At 3 months old, your baby is starting to become more aware of their surroundings and their curiosity is piqued (1). That’s where toys come into play, and not just any toys, but ones that cater to their developmental needs.
While fancy toys might catch your eye, it’s the simple sensory toys that will help promote gross motor skills development. These toys are designed to stimulate your baby’s senses through touch, sight, and sound. Chewy toys, for example, not only serve as a fun object to stare at and drool on but can also help soothe teething gums.
From birth to 6 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that quality play with your baby is not limited to just developmental toys. Even simple interactions like imitating your baby’s smile, coos, and babbles can be considered play, as they enhance your bond and teach important social cues (2).
Of course, as a parent, safety is always a top priority. That’s why it’s important to choose toys made from high-quality, safe materials that are free from harmful chemicals or choking hazards (3). That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best toys for 3-month-olds to help you make an informed
Our Top Picks
- Best Book: Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book
- Best Tummy Time Mat: Itzy Ritzy Tummy Time Play Mat
- Best Portable Toy: Manhattan Toy Soft Baby Travel Spiral
- Best Sensory Toy: SmartNoggin NogginStik
- Best Musical Toy: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes
- Best Plush Stacker: Manhattan Toy Safari Lion Stuffed Animal Stacker
- Best Soft Blocks: Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes
- Best Teether Toy: Infantino Lil’ Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether
- Best Rattle Toy: B. toys – Rain-Glow Squeeze
- Best Mirror Toy: Bright Starts Sit and See Safari Floor Mirror
- Best Developmental Toy: Melissa & Doug Flip Fish
- Best Mobile Toy: Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Infant Stim Mobile
- Best Soothing Toy: Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
- Best Textured Toy: VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Moosical Beads
- Best Shaker Toy: Baby Einstein Ocean Glow
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Toys For 3-Month-Olds Picks
Sassy Peek-a-Boo Activity Book – Best Book
- Lots of different high-contrast patterns
- Crinkly cover
- Page turning, lifting up, and hiding flaps give the child different things to do as they get better at using their hands
- Attachable link
- The hooks come off a bit easy
As your 3-month-old opens this tender book, they will be captivated by its bold, black-and-white illustrations that will immediately pique the curiosity of young minds. With each turn of the page, your child will be delighted by a new image and pattern, facilitating their ability to connect with the world around them. Plus, the crinkly sound and easily flippable pages will encourage their budding hand-eye coordination.
Itzy Ritzy Tummy Time Play Mat – Best Tummy Time Mat
- Good soft material
- The mushroom, the mirror, the pillow, the whole look of it is adorable
- Good size
- The overall aesthetic is great
- A bit pricey
At 3 months old, your little one is becoming more alert, active, and engaged with their surroundings. They are also gaining strength and lifting their heads with greater frequency. What better way to support their growth and development than with a plush and cozy play mat adorned in a dazzling rainbow quilt?
With an airy cloud prop pillow to provide extra support as your baby strengthens their muscles, a sun mirror to stimulate their visual perception, and a rainbow plush toy with textured ribbons to encourage sensory exploration and motor skill development, this play mat is the perfect addition to your little one’s world of wonder.
Manhattan Toy Soft Baby Travel Spiral – Best Portable Toy
- Can be attached to a car seat or stroller
- The magnets are enough to keep the rocket in place
- Takes in the air on the sides and makes noise with it
- Very durable
- It is a small toy so your child will outgrow it
The rocket spiral is a magnificent multi-sensory activity toy for your 3-month-old that can wrap around just about any rail or handle, making it perfect for strollers, car seats, and cribs. This dynamic toy stretches out to an impressive 11″, engaging your little one’s senses and stimulating their cause-and-effect development.
With a host of exciting features, including a crinkly blue star on a stretchy elastic string wrapped in fabric, a fuzzy planet with an internal chime, a soft rocket complete with a baby-friendly mirror, and hanging fabric stars adorned with silky ribbons, the spiral is sure to provide your child with endless hours of space-themed fun and exploration.
SmartNoggin NogginStik – Best Sensory Toy
- Great for practice (eye) tracking from side to side
- The mirror is an actual mirror
- The rattle really does keep the baby’s attention
- It’s easy for a baby to hold the middle part
- Much more expensive compared to other similar toys
This incredible toy is designed to support healthy brain growth and bonding from day one, offering a range of engaging textures and eye-catching red, blue, and green lights to stimulate visual tracking and keep your baby engaged for hours on end.
With a gentle rattling sound to delight the ears, an easy-to-hold handle to support your child’s developing grip, and the added benefit of encouraging visual tracking through its dazzling array of lights, the NogginStik Light Up Rattle is the perfect addition to your 3-month-old’s playtime routine.
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes – Best Musical Toy
- Easy to hold
- The music is very pleasant
- There are multicolored flashing lights
- It has a high/low/off volume control slider button
- The music could be annoying to others in a confined space on longer trips
This particular musical toy has gained a reputation among parents as a top choice for its ability to spark a love of music in your child from an early age. At around 3 months old, babies begin to explore the world around them, reaching out for and grasping objects. Designed to be easy for little hands to hold, this toy encourages your infant to continue developing their motor skills and coordination.
With 7 pleasing classical songs to choose from, your little one can enjoy the joys of music simply by pressing a big, simple button. As each song plays, colorful lights swirl over the screen, enhancing each tune with a visual spectacle that also fosters your child’s visual perception.
Manhattan Toy Safari Lion Stuffed Animal Stacker – Best Plush Stacker
- Soft and squishy
- Good size
- Great for cuddle time
- Can be used for teething
- They are more expensive compared to other stacking toys
Who knew there could there be such a great combination of toys? This four-piece soft stacking rings baby toy comes complete with a base, two plush fabric stacking rings, and a lion head topper. The soft, plush materials are perfect for little hands to grasp and manipulate, helping your child develop their fine motor skills as they work on stacking and unstacking the rings.
And what could be more satisfying as a parent than hearing the sound of your child’s happy giggles as they play and learn?
Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes – Best Soft Blocks
- You can switch out the cards and if you’re child really likes something you can customize a card for them
- Cards are very easy to switch out
- The holder is adjustable
- It gives the baby something to look at it and is modern and nice looking
- Ribbons are too short to tie to crib
This set of four soft, lightweight foam cubes is wrapped with fabric, creating a cozy and comforting texture that is perfect for 3-month-olds to explore. Each cube is adorned with ribbons, highly contrasted numbers, characters, symbols, and other objects that provide 24 sides of goodies for your baby to enjoy.
As your child plays with these soft cubes, they’ll be developing their gripping abilities and hand-eye coordination while having fun exploring the different textures and shapes. And with so many sides to discover, your little one will never run out of new things to see and touch.
Infantino Lil’ Nibbles Textured Silicone Teether – Best Teether Toy
- Easy to hold for baby
- Made of great material
- Helps soothe
- Very soft
- You can’t wash this in the dishwasher
As a parent, you know all too well how tough teething can be on your little one. But thankfully, the Infantino BPA-Free silicone carrot teether is here to save the day!
Designed to soothe sore gums and ease teething pain, this teether is a must-have for any parent with a teething baby. Its easy-to-hold handles make it enticing for little hands, while the unique textures on the teether stimulate your baby’s mouthing senses and encourage them to move their tongue and jaw in novel and exciting ways.
B. toys – Rain-Glow Squeeze – Best Rattle Toy
- Nice soft glow
- Very cute
- It changes colors
- Can be used as a teether
- A little too hard for a baby to activate the glow on their own
Are you ready to add a little magic to your 3-month-old’s day? This magnificent lighting rattle is no ordinary toy – it sparkles with all the colors of the rainbow! And the best part? Simply shake the rain-glow squeeze to watch it shine and light up your little one’s world.
But that’s not all this amazing toy has to offer. The rain-glow squeeze also features a sweet cloud rattle with a smiley face and a velvety touch. Its handle is specially designed for little hands and includes six multicolored rainbow beads that rattle softly when moved.
Bright Starts Sit and See Safari Floor Mirror – Best Mirror Toy
- It is very light
- Folds up easily when storing
- Great for tummy time
- The little leaves make crinkling sounds
- The mirror scratches easily
Have you ever wondered who has your 3-month-old’s attention? Well, the answer might surprise you – it’s their own reflection! That’s right, this huge mirror is the perfect tool for your little one to discover silly faces and self-discovery. It’s specially designed for tummy time or sit-and-play, so your baby can explore and learn at her own pace.
They won’t be able to look away from what they see, thanks to the crinkly and vibrant fabric that surrounds the mirror. And don’t worry about storage – this little mirror folds flat easily.
Melissa & Doug Flip Fish – Best Developmental Toy
- It has beautiful and bright colors
- Chewable plastics on the fins.
- Interactive gills
- Crinkle noise
- Pretty large toy
Get ready to dive into the deep end with this delightful fish toy! It’s not just any ordinary toy fish. No, no, no! This one is a whole school of fun, packed with squeaky, crinkly, and a variety of different textures. As your curious 3-month-old explores the different textures and sounds, watch their eyes widen with amazement!
But wait, what’s that? Oh no, it looks like the fish has gotten a little too much love and slobber from your little one. Not to worry though, it’s a breeze to clean! Simply toss it in the wash and it will be good as new, ready for another round of underwater adventures.
Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Infant Stim Mobile – Best Mobile Toy
- Shapes are very attractive
- It is very light
- You can clip this into anything
- Spins easily
- Very small in diameter and you cant easily change shapes
The Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Baby Stim-Mobile may not technically be a toy, but it’s still an awesome way to engage your little one while aiding in their visual development. With a whopping ten replaceable cards featuring high-contrast designs and patterns, you’ve got plenty of options to keep your baby’s attention.
And with both bright colors and black & white cards included, you’ll be able to mix it up for added variety. Plus, the age labels on the cards make it easy to know which ones to use at what stage.
Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse – Best Soothing Toy
- Has music volume control
- Really cute
- The music is soothing
- Soft light
- It only plays music for 5 minutes and then turns off
Oh, the joys of caring for a 3-month-old! Between feeding, rocking, and cooing, it’s hard to catch a break. That’s where the Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse comes in handy. With a soft glowing belly and soothing music and sounds, this seahorse will captivate your baby’s senses and provide a calming distraction when you need it most.
And the best part? It comes with two AA batteries already included, so you can start using it right away without any extra hassle or cost.
VTech Baby Lil’ Critters Moosical Beads – Best Textured Toy
- Lots of lights and noise
- Different modes for your baby to learn
- The black-and-white contrast of the cow will catch the baby’s attention
- Good-sized plush
- The songs are ok but short
Looking for a cuddly friend to teach your 3-month-old about shapes, colors, numbers, and letters? With light-up buttons and a spinning square bead, your child can interact with the toy to discover new information.
Plus, the toy’s various fabric textures promote tactile awareness and the easy-to-grasp ring helps develop motor skills. With over 20 melodies, sounds, and phrases, this toy is sure to entertain and educate your child for hours.
Baby Einstein Ocean Glow – Best Shaker Toy
- Pretty colors when it lights up
- Adorable
- Lightweight
- Nice music selections
- You have to hit the toy pretty hard to get the music to play
Imagine taking your 3-month-old on an underwater adventure with the Ocean Glow Sensory Shaker Musical Toy! This amazing jellyfish rattle will awaken your baby’s senses in every way possible. The toy will react to your baby’s movements with a dazzling light show that changes colors, while the soothing sound of classical music plays in the background.
Plus, the toy’s textured rope “tentacles” are perfect for helping your baby develop their sense of touch. The best part? This toy is designed to be the ultimate travel companion, thanks to its perfect size and easy-to-hold shape, which are ideal for little hands.
How To Choose The Best Toys For 3-Month-Olds?
- Stimulation: At 3 months old, babies are beginning to explore the world around them through their senses. Look for toys that offer a variety of textures, colors, and sounds to stimulate their senses. Soft toys with different textures, rattles, and musical toys are great options.
- Motor Development: Toys that encourage reaching, grabbing, and grasping can help to promote motor development. So make sure you look for toys with different shapes and sizes that are easy to grip and manipulate.
- Interaction: Toys that encourage interaction and engagement, such as toys that light up or play music when touched are also important. You can also use toys to engage your baby in simple games, such as peek-a-boo or rolling a ball back and forth.
- Safety: Safety should always be a top priority when choosing toys for your baby. Make sure toys are age-appropriate and are made from non-toxic materials and are free of sharp edges or loose parts that could be dangerous.
- Versatility: Toys that offer versatility and can be used in different ways as your baby grows and develops. For example, a play gym with detachable toys can be used for tummy time when your baby is younger and then converted into a playmat as they get older.
What Toys Should A 3-Month-Old Baby Have?
Soft toys with different textured rattles for grasping, musical toys for interactivity, play gyms for tummy time, mirror toys, and board books for encouraging a love of reading are great first toys for your 3-month-old (4). By providing your 3-month-old with toys that stimulate their senses, encourage motor development, and offer interaction, you can help to promote their development and keep them engaged and entertained.
Should My 3-Month-Old Play With Toys?
Yes, it is absolutely fine for a 3-month-old to play with toys. At this age, babies are beginning to explore the world around them and engage in sensory experiences. Toys can provide a safe and stimulating way for babies to learn and develop new skills (5).
While it is important to provide opportunities for play, it is also important to supervise your baby during playtime and ensure that toys are safe and age-appropriate. Avoid toys with small parts or anything that could be a choking hazard.
