The Finest Toys for 5-Month-Olds of 2024

As infants strategy the half-year mark, they’ve already discovered extremely precious developmental expertise to assist them uncover the world round them. By 5 months, little ones are passing objects between their palms, mastering rolling over, and growing their core muscle groups as they get nearer to sitting up independently. Developmentally applicable toys will help infants refine these expertise whereas studying new ones.

To pick out the perfect toys for 5-month-olds, we surveyed 875 dad and mom in regards to the toys their youngsters play with. We requested dad and mom to notice their youngsters’ favourite toys and the way they play with them. Furthermore, we needed to know what manufacturers dad and mom belief and like to buy from.

When deciding on 5-month-old toys, we rigorously thought of security, avoiding choices with sharp corners and small items (as a result of 5-month-olds will put something—and every little thing—of their mouths). We additionally thought of age suggestions, materials, and worth when reviewing merchandise. Lastly, a licensed medical psychologist on our Skilled Evaluation Board reviewed our article to make sure the accuracy of our content material and the appropriateness of the toys we suggest for this age group.

Our Favourite Toys for 5-Month-Olds 

Child Einstein Kickin’ Tunes Play Health club

The Child Einstein Kickin’ Tunes Play Health club grows together with your child, providing enjoyable from beginning by way of toddlerhood. Infants can use the play gymnasium on their again or stomachs (throughout tummy time) or whereas sitting up. The toy bar encompasses a mirror and a number of removable toys that crinkle or rattle. The star of the present is the piano, which detaches for budding musicians. It performs over 70 sounds and musical tunes and introduces phrases in 4 languages: English, Spanish, French, and German.

This decide was an enormous hit with our infants. All of them significantly liked pounding on the keyboard with their palms and ft, and we appreciated that they have been capable of entertain themselves for impressively lengthy intervals. We additionally love that the mat is machine cleanable.

Manhattan Toy Little Rocket Finds Residence Smooth Exercise Crinkle Guide

Infants could have a blast discovering the enjoyment of turning pages with this tender cloth exercise guide. It is nice for little ones who like to seize and squeeze, and it is secure sufficient for them to discover with their mouths. The guide options an outer house theme and a narrative about discovering dwelling. There are tender toys that connect to the guide and tuck into cloth pockets and shock squeaks, crinkles, and rattles. Infants will not resist the textured teething nook and ribbon tags, both.

Our infants liked chewing this guide and located it extremely partaking. They even obtained a kick out of throwing it to listen to the rattle and jingle sounds.

DiscoverGro Picket Rainbow Spinning Toy

Infants can study trigger and impact as they spin this toy with their fingers and activate the hidden rattle, serving to increase tremendous motor expertise and hand-eye coordination. The colourful spinner seems to be fashionable and trendy, with a non-toxic, water-based paint. The picket materials is {smooth}, with beveled edges to maintain little ones secure throughout play. Bonus: A mirror on the facet lets infants discover their faces.

Lovevery Exercise Health club and Play Mat

The Lovevery Play Health club is sturdy and withstands a toddler’s first yr of firsts like a professional. The sustainable wooden and non-toxic natural cotton and polyester mat assist assist bodily growth. If a child turns into under- or over-stimulated, you may conceal any of the 5 Montessori-inspired play zones individually.  Arrange the mat or collapse it in simply two minutes or much less.

Skip Hop Bandana Buddies Animal Exercise Toy

Obtainable in varied animals, this toy clips to a stroller, excessive chair, or diaper bag to play with on the go or whereas hanging out at dwelling. Every animal has its personal distinctive design, however whatever the one you select, it’s going to provide completely different textures on your child to the touch, seize, scrunch, and chew on.

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

The Winkel is a must have as a result of there are such a lot of methods to play with it and it’s secure for infants of all ages. Within the middle, there’s just a little dice that rattles when the newborn shakes the toy. A number of colourful plastic tubes loop across the dice in order that infants can simply seize and chew. It serves as each a toy and a teether. 

This toy was one more massive hit with our infants. It was the right dimension for them to understand, shake, and manipulate. The rattle sounds, enjoyable colours, and chewable materials made it extra partaking than you’d think about for such a easy, inexpensive toy.

Munchkin Mozart Magic Dice

If you wish to introduce your infant to music, the Munchkin Mozart Magic Dice options the sounds of 5 completely different musical devices, just like the harp and French horn. The tutorial child toy teaches littles how the devices mix to make eight Mozart classics whereas lights flash to the beat of the music. Its rounded corners make it secure for tiny palms to discover.

Vibrant Begins Oball Rattle

Oballs are nice for grabbing, shaking, tossing, and passing from hand handy. They arrive in varied colours and types, however this particular design features a rattle that gives a sensory facet due to the satisfying sound. The ball is a {smooth}, versatile plastic that infants can safely chew on.

Sophie la Girafe So’Pure Totem Rattle

Nice for sensory play, this toy options sound from the rattle and completely different textures for infants to the touch and mouth on for exploration. The rattle is rubberwood, which is sturdy and secure. Though the rattle has a minimalistic aesthetic total, it has 4 separate colours to seize infants’ consideration and pique their curiosity.

Skip Hop Child’s Exercise Heart

There’s rather a lot to like about toys that present completely different actions for infants to discover and have interaction their senses. The Skip Hop Child’s Exercise Heart provides three completely different phases of play, so youngsters can play with it properly into the toddler years. There are 4 top choices, and the seat swivels 360 levels. The invention window is the cutest place for infants to faucet their ft on colourful piano keys.

Sassy Peek-a-Boo Exercise Guide

Infants love this small, easy toy. It’s tender and waterproof, so little ones can chew and drool throughout it with out damaging it. The guide has a useful clip hooked up so you may hold it on a stroller or excessive chair to assist maintain a child occupied. Every web page within the guide has contrasting colour designs which can be visually partaking with out being overstimulating for infants.

VTech Shake and Wobble Busy Ball

Uncover music, letters, colours, and extra by way of three colourful buttons on this cute busy ball. Beads on the surface assist infants develop tremendous motor expertise as they slide, twist, spin, and shake. A movement sensor responds to your child’s motion with enjoyable sounds and tunes.

Infantino Pat and Play Water Mat

Water play is nice for sensory exploration, and this mat lets infants play with water with out getting it everywhere. Simply fill it with water after which set it on a flat floor, like a excessive chair tray or the ground, and watch your child pat it and transfer the little fish inside (which additionally introduces them to trigger and impact).

Steam Life Plush Elephant Child Toy

With this elephant, youngsters get a plush toy and an digital toy with alternative ways to play. The elephant’s physique options three completely different buttons, every with its personal form and colour, that play music, gentle up, or make humorous sounds.

Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Smooth Child Toy

The flippable scales enable infants to discover textures and colours. Every scale has a unique design on all sides, so it’s like just a little recreation of hide-and-seek. It additionally boasts crinkly materials for further sensory play and is machine cleanable.

Manhattan Toy Wimmer Ferguson Thoughts Cubes

This playset, designed for infants from beginning, consists of 4 separate cubes. Every dice options enjoyable designs in contrasting colours, together with letters, numbers, shapes, and animals. For just a little further enjoyable, the cubes even have tags protruding from one among their sides to supply some sensory play.

Munch Child Chew Dice

The Munch Child Chew Dice is a rattle-teether combo for kids ages 3 to 12 months. When shaken, the smaller dice on the within of the massive dice rattles. The super-smooth silicone options textures which can be excellent for sensory exploration and teething.

The First Years Stack & Depend Stacking Cups

The First Years Stack & Depend Stacking Cups can be enjoyable on your child now and into the toddler years (particularly within the bathtub). Though it might appear fundamental, this inexpensive toy was a favourite among the many dad and mom we surveyed, and our children have performed with it for years.

The set comes with eight bright-colored cups that nest and stack into one another. Moreover, the cups every have a unique quantity and little holes on the underside in order that water can sprinkle out of them.

Child Einstein Stack & Teethe Multi Texture Teether Toy

With this stacking toy, infants get 5 separate items, every with its personal dimension, colour, and texture. The items stack collectively and separate. The tender, non-toxic rubber is each secure and soothing for infants to chew on as they discover and relieve teething signs.

Ingenuity Boutique Assortment Rocking Seat

The Ingenuity Boutique Assortment Rocking Seat performs soothing music and nature sounds. It has three reclining positions, a five-point security harness, and a detachable toy bar for sensory exploration. Plus, the bouncer folds flat for compact storage and may convert right into a stationary chair when your child can sit up.

Child Einstein Take Alongside Tunes Toy

With this moveable musical toy, infants can jam out to 10 enjoyable melodies. The beaded deal with is simple for infants to understand and enjoyable for them to play with, and the music button is straightforward and accessible to push. The adjustable quantity management can be music to oldsters’ ears.

Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bathtub Toy

Bathtub toys are excellent for elevating bathtime enjoyable. These heighten the expertise due to their floating functionality and cute animal associates inside. Every toy is weighted to remain upright as animal characters rattle and roll throughout the water.

Sophie la Girafe So’Pure Senso Ball

This toy is nice for sensory play as a result of its distinctive design options a number of textures and little colourful holes for infants to the touch and stick their fingers into. It’s constructed from secure, tender rubber that’s enjoyable to play with and actually good for ache reduction from teething. Lastly, it has two handles particularly designed for little palms to understand onto.

Infantino Balls, Blocks, & Cups Exercise Set

This exercise set consists of 16 items, like stacking cups, numbered blocks, and sensory balls. Every bit is secure for infants to place of their mouths and simply wipe clear. The set is filled with vibrant colours, enjoyable textures, and loads of alternatives for studying and exploration.

Child Einstein Uncover & Play Piano Musical Toy

This little piano performs music, lights up, and has loads of buttons for little fingers to press. The three buttons make animal sounds, communicate numbers, and play music from varied devices. The piano keys are constructed from tender textured cloth, providing infants sight, sound, and contact stimulation.

Child Einstein Star Vibrant Symphony Plush Musical Take-Alongside Toy

This little star toy integrates music into your child’s day, particularly after they want stimulation. It performs six classical melodies with a number of mild lights that flash with the music. The toy features a strap that attaches to a excessive chair or stroller.

Busy Child Exercise Chair

The Busy Child Exercise Chair is a comfy spot to sit down with many actions to maintain infants occupied. It encompasses a mirror, rattle, squeaky toy, and a number of other sensory particulars splendid for exploration. This chair sits on the ground and assists your child as they construct power to sit down on their very own. Do not forget that this exercise chair shouldn’t be used on elevated surfaces.

Our Evaluation Course of and Specialists 

To decide on the perfect toys for 5-month-olds, we studied the design and options of dozens of toys available on the market. We additionally monitored buying developments to carry you the perfect and latest choices. When reviewing merchandise, we thought of toy security, age suggestions, developmental milestones, materials, and worth. 

As well as, we surveyed 875 dad and mom who gave us precious insights into the toys their youngsters love and have interaction with. We examined many of those toys with our personal infants to make sure their security and find out how efficient they’re in entertaining little ones.

Elements to Take into account When Shopping for Toys for 5-Month-Olds

• Security: At 5 months, infants like to seize every little thing, particularly objects that appear out of attain, and discover with their palms and mouths. It’s finest to imagine that any toy that you just buy for them will possible go straight into their mouth. Search for toys bigger than your youngster’s mouth to forestall choking, and that lack sharp corners, button batteries, and magnets.
• Exploration Alternatives: 5-month-olds actively search sensory enter, so toys that enable them to discover completely different senses and textures are perfect for their growth. We suggest rattles, colourful toys, and gadgets they’ll simply grasp as they study to cross issues forwards and backwards. As well as, toys that play music promote engagement and studying at this age. 
• Milestones and Expertise: By 5 months, most infants maintain a toy if you put it of their hand and begin to push up onto their elbows or forearms from their tummy. As youngsters strategy the 6-month milestones, they need to work in direction of reaching for a toy, begin taking a look at themselves in a mirror, and roll from their tummy to their again. All youngsters develop at their very own tempo, so it’s okay in case your youngster doesn’t fall immediately into this timeline. Attain out to your youngster’s pediatrician with any considerations. 

Who We Are

Ashley Ziegler is a workers and freelance author who covers life-style, dwelling, parenting, and commerce content material for a wide range of platforms. She’s a spouse to a public college administrator and mother to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. Along with recurrently scouring the web to search out the perfect issues for herself, Ashley spends a number of hours every week researching, evaluating, and writing about merchandise particularly for youths and households.

Further reporting by:

Phoebe Sklansky and Katrina Cossey