At 3 months old, babies are curious and eager to explore the world around them, often using their mouths to do so. The best toys for 3 month old babies will encourage this exploration, as it helps babies learn about different sensations like texture and smell.
Here we share our top tips for how to pick the perfect developmental toys for 3 month olds, along with what we feel are the best toys on the market.
The best baby toys for a 3 month old
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.
- 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 toys and gifts for your 3-month-old, look for ones that encourage their current stage of development. Musical toys and tummy time toys are popular options.
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.
What to consider before you buy toys for a 3 month old baby
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.
SmartNoggin NogginStik Rattle
Boost Your Baby’s Brain Development with SmartNoggin NogginStik Rattle.
- Lights up and changes colors to encourage visual tracking
- Soft texture and gentle rattling sound stimulate senses and promote grasping and shaking
- Encourages tummy time and helps develop gross motor skills
- Introduces cause-and-effect relationships through shaking and seeing the light-up effect
Bright Starts Oball Classic
This easy-to-grasp ball is perfect for your little one’s tiny hands and will keep them engaged for hours on end.
- 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
This soft book is the perfect sensory toy for infants who are teething & developing their fine motor skills. Made from soft, chewable materials, this teether book features colorful illustrations from the beloved children’s book.
- 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
The Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes are the perfect toy to help your baby develop their cognitive and fine motor skills.
- 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
Introducing the ultimate solution for busy parents who want to keep their baby secure and happy, while freeing up their hands to tackle household tasks or take a well-deserved break.
- 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
Give your little one the ultimate sensory experience with the Lovevery Play Gym. This versatile, sustainable and stylish play gym is designed to provide endless entertainment for your baby, while supporting their physical and cognitive development.
- 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
Looking for a fun and engaging toy that can help your baby learn while playing? Look no further than the Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center!
- 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
Teething can be a challenging time for both babies and parents. We felt that the ability to freeze this teether made it the best teething toy. It can help relieve your little one’s discomfort while providing a fun and stimulating sensory experience.
- 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
Looking for a musical toy to entertain your little one while you’re out and about? Look no further than the Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy. With its colorful design and stimulating sounds, this toy is perfect for babies on the go.
- 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
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.
The best toys for 3 month old babies will also continue to be interesting as your baby grows, so we tried to include toys that will keep baby engaged for months and years to come.
Best Toys for 3 Month Olds: Final Thoughts 💭
Now you’ve heard our top ten toys for 3 month olds, along with our best buying tips, you’ll be ready to stock up on the very best for your little one.
If you’d like to learn more, check out our post about the best tummy time mats and the best hanging high contrast toys.
