This Ingenious Baby Piano Goes From a Floor Toy to a Standing Toy as Kids Grow

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Babies grow so much in their first year, and when they hit the 6-month mark, they've already reached some big milestones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at 6 months old, babies are likely to look at themselves in the mirror, blow raspberries, explore items with their mouths, grab for toys they want and push up with their arms when they're on their tummies or support themselves with their hands when they're sitting up. And while the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that no single toy is necessary to aid in these benchmarks, you can choose toys that meet babies where they're at developmentally. The AAP says that, for babies around this age, toys that are brightly colored, help kids see the world from different positions (like sitting up or tummy time), mirrors and cause-and-effect toys are just right for this stage.

But which ones to choose? The Good Housekeeping Institute evaluates toys and gifts for kids all year , looking at things like safety and durability. They also test toys with the real experts — babies themselves — looking for feedback from parents about whether or not their babies liked the toys and how long the toys kept the kids engaged. With all that in mind, these are the best toys and gifts for 6-month-old babies in 2023. The list is a mix of Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners past and present, editor's picks and bestsellers.

Our Top Picks for the Best Toys for 6-Month-Olds:

• Wee Gallery Touch & Feel Wings Board Book, $13 on amazon.com

• Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror, $15 on amazon.com

• Edushape Original Sensory Balls Boho Chic Mega Pack, $40 on amazon.com

• Skip Hop Explore & More 4-in-1 Walker, $45 on amazon.com

• Crawligator Tummy Time Toy, $90 on amazon.com

And we all know that gifts for 6-month-olds are really gifts for the parents, through our toy testing we know that these are parent-approved, too!

Looking for more great gifts for babies? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

The Best Infant Toys | The Best Gender-Neutral Baby Gifts | The Best Gifts for Baby Girls | The Best Gifts for Baby Boys

Tummy Time Floor Mirror

At 6 months old, babies find looking at themselves in the mirror a real novelty. This tented mirror can sit on the floor and be used as an incentive to push up on those arms during tummy time. The bee also rotates, and the ladybug's belly is a ball that can be rolled to show either a black surface or a white surface. Ages 0+

Original Sensory Balls Boho Chic Mega Pack

These balls are textured, which makes them a great sensory toy, and also easier to grip in young hands, which is good for fine-motor coordination. Babies can hold the balls and feel the different bumps and grooves. As they get older, they can roll the bigger balls back and forth, and then eventually work on throwing and catching. They come in several colors, but our parent testers appreciated the neutral hues of the "Boho Chic" collection. Ages 6 months+

Tummy Time Toy

This is designed to be useful as a baby gets stronger. At first, the padded top of the alligator is a comfy tummy-time spot that kids can lay on. As they grow, they can use their legs to kick, and it'll actually roll across the floor so they can get ready for crawling. Good Housekeeping parent testers thought it was an ingenious toy, and even liked that it had raised sides to keep kids from sliding off. Ages 4 months+

'Touch and Feel: Wings' Board Book

This Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award Winner lets kids touch different textures of wings, from the puffy pink wings of a flamingo to the shimmery wings of a dragonfly. Our experts noted that the book is even a little big smaller than a typical board book so kids can hold it themselves. Parent testers liked the text, too: “The book uses great adjectives to describe each of the wings," one said. Ages 0+

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards

Explore & More 4-in-1 Toy Walker

Who doesn't love a toy that's designed to last for years? This one starts off as a floor toy for a 6-month-old, and then transforms to a walking push toy, and then either a toy stroller or shopping cart. Parents appreciated the versatility: “I love that this toy can be used by both my 2 1/2-year-old and my 5-month-old,” one tester said. Ages 6 months+

Baby Sustainable Plush

Not only is this plush friend adorable and soft, it's made with 100% recycled material (including the fabric, stuffing and packaging). Testers said the 13-inch size was perfect for hugging. In addition to a kitten, it comes as a bunny, duck, lamb, dog or bear. Ages 0+

Sensory Balls, Blocks & Buddies

These blocks will get them working on their stacking and building skills, and the four "buddies" that come with them are the perfect friends to make their creations come to life. This set also has textured balls, and the blocks are textured too, for a sensory experience. Ages 0+

Fruit Colors Learning Smoothie

We already mentioned that 6-month-old babies still like to explore things with their mouths — and that's okay with this toy, because the straw is actually a teether. And when they swivel the straw around, the cup lights up in different colors and introduces kids to songs and phrases about a fruit of the same color. Parent testers liked the size of this toy, which was easy for little ones to hold and use on their own. Ages 6 months+

Fill & Spill Soft Taco

This soft, adorable taco shell is made of foam, and then fabric pieces can "spill" out of it and can be stuffed back in to act as the fillings. The fabric pieces have different textures and some crinkle, so kids can explore the different sensations. There are also two attached pieces that are textured as well. Ages 6 months+

Mix & Learn DJ Table

This musical toy starts off sitting on the floor, so kids can use it during sitting or tummy time, and then legs can be added to turn it into a table as they get old enough to stand. The piano keys, level sliders, and turntable lets kids play around with different musical sounds. And while it may not be key to a 6-month-old's enjoyment, parent testers really liked experimenting with the record-and-playback function. Ages 6 months+

Shape Sorter

Kids can work on their shape recognition with this shape-sorter, which comes with six pieces and a double-sided sorter to store them in. Parents love that Green Toys' items are made from recycled milk jugs — and the fact that the whole thing can go in the dishwasher! Ages 6 months+

'Roar! I'm a Dinosaur' Board Book With Eyeholes

Kid testers couldn't get enough of this book. Each page is about a different dinosaur, which is fun enough in and of itself. But when the book is opened, there are two die-cut holes in the top that turn the whole thing into a dinosaur mask. Kids loved peeking through it, or watching adults turn into the dinos. Ages 0+

Penguin Musical Wobbler

Babies can bat at this toy to hear thinking bell sounds — and the rounded bottom means it'll wobble without rolling away. They can learn about cause-and-effect by shaking it to hear the musical sounds. It also comes in black. Ages 6 months+

Wimmer-Ferguson Learning Cube

The high-contrast black-and-white patterns on this toy are eye-catching to babies, so you can introduce this one even before the six-month mark. Each side of the six-sided cube has a different feature or activity, including crinkle paper, a bungee elephant trunk, a rattle, a squeaker, a textured teething ring, peek-a-boo flaps and a baby-safe mirror. Ages 0+

Tobbles Neo

These egg-ish objects do more than just stack into a neat tower. The six pieces are also uniquely weighted so they can wobble, spin, net tilt — and eventually topple. Kids love investigating the pieces on their own and then stacking them into off-kilter structures before knocking them down. Ages 6 months+

Wooden Surprise Gift Box

What's a better present than...a present?! When kids open the box and gaze into it, they get the surprise of a mirror looking back at them. But the set also comes with a bear, a cloth book, a soft ball and crinkle paper that kids can put into and remove from the box, so it's also a lesson in object permanence and a springboard for pretend play. Ages 6 months+

Baby Animal Collection

Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved how soft each of these hand-knit dolls were, and parents appreciated that the company donates five meals to kids in need for each doll sold. The Baby Animal Collection also comes with a huge range of animals, from the traditional bear cubs and kittens to baby flamingoes, penguins and hippos, among others. Ages 0+

Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank

As babies, kids will enjoy just putting the coins in the piggy band and listening to the sounds and phrases that result. As they get older, they can use this toy to practice numbers, counting and sorting — in both English and Spanish. Ages 6 months+

Super Simple Sensory Plush Monsters

Fans of Super Simple Songs can play with their favorite characters without firing up YouTube and handing over screens. There are three characters to collect, and each one has its own sensory features: Hugo has a mirror tummy and vibrates when you pull his tail; Dewey rattles when you shake him and spins when you pull his arms, and Rizzo has crinkly arms. They each include a clip so you can attach them to a stroller or play gym. Ages 0+

Sensory Magic Tissue Box

There's a lot packed in to one little tissue box: When kids pull out the fabrics of different textures, they work on their fine motor coordination, they gain an understanding of object permanence and they get to explore different sensations. Parents reported to us that babies were mesmerized, and loved the different feels to the tissues. Ages 0+

Neon Rainbow Silicone Toy

This colorful rainbow has 12 segments that can be separated and explored. They can be stacked, re-arranged, sorted or even chewed on — it's also a teether. And, because it's made of silicone, kids can even bring it into the bath and use as a bath toy. It also comes in a pastel color scheme. Ages 0+

My First Baby Doll

Eventually, kids love to engage in nurturing, pretend play with baby dolls, doing whatever they see the adults in their life doing. Until then, this baby is perfect for snuggling. It has a soft body and the face is printed on, making it suitable from birth. There's also a doll in a blue outfit, and both of them can be thrown in the washing machine. Ages 0+

PlanToys Roller Toy – Pastel (5255)

Taxi Rattle

Handmade in Peru with organic cotton, these rattles have a look that parents just love (and a rattle that babies adore). They come in fun shapes, too; in addition to taxi, there's also a pretzel, a cactus, a bottle of of hot sauce and an octopus, among others.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Play Set

Babies who love The Very Hungry Caterpillar — and who doesn't? — will get to experience the book hands-on with this play set. It comes with a caterpillar and five pieces of fruit that crinkle, rattle and squeak on their own. Then they can be stuffed into the apple, which has a flap that lets kids take them all out and do it all over again. Ages 0+

Key Teether Rattle

Say what you will about today's modern cars and home smartlocks, the keys just don't have the same jangling baby appeal as an old-fashioned key ring. This one is much more fun to grasp, grab and shake. It comes with three keys, each with a different facial expression and number of polka dots for counting. Ages 4 months+

Lovey Teether

If there's one thing babies like as much as they like toys, it's the tags that come sewn onto the toys. (But why though?) This one has more than its fair share of ribbon tags for 6 month olds to feel and grasp. The arms and feet crinkle, and there's also an attached teether. Plus, it comes in other animal shapes, including a dinosaur, a bunny and a sloth. Ages 0+

Jumbo Tinkle Crinkle Caterpillar Plush

This caterpillar clocks in at a whopping 40 inches, meaning 6-months-old can lean against it or use it like a floor pillow. Each segment offers a surprise sensation, like a rattle, a crinkle or a squeak. And, for those who have tighter space restrictions, there's also a four-inch version for $18. Ages 0+

Piano Xylophone and Shaker Set

You get three musical experiences in one with this play set. Budding musicians can use their hands to play the piano or tap the xylophone keys, or they can do percussion with the shakers. It comes from KiwiCo, which also offers a PandaCrate subscription box for kids from birth to 36 months, with toys tailored for each developmental age and stage. Ages 0+

'The Senser' Play Kit

Lovevery's play kit not only come tailored to a baby's developmental stage, they also come loaded with information for parents on how best to play with kids at each age to get the most out of each toy. The box for kids ages 5 months and 6 months have toys that promote fine motor coordination (love those play socks), offer sensory exploration (the magic tissue box), promote tummy time (the wobble toy) and more. Ages 5 months+

How we choose the best toys for 6-month-olds

Before including our favorite picks in an article, the Good Housekeeping Institute does rigorous toy testing to ensure we're recommending only the best. Many of our choices come from our yearly Toy Awards, where we test each item based on the following criteria:

✔️Safety: Our engineers and analysts make sure that each toy reaches all safety standards. They also assess things like pinch points and make sure toys won’t shatter into small pieces to pose a potential choking hazard.

✔️Ease of Use: We look at each toy to evaluate how simple it is to assemble, how well it’s constructed and how durable it is during play.

✔️Kid Approval: Aside from testing each toy for skill-building attributes, like how well it develops social-emotional skills, all our final decisions come from more than 100 children, ages 1 to 15, who assess the fun factor!

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For more than a century, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love, including STEM toys, educational toys, sensory toys, board games and outdoor toys. While not all of the selects on this list have been specifically vetted by our experts, Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor, has looked for brands and products with trusted reputations and long track records of safety. Marisa has covered all aspects of the world of parenting, from the postpartum years through the empty nests, since 2015, and she's pitched in with Good Housekeeping's toy coverage since 2018. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter, who are both avid toy collectors.

Shop more toys and gifts for kids

Looking for more great gifts for kids? Let the experts do all the hard work for you!

• Top-tested items: See what toys, gifts and books ranked the very highest in our Lab tests with our Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, our Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Awards and our Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards.

• Tech for kids: Our lab experts are often asked for recommendations for digital devices for kids, and we've tested kids' phones, kids' smartwatches, kids' tablets and game consoles and to see which ones held up the best for families.

• Great learning toys: While all toys can be helpful vehicles for supporting developmental growth, we love to spotlight notably exceptional educational Toys and STEM toys as well as ones that can support social-emotional growth, like those included in our lists of the best sensory toys, pop fidget toys, Montessori toys and autism toys.

• Gifts for babies: Please the newest members on your gift list (and their parents) with these useful baby registry items, as well as gifts for babies, gifts for baby girls and gifts for baby boys. Of course, you might want to get something for new parents to help them through the hectic newborn stage.

• Gifts for toddlers: The coolest new toys in this space pull double-duty, whether it's social-emotional learning combined with motor skills, or creative play combined with language, as you can see in our gift guides for gifts for 1-year-olds, gifts for 18-month-olds, gifts for 2-year-olds and gifts for all toddlers, as well as our stocking stuffers for toddlers.

• Gifts for preschoolers: As they begin to explore the world around them on a deeper level, help them explore with STEM sets, art kits, creative toys and toys that inspire their imaginations. Find our favorites in our gifts for 3-year-olds (including gifts for 3-year-old boys and gifts for 3-year-old girls), gifts for 4-year-olds (including gifts for 4-year-old boys and gifts for 4-year-old girls) and gifts for 5-year-olds (including gifts for 5-year-old boys and gifts for 5-year-old girls).

• Gifts for big kids: By these ages, they've developed their own interests. Help them dive deeper into the subjects that most interest them, from coding to art to cartooning to history and geography, with these gifts for 6-year-olds (including gifts for 6-year-old boys and gifts for 6-year-old girls), gifts for 7-year-olds (including gifts for 7-year-old boys and gifts for 7-year-old girls), gifts for 8-year-olds (including gifts for 8-year-old boys and gifts for 8-year-old girls), and gifts for 9-year-olds (including gifts for 9-year-old boys and gifts for 9-year-old girls). It's also fun to shop for some of our best-reviewed and top-selling stocking stuffers for kids.

• Gifts for tweens: Sure, once they get old enough for an iPad or gaming console you might be at a loss of what to get them. We have you covered with engaging picks for gifts for 10-year-olds (including gifts for 10-year-old boys and gifts for 10-year-old girls), gifts for 11-year-olds (including gifts for 11-year-old boys and gifts for 11-year-old girls), and gifts for 12-year-olds (including gifts for 12-year-old boys and gifts for 12-year-old girls), or see what's trending with boys or tween girls as a whole.

• Gifts for teens: We decode what's on the lists for this picky age group, from the hottest accessories to the most-wanted tech gifts, with gifts for 13-year-old boys, gifts for 13-year-old girls, gifts for 14-year-olds, gifts for 15-year-old boys, gifts for 15-year-old girls, gifts for 16-year-olds, gifts for teen girls, gifts for teen boys and even fun stocking stuffers for teens.

You Might Also Like

• 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile

• The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper