The Best Toys for 4-Month-Olds To Help Them Discover the World (2024)

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• What to Look For

• Developmental Milestones

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This high-quality kit includes toys for tummy time that encourage social awareness and speech development, including a rattle, rolling bell, mirror card, crinkle bag, and more. In addition to the toys, there’s a helpful guide with tips, milestone information, activity ideas, and more that new parents will appreciate.

Our babies are big fans of these toys, and we love that they're designed to encourage their development through play. That’s precisely the goal of Lovevery’s kits. They are age and stage-appropriate and chock full of hand-selected items that highlight an infant’s developmental stage.

This silicone toy is part teether, part sensory toy. The body-shaped figure features an endlessly poppable dimple bubble. We love that it's portable, (making it perfect for travel), easy for little hands to hold, and a cinch to clean—it's dishwasher-safe. At under $10, this is an excellent toy for young babies, but it may have a shorter lifespan than other toys.

If you want to get a toy that will help inspire the growth and development of your 4-month-old, the SmartNoggin NogginStik is a great choice. This light-up toy was invented by a mom and early intervention specialist and comes with a pamphlet on infant milestones. Designedfor use from infancy through age 1, this toy rattles and helps babies learn to track objects with their eyes and practice grasping and holding. It can be easily wiped down with a cloth and includes the three required batteries.

Encourage tummy time with this light-up toy bar that lays flat or props up for easy use, with a lock and unlock switch to help keep the stand in place. Lights activate with the touch of each section or spin of the rattle drum. There are three modes of play: animals, color, and xylophone—all of which operate in English, Spanish, or French, thanks to a language switch button. Three AA batteries are required (not included).

A time-tested favorite, this toy is a mesmerizing maze of soft, safe tubes that make perfect teethers and promote gross motor skills like clutching and two-handed play. The core rattles to help babies learn cause and effect. The plastic loops are BPA-free, and the toy is suitable for kids from birth to 24 months.

Our babies loved playing with this simple toy, whether grasping, chewing, shaking, or tossing it. Its size makes it a great take-along toy, and even though it doesn't come with a clip, the loops make it easy to attach to a stroller or car seat if you already have a toy clip. Plus, it’s durable enough to make it through multiple milestones.

Babies can massage their achy gums by gnawing away on this silicone baby banana teether. The bristles can also help keep their brand-new baby teeth clean. This teether can be used from 3 to 12 months; after that, kiddos can graduate to a toothbrush suitable for more teeth. You won't have to worry about the baby choking since the peel prevents them from pushing it back too far into the throat.

Develop visual skills on the go with this take-along toy that easily attaches strollers, infant carriers, or car seats with a plastic clamp. The high-contrast black-and-white patterns and color graphics are great for early visual and multi-sensory development. Moreover, three reversible cards display black-and-white graphics on one side and color images on the other. The toy is recommended for kids from birth to 5 months.

Reading to your little one is bound to be one of your favorite activities, so why not add a book to your routine that’s just perfect for little hands to touch, feel, and play with? The book is suitable for kids from birth to 2 years and is made with soft polyester that your baby can grab and hold on to. With just enough contrast to keep your little one’s interest, your baby will love looking at the pages as they explore the different textures on the cover and discover how some of the pages crinkle.

Incorporate music into playtime with this whimsical caterpillar. When babies squeeze it, they'll be greeted with a song, while the caterpillar’s body contains a variety of colors and patterns to promote visual development. The tummy functions as a ruler in both meter and foot scales, so you can also use it to gauge your baby’s growth. Each section of the caterpillar features interactive elements sure to delight and entertain your child, such as bells, crinkling, and squeaks.

Playmats are great for delighting your baby and giving your arms a break. This pick from Skip Hop will tickle their senses with hanging toys they watch dance above them, then reach up and grab to discover new textures or crinkling sounds. When it's time to roll over for tummy time, there's a mirror built into the mat and a support pillow. Caregivers will appreciate the muted color scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What toys should my 4-month-old baby have?

  The best toys for 4-month-olds are those that support their developmental needs while providing safe entertainment.At 4 months old, your little one will likely be rolling front to back and starting to sit with support. A soft playmat makes rolling more comfortable and provides a safe landing for sit-up attempts. Playmats with toy bars encourage the gross motor skills needed for this developmental leap and stimulate your baby’s newfound skill of exploring their environment.

  Your baby may have just learned how to reach out and grasp with one hand, so colorful, crinkly grabbing objects that are safe to go in their mouths (at this age, much of your little one’s exploration is done via their mouths) will be a great way to exercise their newly acquired abilities. Rattles, teethers, and soothers are perfect for this.
  

• What can my 4-month-old play with?

  You! At 4 months, your baby will be receptive to reciprocal play. This could involve you responding to your little one's babbles, which will prompt them to respond. This turn-taking could even extend to playing peek-a-boo or just smiling or making different facial expressions at one another.

  Your baby is also busy learning about cause and effect: if they push the ball, it will roll away; if they shake their rattle, it will make a sound. Opt for toys that facilitate this development, such as soft blocks or toys that make a sound at the touch of a button. Everything they play with needs to be sanitary and large enough so it doesn't pose a choking risk. Toys made up of different weights, textures, and sounds will provide the sensory stimulation that your little one craves.
  

• Can my 4-month-old play alone?

  At 4 months old, your little one will need direction when it comes to learning how to interact with their toys. While every baby hits milestones at their own pace, a 4-month-old may have difficulty manipulating toys without your help.Encourage independent play by sitting nearby as your child explores a toy or object. Even the small act of choosing what to reach for is significant; your little one is exercising their independence. Allowing them to explore their toys at their own pace is a good foundation for solitary play as they get a little older.