Toys to Enhance Your Baby’s Mobility

For babies who are learning to sit, look for toys that motivate them to reach out or up in order to play, says Holly Wills Charlton, an occupational therapist at the Center for Developing Kids in Pasadena, Calif. This promotes trunk (aka torso) control and postural stability. Items that are easy to grasp, like these stacking rings from Wonderworld, are particularly helpful.

To buy: Wonderworld, $14

These are a great investment because they grow with your child and help teach cause and effect and language, says Meghan Corridan, a pediatric occupational therapist in New York City. "When they are beginning to just sit up, you can support them between your legs or put them in a Bumbo chair. As they become more independent in their movements, they may use this to pull themselves up to play with the toys and begin to stand with support from the toy." Try this one by B. Zany Zoo.

To buy: B. Zany Zoo, $77

Look for tactile, water or gel mats that have floating visual items, says Wills Charlton. "These can be motivating to reach down and touch. When reaching down and touching, babies practice stability while remaining mobile.

To buy: Manhattan Toy, $16

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Leapfrog's Fridge Phonics magnetic alphabet is great even for kids who are still far from reading. These are great for encouraging a child to grab and reach for objects," Corridan says. "As they get older and stand more on their own, you may have them reach for the magnets in a container and place them in the barn (or whichever one you choose). This can work on standing, balance, and bending up and down, which are all required for walking."

To buy: WalMart, $16

Look for balls in bright colors that make some sort of noise, like this Jingle Ball, says Wills Charlton. Since this is engaging to babies, it can help promote their desire to crawl.

To buy: MamasLike, $9

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Pull toys, like this one, promote mobility as well as relationships. "A child could play with the pull toy while sitting up. As they become crawlers, a parent or a sibling can pull the toy and they can crawl after it," says Corridan. "I love any toy that can encourage play at the same time. New walkers can practice walking while pulling the toy."

To buy: Friendly Toys, $34

Though it's marketed for older kids, inflatable horses are also great for babies to use and sit on while parents support their torso. "This helps in developing balance, postural adjustments and trunk control," says Wills Charlton.

To buy: Rody Toy, $53

"[Wooden blocks] encourage both standing and sitting balance. If your child is just beginning to sit on their own, you can have the blocks all around them and encourage [the child] to reach for them and put them in a container or bucket," says Corridan. "If your child is pulling themselves up to a standing, you can place the blocks on the floor and have [the child] reach for them and put them on a table surface."

To buy: Oompa, $36

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Push toys, like this one from Melissa & Doug, are great for when babies start to try and stand up, says Wills Charlton. Look for one that has a handle that your baby can hold while standing, and make sure you also hold onto the toy to prevent it from moving.

To buy: Diapers.com, $47