In this blog post I will give 10 play and toy tips for babies aged 6-12 months
Toys to play with while sitting
At around nine months, babies can often sit. Toys that allow them to sit are now a great option. This shape sorter can be a lot of fun, especially to do together. You can stack the blocks together (and then knock them over, which is even more fun) and put the blocks in and out of the sorter. Sliding the lid can also be part of the game. The point isn't yet whether they fit the shapes through the correct holes; that will come later.
Baby gym
This one was also mentioned in the tips for babies aged 0 to 6 months. A baby gym is even more suitable for babies aged 6 months and older. I prefer a wooden one that you can then hang toys on. The great thing is that you can make one yourself quite easily. Check out my Pinterest board "Maternity Gifts and Baby Showers" for a DIY baby gym with instructions. You can hang ribbons in different colors, wooden bracelets, wooden beads, feathers, etc. Make sure to secure it securely, of course, and always keep it nearby.
Riding toys
Playing with rolling objects can also be a lot of fun. Just give a toy car a push and see where it goes. Then they often try to crawl after it, and later they love crawling. This Squeaky toy car with a figurine also makes a sound and is easy to operate.
Turning pages
Baby books or bath books are also a lot of fun now, if only for the act of turning the pages (and they fit so nicely in the mouth too...).
Teeth toy
Babies often experience teething problems these days. Biting down can relieve the pain and soften their gums. The Sofie the Giraffe set includes a lovely teething toy.
Walker
At some point—this will vary from child to child, of course—they'll start pulling themselves up on anything. When they start feeling a bit more secure, they can try walking with a baby walker. These come with all sorts of music and other play features. They're also made of wood, and there are walkers with wooden blocks inside. A nice wooden stroller for a doll would also work well.
Stroller toy
When you're going for a walk, it's often nice to have a toy in the stroller. In my experience, it's handy if it can be attached to the stroller. In our webshop, we have Moulin Roty pacifier-compatible cuddle cloths, for example, these that can be attached. They're also wonderfully soft and very attractive.
Push stick
Even if they can't walk with it yet, a push stick is fun to play with. There's plenty going on: it rolls, it moves, it makes sounds, and the two best features: it stays close by, and you can do it all yourself! I personally think this push stick with the black and white cow is absolutely fantastic...
Soft ball
Rolling a soft ball together is guaranteed to be a hit. Sit together facing a wall and roll the ball against it. This way, you can grab it again and again and roll it again. We have a Moulin Roty ball in our webshop with beautiful soft colors and cute pictures.
Playing outside with sand
Once they can sit up, it's often fun to play with sand together. It only needs to be a little, and of course, be careful they don't eat it. Just touching it is enough and can be a lot of fun. It's even more fun if they can have some water with it. There's a chance they'll want to taste it too...
Next time, play tips for 1-year-olds, the toddler!
