Best Gifts For A 6-12 Month Old

This collection features some of our favourite toys for babies aged 6–12 months, thoughtfully chosen to support the big developmental changes that happen during this exciting stage. As babies become more mobile and curious, they begin to explore their environment in new ways - rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling up, and engaging more intentionally with the world around them.

Sensory Exploration

At this age, babies continue to learn through their senses, but their exploration becomes more active and purposeful. Toys with different textures, gentle sounds, simple mechanisms, and contrasting visuals encourage curiosity and help babies understand how objects feel, look, and respond. Sensory toys also support focus and attention as babies begin to interact more deeply with their surroundings.

Visual Development

Babies are refining their vision and improving their ability to track movement, recognize familiar objects, and focus on details. Books with real images, simple puzzles, and toys with clear shapes and colours help strengthen visual processing. High-contrast and cause-and-effect materials are still valuable, but babies are now ready for slightly more complex visual experiences as their attention span grows.

Gross Motor & Movement

Movement becomes a major focus during this stage. As babies begin to sit independently, crawl, and pull to stand, toys that encourage reaching, pushing, grasping, and shifting weight help support strength and coordination. Floor-based toys, activity centres, and objects that motivate movement all contribute to developing balance, core strength, and confidence in mobility.

Fine Motor & Problem Solving

Around 6–12 months, babies start to use their hands with more intention - passing objects between hands, banging, shaking, and exploring cause and effect. Simple stacking toys, nesting objects, and containers that allow filling and emptying help develop early problem-solving skills while strengthening hand-eye coordination. These experiences lay the foundation for more complex play in the toddler years.