My Top 6 Baby Toys (From a Pediatric Physical Therapist)
If you’ve ever wondered which toys actually help your baby develop (and which ones just make noise 😅), this guide is for you.
As a pediatric physical therapist, I choose toys based on one main goal:
👉 Do they encourage movement and support development?
You don’t need a ton of toys—just a few that you can use intentionally across different positions and stages.
Here are my top 6 baby toys I use all the time in therapy and recommend to parents 👇
1. Activity Table (My Favorite “Grow-With-Me” Toy)
🔗 Shop This Toy:
What makes this one different?
👉 You can remove the front two legs to create an angled surface
Why that matters (from a PT perspective):
✔ Supported sitting (game-changer)
The angled surface brings the toy closer to your baby, which:
Encourages forward reaching
Promotes weight bearing through the arms
Helps activate the core for more upright sitting
✔ Improves posture naturally
Instead of leaning back or slouching, babies are guided into a more functional, forward-leaning position
Other ways to use it:
✔ Tummy time → encourages reaching + head lifting
✔ Pull to stand + cruising → add legs back on as baby grows
✔ One toy → multiple developmental stages
✔ Encourages active movement (not passive play)
💡 PT Tip:
Toys that bring play slightly closer and elevated make a big difference in helping babies engage their core during sitting.
2. Winkel Rattle (Best for Core + Feet Play)
🔗 Shop This Toy:
I’ve also found it on sale at Marshalls before! This colorful loop toy is a therapy favorite.
How to use it:
Hook onto baby’s feet in lying on their back
Encourage reaching hands → feet
✔ Builds core strength
✔ Promotes body awareness
✔ Helps babies discover their feet (a key milestone)
💡 PT Tip:
One of the easiest ways to encourage feet play without forcing it.
3. Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes (Best for Tracking + Rolling)
🔗 Shop This Toy:
Babies LOVE this toy—and therapists do too.
How to use it:
Side to side → visual tracking
Overhead → encourage rolling
In front → reaching practice
✔ Great for torticollis
✔ Encourages full head movement
✔ Highly motivating
💡 PT Tip:
Perfect for babies who need a little extra motivation to move.
4. Suction Cup Spinner Toys (Best for Vertical Play + Engagement)
🔗 Shop These Toy:
These are a must-have category of toys in my opinion—and I almost always have a few in sessions.
This includes:
The classic ladybug/bee/butterfly spinners
And my favorite upgrade: the Sassy Wonder Wheel
How to use them:
✔ Stick to a mirror → encourages upward reaching
✔ Use on a high chair tray → great for independent play
✔ Place vertically → promotes upright posture
Why I love them as a PT:
✔ Encourages reaching against gravity
✔ Improves visual attention
✔ Promotes repetition (which is how babies learn!)
The Sassy Wonder Wheel is especially great because:
It spins more easily
Has visual + sound feedback
Keeps babies engaged longer
💡 PT Tip:
If your baby isn’t reaching much yet, these are one of the fastest ways to get them interacting and moving.
5. LeapFrog Spin & Sing Alphabet Zoo (Best for Multi-Position Play)
🔗 Shop This Toy:
This is one of my favorite toys because it works in so many different positions.
How to use it:
✔ Tummy time → encourages pushing up + reaching
✔ Side-lying → great early developmental position
✔ Supported sitting → promotes balance and coordination
✔ Builds strength across positions
✔ Encourages repetition and engagement
✔ Supports overall motor development
💡 PT Tip:
Side-lying is an underrated position—this toy is perfect for it.
6. Baby Einstein Aquarium (Best for Tummy Time Tolerance)
🔗 Shop This Toy:
If tummy time is a struggle—this is your toy.
How to use it:
Place in front during tummy time
Elevate slightly to encourage head lifting
✔ Increases tummy time tolerance
✔ Encourages head and neck strength
✔ Keeps babies engaged
💡 PT Tip:
Engagement = longer tummy time = more strength gains.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a playroom full of toys to support your baby’s development.
Focus on toys that:
✔ Encourage movement
✔ Work in multiple positions
✔ Grow with your baby
When used intentionally, these simple tools can support:
Strength
Coordination
Motor milestones
