The best gifts and toys for 9-month-olds are entertaining but also developmentally appropriate. At 9 months, most babies still try to put everything in their mouths and may have a hard time staying upright—key points to remember when thinking about the safety of toys at this age. “The best toys are the ones that engage a baby’s creativity and build the skills that they are learning,” says pediatrician Dr. Melissa St. Germain.
The best toys for 9-month-olds encourage babies to explore new sensations, from movement to music to … [+] new textures.
Of course, it doesn’t take as much to entertain a 9-month-old as it does say, a 6-year-old child. Your car keys and the dog’s water bowl might be quite interesting to these newly mobile babies—but those items may not be safe or help them build skills. I’ve spent years testing and reviewing toys, and as a mom to twin toddlers, the challenge of finding toys and gifts for this age group is fresh in my mind. For fun and appropriate toys, read on for our recommendations for the best toys for 9-month-olds.
Editor’s Top Picks
- Best Developmental Toy For 9-Month-Olds: Fat Brain Toys Innybin
- Best Educational Toy For 9-Month-Olds: Banana Panda High-Contrast Baby Cards
- Best Wooden Toy For 9-Month-Olds: Hape Pull-Along Wooden Frog
- Best Music Toy For 9-Month-Olds: VTech Sort And Discover Drum
- Best Sensory Toy For 9-Month-Olds: Edushape Sensory Ball
- More Great Gifts For 9-Month-Olds: Cuddle + Kind Elliott The Fawn Doll, Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch
Editor’s Pick
Amazon
Fat Brain Toys Innybin
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I’m the baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted. As an experienced product tester, I love trying out products so that readers can avoid wasting time and money. I previously served as Associate Editorial Director for Treehugger, and have over 15 years of experience reporting on health and science topics. I earned my masters degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and currently live in Queens, NY with my husband, son and cat.
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