30 Toys And Gifts That'll Hold A 9-Month-Old's Attention

1. A vibrant stacking toy with a ~spin~ — literally! Is it splurgy? Yes. Will it keep little ones mesmerized as they drop the discs onto the threaded corkscrew pole and watch them spiral down? Absolutely.

small toddler playing with spinning stackable toy

Amazon, Amazon

Promising review: “My baby loves it . Colors are bright !! Good for babies to interact with and also keeps baby entertained!” —Amazon Customer

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $34.95.

2. A sophisticated wooden xylophone with lights that plays real tunes (aka not annoying) when mini Mozarts tap on the intuitive keys. Especially great for encouraging development of fine motor skills.

A child playing with the wooden xylophone

Amazon

Promising review: “I have one for my kids and have given one as a gift. The sound it makes is nice, not tinny and annoying like most kids toys. I like that they can either press each color individually to play or push the blue button for a prerecorded song. The size and weight are perfect for smaller children.” —Jesse

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

3. A 3-in-1 tent, tunnel and ball pit to transform any home into an ~exciting play zone,~ where little ones can crawl, explore and fling balls (don’t ask!) for hours on end, while the grownups kick back with a glass of wine.

reviewer photo of tent, tunnel, and ballpit in family room

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “Light enough to carry a piece to family’s house, easy enough for my tiny 9 month old to navigate and play in, perfect for her to crawl through, and the castle is super stable.” —Chelsea

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save 10%; available in eight styles).

4. A VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker because it’ll help little ones transition from their wobbly first steps to zooming across the living room gleefully. Plus, I can personally attest they’ll play ~nonstop~ with the barn door, phone, and piano keys on the front.

a baby plating with the sit to stand toy

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “A must purchase! My son learned to pull up and walk with this contraption. He is 3 years old and still requests to walk around our neighborhood with it. He loves it!!! My 9-month-old daughter is pulling up on this thing as well and is about to start pushing it to walk. She loves using the phone and opening and closing the barn door. This whole product is just such a well-thought-through thing. Thank you to the team that created it! It really works and has been recommended by my sister, whose two boys learned to walk with it. It’s a hit. We love it! Highly recommended!!!!!” —Meet The Jacksons

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four colors)

5. A classic Fisher Price shape sorting bucket that’ll challenge their dexterity and problem-solving skills as they dunk the vibrant blocks through the matching slots in the bucket lid. It has 23,000 5-star (!!!) reviews for a reason.

A baby playing with the shape sorting bucket

Amazon

Promising review: “I bought this for my daughter and it became a favorite toy … in the 1980s! Now I bought it for her 9-month-old daughter. She loves playing with the shapes and enjoys dropping them in the basket without the cover (too challenging for right now). But it will eventually be added, as she grows into it and continues using it. Perfect for developing fine motor skills!” —Bookworm

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

6. A Leap Frog alphabet spin toy because little ones will become obsessed with spinning the wheel, watching it light up, and hearing it play the ABCs, animal names, and sounds.

reviewer's photo of their baby playing with the toy

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “My baby absolutely loves it. She is 9 months old and after a week, she would sit and spin the wheel for several minutes at a time during the day. We had to take a break from it when my partner and I started absentmindedly singing the songs.” —SBMc

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).

7. A cult fave Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? board book because you’ll read it over and over again until you have it memorized. Trust me, it brings an exponential amount of joy to babies.

Henry Holt & Company

Amazon Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $5.36 or from Bookshop for $8.36 to support local bookstores.

8. A magic cube to introduce kiddos to Mozart’s classical music masterpieces. With a touch of a button they can play the harp, flute, French horn, piano, and violin instrument sounds from eight melodies by the musical maestro. They can also press the orchestra button to have them all play together.

A model and child playing with the musical cube

Amazon

Promising Review: “A wonderful musical toy. This is one of my 9-month-old grandson’s favorite toys. At first I had to push the panels but he can now do it himself. I love how you can have all the instruments playing or select just one or two. There is a nice selection of music and my grandson rocks back and forth when it plays. He has dropped it and it is very durable. He watches the lights flash as the instrument plays. I highly recommend.” —M.A.

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $27.45.

9. A huggable Gund animated elephant stuffie that flaps its ears, sings, and plays peek-a-boo to make any baby coo, laugh, and gurgle with pleasure all day long.

reviewer's gif of the elephant flapping its ears

www.amazon.com

Promising review: “Best toy ever. We gave this to my 9-month-old granddaughter, and it quickly became her best friend. She was and still is enthralled by the moving ears and is learning to clap to the musical tune. She even giggles every time the elephant does. The toy is very soft and is a good size. Quality and fun!” —Sari

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $29.57+ (also available in five other styles).

10. A pack of brightly colored stacking cups guaranteed to become any baby’s fave open-ended toy. Just trust the 70,000+ 5-star (!!!) reviews and the many, many reviewers who have said “this is the best $4 I’ve spent on a toy.”

reviewer's photo showing the colorful cups stacked to form a tower

reviewer's photo showing the colorful cups nested inside each other and held together with a star shaped holder

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Bonus: These have holes in the bottom for water play and come with a cute star ring to keep them together.

Promising review: “Best toy I’ve bought — and so inexpensive! My 9-month-old has been playing with these for the past month and a half since receiving them and loving it. She enjoys banging them together or just flipping them around. We can stack them for her and she loves knocking the tower over. I love that there are elements targeted for as she gets older (each cup is numbered from smallest to largest and has the same number of shaped holes in the bottom). They seem so basic, but truly — that’s the beauty of them. I can see her playing with, using these, and learning from these for years to come. Baby gifts I give from this day forward will contain a set of these cups.” —Staynegative

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $8.

11. A personalized abacus to add a little dose of cuteness to a toy shelf and help strengthen motor skills at playtime. Win-win.

Ev And Potique / Etsy

Ev And Potique is a small biz based in Nelliston, NY, owned by a momma of three, that specializes in handmade baby and toddler items.

To customize the colors, add your preferences in the personalization box before adding to cart.

Promising review: “This made the sweetest gift!” —Abby Butler

Shipping Info: Ships 8 business days after ordering, shipping fee of $9.60.

Get it from Ev And Potique on Etsy for $45.89+ (originally $54.99+; available with or without a base).

12. A TikTok famous crawling crab that’ll clatter across the living room enticing little ones to chase after it. How can any baby be ~crabby~ interacting with this adorable Mr. Crabby?

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “We ordered this toy for our son after seeing multiple videos about it on Instagram. We do not regret it at all! Although our 9-month-old was a little nervous about playing with it at first, he soon realized how much fun it was. Now he chases it both crawling on the floor and in his walker (where he has the tactical advantage). Definitely recommend as a gift for the baby in your life.” —Krissa

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save $3; available in five colors).

13. And a whale bath toy you may have seen on TikTok that lights up automatically and starts spouting water the minute it hits the water. Who wouldn’t want to play with this ~whaley~ cute buddy during bath time?

reviewer's photo of the whale toy lit up and squirting water in the bath

reviewer's gif of the whale bath toy in action

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “My 9-month-old baby girl loves it and now she wants to bathe every day with his new toy. I’m impressed with the suction power and the sensors work really great.” —Omark Reyes

Promising review: “Worth every penny! My little one loves bath time, and this makes it even more fun! The water spout is awesome and gets taller the longer it sits in the water. The lights are an extra bonus! If you’re thinking about buying — do it! Your little one will love this.” —Ahliilai

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six styles/colors).

14. A VTech activity cube perfect for teeny hands to tinker with because there’s so much to explore and learn — from spinning the ABCs to pressing on the light-up buttons to hear animal sounds! It has 29,000 5-star reviews (!!!) for a reason.

reviewer's photo of their baby playing with the activity cube

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “I got this when my baby was almost 9 months old. When he began to crawl and started sitting up, he really began to like this cube. Now he is 9 months plus and this is his favorite toy. I think it’s the only toy that keeps him busy for a while. My baby hasn’t learned how to use the musical instruments to play sounds but nonetheless he touches them randomly and the music keeps playing. Same goes for the shape buttons with animals. What he loves the most about the cube right now are the spinners and the alphabets that spin too. He also enjoys rolling the cube, banging on it, and using it to stand on his feet. I think the cube is a winner, and I’m very glad that I purchased it.” —Tabby

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

15. A machine-washable Tiny Twinkle rainbow apron bib with possibly the cutest ruffles to make messy eating fashionable.

A child wearing the apron bib and coloring

Amazon

Tiny Twinkle is a small biz based in Phoenix, Arizona that prides itself on creating high quality, safe products for babies, children and parents.

Promising review: “I was given a few apron style bibs as a baby shower gift and was excited for those, but found that they were difficult to clean and stained easily. Plus, they were too large at the neck. This bib is amazing. I purchased this as a back up and am so impressed with it. It cleans easily by just rinsing it off. The ruffle shoulders add an unexpected flair and a bit of coverage against food. The print is adorable and I am excited to try more by Tiny Twinkle!” —Trixie L

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in sizes 6 months–4 years and in 31 styles).

16. A set of safe-to-chew-on pastel silicone stacking blocks to encourage shape and number recognition in little ones. These will make any playroom look Pinterestworthy.

reviewer's baby playing with the stacked pastel blocks

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “This is the first review I’ve ever written. Watching my nephew enjoy these blocks has been too much fun to not share. He was about 9-months-old when I gifted them and the blocks have quickly become his (and his parents’) favorite toy to have nearby. The tactile quality, teething friendly factor, and stackable shapes are great for early development explorations. And I can’t wait to see how the set grows with him when shapes, animals, and numbers become meaningful to the next stages of his development. An excellent, modest investment for the enjoyment that comes from this simple blocks set.” —Corinne E. Barthelemy

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $19.99 (clip the coupon on the product page to save 20%; available in two styles).

17. An ultra plush personalized name minky blanket any parent will treasure for years to come. It’s also ridiculously cozy for naptime snuggles.

The personalized name blankets in seven different colors

Sugar House Swaddles / Etsy

Sugar House Swaddles is a small biz based in Salt Lake, Utah that specializes in personalized baby blankets, muslin swaddles, and more.

You can personalize the name and font. Just add your notes in the personalization box or comment section when placing your order.

Promising review: “I’ve ordered several blankets as baby gifts and loved all of them. Super soft, great colors, and I love getting the small one because it’s perfect for the car seat/diaper bag!” —cassidyriden

Shipping Info: Ships 7 business days after ordering.

Get it from Sugar House Swaddles on Etsy for $15.50+ (originally $34+; available in 49 colors and in three sizes).

reviewer image of the owl noise machine hanging from a crib

19. A cushy shark-themed bath or beach set that’s basically a gift for you because it’ll make your kid so friggin’ adorable you’ll just want to take a big ole bite out of ’em. *Cue cute aggression*

20. A bestselling Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy with catchy, classical melodies (by Mozart, Vivaldi, and other masters) and twinkling lights that any parent will tell you is their secret weapon to immediately calm down a fussy baby.

reviewer's photo of their baby holding the toy

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “My wife and I are first-time parents. At times a fussy baby can be very challenging. This toy was a lifesaver during those moments! We bought this toy when our son was around two months old and it was easily the most used toy we bought. The music and the lights always calmed him down and made diaper changes so much easier. He’s nine months old now and he still loves pressing the buttons and listening to the music. I highly recommend this toy!” —David Leccese

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

21. A Fisher-Price kick and play piano that I can personally attest will keep any kiddo’s attention for HOURS — whether they’re kicking the light-up piano keys like a karate champ, playing with the toy arch, or rocking out to the music.

a gif of a baby kicking the fisher price piano

the fisher-price kick and play piano in pink

Heather Braga / BuzzFeed, Amazon

Promising review: “My daughter seriously loves this mat. First she was kicking the piano and lying down now she’s 6 months and lives to sit up and play the piano. She smiles when the songs play and the songs will get stuck in your head. It has a nice variety of music that is not repetitive. She loves the hanging toys at first; she would try to grab at them, and now it’s nice to remove them for her to play with. This toy is so versatile and brings so much joy each day; it’s seriously a great deal. One of the best play gyms you’ll buy. I had a pricey, less colorful play gym that got no love. Trust me your baby will live the colors and activity that this toy offers.” —N. Ford

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $45.17.

22. And a cult status Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo because all that bouncing is guaranteed to get them tuckered out before bedtime. But let’s be honest: This is ~actually~ a godsend for new parents, who can finally get stuff done around the house.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: “My nine-month grandson loves this bouncer! He bounces and bounces and bounces. He also loves the lights and sounds. I highly recommend this product!” —Amazon Customer

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in four styles).

23. An easy-to-grasp bumpy ball boasting a combo of vibrant colors, bold patterns, textures, materials, and rattle sounds to provide a sensory experience that little ones will find oh-so-exciting.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising Review: “This toy has just come into its own at our house. After having it for about three months, my 6-month-old is now fascinated by its bumpy and rattly ways. It was great for staring at previously, but now he loves to bump it, toss it, and crawl after it. Easy to grip and light enough for little arms to toss, but weighty enough to not go too far or too fast, it’s the perfect ball for babies. And older kids love to toss it too.” —ezmerkat

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $14.98.

24. A snuggly otter that actually “breathes” and has a heartbeat sound to soothe little ones to sleep. Perfect for those looong, tiring nights when your arms ache from holding them against your chest.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “If I could give this 10 stars, I would. The best purchase we have ever made!! I bought this for my son when he was 6 months old hoping it would help with calming him before bed time…. fast forward to today… he’s now 1 and LOVES this thing. He looks for it when it’s time for sleep and it instantly calms him and gets him ready for bed. He loves to snuggle with it and he even looks for it when he wakes. He learned how to turn it on himself and now puts himself back to sleep at night. If you want your child to sleep 12+ hours at night… BUY IT NOW!!!!!!” —Logan’s Mommy

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $44.94.

25. An oh-so-cute Smily Mia Penguin pacifier designed to mimic a boob that’ll stay put on a baby’s hand — so parents don’t have to retrieve dropped pacis from the floor a gazillion times a day!

A baby sucking on the blue pacifier on their hand

Amazon

Promising review: “My nine month old baby is teething to the fullest, this has been such a great teether for her. Her tiny hands can hold it while she chews on it. Soft enough for her gums. Love it.” —Mary Emma

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in six other styles and in two-packs).

26. An InnyBin for a challenge that any curious tot will relish — to plunk chunky shapes through the elastic bands into the cube and then pull them back out (all while fine-tuning motor skills!)

A child playing with the bin with elastic bands and colorful shapes

Reviewer's child playing with the bin and shapes

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “I got this toy for my daughter who’s 9 months and she loves it! She likes to stuff things under the couch and into the couch cushions so this was a great toy for her. I love the potential it has as well, I’m a big fan of toys that can be used multiple ways. Example I was able to put some toy tissues in it as a makeshift tissue box and she had a great time pulling them out.” —Avalt A.

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $27.95.

27. The Dimpl aka a portable sensory toy designed for babies and toddlers. It simply has five vibrant silicone bubbles — yet if the 15,000 5-star (!!!) reviews are to be believed it’ll hold your munchkin’s attention for a while.

Reviewer's video showing the popping toy in action

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: “One of our daughter’s favorites. This has been on my wishlist for a long time and I’m glad I finally got it for my baby girl. She can hold onto it easily and really likes to look at it and I am sure she will figure out how to ‘pop’ the bubbles backwards and forwards on purpose soon, though right now it happens just on accident. It keeps her entertained for minutes at a time, which for a 6-month old is a lot…lol. I have pulled and pushed the silicone ‘bubbles’ to test out this Dimpl for both and durability and am confident with it as my daughter plays.” —A Beut

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

28. A “Taco Tuesday” gift set if you literally CANNOT WAIT to introduce future little ones to your weekly tradition.

Amazon

The gift set comes with three food-themed sensory toys including a crinkle shell taco, an avocado rattle, and lemon and lime clackers.

Promising review: “Our 9 month old grandson loved these! The orange and lime slice are his favorite (actually he loves the ring they came on the most)!! The avacado is his next favorite. The taco is still a little big think. Overall, I would buy again, and as a gift for another teething baby.” —Mindy fangedmom Janicke

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $13.39+ (available in three styles).

29. A bestselling aquarium crib soother chock-full of classical melodies, ocean sounds, and glowing light effects that’ll help them fall asleep and stay asleep (fingers crossed🤞).

Amazon

Promising review: “My daughter loves this. I got this when she was 6 months old. She is now 8 months and she will stare at this thing when she wakes up in the middle of the night. I go turn it on for her and she stays occupied and falls back asleep with the sound of the ocean waves. The mechanism is a little noisy, but to an infant its a comforting hum it produces. The crib light is helpful at night when we have to search for her binky or just to see to pick her up. The full light feature is very bright in a dark room, but my daughter has no issues falling asleep with it. Batteries can go by fast if you use the motion at all times. But I’ve used it for a good couple of months with no dead batteries yet. Plan on buying rechargeable for it soon. We mostly use it every night for the ocean sound no motion or lights. UPDATE 2/10/2020: My daughter is now over 10 months old. She randomly wakes up in the middle of the middle of the night and she will stand up in her crib and push the button to turn this on, then off, then on again. It helps her go back to sleep without waking us up. Best purchase ever.” —BP-JP

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $39.98.

30. And an inflatable water mat with floating foam fishies to cast a mesmerizing spell on your bubba — until they temporarily forget that they, um, detest tummy time.

Reviewer's video showing their child playing with the inflatable water mat

Baby playing on the inflatable water mat

Amazon

Promising review: “My baby’s did not like doing tummy time. Once I got this my daughter was so happy to do it. First time I showed her she was so excited and played for 20 mins. She’s now 8 months and still loves it.” —AllisonPaula

Shipping Info: Available on Amazon Prime with 2-day shipping.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.