The holiday season is a magical time of year, and for parents and gift-givers, finding the perfect toy for a baby is part of the fun. But why not give a gift that’s both enjoyable and supports little ones in learning and growing? Educational toys are a fantastic option—they keep babies entertained while also helping them hit key developmental milestones.

To make your shopping easier, we’ve rounded up ten incredible baby toys from trusted brands, tailored to nurture sensory skills, fine and gross motor development, and early problem-solving abilities. These tried-and-tested products are sure to bring smiles to little faces while also making every parent’s life just a little bit easier.

Here’s your guide to 10 educational baby toys to buy this Christmas.

1. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Chair

  • Brand: Fisher-Price
  • Recommended Age: 12+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This interactive chair grows with the baby—it’s packed with songs, phrases, and fun activities. The chair teaches colors, numbers, shapes, and more by adjusting content as the child gets older (thanks to its Smart Stages technology).
  • Learning Benefits: Encourages problem-solving and motor skills as babies press buttons or flip the book page, and vestibular balance as they sit and stand.

This top-rated toy doubles as a comfy space for sitting during storytime, making it a gift that blends fun with function.

2. Lovevery Play Gym

  • Brand: Lovevery
  • Recommended Age: 0–12 months
  • Why It’s Great: The Lovevery Play Gym stands out for its thoughtful design, including multiple areas for tactile exploration, sensory development, and problem-solving. It’s made from sustainable, baby-safe materials and provides activities that cater to every stage of a baby’s development.
  • Learning Benefits: Promotes visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills through activities like grabbing dangling toys or exploring textures.

This isn’t just a play gym—it’s a mini education zone right on the living room floor.

3. Melissa & Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter

  • Brand: Melissa & Doug
  • Recommended Age: 9+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This lightweight and travel-friendly toy features soft, padded sides and colorful fabric shapes that babies can match with the correct holes. It’s easy to pack, so little ones can learn and play anywhere.
  • Learning Benefits: Builds shape recognition, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills as babies sort and match the shapes.

Melissa & Doug is a brand synonymous with quality and educational fun, and this shape sorter is no exception.

4. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym

  • Brand: Fisher-Price
  • Recommended Age: 0–6 months
  • Why It’s Great: This baby favorite features a light-up piano that can be kicked or tapped, along with a soft playmat and dangling toys. It plays tunes and introduces colors, numbers, and animal sounds.
  • Learning Benefits: Encourages sensory exploration and gross motor development, especially during tummy time. Lights and music help create connections between actions and outcomes.

Parents love how the piano adjusts as the baby grows—this is a toy they’ll use for months to come.

5. LeapFrog My Pal Violet/Scout

  • Brand: LeapFrog
  • Recommended Age: 6+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This customizable plush puppy doesn’t just look adorable—it responds to your baby’s touch and comes programmed with personalized activities to teach counting, emotions, and colors. It can even be set to play customized lullabies!
  • Learning Benefits: Boosts language and cognitive development through interactive play.

Choose between Violet (purple) or Scout (green) for a heartwarming and engaging holiday surprise.

6. Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether

  • Brand: Manhattan Toy
  • Recommended Age: 0–12 months
  • Why It’s Great: This colorful and dynamic rattle is made for tiny hands! With soft, pliable loops to grab and chew on, the Winkel is a great combination teether and sensory toy.
  • Learning Benefits: Encourages grasping and reaching, improving fine motor skills while offering much-needed teething relief.

This lightweight, BPA-free toy has been a go-to for years because of its simple yet brilliant design.

7. Skip Hop Explore & More Follow-Me Bee

  • Brand: Skip Hop
  • Recommended Age: 5+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This adorable rolling bee toy is designed to encourage crawling and walking by moving in multiple directions. It lights up, plays music, and pauses to allow babies to catch up and continue the chase.
  • Learning Benefits: Promotes gross motor development, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination.

It’s a perfect pick for babies who are starting to crawl or need a little encouragement to get moving!

8. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker

  • Brand: VTech
  • Recommended Age: 9+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This walker doubles as an interactive learning station with buttons, spinning gears, and colorful panels that light up and play music. The removable activity panel keeps babies entertained even when detached from the walker.
  • Learning Benefits: Supports gross motor development as babies practice pushing and walking, while also engaging their fine motor skills with small manipulative features.

It’s a trusted favorite for helping babies gain confidence as they transition to walking.

9. Battat B. Toys Wooden Activity Cube

  • Brand: Battat
  • Recommended Age: 12+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This sturdy and visually appealing wooden cube has five different activity panels, including gear spinners, shape sorting, and bead mazes. It’s big on engagement and built to last.
  • Learning Benefits: Promotes problem-solving, fine motor development, and hand-eye coordination as babies explore each interactive side.

Its classic design and high-quality materials make it an investment worth gifting.

10. Hape Pound & Tap Bench with Xylophone

  • Brand: Hape
  • Recommended Age: 12+ months
  • Why It’s Great: This beautifully crafted wooden toy encourages babies to hammer colorful balls through holes and play the xylophone underneath. The xylophone can also be removed for standalone musical fun.
  • Learning Benefits: Enhances hand strength, fine motor skills, and an early appreciation for music.

Hape toys are known for their eco-friendly craftsmanship, adding even more value to this beautiful gift.

These educational toys combine purposeful play with important milestones. When selecting a toy, prioritize safety, check age recommendations, and think about something the baby can grow into. Whether you’re buying for your own little one or a family member’s baby, you’ll be sure to bring smiles and excitement on Christmas morning.