Selecting the Best Toys For 3 Month Old Babies is a journey into understanding the developmental milestones of this age. At three months, infants begin to exhibit heightened curiosity, making it an ideal time to introduce toys that stimulate their senses and encourage growth.
3-month-old babies start to grasp, focus their eyes on moving objects, and react to sounds more actively. As such, toys that cater to these emerging abilities can be incredibly beneficial. This guide will offer a curated list of top toys tailored for 3-month-olds, highlighting their features, benefits, and how they align with an infant’s developmental stage.
Eager to provide your baby with playthings that truly nurture their budding abilities? Dive into our comprehensive roundup of toys perfectly suited for the vibrant world of 3-month-olds.
Best baby toys for a 3 month old
SmartNoggin NogginStik Rattle
Light up your little one’s development journey with SmartNoggin’s NogginStik – where playtime meets learning in a burst of colors and sounds!
Pros
- Multi-Sensory Stimulation: It features lights that change colors, a gentle rattle sound, and varied textures. These elements work together to stimulate an infant’s visual, auditory, and tactile senses, promoting sensory development.
- Educational Value: Designed with input from early childhood experts, the NogginStik helps in encouraging critical early milestones in infants, such as visual tracking, color recognition, and auditory development.
- Durable and Safe: Made from robust plastic and free from BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead, the toy is safe and durable, able to withstand the rough handling typical of young children.
- Portable and Convenient: Its size makes it a convenient toy to carry along, providing entertainment and developmental stimulation on the go.
Cons
- Limited Sound Variety: The rattle sound, while pleasant, does not vary much. This limited auditory stimulation might not be as engaging for older infants who could benefit from a wider range of sounds.
- Age Limitation: The toy is primarily designed for infants up to 12 months old. Its appeal and developmental benefits might diminish as the child grows older, offering limited long-term use.
- Potential Overstimulation: For some infants, the combination of lights, sounds, and textures might be overwhelming, especially if they are sensitive to sensory input.
- Size of the Ball: The size of the ball part of the rattle might be too large for younger infants to easily manipulate or mouth, which could limit its usefulness in promoting oral motor development.
The SmartNoggin NogginStik is a standout in the world of infant toys, offering more than just entertainment. Its multi-sensory design is thoughtfully crafted to nurture an infant’s developing senses. The changing lights not only delight but also encourage important visual skills like tracking and color recognition. The gentle rattle sound is soothing, promoting auditory development without being overstimulating.
The toy’s texture and size are perfect for little hands, making it an excellent tool for developing motor skills and tactile exploration. Parents will appreciate the included guide, which offers valuable insights into their child’s developmental milestones, turning playtime into an educational experience.
While it excels in educational value, there’s room for improvement in sound variety, which could enhance its appeal as infants grow. Also, the durability of the light-up feature is a minor concern, as frequent use might necessitate battery changes.
Overall, the NogginStik is a wonderful investment in a child’s early development, offering a unique blend of fun, learning, and skill-building. It’s a toy that parents and infants alike will find engaging and beneficial.
- Functionality 4.7/5
- The NogginStik excels in its primary function as a developmental toy. It lights up in multiple colors, aiding visual stimulation and tracking skills. The easy-to-hold handle and pleasant rattle sound cater to infants’ grasping and auditory senses. However, the limited variety of sounds and colors slightly hinders its score.
- Durability 4.5/5
- Constructed from sturdy plastic, the NogginStik withstands drops and rough handling, a common occurrence with infants. The mirror maintains clarity despite regular use, and the toy generally holds up well over time. Slight deductions for the potential wear on the light-up feature.
- Educational Value 4.8/5
- This toy is highly educational for infants, promoting early developmental milestones. It engages multiple senses – sight, sound, and touch – crucial for brain development. The included parent guide is a valuable resource for tracking and stimulating these milestones.
Bright Starts Oball Classic
Leap into a playful realm where tiny fingers explore with ease, thanks to the Bright Starts Oball Classic Easy-Grasp Toy! Its flexible, easy-to-hold design invites even the smallest hands to engage, grip, and discover. Bursting with endless fun, this BPA-free ball is the gateway to a world of tactile exploration, fueling baby’s curiosity one joyful grasp at a time. It’s more than a toy—it’s the beginning of a lifelong love for active play.
- Unique design: Easy for your baby to hold and play with, helping them to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Fun for all ages: Suitable for babies as young as 3 months and up to toddlers, making it a toy that your child can grow with.
- Stimulates senses: The Oball Classic’s bright colors and unique textures stimulate your baby’s senses and encourage them to explore the world around them.
- Versatile: The Oball Classic can be used for a variety of activities, from rolling and tossing to teething and sensory exploration.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Soft Teether Book
Delight your baby’s senses with the whimsical world of Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar Teether Book. Each page unfolds soft textures, vibrant colors, and a gentle teether to soothe little gums. It’s a captivating tale of discovery and comfort, merging the joy of reading with the relief of teething. A treasure trove of sensory exploration that nurtures a love for books right from the cradle, accompanying your little one in their early flight towards imagination and growth
- Soft, chewable material: Made from a soft and flexible material that’s gentle on baby’s gums, making it the perfect teether toy for infants.
- Sensory stimulation: The colorful illustrations and textured surfaces on each page provide a variety of sensory stimulation for babies to explore.
- Easy to grasp: With its lightweight design and easy-to-grasp pages, this teether book is ideal for little hands to hold and play with.
- Teething relief: The multiple textured surfaces on each page provide teething relief for infants, helping to soothe sore gums.
Fisher-Price Rattle ‘n Rock Maracas
Shake, rattle and roll your way to musical fun with these colorful maracas!
- Develops motor skills: The rattle ‘n rock maracas are perfect for helping your baby develop their gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Easy to grasp: The handles are designed to be easy for little hands to hold and shake, giving your baby a sense of accomplishment and pride as they make music.
- Safe and durable: Fisher-Price is a trusted brand that puts safety first, so you can feel confident in the quality and durability of these maracas.
- Versatile toy: Whether your baby is at home or on the go, these maracas are the perfect toy to keep them entertained and engaged.
Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes
Dive into a universe of visual wonder with the Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes! Crafted with a kaleidoscope of high-contrast graphics, each cube is a voyage of visual discovery for your budding genius. As they reach, grasp, and explore, watch their fascination unfurl with every flip and turn. It’s not just play—it’s a black and white odyssey that nurtures budding minds while forging a delightful bond between touch and sight.
- Stimulate Your Baby’s Brain Development: The high-contrast images on the cubes help stimulate your baby’s visual development, while the various textures promote tactile exploration and fine motor development.
- Portable and Versatile Design: The lightweight, compact design of the cubes makes them perfect for on-the-go playtime and can be used in a variety of ways, including as a traditional toy, as part of your baby’s tummy time routine, or as a stroller or car seat toy.
- Safe and Durable: Made with high-quality materials that are BPA-free, Phthalate-free, and PVC-free, you can rest easy knowing that your baby is safe while they play with the cubes. Plus, the durable construction means they’ll last through years of play.
- Encourage Parent-Child Interaction: The Mind Cubes are designed to promote parent-child interaction, making them a great way to bond with your baby while helping them learn and grow.
Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Water Play Mat – Best tummy time toy
Introduce a splash of whimsy to your baby’s playtime with the Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Water Play Mat! This enchanting mat is a lagoon of fun and stimulation, inviting tiny tots to a water-filled adventure. As they press and pat, the floating marine creatures dance, igniting giggles and awe while nurturing motor skills. It’s more than a mat—it’s a magical undersea world awaiting your little explorer’s touch, ready to ripple with joy at every tender interaction.
- Supportive, yet comfortable design: Your baby will love sitting in this cozy seat, featuring a soft fabric seat pad and a sturdy metal frame that keeps them safely upright.
- Portable and easy to use: Whether you’re at home or on the go, this seat is lightweight and folds flat for hassle-free transport and storage.
- Encourages play and exploration: With two linkable toys included, your little one will have plenty of fun, while developing their sensory and motor skills.
- Machine washable and easy to clean: The seat pad is removable and machine washable, making it simple to keep your baby’s seat fresh and clean.
Lovevery Play Gym – Best Toy Arch
Step into a realm where every giggle leads to growth with the Lovevery Play Gym. This sanctuary of sensory exploration is tailored to unfold with your baby’s developmental milestones, offering a rich tapestry of colors, textures, and sounds.
From batting to teething, crawling to imaginative play, it’s a cocoon of joyful learning. It’s not just a play gym—it’s a carefully crafted journey that nurtures your baby’s mind and senses, turning fleeting moments into cherished memories.
- Develops All Senses: The Lovevery Play Gym includes a range of sensory toys, colors, textures, and sounds to help develop all of your baby’s senses, including touch, sight, and hearing.
- Sustainable and Safe: Made from sustainable and non-toxic materials, you can feel good about providing your baby with a safe and eco-friendly play gym.
- Stage-Based Development: The Lovevery Play Gym is designed to grow with your baby, with five stages of development from 0-12 months.
- Easy Assembly and Storage: This play gym is easy to assemble and disassemble, and can be stored in a compact carrying case, making it perfect for travel or storage.
Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center
Spin a whirlwind of excitement with the Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center! As the colorful wheel spins, it unfolds a spectacle of visual and tactile delight for curious little minds.
The cascading beads capture attention, while the spinning center fuels fine motor skill development and an understanding of cause-and-effect. It’s not just a toy—it’s a fun-filled, sensory-rich voyage to the heart of playful learning, one twirl at a time.
- Provides visual and auditory stimulation: The bright colors and spinning wheel will capture your baby’s attention, while the clicking sounds promote auditory development.
- Encourages fine motor skills: With its easy-to-grasp handle, spinning wheel, and textured surface, this toy is great for developing your baby’s fine motor skills.
- Perfect for on-the-go entertainment: Its small size and lightweight design make it easy to take with you on trips or outings.
- Helps with cognitive development: As your baby interacts with the toy, they’ll learn cause-and-effect relationships, as well as spatial awareness.
Nuby Ice Gel Teething Toy – Best Teething Toy
Open the door to soothing smiles with the Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys. Each colorful key is filled with purICE™ technology, providing gentle cooling relief to tender gums while awakening a world of sensory exploration.
Easy to grasp and captivating to explore, these keys are your baby’s passport to a fuss-free teething journey. It’s more than a teether—it’s a comforting companion for your little one, unlocking moments of serenity and discovery with every gentle nibble.
- Helps soothe teething pain: The Nuby Ice Gel Teething Toy is filled with non-toxic gel that can be chilled in the refrigerator to provide a cooling sensation that can help soothe sore gums.
- Multiple teething surfaces: The toy features multiple textures and surfaces, including soft silicone and hard plastic, to provide different teething sensations and promote healthy oral development.
- Easy to hold: The toy’s lightweight and compact design makes it easy for little hands to grasp and hold on to, promoting fine motor skills development.
- BPA-free and safe: The Nuby Ice Gel Teething Toy is made from safe, BPA-free materials that you can trust to be gentle on your baby’s delicate gums and mouth.
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
- Colorful design: The Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy features a colorful design with fun, bright colors that will capture your baby’s attention and keep them entertained.
- Stimulating sounds: With seven different classical melodies, this musical toy is sure to stimulate your baby’s auditory senses and help them develop a love for music.
- Lightweight and portable: The Take Along Tunes Musical Toy is lightweight and easy to take with you on the go, making it the perfect toy for strollers, car seats, and more.
- Affordable: At a budget-friendly price point, the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy is an affordable option for parents looking for a high-quality toy that won’t break the bank
What to consider before you buy toys for a 3 month old baby
To support your baby’s development at this stage, consider incorporating these play activities:
- Tummy time is a great way to promote fine motor skills, gross motor development and strengthen your baby’s muscles so you want toys which will make tummy time fun.
- Spend time engaging with your baby through talking, reading, and singing to promote cognitive and intellectual development.
- Mirror play can help enhance visual skills and motivation for play.
When choosing developmental toys and gifts for your 3-month-old, look for ones that encourage their current stage of development. Crib or activity attached toys (to crib or baby’s stroller) and tummy time toys are popular options, as is a toy bar which you can add toys for older babies as they grow.
By providing opportunities for exploration and play, you can support your baby’s growth and development during this exciting time. Watch them smash those developmental milestones one after another!
Not sure how to introduce play to such a little baby? Read our post to discover how to play with a newborn and when to introduce toys.
When selecting toys for a 3-month-old child, keep the following factors in mind:
- Size: Choose toys that are small and easy for the baby to hold and grasp on their own, this will strengthen their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- Tummy time: Look for musical toys that will keep the baby’s interest during tummy time. A good tummy time toy will help them strengthen their muscles and develop their motor skills.
- Multiple purposes: Opt for toys that encourage touch, sight, and sound. A high-contrast soft book, sensory toy or colorful mobiles are good options to use on the play mat.
- Safety: The best toys are made of baby-friendly materials such as BPA-free plastics, and use kid-safe paints. Also, make sure that the toys can be easily cleaned, as babies tend to put things in their mouth.
- Portability: Toys that fit in to the diaper bag are handy for when you are out and about with your baby. A hanging toy, sensory teether toy or baby rattles make a great gift idea
By considering these factors when selecting toys for 3 month old babies, you can provide them with safe and developmentally appropriate playthings that will help them learn and grow.
How we chose the best toys for 3-month-olds
When selecting our top ten recommendations for 3-month-old babies, we carefully considered a range of important factors. Safety was a top priority, along with ensuring that the toys were appropriate for this age range and aligned with the cognitive abilities of a 3-month-old.
Drawing on our extensive experience in supporting new parents, we also took into account the needs of caregivers, including factors such as cost, durability, and portability for use during tummy time or while traveling, as this age an interactive toy means something they can easily grasp.
The best toys for 3 month old babies will also continue to be interesting as your baby grows, so we tried to include age appropriate toys that will keep baby engaged for months and years to come.
