheerful elephant toy lights up and plays 20 minutes of music (and detaches for on-the-go fun)
- Includes 7 tropically cool take-along toys: elephant musical toy, crinkle toy, mirror, flash cards, hanging leaf toy and bead rattle
- Grow with me from infant to toddler, ages newborn and up
- Machine washable mat and easy-to-clean wipeable toys
Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Car
The light bar sits flat for tummy time and plays music when they smack it. It says 3 months and up, so it’s a good one to have ready as you hit the end of this stage.
Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar
This bar brings fun to tummy time (and they all hate tummy time!!). It's great for cause-and-effect as they hit the different buttons and watch and listen to the music and lights.
- The Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station is a multisensory toy that engages baby with colorful lights, classical melodies, and animal sounds during floor play or tummy time.
- 3 ways to engage baby as they grow: Bar sits flat for tummy time and props up for seated play. Unisex design for baby boy or girl ages 3 months to 36 months.
Baby Einstein Floor Mirror
- Catch baby's eye during tummy time
- High contrast patterns are easier for baby's foggy eyesight to see
- Flip through fun flashcards and support cognitive development
- Includes baby-safe mirror
- Cards include link for carriers
- Wipes clean
Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat
- Soft and supportive infant seat with a wide, sturdy base to help your baby sit up and play
- Removable, dishwasher-safe snack tray for easy feeding
- Plush Puppy Perfection headrest helps keep unsteady sitters comfy
- 2 linkable baby toys, including a BPA-free teether and clacker toy
- Easily moves from room to room: Frame folds flat for convenient storage and travel
Fine Motor Toys for 3 Month Olds and Newborns
Newborns keep their hands in fists a lot, and “opens hands briefly” is on the 2 month list of developmental milestones.
Fine motor at this age is baby steps (literally the smallest ones): opening those fists, holding on to your finger, and eventually wrapping their fingers around something light. As they get older, these milestones develop more, which you can read about in our fine motor skills toy guide.
Sassy Ring O Links
These are one of the first toys I’d hand a tiny baby. The rings are light, and each one has a different texture, so even when they can only hold on for a second, their fingers are feeling something new.
The part I love is that they grow with your baby. Right now you’re dangling them where baby can see and bat at them. Later, they become links to clip onto the stroller or car seat, and eventually your baby can link and unlink them on their own. That’s a lot of mileage for a pack of plastic rings.
Sassy Ring O Links
The smallest hands can feel the different textures of each ring, and once your little one gets some dexterity, they can link and unlink the rings for fine motor practice.
- TACTILE STIMULATION: Different materials and surfaces stimulate baby's sense of touch and teach baby to recognize new objects.
- EASY GRASP: Textured handle is easy to grasp and great for mouthing
- VISUAL STIMULATION: Contrasting black, white and brightly colored links stimulate baby's developing vision.
- SAFE FOR ALL CHILDREN: Complies with all government standards for infant products. All Sassy rattles and teethers are tested to the most rigid age grade standards.
- Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
Oball Toys
The Oball designs are made for hands that are still figuring things out. My babies hooked their fingers through the holes to shake the rattle like crazy (and chew on it). The classic ball is easy to grab from any side without getting fingers stuck.
Bright Starts Oball Easy Grasp Classic Ball
Bright Starts Oball Shaker Rattle
Silicone Drink Coasters
You're not going to find coasters on a standard kid's toys list 🤣 But stacking coasters were a must-have for both of my kids. We had wooden coasters, but the silicone ones are a definite uprgrade and much better if they decide to use them as a teething toy!
Open-Ended Toys for Newborns
Open-ended play becomes a little more complex as your child gets older. But for a newborn, watching a toy for a few seconds is a milestone that falls under this list.
Sophie la Girafe
Sophie is a classic in my house. I give her as a baby shower gift almost every time. She’s soft, she squeaks, and her long legs and neck are easy for little hands to hold once they’re ready.
Before that, she’s something for your baby to look at. Walk her slowly across their line of sight and let them follow her with their eyes (that’s the “watches you as you move” skill, with a giraffe).
Sophie la Girafe
She's a classic in my house. In fact, I almost always gift her as a baby shower gift. Babies love how soft she is, her chewy texture, and squeaker.
- Sophie la girafe Comes in a gift box with a storage pouch
- Sophie la girafe is the first baby toy that awakens all her senses; sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell
- Practical and hygienic, its storage pouch allows you to easily store and transport Sophie la Girafe while protecting it from dirt
- Sophie la girafe can now accompany your baby on the go
- Suitable from birth and surface washable
Play Silks
Play silks are the most open-ended thing we own. I recommend play silks right up until age 6 (and beyond!) So they are a great toy to buy now and grow with your child.
Right now, it’s running the silk through your baby’s fingers or floating one over them for peekaboo. In a couple of years they’ll be capes and fort roofs.
Newcotte 5 Set Magic Color Silk Scarf
One minute you're running these silks through your newborn's fingers for sensory play, the next your toddlers are wearing them as capes, tying them into ropes, building forts, and more.
- More Fun Than You Realize: can use it as a game prop, play hide and seek with their friends, throw the handkerchief and more, offering a diverse range of open ended play experiences
- Versatile: we can use this play scarves as carriers, scarves, capes, grass for rocking horses dance props and even to build forts with play clips, and also can be a sling for a doll or stuffed animal, a decorative backdrop for a make faith scene, there is more fun waiting for you to discover
- Durable: our large square scarves are made of durable reusable satin chiffon fabric ideal for playing dress up, doll blankets, dancing and twirling, capes, activities and songs, Halloween costumes, picnics, traveling, movement, juggling, and more
- Promotes Motor Coordination: the flowing scarves are ideal for dance and movement activities helping to improve balance coordination and rhythm they can also for tossing catching waving and storytelling promoting physical development and boosting confidence
Bright Starts Baby Bouncer
A simple bouncer is all you need to keep your little one entertained in a safe place. I used to keep our bouncer in my room so I could move it to the bathroom and let my little one watch me while I took a shower (they love the sights, sounds, and humidity!).
Bright Starts Baby Bouncer
- Safari-themed bouncer encourages baby to explore!
- Toy bar removes with one hand for easier access to baby
- Deep supportive seat for babyu2019s comfort; Third party safety tested and approved
- Bouncer for baby boy or girl includes 2 toys; new parent must-have
- Machine washable seat pad and insert; Designed in the USA
Baby Swings
A baby swing is a great addition to your daily awake-window rotation. We actually had 2 as we were gifted one and thrifted the other!
Bright Starts Portable Baby Swing
I used to put this swing in the kitchen so my little ones could watch me cook. It's pefect to take on-the-go as it folds up small.
Graco DuetSoothe Baby Swing
This swing is amazing! The swing speed can be adjusted, as well as the direction of the swing! So it can rock front to back or side to side! Bonus: You can remove the chair and it becomes a rocker!
- Removable swing seat doubles as a portable rocker with carry handle
- 3 swinging directions so baby can sway side to side or front to back
- 6 swinging speeds allow you to find the right setting to calm baby
- Roomy seat with body support and recline for baby's comfort
- 10 melodies and 5 soothing sounds to calm and amuse your little one
- 2-speed vibration further comforts your little one
- Mobile with 3 soft toys keeps baby entertained
- 5-point harness keeps your child secure
- Option to plug in or use batteries for added flexibility
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Musical Toys for Newborns
Reacting to sounds is on the 2 month list, and music is one of the things that all babies seem to love. But the best music at this age is your voice.
I might be the worst singer in my house–my two year old once asked me to stop singing because it “hurt his feelings,” 😂–but that has never stopped me from singing to my babies.
If you need words, we have a whole list of lullabies with lyrics. For actual toys, our musical toys guide goes way beyond the baby stage.
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
My kids loved their little “radio.” It isn’t fancy. You press the big button and it plays a song while the lights flash. Both of my boys adored it anyway. At this age, you’re the one pressing the button, and your baby is doing the listening (and hopefully calming down in the car seat).
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
My kids loved their little "radio," that they could choose the songs. It's a pretty non-descript toy, but makes the list for being a great music player that both kids adored.
Fisher-Price Calming Clouds Mobile
We had a previous version of this mobile and loved that it converted as the baby gets older to keep them entertained at different stages.
- Motorized crib Mobile that transitions to tabletop sound machine with nightlight as baby grows
- Sleep expert-approved ready settle sleep playlist of music and sounds plus gentle lights help baby fall and stay asleep
- Restarts without disturbing baby! Sensor automatically activates overhead mobile when baby makes noise
- Sleek Mobile features plush clouds with colorful raindrops to encourage eye-tracking
- For use on crib from 0-5 months, and tabletop from 5 months and up
Want more free music ideas? Hum while you change diapers, sing the same song at every bath, or put on your own playlist and sway. Babies love repetition, so you don’t need a big song list. When you’re ready for more, our musical toys guide grows with them.
Sensory Toys for Newborns
Almost everything at this age is a sensory toy, because newborns learn through touch, sound, and (soon) their mouths. Textures, crinkles, and soft squeaks are all new information. Our sensory toys guide has plenty of ideas that aren’t messy!
🏆 An Award Winning Walk: For babies, there’s nothing quiet like the sensory experience of a walk! Whether the sun is shining, or they are all bundled up in the snow, getting them outside exposes them to wind, elements, smells, and sounds.
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Flip Fish Stuffed Animal
This fish packs a lot into one soft toy. There are crinkly parts, a squeaker in the tail, different fabrics, and scales that flip up to show hidden pictures.
There’s even a baby-safe mirror, and babies love staring at faces (even their own). We have more of their baby favorites in our Melissa & Doug guide.
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids, Flip Fish Stuffed Animal
Babies can feel different textures with their fingers and teeth, flip the scales, and squeak the squeaker.
- Engaging Sensory Play: This cuddly fish friend is a squeaking & crinkling, multi-textured baby toy, with hidden pictures under brightly colored peek-a-boo scales, inviting exploration & early learning
- Soft, Safe & Easy to Clean: This lovable playmate for baby comes with a squeaker tail, shatterproof baby mirror, and multiple textures, crafted from surface washable fabrics for everyday use
Nuby Teething Toys
Babies tend to start gnawing on everything around the end of this stage, and our babies loved the feel of Nuby teethers. The keys can chill in the fridge for sore gums (the freezer can be too intense), so they’re good to have on hand.
Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
These teething keys were perfect for our little ones to soothe sore gums during teething. You can put them in the freezer (or fridge if the freezer is too intense) for some relief.
- BABY TEETHING TOYS: Our teething toys are perfect for soothing sore gums during every stage of baby teething; Place in refrigerator to provide a soothing, cooling sensation for your little one
- SAFETY FIRST: Parents can feel safe knowing Nuby baby products are developed, researched, and manufactured to exceed all government safety regulations and standards
Nuby Teethe N' Pop Sensory Play Teether
Our babies loved the feel of Nuby teething toys. This turtle has different textures for them to explore with their teeth and gums. It also practices hand-eye coordination.
- TURTLE TEETHING TOY FOR 3+ MONTHS: Playful Teethe N' Pop Turtle soothes your little one's discomfort and assists in the emergence of teeth
- SUPER SOFT BABY TEETHER: This teether toy is made of 100% soft silicone for sensitive, tender mouths, which provides teething relief without being rough on sore gums
- COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Multiple textures and fun turtle shape captivate baby's attention and help stimulate sensory development; Fun Pop Center assists in the development of fine motor skills
- MADE FOR SENSORY PLAY: This teething toy is thoughtfully designed to encourage sensory play
Books for Newborns
Reading to a baby is super important. They’re hearing your voice, looking at pictures, and (with the right books) feeling textures.
The CDC lists “talk, read, and sing” as a top way to help at this age. And if you’re traveling with a newborn, soft books pack well, so our travel toys list has a few too.
Babies Love Lift-a-Flap Boxed Set
We love lift-a-flap books at my house! As your baby gets older, they can practice lifting on each page too.
- 6 chunky and sturdy flaps are extra strong so your little one can open and close again and again.
- Surprise and delight baby with bright artwork and special treats under each flap.
- Perfectly sized for little hands and fingers to open and close the flaps.
Pop-Up Peekaboo! Under the Sea
We probably have 10+ books from the Pop-Up Peekaboo! Series. My youngest struggled to engage with books, but these classic pop-ups got his attention right away. As he got older he started lifting the flaps himself too.
DK Books Baby Touch and Feel Animals
We must have 2 dozen touch-and-feel books from DK. They are great quality and have a lot of different textures (where some brands have the same textures in every book).
- Touch and feel books help children who are not interested in books engage in books
- The sensory experience of seeing a picture, hearing you read the words, and feeling the texture is perfect for early development
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids My First Activity Book
A cute book to take and toss in your bag. Has lots of sensory input like a busy board, just for babies!
- Play, Learn & Explore: Turn soft pages, lift peekaboo flaps, button & buckle, move clock hands, & role-play with puppets during tummy time, stroller rides and travel, for screen-free learning activities
- Whatu2019s Inside: 8-page cloth book with removable hand puppet, 2 finger puppets, crinkling surprise panel, movable-hand clock, button and buckle activities, built-in handles, and a clear tote for easy storage
Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Book
This is a cute book that doubles as a sensory toy. It teaches kids about stories and has hidden pictures to reveal.
- 5+ peek-a-boo animals in every scene
- Multi-texture crinkly flaps
- Charming scenes to explore and discuss
- Machine washable
The Categories You Can Skip (For Now)
Some of my play categories just don’t have a fit for a newborn yet, and I’m not going to pretend a “newborn STEM toy” is a real need 😂 Here’s what I’d do instead. It’s all free.
Close-ended toys
Close-ended toys have a solution or a winner: puzzles, shape sorters, games with rules. A newborn isn’t ready for that!
For now, the closest thing is a simple back-and-forth. Your baby coos, you coo back. You pause and wait for their turn. That’s the start of the turn-taking they’ll need later for everything in our close-ended toys guide.
Blocks and building
No blocks yet. But you can stack two or three soft things in front of your baby during tummy time and knock them over. They’ll watch, and it’s something new to look at. Real stacking comes later, and our building toys guide will be waiting 😝.
Art
Art for a newborn is all about looking. Hold a high contrast picture about a foot from their face. That’s their first art lesson. Crayons and paint can wait a long, long time.
Pretend play and nurturing
This is where your face does all the work. “Looks at your face” and “smiles when you smile” are on the 2 month list.
- Make silly faces
- Copy their sounds
- Narrate your day (“now we’re putting on your socks”)
- Hold them close and show them love
Cuddling and talking is the nurturing, and it’s the foundation for the pretend play and nurturing play that comes later with dolls and stuffies.
STEM
Cause and effect is the heart of STEM at this age, and your baby learns it from you first: they cry, you come. They smile, you smile back. Toys with buttons come a little later. Our STEM toys guide is for older babies once they are sitting and playing with toys.
What’s Coming Next (4 Months)
The next checkpoint is the CDC’s 4 month checklist, and it’s when it becomes less about you, and all about their hands (and feet)!
By 4 months, most babies hold a toy when you put it in their hand, swing their arm at toys, bring their hands to their mouth, and push up onto their elbows during tummy time.
They’ll also coo, chuckle, and turn toward your voice. That’s when the grabbing and chewing toys above really start to shine, and our best toys for 4 month olds has even more ideas.
Planning further ahead? Our 6 month old toy list covers rolling and sitting, and our baby toys hub walks through every stage from birth to 23 months. For everything else, start at our toy guides page.
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Get StartedFAQ
In the first few months of life, you could probably get away with no toys. The best toys for infants this young are simple: something to look at, something to grab, and your face.
There isn’t a right age for newborns. It depends on their mood and temperment. A baby that’s more awake might want a rattle or soft toys to look at. Where a sleepy baby could be happy just listening to you and grasping your fingers.
Tummy time toys (a water mat or a light-up bar), light rattles and rings they can hold, soft textured toys, and touch-and-feel books. A 3 month old is starting to bat at toys and bring their hands to their mouth, so pick things that are easy to grip and safe to chew.
High-contrast pictures are easy for young eyes to see, so they’re a nice option. You don’t need a special set, though. Bold picture books and your own face work great.
One at a time. Babies get overwhelmed with too much stimulation and might seem more cranky or cry with more toy options.
No toys in the crib or bassinet. Play time is awake, supervised time on a safe surface.
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