As your baby reaches the 9-month mark, you might start noticing some exciting changes. Their personality is becoming clearer, their coordination is improving, and they’re growing more curious about the world around them. This is the perfect time to introduce toys that encourage their development and keep them engaged. But with so many options out there, choosing the best toys for your 9-month-old can feel overwhelming.

When I was shopping for toys for my own baby at this stage, I remember how important it was to select items that would support their growth while also being fun. I didn’t want something that would sit on the shelf untouched—I wanted toys that would encourage my baby to explore, learn, and have a blast in the process. Through trial and error, I found a few gems that I’m excited to share with you.

Key Developmental Milestones at 9 Months

Before diving into the toy recommendations, it’s important to understand what developmental milestones your baby is hitting around this time. At 9 months, your baby is likely:

• Sitting up without support.
• Crawling or beginning to show interest in crawling.
• Grasping small objects with their thumb and forefinger (the pincer grasp).
• Babbling and possibly even saying their first words.
• Reaching for objects and trying to manipulate them.

With these milestones in mind, the best toys for 9-month-olds should promote motor skills, sensory exploration, and problem-solving.

Top Baby Toys for 9-Month-Olds

Stacking Toys

When I first introduced a stacking toy to my baby, I was amazed at how quickly they picked it up. At first, they would knock the pieces over, but before long, they were getting the hang of stacking them on top of one another. This type of toy is perfect for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

• Why it’s great: Stacking toys help babies improve their grip strength and coordination. They’ll learn about cause and effect as they stack and unstack the pieces. Some toys even include colorful rings or different textures, which add a sensory element to the playtime.
• Recommended toys: 
  • Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack: A classic that never goes out of style, with vibrant rings that are easy to grip and stack.
  • VTech Stack and Spin Monkey: This toy combines stacking with spinning and lights, making it even more entertaining.

Soft Blocks

At 9 months, babies are starting to figure out how to manipulate objects. Soft blocks are a great way for them to practice grabbing, squeezing, and stacking. My little one loved pushing them around and knocking them down—it was like their own little world of building and unbuilding.

• Why it’s great: Soft blocks are lightweight, making them easy for babies to grab. They’re usually colorful and textured, which helps with sensory development. Some blocks also have pictures or numbers that encourage early learning.
• Recommended toys: 
  • Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Blocks: These blocks are soft and safe, featuring different patterns and textures that will keep your baby engaged.
  • Bright Starts Blocks: These come with fun colors and sounds, making them perfect for auditory stimulation.

Musical Toys

There’s something magical about seeing your baby’s face light up when they hear music for the first time. I’ll never forget the first time my baby played with a musical toy. Their eyes widened, and they couldn’t stop giggling when they hit the buttons that made fun sounds. This kind of toy is great for babies learning about rhythm, sound, and cause and effect.

• Why it’s great: Musical toys help with auditory development and can teach your baby about different sounds, pitches, and rhythms. They also encourage your baby to explore by pressing buttons, which helps with fine motor skills.
• Recommended toys: 
  • Baby Einstein Musical Toy: This toy introduces your baby to different instruments and classical music.
  • Fisher-Price Piano: It has colorful keys that are easy for little hands to press, and it plays a variety of songs.

Textured Balls

Textured balls were a favorite in our house around the 9-month mark. My baby loved exploring different textures with their hands, and these balls are perfect for that. Whether rolling, squeezing, or throwing, a textured ball provides endless fun.

• Why it’s great: Textured balls help with tactile exploration and sensory development. They also encourage crawling and reaching, which helps with motor skills.
• Recommended toys: 
  • Oball Classic: Its soft, flexible design makes it easy for your baby to grip, and the holes make it simple to carry around.
  • Lamaze Textured Sensory Balls: These come in bright colors and various textures to stimulate your baby’s sense of touch.

Interactive Books

Reading with your baby is one of the most rewarding activities. Around 9 months, your little one will likely start showing interest in books—whether by turning pages or looking at pictures. Interactive books, with flaps, textures, and sounds, are a great way to engage them.

• Why it’s great: Books encourage language development, listening skills, and cognitive growth. Interactive elements make the experience more exciting and hands-on.
• Recommended toys: 
  • “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell: This classic book with flaps and animals will keep your baby entertained while fostering early learning.
  • Lamaze Peek-a-Boo Forest: This soft book features textures, flaps, and colorful pictures.

Push and Pull Toys

As your baby nears their first birthday, they may start showing signs of wanting to stand and move around. Push and pull toys are a great way to help them practice these new skills. When my baby started crawling and pulling themselves up, we used push toys to encourage them to stand and move.

• Why it’s great: Push and pull toys help babies with balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. They also give them something to focus on as they practice standing or walking.
• Recommended toys: 
  • VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker: A toy that grows with your baby, offering support for sitting, crawling, and standing.
  • Fisher-Price Little People Push-Along: These fun, sturdy toys make a great companion for babies learning to take their first steps.

Baby Play Mats

A baby play mat is more than just a place for your baby to lie down. It’s a space for them to explore, practice tummy time, and engage with sensory features like mirrors, textures, and sounds. I remember how much my baby loved spending time on the play mat, reaching for the colorful toys hanging above.

• Why it’s great: Play mats encourage tummy time, which is essential for building strength in your baby’s neck, shoulders, and arms. Many mats also have hanging toys, mirrors, and textures that stimulate your baby’s senses.
• Recommended toys: 
  • Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym: This mat combines music and toys, providing both auditory and tactile stimulation.
  • Infantino Sensory Press & Stay Activity Mat: A simple, engaging mat with textures and patterns for your baby to explore.