The Everymom Play Hub:
How to Play With Baby

Navigating play with babies and toddlers can be confusing for new parents. Play helps babies reach physical milestones, fosters parent-child connection, and builds social skills, like empathy. That’s why we’ve partnered with Melissa & Doug to give you the guidance you want and need to establish a good play routine with your little ones. If you’re stuck on how to play, keep scrolling for play tips and inspiration, our favorite first toys, and much more, starting from the newborn stage up to age 2.

together with

Play with Confidence

0-3 Months
4-6 Months
7-9 Months
10-12 Months
13-15 Months
16-18 Months
19-21 Months
22-24 Months

0-3 Months

best first toys for baby

The Best First Toys to Introduce Playtime for Your Baby

The main goal in the first few months is to foster connection with your child, so here's our list of first toys that can help you introduce playtime.

WRITTEN BY STEPH ALLEVA CORNELL
what to do during wake windows
Baby
Not Sure What To Do During Wake Windows? 5 Fun Ideas to Bond With Baby
why reading to babies is important
Baby
Reading to Babies Is About More Than Just Literacy—Here’s Why
woman with newborn baby
Baby
10 Surprising Ways to Actually Enjoy the Newborn Stage
everymom tip
In case no one has told you this yet, it's totally OK if playing with your newborn feels kind of unnatural. It's important to remember that playtime will look different for every parent and child.
play

3 Newborn Play Ideas I Learned at Pediatric Physical Therapy

Getting your newborn to move their bodies in different ways is essential to their long term growth and development–and something you can easily do with them at home! Here are a few physical therapist approved exercises that you can seamlessly incorporate into your everyday playtime routine.

4-6 Months

building core strength for baby

Babies Need Core Strength: These Toys Can Help Them Build It

The development of core strength starts in infancy, so it’s vital to begin encouraging your baby to move in ways that will help develop core strength.

WRITTEN BY MARY NOREEN CHENG
bonding with baby through play
Baby
6 Easy Ways to Bond With Your Baby Through Play
fine motor skills
Ages & Stages
5 Easy Ways to Help Your Little One Develop Their Fine Motor Skills
baby during tummy time
Baby
4 Ways to Make Tummy Time Easier on Your Baby (And You!)
everymom tip
You can’t underestimate how exciting ordinary things can be to a baby. The simplest change to their day-to-day, like a new object, or even an old object moved or used in a new way, is a source of novelty.
play

3 Things to Look For When Choosing Baby Toys

While we obviously want our babies to have fun with their toys, it’s also important to consider how the toys we choose can support their overall development. From looking for toys with certain textures to toys with multiple purposes, here are some of the key things to look for that will lead to a productive playtime!

7-9 Months

baby play date ideas

Baby’s First Playdate: 5 Tips to Encourage Your Child’s First Social Skills

Playdates provide opportunities for your child to begin developing social skills, as well as observations and understanding the awareness of others.

WRITTEN BY CHERYL CHRETIEN
crawling baby
Kids Health
Crawling Is No Longer a CDC Milestone: Here’s Why It’s Still Important
how to teach turn taking
Ages & Stages
Sharing Is Tough: Here’s How to Model Taking Turns
how much should you play with your baby
Baby
How Much Time Should You Spend Playing With Your Child Per Day? The Answer May Surprise You
expert tip
Children learn about their world through play. They not only learn social skills or understand the relationships that exist around them (including the most important relationship with their caregiver), but they also learn how things work.
Rachel Tomlinson, Registered Psychologist
play

Play Tips: Melissa & Doug's Wooden Surprise Gift Box

Dr. Jenny Radesky shares how play can help develop empathy, sharing, and reciprocity.

10-12 Months

Hands Down, These Are the Best Toys for Your Little One’s Development

With every manufacturer telling you, “This toy will make your kid smarter!” how do you know what is truly beneficial? And is “making your kid smarter” the goal you’re actually supposed to strive for?

WRITTEN BY STEPH ALLEVA CORNELL
birthday gifts for one year olds
Birthday Gifting
The 30 Best Birthday Gifts for 1-Year-Olds in 2025
it's ok for baby to play alone
Toddler
Stop the Mom Guilt—It’s OK for Your Child to Play Alone
play for language development
Ages & Stages
How to Foster Early Language Skills Through Play
expert tip
Play is one of the things that can build all the skills and tools necessary for kids to grow into successful and sufficient adults.
Megan Carolan, Director of Policy Research at the Institute for Child Success
play

Play Tips: Melissa & Doug's Rollables Ocean Slide

Using characters in play can help role play new experiences, develop language, and social referencing. Dr. Jenny Radesky explains how play and connection work together.

13-15 Months

The Cutest Push Toys for Kids’ Play

Push toys can be fun for babies who are ready to stand and move—though baby still needs plenty of practice without them to work on their independent walking skills.

WRITTEN BY OJUS PATEL
scheduling playdates
Parenting
Tips for Scheduling Playdates as a New Mom
toys for 1 year olds
Toys & Books
The Best Toys for 1 Year Olds
toddler being silly
Ages & Stages
How to Safely Encourage Toddler Independence When Your Child Is a Daredevil
expert tip
Help your child with their exploratory learning by creating or setting up an environment for them to freely explore and learn.
Bea Moise, M.S., BCCS.
play

Play Tips: Melissa & Doug's Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart

Problem-solving skills, independence, imaginative thinking, and building a sense of self are just a few of the benefits of playing with this shape sorter.

16-18 Months

play ideas for problem solving skills

5 Easy Play Ideas That Teach Key Problem-Solving Skills

Once they’re mobile, children begin exploring the world for the first time on their own and constantly learn new skills—like problem-solving—along the way.

WRITTEN BY KATHY SISSON
pretend play
Ages & Stages
Do You Have a Mini Me? Here Are 10 Toys to Encourage Pretend Play
melissa & doug blocks on the floor
Toys & Books
6 Unexpected Ways to Play With Toys You Already Have
socializing my toddler
Behavior & Discipline
My Kid Doesn’t Go to Daycare—This Is How We Helped Socialize Him
everymom tip
When it comes to puzzle-based play, giving verbal hints while still giving your child the space to problem solve on their own gives them independence and helps develop their confidence.
play

Play Tips: Melissa & Doug's GO Tots Barnyard Tumble

The GO Tots Barnyard Tumble can help children practice figure play and how to take another character’s point of view, helping them to learn that not everyone sees the world exactly the same as they do.

19-21 Months

building empathy with play

How Play Can Help Toddlers Learn About Emotions and Build Empathy

The soft skills they are learning through every one of their interactions will help them build their emotional intelligence and capacity for empathy down the line.

WRITTEN BY JACLYN VORAN
best toys for traveling with kids
Family Travel
The Best Toys for Traveling With Kids
toddler independent play
Parenting
I’m Not Ignoring My Kid, It’s Called ‘Independent Play’
toddler play ideas
Toddler
Out of Play Ideas? 20 Creative Toddler Playtime Prompts for Tired Parents
everymom tip
Kids having the opportunity to self entertain and soothe creates a strong sense of self as they grow their social-emotional intelligence.
play

Parenting Hack: Creative Play Prompts When You’re Too Tired to Play

Once your little one is in the walking and talking stage, it can be a challenge to keep playtime engaging. Easily done with toys you already have at home, here are a couple of creative ways to spice up their everyday activities that will keep them occupied and excited!

22-24 Months

second birthday gifts

The Best Birthday Gifts for 2 Year Olds

At their second birthday party, they’ll be more skilled at opening presents and maybe even say a distinguishable “thank you!”

WRITTEN BY KATHY SISSON
child led play
Toddler
What Is Child-Led Play and Why Is It So Important?
little boy playing with dolls
Personal Story
My Son Loves to Play with Dolls—And I Couldn’t Be Happier
mom and two toddler boys
Personal Story
How Making Time to Play Is Reconnecting Me with My Inner Child
everymom tip
Turn on some tunes and have a dance party with your kids—this happens to be a great way to energize yourself, too!
play

The Baby Stage Is Almost Behind You: 3 Tips For Building Big Kid Play Skills

As your little ones start to get older, incorporating skills such as sharing, communicating, and patience into their everyday activities is the perfect way to make the most out of playtime.