Best Baby Toy Gifts for the Holidays

Owls might be everywhere this year, but this adorable plaything is the biggest hoot for babies. It's full of surprises, including a mirrored wing and teether feet.

3 months+; $18; skiphop.com

Mesmerize your baby on the go with a light spin of this vibrant toy that can attaches to lots of gear, including a stroller or carrier.

0 months+; $10; earlyears.com

The classic plaything goes green with easy-to-grasp (and place) cups made from 100-percent recycled, nontoxic plastic milk containers.

6 months+; $14; greentoys.com

Shake, shake, shake this organic-cotton caterpillar rattle. Its knit-stitched body is just the right size for little hands.

0 months+; $20; zubels.com

Your baby can bang on this light-up drum to the music. Best part? It introduces basic colors and numbers in both English and Spanish.

6-36 months; $20; leapfrog.com

Bamboo is all the rage, and these simple, yet surprisingly soft and beautiful, stuffed animals are great examples of why it's the eco-friendly material du jour.

0 months+; $18 each; manhattantoy.com

Colorful wooden tabs pop in and out of this wooden grasping toy to pleasantly surprise your child.

6 months+; $10; plantoys.com

An unconventional baby toy, this Little Red Riding Hood-inspired plush from France has unique charm. Zip it open to reveal Red herself and four other activity playthings.

6 months+; $50; amazon.com

We put this lovey at eye level during tummy time and watched as its soft music and swaying head totally enticed our baby toy tester.

3 months+; $19; marymeyer.com

Kids love the lights and sounds of this swirling racetrack. And you'll love that it keeps their attention for more than 10 minutes at a time.

6 months+; $30; fisher-price.com

Prop this soft, unbreakable mirror in front of your baby to get her to crawl toward her reflection. Then detach it from its base to use in a crib or car seat.

0 months+; $25; learningcurve.com

Lights, music, textured fabrics, attachable playthings -- this mat has everything you need to stimulate your infant, including the genius high-contrast pattern that will catch his eye from the very start.

0-12 months; $60; brightstarts.com

With three modes of play, this toy will grow with your baby: First, position the arch above her head to get her to reach; fold it flat for tummy time; then place it at her feet for kicking.

0 months+; $30; playskool.com

The bouncer soothes your child with gentle vibrations and interactive lights and sounds overhead. Its stylish design and MP3-adaptable speakers appeal to parents.

0-6 months; $200; mamasandpapas.com

Clip these bright animals to your diaper bag or car seat, and give them a tug. Your baby will like watching and feeling them shake.

0 months+; $6; infantino.com

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