Ten Great Toys for Kids 3 to 6 Months

Babies are often just as happy playing with the packaging that comes with the toy instead of the toy itself, but the following toys do tend to engage the little ones and, in most cases, teach them valuable skills as they grow. Some of the toys I have included have different age recommendations but I think 3 to 6 months is the ideal time to introduce your baby to them. Some babies may even get some enjoyment sooner than that and most babies will continue to love them after 6 months (which is one of the main reasons they made this list).

I've included a link to show you what the toy looks like. I've also noted the average price that they can be purchased for in stores and where possible, the best price as of this writing. You may be able to get better deals online but considering the variety of shipping costs I did not factor those prices in when considering the averages. Also, considering the shelf life of most toys (even these), you may be able to find good deals on used toys.

Toys for under $15 (and if you price shop, they can often be found under $10)

1. 
   
2. Discover and Play Toy Color Blocks- Baby Einstein

   
   (about $10)

3. 
   

You can let your 8-week-old feel the various textures of the blocks and start to get a feel for them but most babies will start to take a real interest in the various colors and textures closer to 3 months old. They come in four bright colors and each block has various textures - for example, a smooth side, a corduroy type side, a fuzzy side. Each block has a "bonus" feature, such as the yellow block that quacks when you squeeze it.

The blocks are a good size for little hands to explore and they are light enough for babies to hold, shake and stack them when they are a little older. This great, inexpensive toy can be found at major stores including Target and Babies R Us (which both seemed to have the best prices).

https://www.babyeinstein.com/Store/ProductDetail_152.asp?CurrentPage=1&Grouping=&ThemeID=0&AgeRangeID=0&ProductTypeID=0&IsOnSale=0&ProductQuery=blocks

1. 
   
2. Travel Toys - Lamaze (about $10 to $12 each)
3. 
   

These toys are great. You have your choice of Henry the Hippo, Larry the Lion, Spike the Dinosaur, Stretch the Giraffe, Trotter the Pony, Flutterbug and more. The nice thing is that several of them actually offer a different tactile, visual and auditory experience. Little ones can pull on Stretch's legs, enjoy his feet (two crinkle, one squeaks and the other is a rattle). Larry the Lion has a crinkly mane, his body squeaks and he also has great "hair" that babies can tug on. Larry also has a plastic star on one paw for babies to play with or gnaw on.

They are light enough for most babies to grab and throw around by 3 months of age. They all have a ring to attach them to a car seat for traveling fun but they can also be attached to a crib, playpen or play gym. The best price I've seen was at Target but they don't always carry every character so you might have to visit a few times if you want a particular one.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266659

1. First Bank of Oink - Infantino (about $10)
2. 
   

Babies can enjoy the crackling dollar bill and the smooth, brightly colored coins (some with squeakers, others with rattles) by 4 months of age. And they like to hear the "bank" oink when you push his nose. However, they won't get the optimal benefit from this toy until closer to 6 months when they are better able to grab and move the money. By that time, they can start to learn the concept of putting the money into the bank and taking it out.

This toy can be found at stores such as Target for $12.99 but I was able to find it at
Marshalls
for $9.99.

http://www.infantino.com/Toys6/150-883.html

4. Laugh & Learn Nursery Rhyme CD Player - Fisher Price

(about $12.99)

The description on this toy says 6 to 36 months but I've seen several 4 months old, including my own, enjoy this toy at that age. At just before 4 months, they will like hearing the different sounds. There are also plastic rings on the side for baby to touch or chew on.

Starting at 4 months and older, they will start to learn cause and effect (I push the button and something happens). And as they get older, they will start to make associations between the pictures and the sounds they hear.

This is a great toy to take along and is light enough for older babies (6 months and older) to hold and carry.

http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-H6319-Nursery-Player/dp/B000930CLA

1. My Kitty or My Puppy Developmental Book - Lamaze (about $10)
2. 
   

These are soft books that baby will love to touch, grab and chew on. On the cover is
a soft, stuffed puppy or kitty that can be explored by baby. Inside, are brightly colored, soft pages for your little one to look at and you can read the book to them as they get older.

A nice, inexpensive toy that baby can carry with her anywhere.

http://www.geniusbabies.com/mykicllabo.html

1. Rolly Cow - Lamaze
2. 
   

($10-$20)

This cow is cute to look at and babies just love to bat it around. The cow has fuzzy and smooth areas that give your baby a chance to feel different textures. This is another great toy to teach your child cause and effect as he rocks back and forth and jingles. The hooves squeak for added fun.

This toy can be hard to find at times (as of this writing, amazon.com was out of stock) and averages $10 to $20.

http://members.lycos.nl/amazing_cows/kids/1.html

1. Rabbit Chime - Tiny Love
2. 
   

(about $6)

This is a great little toy to entertain babies, especially 3 to 4 month olds. It doesn't have any annoyingly repetitive songs; it just sounds like a wind chime as your baby bats or shakes it. It's a little green bunny with a hard plastic body and cute dangly feet that gives your baby different textures to feel. It can be hung anywhere to encourage hand or foot swatting but I've found it particularly useful in the car.

I could not find a link to show a picture of this toy but it can be found in Target stores.

8. Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium Play Gym - Fisher Price

(retails about $30)

This toy can be introduced to most babies at 3 months but I think they typically don't start to really enjoy it until closer to 4 months of age, when they can reach more of the dangling toys.

This play gym has two great features. First, it has an inflatable ball with rattles inside that really gets many babies happily kicking. The ball can be detached (but I have yet to see it fall off) if baby wants to play just with the ball. Second, the play gym can be a flat mat with two hoops - one for things to dangle within reach of hands, the other for the ball to dangle by the feet (or you can reverse it) - or it can be made into a tunnel, for when baby is crawling. So this toy really grows with baby.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=4241549&sourceid=1500000000000001353000

1. Miracles & Milestones Peek-a-boo Piano - Fisher Price (about $30)
2. 
   

This piano is another toy that will grow with your baby with three play settings. One plays 5 songs for 10 minutes; this is usually the setting you start with for infants. The second mode allows baby to kick the keys and be rewarded with about 5-8 seconds of music that eventually becomes a complete song. The third setting is like a real piano where each key makes its own sound.

There is a birdie that plays peek-a-boo with baby and part of the piano lights up whenever the songs play, which gives your baby some visual stimulation as well.

For the smaller baby who might have an easier time kicking, attach the piano to the playpen or crib and watch him stomp it. You may have to initially guide your baby but as he gets older and stronger, he'll get the hang of it.

By about 3-4 months of age (depending on the baby's coordination, interest and strength), you can even pull the piano out for baby to play using his hands as well as feet. And you adjust the play settings as baby develops.

This toy can be found in most stores for about $30 although Wal-Mart has it online for about $25 (if you can get free shipping, it's the best deal).

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=4241553&sourceid=1500000000000001353000

10.

Chime
Garden

- Lamaze

(about $25)

This is another toy that provides auditory, visual and tactile stimulation, multiple settings and portability.

Each flower feels different to exploring fingers and pressing on the happy faces creates various light and sound shows. The three settings allow an entire song to play, each flower to play part of a song or each flower to play one chime. Again, the toy adapts to the baby's developmental level.

Each flower face also lights up when touched and babies as young as 3 months love hearing the "song" setting and by 4 months many start to learn cause and effect from the second setting, when each flower plays part of a song.

This toy can be found for various prices, the average being around $25, but the latest deal I found was at for $19.60 on the Kohl's website.

http://www.learningcurve.com/ourProducts/postprocess.asp