Shopping Guide 6-12 Months
At around 7 months old, babies begin to refine their fine motor skills, making this an ideal time to introduce their first puzzles.
Language development can be enhanced through a variety of materials and toys that stimulate communication skills.
Music and sound toys enhance playtime, promoting verbal expression and listening skills, and inspire rhythm and creativity.
Gross motor skills have also been developing for the first 6 months, and will accelerate to develop in the coming years. Starting with pulling up to stand, taking some steps with support to their first steps and the mastery of their walking skills. This can all happen starting as soon as 7 months.
Fine Motor
Simple wooden puzzles with large pieces can provide an engaging challenge, encouraging hand-eye coordination as they grasp and manipulate the pieces.
Additionally, this stage of development sees the emergence of object permanence. To support this, toys that provide a peek-a-boo effect or containers that hide objects can be beneficial. These activities help reinforce the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible, fostering cognitive growth alongside fine motor skills. Providing a variety of materials and experiences will enrich your baby’s exploration and learning during this critical time.
1.3D Object Fitting Set // 2.Stacking Cups // 3.First Puzzles // 4.Palmer/Pincer Grasp Practice // 5.Wobble Stacker // 6.Object Permanence // 7.Hide and Find // 8.Ball Tracker
3D Object Fitting Set: You can present this in the following order of difficulty
Ball in a cup
Egg in a cup
Cube in a Box
Stacking Cups: These were great for us as a baby, and then we have continued to use them for different purposes, like for bath, pretend play and shelf piece containers for other toys.
First Puzzles: You can start presenting one at a time in the following order of difficulty:
Biggest circle
Smallest circle
Square
Triangle
Ball Tracker: There are other options of ball trackers in the 12-18 month gift guide. However, I have chosen this one for this age, as it has a slow movement which aids in the baby being able to follow the ball with their eyes and work on tracking.
Language and Music
1.Animal Figurines // 2.Musical Eggs // 3.Drum // 4.Rain Stick // 5.Touch and Feel First Words: First Words, Things That Go, Animals // 6.Books with real pictures
Animal Figurines: These are the regular size (not the toob version) and I only used bigger animals before 3. You can use this to practice language. As your child grows, they’ll start to play with them in different ways.
Real Picture Books: We really enjoyed textured cards to practice language.
Real Picture Books: These are great for this age. Babies really enjoy looking at faces, specially at other babies faces.
Gross Motor
The Pikler Triangle is a simple climbing structure that helps young children develop physical skills. It encourages kids to play independently and explore their abilities at their own pace.
Some children may start walking as early as 9 months, and for these early walkers, specific toys can greatly enhance their experience. Such toys not only support their first steps but also present new challenges that stimulate their development.
Engaging in activities that improve balance after they can walk unassisted is great. Toys that allow them to pull or push while walking encourage coordination and help them learn how to maneuver objects effectively, which are essential skills for new walkers.
1.Pikler Triangle // 2.Tunnel Soft Climber // 3.Walker Wagon // 4.Butterfly Push and Pull // 5.Roller Push Toy // 6.Pull Up Pup // 7.Walk Along Puppy
Pikler Triangle: Babies can first use it to pull up to stand, and then to take some steps with support. They will later start to climb it. This material can be used for years with most children outgrowing it sometime after 5 years old, and you can add features like a ramp for toddlers and up.
Tunnel Soft Climber : Short stairs are a great place for babies to practice climbing. This material replicates that environment and adds a tunnel and a ramp for some fun gross motor exploration. Note, the tunnel is small, and babies will outgrow this part of the material quickly.
Baby Walkers: A Baby Walker helps with independence when taking those first steps. Sadly ours has been discontinued. An alternative with good reviews is this Walker Wagon. You can add books to the basket to make it slower to roll.
Pull Up Pup: Our most favorite toy from 1 to 2.5 years old. The effort of pulling this wooden puppy helps develop balance and coordination. It can later be used for pretend play and it still gets played with at 5 years old.
Butterfly Push and Pull & Roller Push Toy: Similar to a pulling toy, this adds a new challenge to new walkers and encourages balance and movement
Notes & disclaimers:
*Some of this products are affiliated. This means, I get some commission when you buy them from the link posted in this page. This is at no cost to you.
*No products in this guide have been sponsored or given in exchange for being part of this gift guide
*This gift guide is broken down by ages with the hopes of give you a better idea of what’s developmentally appropriate and of interest based on a child’s age. This is information I’ve gathered from child development learnings, personal experience, as well as feedback from other parents. In any case, specially as children get older, interest and skill levels might vary. Please have the particular child you’re shopping for in mind
