The 9 Best Toys for 10-Month-Olds of 2023

As your little one approaches their first birthday, there’s likely lots of activity and progress towards new milestones. Babies at 10 months old may begin standing, cruising, stacking items, and showing more interest in feeding themselves. Look for age-appropriate toys that can aid in the development and are sure to be fun for your growing baby.

“10-month-old infants are curious and eager to play,” occupational therapist Lauren Quinn, OTD, OTR/L, CN, tells Verywell Family, so they’re going to find interest in many different toys.

Make toy safety your top priority, as infants love putting things in their mouths. When in doubt, think "large," meaning all toys and parts should be larger than your child's mouth to prevent the risk of choking. We carefully considered age recommendations, developmental milestones, toy safety, material, ease of use, and value when reviewing products.

Our Top Picks

Baby GUND Flappy The Elephant Stuffed Animal at Amazon

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The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys at Amazon

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Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner at Amazon

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Baby Einstein Clever Composer Tune Table at Walmart

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VTech Busy Learners Activity Cube at Amazon

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Manhattan Toy Snuggle Pod Bug First Baby Doll at Amazon

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Fat Brain Toys InnyBin at Amazon

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Playskool Elefun Busy Ball Popper at Amazon

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Melissa & Doug Natural Play Book Tower at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected
What to Look For
Why Trust Verywell Family

Nordstrom

Pros

Interactive
Soft material
Doubles as nursery decor

Cons

Only two songs

Flappy is an adorable singing elephant that tops our list because he interacts with children by pushing a button on his feet. Press one foot to sing songs or press the other to play a game of peek-a-boo with Flappy, who hides behind his large ears for additional fun. In addition to Flappy, the company offers several other friends, like Kissy (a penguin) and Flora (a bunny).

Price at time of publication: $45

Amazon

Pros

Affordable
Numbers on bottom of cups
Easy to clean

Cons

May be too small in size for some
Cannot hold any liquid (holes in bottom of cups)

It’s amazing how such a simple toy can occupy so much time. Safe for babies 6 months old and up, these eight brightly colored cups can be fun for stacking, pouring, and early number and color recognition. Each cup has different variations of holes in the bottom, so your bathing beauty will love filling them up and watching the water trickle out of the bottom. Easy to keep clean, stacking cups are versatile toys that can be used in and out of the bath.

Price at time of publication: $7

Amazon

Pros

Teaches cause and effect
20+ songs
Lights up when spinning

Cons

One language option

Teach your kiddo cause and effect with the Bright Starts Press & Glow Spinner. When babies push the top of the toy, the inside spins to reveal a colorful light show and fun songs to dance along to. Recommended for infants 6 months and up, this toy requires 3 AA batteries (not included).

Price at time of publication: $15

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

No buttons
Hundreds of melodies and sounds
Removable table legs

Cons

Legs are lightweight

The Baby Einstein Clever Composer Tune Table is the definition of a one-man band (almost). This baby activity table features zero buttons and requires a simple touch or tap of the finger to play the piano and test different instruments. Plus, the legs are removable, so children can play with this table while sitting or standing.

Price at time of publication: $50

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Five sides of play
Adjustable volume

Cons

Batteries required

Recommended for kids from 6 months to 3 years old, this interactive cube has five sides of play to encourage discovery and exploration. With four light-up buttons, the activity cube will introduce animal names, sounds, and shapes to your child.

Price at time of publication: $20

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Soft material
Durable

Cons

Surface washable only

Babies will love to snuggle and cuddle their first doll, while toddlers will enjoy tucking in, toting along, and nurturing their baby. These super cute dolls are incredibly soft and made with ultra-plush fabric. Each one comes with a satin-lined sleeping pod so your kiddo can tuck in their baby before bedtime. It’s a thoughtful gift for a new or soon-to-be older sibling, too.

Price at time of publication: $24

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Encourages fine motor skills
Blocks store inside cube

Cons

Blocks are hard, not squishy

Great for ages 6 months and up, growing babies will love exploring the fun textures of the six chunky blocks that are sized just right for little hands. Children are challenged to push the different shapes through the elastic bands of the cube, encouraging fine motor skills, tactile exploration, and experimentation.

Price at time of publication: $26

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Elephant's trunk is adjustable
Plays music and sounds
Promotes physical activity

Cons

Only four balls included
Volume may be too loud for some

This cute elephant is a vibrant and interactive toy that keeps your little one moving, whether scooting, crawling, or walking. Safe for babies 9 months old and up, the elephant stores four colorful plastic balls in its body.

Simply turn the toy on for the balls to fly out of the elephant’s trunk. It’s easy to spin the trunk's direction to point to where the balls fly. As the balls pop into the air, fun music and sound effects complete the experience.

Price at time of publication: $39

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

10 books included
Books contained inside box with handle

Cons

Books can be hard to put back in box
Pages of books are not glossy

Hands-on learning comes to life with a sweet tower of books. Outfitted with ten chunky books, each one features favorite classic nursery rhymes. Perfectly sized for little fingers, your kiddo will love reading the rhymes together. When storytime is done, use the books like building blocks and put them in and out of their convenient and portable cardboard carrying case.

Price at time of publication: $16

How We Selected the Best Toys for 10-Month-Olds

We chose the best toys for 10-month-olds by studying the design and features of more than 20 toys on the market. We also researched reviews from customers and competitors while monitoring shopping trends to bring you the best and most up-to-date offers on toys for 10-month-olds. We considered toy safety, design, age recommendations, material, developmental milestones, and value when reviewing products.

Additionally, we spoke with occupational therapist Lauren Quinn, OTD, OTR/L, CN, to find out what to look for in toys for 10-month-olds.

What to Look for When Shopping for Toys for 10-Month-Olds

Interests

At this age, babies are getting closer to the transition into toddlerhood, so they behave more and more with curiosity every day. Given their curious nature, look for toys that allow them to explore and try different ways to play. Also, since they’re getting closer to being more independent, toys that mimic real-life activities will be a big hit and they provide a learning opportunity.

It’s especially good to look for toys that allow caregivers to engage and interact with their baby as they play with them as “demonstration of the activity by a parent or caregiver will likely produce imitation and learning of new skills,” according to Quinn.

Milestones

While they’re getting closer to the finish line of the first year and the many, many milestones that come with it (they start to slow down after 12 months), there are still a few more major developments that they’re either working towards or practicing to master at 10 months. Toys that help support their development are always a good idea. Here are a few ideas:

Quinn says that “10-month-old play activities can include container play, stacking of objects, or sorting,” making The First Years Stack Up Cups are great for all of these activities.
Toddlers are notoriously curious, so it’s not surprising that around 10 months old, babies are showing more curiosity and exploring how things work. The Hape Country Critters Wooden Activity Cube is an excellent toy for this stage because there are many different activities and reactions to explore and study.

Entertainment

One of the best things about this age is how excited babies are, and the sweet giggles that come when they’re adequately entertained, so obviously the goal is to find a toy that will spark this kind of reaction. Thankfully, they’re pretty easy to entertain, especially when you play into their natural desire to learn and explore.

For example, Quinn says, “Peek-a-boo is [...] an interactive game used to promote the infant’s learning of object permanence, in other words, the understanding that if a person or object is out of sight, it can still exist,” so toys that allow for similar learning will certainly be a hit.

Also, sensory play is still really important at this age and it will help keep them engaged, so be on the hunt for toys with different textures and shapes that are safe for babies to touch and chew (since everything goes into their mouth at this age).

Why Trust Verywell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, a 7-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter. Her favorite toys for younger kids are simple toys that have longevity and might be enjoyed by older siblings too. Stacking toys and book sets are always big favorites.

Additional reporting by Ashley Ziegler.

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 1 and a 4-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching and using infant carriers, strollers, and travel systems. Key considerations she focused on when selecting these products include personal experience, safety features, ease of use, and user reviews.

More Toys and Gifts for Kids

When it comes to toys and gifts for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top gift and toy picks for every age and stage here: