10 Best Crib Toys that Will Keep Your Baby Happy in 2024
Selina Marie
Justina Fuller
Toys that can be considered “crib or crib-side toys” come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are designed to attach the crib itself, providing a wall of interactivity that can entertain and soothe your little one. Others are handheld products meant to be carried by your baby with them into their crib or stroller or even car seat. These toys are also varied and perform many tasks such as providing teething relief and other sensory stimulation. Whichever form they take, all of these toys have been specifically designed to help stimulate your child’s mind.
This is the best product on our list that is currently in stock:
Stimulates baby’s senses
Features 10 colorful bumps
Has 2 clear bumps with rattle balls inside
Features a variety of textures
Plays a variety of sounds
-
Tiny Love Take Along Mobile
-
Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
-
Classic Developmental Mobile
-
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother
-
Rattle 'n Rock Maracas
-
Hug and Tug Musical Bug
-
Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
-
Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
-
Tiny Love Meadow Days Sunny Stroll Stroller Arch
-
Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym
10 Best Crib Toys Reviewed
1. Tiny Love Take Along Mobile
Fits most pack n plays, strollers, travel cribs and car seats!
Plays 30 minutes of music..
Features geometric shapes.
Unisex.
Has 20 hours of battery life.
Volume may be too loud.
This adorable little mobile fits most on the go objects such as strollers and car seats so it is great for travel! It plays 30 minutes of soothing music to help soothe your baby to sleep.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
The mobile can be easily attached to anything so it makes it the perfect companion for baby travels. The soft music can help with relaxation as well as auditory stimulation while the different colors, as well as the rotating animals, can help with visual stimulation. This provides the basis for the development of focus and concentration.
Physical Development
With three lovable and colorful animal characters, babies will surely love the Take Along Mobile. It plays 30 minutes of soft and relaxing music and can be attached to any baby furniture like cribs, baby car seats, bassinets, and even strollers.
Materials
This accessory has 20 hours of battery life to keep your baby soothed for hours and shuts off automatically to save battery life. It has a unisex design featuring black and white geometric shapes and cute animals to provide visual stimulation for all babies.
2. Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball
Stimulates baby’s senses
Features 10 colorful bumps
Has 2 clear bumps with rattle balls inside
Features a variety of textures
Plays a variety of sounds
Water may get into the hard chambers during cleaning
With bulging colorful protrusions, the Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball is a great toy for stimulating babies’ senses. It has 10 colorful bumps and 2 clear bumps that contain rattle beads. It’s just right for the small hands of babies.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
Babies love anything that has to do with bright colors. They’re instantly attracted to it. This sensory ball is perfect for your infant as it comes in a variety of different colors and patterns that will keep your little one engaged. It also has different textures that your little one will be able to tell the difference of over time.
Physical Development
This ball is great for helping your little one develop their fine motor skills. It will also help your little one crawl when they’ve reached that age. It’s extremely great for your little one to work on their hand-eye coordination skills as well as they’ll begin to try and grasp and hold onto this ball when they need. They’ll also be able to enhance their gross motor skills as they’ll be able to work on their limbs and torso. It’s also a great tool for your little one to use and practice with when they're trying to sit on their own.
Materials
Made of up of multiple textures and patterns this ball is perfect and recommended for newborns up to a child the age of three. It comes with multiple sized bumps and softness that your little one will be able to explore and learn about the different kinds of texture that the world has to offer. It’s also a great tool to help strengthen your little one’s vision. It does have beads trapped inside which makes it able to come off a gentle rattling sound.
3. Classic Developmental Mobile
Features 3 colorful characters
Plays 20 mins of melodies and soft music
Features spiral patterns
Can be used as a nightlight.
May require a large area space
The arm attachment can be removed for crib side music as well as a source of night light for babies. This adorable little mobile is perfect for newborn babies and babies who are only a couple months old. This provides stimulation and brain development without overwhelming them.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
This mobile features 3 colorful and adorable animal characters. This mobile plays 20 minutes of soft music and melodies helping soothe your baby to sleep. This adorable baby toy can also be used as a nightlight which is very important during the early stages of life. This light provides a sense of security for your baby.
Physical Development
The high contrast spiral patterns on the mobile, as well as the colorful moving characters, can help with visual development. The songs can serve to stimulate auditory development while at the same time promoting rest and relaxation with the soothing melodies.
Materials
With 3 colorful and lovable characters dangling from its arm, the Classic Developmental Mobile is an excellent gift idea for babies. It plays about 20 minutes of nonstop melodies and soft music.
4. Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother
Plays 10 sounds and classical songs
Fades every 10 minutes
Promotes visual and auditory stimulation
Features a universal crib attachment
May be too loud
It can be attached to almost every other type of crib rail as long as it is not wider than 10.5 inches in diameter. The crib toy is excellent for visual and auditory stimulation as well as for helping babies get to sleep a lot faster.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
This product will provide assistance when it is time to put your little one to bed. It comes with a remote control so you won’t ever have to stop what you’re doing in order to control this device. It also fades in and out every 10 minutes helping ease your baby to sleep. It features a universal crib attachment designed to fit most cribs. This product provides your baby with soothing benefits as well as visual and auditory stimulation.
Physical Development
The device features relaxing light effects and about 10 ocean sounds and classical songs and melodies which gradually fade every 10 minutes making sure your baby will already be in slumberland.
Materials
Putting babies to sleep is now made a lot easier with the Sea Dreams Soother. This baby crib toy or attachment is a digital interpretation of an aquarium complete with lovable marine creatures like a sea turtle, an octopus, and a clown fish.
5. Rattle 'n Rock Maracas
Colorful beads
Soft pom-poms
Develops motors sills
Perfect fit to baby’s hand
Soft side stains easily
The hard can hurt a baby if they hit themselves with it
A great crib gift for your little one. Easily portable so you can take it with you and keep your baby happy as you travel, play in the park or visit friends.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
Bright colors are a baby’s best friend. They keep the baby interested, and these rattle ’n roll are no different. It offers an excellent way for your baby to learn how to make music.
Physical Development
Your baby will be spending a lot of their time in the crib. Having a fun toy to keep them entertained and busy comes in handy, so they don’t get bored and fussy. This toy has a soft pom-pom lie side and a hard side with beads inside. Once your baby shakes it, the toy is not too loud nor too soft, just enough to keep your baby interested. The soft pom-poms are great to chew on and will not hurt your baby’s gums as they play. This toy is also easy to clean. You can simply throw it into the washing machine and will be spotless in a few minutes.
Materials
The middle part is slim which makes them perfectly fit into your baby’s hand for easy grasp and great exercise. Their design is neat and durable so be sure that your baby will play with it for months and never get bored.
6. Hug and Tug Musical Bug
Features 2 clacker rings
Features a mirror
Effectively recoils to original shape
Plays 90 seconds of music
May lack in durability
This adorable little bug is a perfect little gift to throw into a care package for a baby shower. It is reasonably priced and compact making it that perfect little something extra. It features two clacker rings and a mirror to help your baby in the path to self-discovery and sensory stimulation.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
It plays 90 seconds of music and effectively recoils to its original shape so your baby and tug and pull over and over. This will help with the development of fine motor skills, as well as, the development of arm muscles.
Physical Development
Babies love to pull on things. This toy can help them strengthen their hand and arm muscles. The colorful body, clacker rings, melodies, and mirror can all provide sensory stimulation for babies.
Materials
If you have seen an accordion before, then you know that babies will also love the Hug and Tug Musical bug. The lovely green caterpillar comes with 2 clacker rings and a mirror for its ears and its body effectively recoils to its original shape and position after pulling it downwards. Recoiling into its original shape plays a piece of 90-second music which is also the approximate time for it to return to its normal resting state.
7. Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys
Can be cooled in the freezer or fridge
Different colors
Great size and design
Filled with safe gel to stay cooler for longer
Cannot be frozen
Cannot be boiled for sterilization
If you have started noticing signs that your baby is teething, this toy is the “go-to” toy to help them. This colorful toy looks like a set of three huge keys with a fancy key ring. The keys include two materials, soft and hard, and features different textures to help erupt new teeth and soothe your baby’s gums. Having taken care of the irritation that comes with teething, your baby will be able to enjoy their new growth stage.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
Great toys are those that your baby will easily reach out for, and this one falls perfectly into this category. Its bright colors attract your baby thus helps in stimulating their sense of sight. They also develop their sense of touch as they will keep reaching for their toy, playing with it and chewing on it!
Physical Development
Mostly used for teething, these keys are a great way for your little one to be able to reach their back teeth. It can also be refrigerated if needed so your infant has something nice and cold to chew on. Your little one will also be able to work on their muscles as they’ll have to hold on to the keys while they chew making them work on their overall strength. It’s perfect for your little one to soothe their gums and teeth with. It also has an easy to grip design.
Materials
This icy pack is filled with a safe gel-like substance that stays cool for longer compared to water filled teethers. This cooling effect adds to this pack’s effectiveness in soothing baby’s gums.
8. Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
Machine washable
Great for soothing
Great for sleep training
5 solid minutes of soft music
Various lullabies to choose from
Some customers said that the batteries may wear out after awhile
If you’re looking for a soft cute toy to help sleep train your little one when it’s time to transition them from the bassinet to the crib, this little seahorse is perfect for your family. Parents will be able to choose over 8 different lullabies that will help soothe your little one to sleep peacefully. Being able to have a safe space to sleep is incredibly important for infants and parents will be able to see those results with how active their child will be the next day. This little seahorse is the perfect sleep companion. It will even play a solid 5 minutes of a lullaby which even fades once it gets close to ending so that parents don’t have to worry about anything disturbing their precious bundle of joy.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
Music helps soothe your baby. When your baby hears that gentle lullaby it will bring a sense of calmness around them. Having a calm environment when it’s time for sleep is ideal and necessary for an infant when it comes to sleep training. This sea horse also lights up. Babies are often engaged and distracted when their within reach of something that can light up. What’s even more wonderful about this sea horse is it’s perfect for little hands to hold on tight too as well.
Physical Development
Your little one will be able to enhance their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as they’ll be able to squeeze this little seahorse and play their favorite tune or make him light up. It will also help teach them about cause and effect at an early age. It’s the perfect companion especially if you have an infant who is having a little trouble with sleeping.
Materials
100% safe for your little one to use as a night time companion, this little guy comes in two different colors that parents can choose from. The volume on this seahorse can also be adjusted to three different settings if needed. It does play whatever lullaby you choose of the 8 that accompanies it for 5 minutes. It’s also extremely soft and can be machine washed when necessary. Batteries may need to be replaced from time to time but overall this seahorse is extremely durable and parents won’t have to worry about any kind of damage to this friendly critter.
9. Tiny Love Meadow Days Sunny Stroll Stroller Arch
8 unique engaging activities
Articulated ball joints allow precise adjustment
Promotes cause and effect learning along with sensory stimulation
Universal clips compatible with most crib types and strollers
Can be overwhelming for babies who are easily overstimulated or with sensory issues
May not extend wide enough to fit on some larger crib brands
Versatility is the name of the game with this Tiny Love Meadow Days Sunny Stroll Arch. This playful toy utilized a universal grip clamp system that allows it to attach to a number of different infant rest areas, from strollers to cribs to car seats.
Read moreSensory Stimulation
This arch provides a plethora of cognitive stimulating toys to keep your little one happy and entertained while in their crib. This is a toy that your little one will swat and tug at over and over, building their hand-eye coordination and keeping them calm.
Physical Development
Several different activities await your baby’s curious fingers on this arch. The propeller is baby-powered and introduces early learning concepts of cause and effect. The rattling ball has a crinkly texture to provide your little one with simultaneous sensory and auditory stimulation. All of the dangling toys are designed to promote fine motor skill development and to withstand tugging and teething as your baby grows.
Materials
The arch is made of child-safe materials that wipe clean with ease to help combat inevitable spit up. It incorporates 8 different activities designed to engage and entertain your little one while also developing their budding cognitive growth. Flexible and articulated ball joints make up the length of this toy allowing it to bend and adjust to fit multiple different focal lengths as your infant’s vision skills develop.
10. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym
Can be attached to all crbis
A great device for tummy time
Touch and light activated
Helps with leg muscle development
Provides visual stimulation
Has a low durability rating
Designed to be played 2 ways, the Kick and Play Piano by Fisher-Price is something that you would want to present as a gift to babies.
Read moreSensory Stimulations
This great little toy will introduce your baby to the layout of piano keys, promoting a desire to learn music. It is versatile enough to be attached to all cribs. It is a great device for promoting tummy, which is very important for your baby’s early development. It is touch and light activated to keep your baby active and attentive. This will also help your baby’s leg muscle development as it requires interaction to be functional.
Physical Development
It’s a novel way to help strengthen core muscles as well as leg muscles of infants. The light show plus the sound produced by the toy piano can also help stimulate visual and auditory development.
Materials
It can be attached to the side of a baby crib so babies can kick on it or it can be laid down on the play area for babies to play with while they are on their tummies. Either way, the large and soft piano keys are responsive enough to baby’s kicks and touches while also activating light action.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Sensory Stimulation
These crib toys provide visual and auditory stimulation. The images portrayed by these toys offer your baby the ability to relax and easily drift off to sleep. With many of these objects being made of soft materials, they will provide your baby with a comforting friend to help them wind down for bed. These items are versatile in that they not only provide support for your baby’s sleeping habits but also in providing your baby with fun and exciting melodies providing them the building blocks for music exploration and enjoyment.
These help the brain establish connections with these experiences to form memories which can help babies feel a lot safer and more secure in their own little worlds. This also paves the way for familiarization with daily routines. They can be easily fixated to bright and moving objects. With growing control of their head movements, babies can stabilize their gaze, following or tracking a certain object of movement. Their fixation on visual stimulus helps them establish focus and concentration. It is, therefore, crucial to provide babies, especially those in the first six months of life, crib toys that move and light up. It may also be helpful to provide toys that provide stimulation of the other senses especially in terms of tactile and auditory stimulation.
Physical Development
Your baby also spends a good portion of their time lying on their backs or tummies. This kind of toys will promote and inspire your baby to be interactive and involved in their play. Helping to speed up not only brain development but also muscle development as they will be required to be in motion in order to keep some of these mobiles moving. When your baby has reached a certain level of muscle development, these toys will provide them with a support system (so to speak) to keep using and developing the muscle functions of your baby’s little body.
The skills learned from these various toys are crucial for your baby’s early development. These will provide your baby with fundamental building blocks to help support a solid foundation for healthy and happy functioning brain and muscle development. This leads to the support of a happy and healthy life built with a future meant for success.
Materials
You want what’s best for your baby and with all the options available in the world it can be challenging to find the right fit for your baby. You need to have peace of mind knowing your baby is being exposed only to the highest-quality materials and that the activities you provide your baby will offer them the most beneficial tools for their development and growth. The list we’ve compiled are some of the best quality and most highly rated toys for your baby’s crib. Whether you are looking for something good for travel or something to keep your baby company while you are doing household chores, you are sure to find the perfect addition to your baby’s little comfort zone. Your baby spends a lot of time in their crib and it is important they are provided with ample opportunity to stay stimulated and made to feel as though they have a constant companion.
Sensory Stimulation Physical Development Materials 
We understand the predicament of parents as well as other individuals who are searching for gifts or presents to give babies of their relatives and friends. That is why we have decided to do the tedious task for you. We have a team of dedicated researchers who studied each of the different crib toys available in the market today to determine their value in the baby’s optimum development.
The first six months of life are marked by rapid sensory and psychomotor development. Babies at this stage absorb, learn, and react to the different things around them using their senses. It is during this time that babies’ brains are developing at a very rapid pace, a lot faster than many parents realize. The brains of babies are like super-absorbent sponges that figuratively absorb everything the baby sees, smells, touches, tastes, and hears.
While it is true that the movement during the first month of life is purely reflexive, these are nonetheless crucial in the development of muscles. The very first sign that babies have already learned to develop a certain level of control of their muscles is when they are able to start supporting their own head. This is why mobiles, mirrors, and moving objects, as well as toys that make sounds that attach to the crib, will encourage babies to lift their heads, strengthening their neck muscles. Toys that can be placed on the crib surface also help babies develop their core muscles as most of them will lie on their tummies. Swatting and kicking movements will also strengthen their arm and leg muscles. So, giving them toys they can swat or bang or strike can definitely help in this aspect.
Other Factors to Consider
Adjustability
These adorable options are sure to provide your baby with an aesthetically pleasing and relaxing effect to help them drift off peacefully to sleep or keep them interactive. While on the go, it can be hard to provide your baby with the stimulation they need in order to ensure your day out together goes as smoothly as possible. There is a range of options on this list that is highly recommended for travel as they can be attached to many baby furniture pieces and travel products.
These items make a great gift idea or a perfect buddy for your baby. These will provide your baby with ample stimulation and a series of benefits helpful to your baby’s growth a development. These crib toys provide visual and auditory stimulation. The images portrayed by these toys offer your baby the ability to relax and easily drift off to sleep. With many of these objects being made of soft materials, they will provide your baby with a comforting friend to help them wind down for bed. These items are versatile in that they not only provide support for your baby’s sleeping habits but also in providing your baby with fun and exciting melodies providing them the building blocks for music exploration and enjoyment.
All of the options on this list are gender-neutral, perfect for baby girls or baby boys. The age range for many of these products is newborn and infant. There are, however, a few options that can be considered suitable for your toddler.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: How is it good for my baby to have toys in his/her crib?
You want your baby to feel comfortable in their crib. This kind of toys will help your baby unwind and play a little before they fall asleep. Imagine how good it feels when your baby wakes up only to find a little toy to play with.
q: Will crib toys ruin my baby’s sleep?
While crib toys are similar to a playground for small babies, they will also help your baby drift off to sleep after a little play, just as you would drift off to slumberland after watching a little TV or reading a book.
q: When is it safe for my baby to sleep with a stuffed crib toy?
The safest time for your baby to sleep with a stuffed crib toy is after his/her first birthday. At 12 months, your baby can easily roll over and move objects from their face.
q: What are the age recommendations for these toys?
While each toy will vary slightly depending on what stimulation and interactivity options it offers, most of the products on this list are recommended for children aged newborn up to 2 years old. They have been designed with safety features appropriate for infants such as sewn-on eyes, chew-resistant fabrics, and hidden battery compartments.
q: Are these toys parent-friendly?
Many of these products include both on/off switches and volume control for those times that hearing the same word repeated over and over again gets a little…grating. They also typically incorporate an auto-shut off function to conserve power. Since these toys are crafted in a way to be as safe for newborns as possible, removing or replacing the batteries can be a bit more difficult than other toys.
q: Do these products come with or require batteries?
Yes, some require batteries, either AA or AAA.
q: Are these products made of hazard-free materials?
Yes, the plastic in these products is BPA-free.
q: Are these toys easy to clean?
Most contain battery packs so they may not all be washable, however, all can be wiped down with soap, a rag, and warm water.
q: Will crib toys help my child become smarter?
While overall intelligence is a bit subjective, studies have shown that infants who are provided opportunities in engaging in auditory and visual stimulation from a young age tend to reach cognitive developmental milestones more easily. It can also build early fine- and gross-motor skill control as well as provide a foundation for language development.
Sources
- , Product Safety, Safety Guide
- , Warrenty Policy, Product Information
- , TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF WEBSITE USE , Product Information
- , PARTS STORE, Product Information
- , Testimonials - Baby on the move, Informative Guide
