11 Engaging Toys Babies Will Actually Play With (6-12 months) all under £35!

Posted on by Molly Clover

Looking for a birthday gift for a baby? You’ll find something here from old classics to unique ideas.

Welcome to a quick and easy toy round-up of our 11 favourite toys that my kiddos loved during the ages of 6 – 12 months old, get ready for baby gift inspiration.

Toys are so hard to buy sometimes. There’s so much choice and every one claims to help with development and be the best new thing.

Another problem I come across all the time is: they all seem to have everything already!

Here’s a list of all the toys that were a real hit with my daughter when she was under 1 and what my 10 month old boy is into right now!

For the sake of the list not going on forever, I’ve included only the top 11 which were most engaging and they played with for the longest time. A few are still popular with my daughter who’s nearly 3.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through the link. I only recommend things that I genuinely love. Thanks for supporting me!

Pin me for later

Toys My 6-12 Month Old Babies Loved To Play With

VTech Feed Me Dino

I enjoy this Dinosaur waaaay more than I should. But thankfully so does my baby, so we get to feed the dino together while he sings a little tune, says what the food is or counts it.

Molly from the future popping in to say the nearly-4-year-old still plays with the Feed Me Dino, what an investment!

Sensory Balls

Super simple, these sensory balls keep the baby busy and are great for hand-eye coordination… and a good chew.

Bath Cups

Another classic, bath cups provide hours of entertainment. They should come with a warning that kids will be even harder to get out the bath even when the water’s getting cold! I’ve also gifted these several times to new parents.

VTech First Steps Baby Walker

I know, the baby walker, it’s a classic right? If your buying for first time parents, chances are they don’t have one of these yet. My son’s only just started pushing it along as he tries to walk which makes me feel a bit nostalgic thinking back to my daughter using this to learn to walk. She still uses it now as an older toddler to ‘go shopping’ with.

Bath Tug Boat

Another cracking bath toy! It’s easy to hold and is made from recycled milk bottles. Also the Tug Boat is the only way my 2 year old will let me rinse her hair…

Lamaze Pram or Cot Octopus

This cute octopus toy is great for keeping babies busy. With bits that squeak, crinkle and rattle, there’s always something for them to do. We used to clip to their pram or car seat on longer journeys to give them something to fiddle with. An all round good toy for babies 6-12 months old.

Nuby Teethers

These Nuby Nana and Corn Teethers have been a clear favourite for both my kiddos. I don’t know if its how easily they can be gripped with small hands or it’s just the right amount of hard vs. squishy. Either way they’ve really stood the test of time.

ELC Maracas

These baby maracas are great on the go entertainment for little ones. Especially ones who like to be noisy!

Never Touch A… Book Series

There are plenty of titles in the ‘Never touch a…” series, but a favourite in our family is Never Touch The Monsters. Each page has a different texture that my baby boy loves to stick his fingers (and his face) in. What a great way to get babies into books!

Melissa & Doug Toolbox

Okay, confession, I’m a huge fan of Melissa & Doug toys! This soft toolbox toy is excellent for babies and is a real winner in our house.

LeapFrog Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket

I’d probably go as far as saying this picnic basket has been the most engaging of all our 6-12 months toys. We pack it up to take in the garden and to the grandparents house. Both my son and daughter have had endless fun with this little basket.

What toys keep your babies amused for ages?

Leave your suggestions in the comments! Or share with someone who’s looking for a bit of gift inspiration.

Save me for later