Sitting up and exploring

Gift ideas for 6–8 months

• 3 months–3 years$50–100

  Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym & Maracas

  Fisher-Price

  A floor gym with a repositionable toy arch and a detachable light-up piano, so the same toy can go from lying on the back to tummy time to sitting at the keys.

  At this stage: Switch to the sit-up setup in the instructions, with the keys facing up, so a baby who is sitting can press them and hear what happens. Stay beside them on the floor.

  Age note: the gym is labelled from birth, but the included maracas are marked 3 months and up, so we list this set from 3 months. Adult assembly required; the package contains small parts. Use on the floor with baby on their back, stay near and watch, and never use it for sleep or naps. Never carry it with baby in it. To prevent entanglement, never place the gym in a crib or playpen, and never add strings or ties to it.

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• 6 months+Under $25

  Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack and Baby's First Blocks Bundle

  Fisher-Price

  Five rings, a wobbly base, and a bucket of shapes give a caregiver several ways to play with one set.

  At this stage: Offer one ring at a time to grasp, or wobble the empty base together.

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• Newborn–2 yearsUnder $25

  Indestructibles: Baby Babble

  Workman Kids

  Pictures of familiar objects and routines give a caregiver easy things to name and talk about during a short read.

  At this stage: Name one pictured object, then pause and listen for any sound baby makes back.

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• Newborn–2 yearsUnder $25

  Indestructibles: Baby Peekaboo

  Workman Kids

  A thin picture book that gives a familiar peekaboo game a storytime setting. The short format is easy to revisit a page at a time.

  At this stage: Hold the book where baby can reach it and pause before the reveal.

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• Newborn–2 yearsUnder $25

  Indestructibles: Hello, Farm!

  Workman Kids

  An illustrated trip around a farm, with animals and scenes that invite a caregiver to point, name, and make sounds.

  At this stage: Point to one animal, make its sound, and wait before moving to another page.

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• Newborn+Under $25

  Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic

  Manhattan Toy

  Wooden rods make several easy-to-grab handles, and the beads slide when the toy tilts.

  At this stage: Offer it at the center of the play area and let baby turn it from one hand to the other.

  Care: surface wash only. Do not immerse it, and do not use sanitizers, steamers or microwaves.

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• 5 months+$25–50

  Skip Hop Explore & More Follow-Bee Baby Crawl Toy

  Skip Hop

  The bee can be played with as a rattle, and its cloud base has two ways to move during floor play.

  At this stage: Start with the bee rattle off the base, or use circle mode during supervised floor play.

  An adult should assemble it, install or replace the batteries, and secure the battery door with a screw. Before giving it to a child, remove the sensor-blocking sticker and all plastic or wire packaging fasteners.

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