Babies are fascinated by cause and effect and will enjoy any toy that responds to their actions and makes use of newly acquired motor skills. At this age, they'll love toys that allow them to hit a ball with a hammer as well as toys with buttons that cause characters to pop up or cogs to roll. Some high-tech toys for this age will name a letter, a shape, or a number when your baby presses a button. They're too young to actually learn their ABCs, but they'll still enjoy interacting with these toys and being exposed to language.

Top Toys: 

• Stacking rings
• Nesting cups or boxes
• Push- or pull-toys that make noise or have pieces that pop up or move
• Hammering sets that let kids hammer pegs or balls through holes
• Simple, sturdy musical instruments like xylophones
• Shape sorters
• Large play vehicles, such as a school bus or a fire engine, plus plastic people that ride in them
• Puzzles with two, three, four or five pieces
• Rubber ducks or toy boats for bathtime
• Sand toys