12 Amazing Fine Motor Toys For Babies (Ages 0 to 2 Years)
If you’re like most parents, you’re always looking for the best toys to keep your baby entertained and stimulated. And if you’re like me, you want motor skills development toys for infants to help them develop their fine motor skills early on. So I’ve decided to put together a list of the best fine motor skills toys for 6 month old for a couple of reasons.
First, a few of these toys are therapists recommended by my friends at NAPA Center who I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating over the years through my nonprofit, The LENN Foundation. Where we help kids with cerebral palsy receive grants for intensive therapies.
Second, having preemie twin girls myself that were in the NICU, I understand the importance of early development for kids of all abilities. The sooner, the better! So what better time to start than now?
Let’s get to it!
Refresher – What Are Fine Motor Skills?
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this post…
You may be wondering, what are fine motor skills?
A motor skill is simply an action using your muscles. Fine motor skills are the movements in your smaller muscles like the hands, wrists, fingers, toes, and tongue.
Babies often rely on their fine motor functions for everyday activities like eating and playing with toys.
Speaking of playing with toys, now let’s get into the meat and potatoes…
Here are my top picks for the 12 best fine motor toys for babies.
Ball Drop Tower Activity
Targeted skills: Fine motor development
Action Exercise: Reach for objects to enhance grasping skills.
Why It’s So Good
Known as one of the best newborn development toys, the Ball Drop Tower is a playful activity that offers both visual and tactile stimulation.
This is one of the best toys that inspire hands-on learning with:
- Vibrant colors
- Rattling sounds
- Movement
Have your child drop the ball at the top of the tower to watch it rattle and roll.
Final Opinion
An engaging toy to promote independent play, sensory development, fine motor skills, and early learning.
This toy is therapist-approved and recommended by my friends at NAPA Center.
Elite Bike Walking Ride On Toy
Targeted Skills: Gross motor development
Action Exercise: Use it as a push toy for support to inspire independent walking.
Why It’s So Good
If you need an engaging toy to ease your baby into learning how to walk or how to ride a bike, this supportive chair is designed to do just that.
- Ride it
- Push it
- Walk it
This award-winning innovative bike helps you build strength to spur motor functions into action.
Final Opinion
A supportive toy to help a baby walk or eventually learn how to ride a bike with confidence.
Brain Dipl Baby Toy
Targeted Skills: Fine motor development
Action Exercise: Push the silicone bubbles in and out to strengthen the hand, wrist, and finger muscles.
Why It’s So Good
This toy holds a little one’s attention (even adults) with the bright-colored silicone bubbles.
You can’t help but keep staring at it!
Most importantly, your fine motor skills are put into action as you poke, pop, or push the colorful bubbles.
Final Opinion
An engaging sensory toy to encourage fine motor play for babies and toddlers.
Fat Brain pipSquigz
Targeted Skills: Sensory integration
Action Exercise: Suction the pipSquigz on a smooth surface (like a high chair or stroller) to encourage sensory exploration.
Why It’s So Good
Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain’s pathways, which leads to the child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks.
Hence, the importance of sensory integration early on for infants and toddlers. That’s precisely what this toy, pipSquigz, is all about.
Stick it to smooth surfaces, rattle it, or push and suction the shapes together.
Final Opinion
A fun sensory tool to encourage tactile exploration and fine motor development.
This toy is therapist-approved and recommended by my friend, Molly, who is a pediatric physical therapist with Kids PT By The Sea.
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
Targeted Skills: Speech enhancement
Action Exercise: Touch the words on the page to play cool sound effects and fun facts for early learning.
Why It’s So Good
The LeapFrog Words Book is an educational activity targeting vocabulary through 100 new words. What’s even better is it promotes early communication.
Categories include animals, food, opposites, colors, cars, clothes, and body parts.
Final Opinion
For early learners to develop speech skills and word recognition. It’s also a great tool to use during speech therapy to improve oral motor skills.
Learning Resource Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog
Targeted Skills: Fine motor development, Early math
Action Exercise: Grasp and move the chunky, peg-shaped ‘quills’ to put in the holes on the adorable hedgehog’s back.
Why It’s So Good
Spike, the hedgehog, motivates little fingers to move.
Learn to play interactive games like:
- Sorting
- Counting
- Color recognition
The plastic covering allows you to easily wipe away the germs.
Final Opinion
A hyper-focused fine motor activity to inspire creative learning.
Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether
Targeted Skills: Fine motor development, Color recognition
Action Exercise: Practice “pointing skills” by pointing to each color on the rattle while saying it out loud.
Why It’s So Good
This classic wooden rattle and teether are two engaging activities all in one!
It encourages fine motor development to clutch, hold, and squeeze the rattle. No need to worry if your sweet pea puts it in their mouth because it’s made out of non-toxic paint.
More importantly, learn basic colors like blue, yellow, red, orange, and green.
Final Opinion
An award-winning grasping activity to develop a baby’s fine motor skills while providing peace of mind during the “teething phase”.
Soft Building Blocks
Targeted Skills: Visual and sensory input
Action Exercise: Use the blocks during tummy time to boost grasping skills while strengthening the back and neck muscles.
Why It’s So Good
Building blocks encourage a baby to clasp and hold to develop fine motor functions.
A total of 6 colorful blocks provide the ultimate sensory experience. Explore soft textured patterns while learning:
- Colors
- Letters
- Animal pictures
- Various textures
Final Opinion
A helpful sensory-seeking tool for babies to enhance their visual skills.
Wonder Wheel Activity
Targeted Skills: Auditory and Visual development
Action Exercise: Suction the toy onto a table, high chair, or stroller to allow your babe to discover the various colors and textures.
Why It’s So Good
This toy immediately captures your attention with the textured spinning wheel!
It encourages babies to explore with their fingers while offering tactile stimulation.
There is a suction cup on the bottom for you to place on multiple flat surfaces like a high chair or tabletop.
Final Opinion
An engaging toy to inspire tactile exploration.
This toy is therapist-approved and recommended by my friends at NAPA Center.
Wooden Shape Stack and Sort Geometric Board Blocks
Targeted Skills: Fine motor development
Action Exercise: Pair the geometric shapes with the correct column to enhance color recognition and early math skills.
Why It’s So Good
Get busy learning while interacting with these vibrant wooden shapes.
Shape matching improves hand-eye coordination and develops logical thinking skills.
No need to worry if your kiddo brings the toy to their mouth! It’s made of safe non-toxic water-based paint.
Final Opinion
A wonderful beginner tool for babies and toddlers who need to learn colors and shapes.
Montessori Busy Board with ABC’s
Targeted Skills: How to dress oneself
Action Exercise: Sing the ABCs while pointing to the letters.
Why It’s So Good
This 2-in-1 sensory board helps you learn how to dress as well as your ABCs.
One side teaches you how to dress and undress with a buckle, zipper, buttons, lace, velcro, and a snap. The other side shows you the letters of the alphabet A through Z.
Plus, the soft-felted wool material creates a soothing sensory experience.
Final Opinion
A portable sensory board that’s entertaining and educational while teaching essential dressing skills. Easy to take with you on car rides or restaurants!
To Wrap It Up
So there you have it! My top 12 picks for the best fine motor toys for babies.
I hope this list helps stimulate your little one’s development and provides some fun entertainment at the same time.
Until the next post, I’m sending you all the positive parent vibes!
With Gratitude,
Linds
What other fine motor toys for babies do you love? Let me know in the comments below.
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About The Author
Linds is the proud mom of two little miracles, Mono Mono twin girls, and one AMAZING older brother! She is the founder and content creator of Mono Mono Twins, Intensive Therapy for Kids, and Co-Founder of The LENN Foundation, a 510c3 that helps children with cerebral palsy receive grants for intensive therapies to thrive. ♥
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. I only recommend deals or items I love because you might like them too! With my affiliate relationships, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting Mono Mono Twins!
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