Babies can be highly energetic when they’re up from their sleep. They look for things to play with, and their curiosity makes them grab whatever they can get their hands on. Getting the best baby musical toys for your little one ensures they are safely entertained as they engage in fun musical activities. Babies generally find flashy toys that emit sounds quite exciting. They are intrigued by the bright colors and music from the toy, which could entertain them for hours on end. In this post, we bring you a list of some fun musical toys your munchkin can groove to.
How Can Musical Toys Help Babies?
Music can make your little one smarter and happier. Whether your baby is listening to or playing music, their brain releases happy hormones that cause healthy changes in the brain. When your young one is exposed to music, it helps improve their mood, boosts concentration, and enhances productivity. It also helps improve memory and cognitive skills(1). Musical toys help stimulate a baby’s senses. Playing with them helps strengthen arm muscles and focus on coordination, enhancing gross motor skills. Musical toys like trumpets and whistles require control over the tongue and mouth. Such toys help the child speak and eat. Holding rattles or beaters of xylophones and drums to make sound promotes grip and hand-eye coordination, developing fine motor skills.
When Can A Baby Start Playing With Musical Toys?
During the first few months, your baby tries to soak up the information around them. Slowly, they start observing things and try to move their hands and legs. It is when they try to start playing with rattle toys. The smooth rattle sound can improve hand-eye coordination when they shake it. They also try to play with other musical toys like the drums or xylophone. When your baby can sit and play, their focus moves to other musical toys like rhyme books, musical activity toys, and more.
13 Best Musical Baby Toys
1. Best For Grasp-Strengthening: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy
This Baby Einstein musical radio plays seven different melodies. The tiny radio sparkles with different lights. It comes with a caterpillar-shaped handle that helps to strengthen grasp and teething. It is suitable for babies aged up to three years. Check out the review of this product on YouTube to know why it is one of the best out there. Pros
Plays full melodies Small and easy to hold for toddlers Durable enough to withstand harsh handling Highly entertaining for kids. Keeps them occupied for long
Cons
Lights can be too dim to notice when playing under bright lights or outdoor Paint tends to fade over time
2. Best For Developing Motor Skills: VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker
Seeing babies learn to sit and stand is special for every parent. This process can be made more fun with this musical walker. It features five piano keys for kids to create their own music. Other features include spinning rollers, shape sorters, and light-up buttons to help develop motor skills. It is easily adjustable from a sitting toy to a walker and is suitable for children aged nine months to three years. In this YouTube video, you will find a detailed review of this product. Pros
Activity panel can conveniently be detached from the walker to become a floor-play toy Wheels move smoothly on carpeted and hard floors The rattling sound emitted from the wheels of the walker keeps the baby entertained Walker comes with speed control
Cons
The grip on the wheels may come across a bit lacking Young babies may find some features of the activity panel complex
3. Best For Hand-Eye Coordination: Tiny Love Musical Nature Stroll Stroller Toy
There are times when you need to keep the little one entertained on the go. This musical stroller toy helps serve this purpose by attaching to the stroller. The musical toy comes with seven baby-activated mini-toys that help improve motor skills. The musical tunes could enable cause and effect learning. Pros
Promotes hand-eye coordination Arch is easily adjustable to suit baby’s age and preference Universal clip easily fits any stroller or bassinet Teether is easy to grasp by little kids
Cons
Clip may not be very durable
4. Best For Learning: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller
This toy looks like a game controller, but it is a lot more than that. It helps acquaint your child to alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors. It has two musical settings – one for learning and one for only playing. It is suitable for babies aged six months to three years. Pros
Highly durable The face of the toy lights up in different colors Different control buttons help improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination It may work as an easy way to keep the child away from an actual game controller
Cons
The size may be a bit too big for small kids Volume control is limited
5. Best For Improving Finger Dexterity: JOYIN Dancing Walking Yellow Duck Baby Toy
This dancing duck plays seven melodies, flashes colorful lights, and makes sounds of the heartbeat. The tiny baby duck within the pouch of the big duck also sings songs. The duck dances when you press the button on its head. It is suitable for kids aged three months and above. Pros
The duck’s movement could encourage a baby to crawl after it Colorful buttons help improve finger dexterity Songs help develop listening skills The toy is made from durable, child-safe ABS plastic
Cons
The battery is not included with the toy The small buttons may break due to rough handling and become choking hazards
6. Best For Learning Nursery Rhymes: LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table
This musical table comes with more than 70 songs to keep your child engaged for hours. Songs include classics such as ‘Old MacDonald’ and ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’ that help introduce the baby to nursery rhymes. This musical toy is suitable for kids aged six months to three years. Pros
Helps kids learn shapes, letters, numbers, and colors Removable legs enable to use to panel for floor play Easy to switch between two modes, namely music and learning It comes in English and Spanish language mode
Cons
The table may not stay firmly on the floor since the feet lack rubber grips
7. Best Toy With Built-In Microphone: WolVol Educational Kids Toddler Baby Toy Musical Activity Cube Play Center
This musical cube has something fun and interesting on each side. Each side helps to promote different skills such as talking, singing, and so on. Your baby can also make some music of their own as it comes with a built-in microphone to encourage talking. It is suitable for kids aged 18 months and older. Pros
Sturdy and portable Lights and music help improve hand-eye coordination The variety of activities could promote creative thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills Keeps the child engaged with a variety of sounds and activities
Cons
Tiny parts may break and pose as choking hazards The lack of volume control can make the music sound a bit jarring
8. Best For Tummy Time: Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station
An interesting toy designed to keep your baby occupied. It offers three language options, namely English, French, and Spanish. The toy can help acquaint baby to colors and animals. It comes with a collapsible kickstand so your child can play when sitting and while learning to crawl. It is suitable for toddlers aged three months and above. Pros
Helps develop listening skills Boosts pattern and sequence recognition It can help make tummy time a lot more fun It comes in three music and sound modes – animals, colors, and xylophone Activates on touching the colored bands or the rattle drum
Cons
The kickstand is not sturdy and tends to drop too often The sound volume may come across as low
9. Best For Bedtime: Fisher-Price Soothe & Glow Seahorse
It is a cute little seahorse to help lull your baby to sleep. The tummy of the seahorse glows, and a gentle squeeze activates the light along with the music. It can play up to five minutes of music with eight lullabies and several minutes of ocean sounds. The music fades after five minutes, and the lights dim so that the baby can sleep comfortably. Pros
Soft and squishy texture makes it ideal for cuddling Comes with volume control Warm yellow light helps induce sleep The music played can help baby fall asleep Available in blue and pink colors
Cons
Light may be too bright for some babies Music always plays with the light, and there is no way to turn off light or music separately
10. Best For Language Development: VTech Musical Rhymes Book
Wish to have your child develop an early interest in reading? Then you might want to take a look at this interactive musical rhymes book. It comes with six classic nursery rhymes such as ‘Old Macdonald’ and ‘Little Boy Blue.’ It is suitable for babies aged six months to three years. Pros
The toy is durable and BPA-free The plastic pages are hinged, which makes them easy for a baby to turn Five side buttons play music when pressed It could help strengthen motor skills It may promote sensory and language development
Cons
Songs do not have a definite order and keep repeating The rhymes may come across sung too fast for a baby to understand
11. Best For Teething: iPlay, iLearn 10pcs Musical Toy Set
Teething can be a very difficult time for your baby. But this natural process of growing can be made pleasant with some safe and fun musical teething toys. These toys vary in shape, size, and sound, which may even help in visual development and hand-eye coordination. This musical toy set is suitable for kids aged six months and above. Pros
Safe for kids as the product is tested at labs approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Free from BPA, latex, and phthalate The difference in rattlers handles and shapes could promote fine motor skills The variety in sounds expands baby’s sensory experience Easy to clean and store
Cons
Toys give out a strong chemical smell when first opened from the box Tiny parts of toys may pose as a choking hazard if broken due to rough usage
12. Best For Tracking Baby’s Height: LIGHTDESIRE Baby Toys Musical Caterpillar
This soft and furry caterpillar makes sounds when you squeeze its head. The colorful body and music easily attract a baby’s attention. You can even use this toy to measure your baby’s height. This toy is suitable for both infants and toddlers. Pros
Ruler marked on the belly of the caterpillar helps track baby’s height Easy to wash clean with a damp cloth Soothing music helps the baby fall asleep Each section of the caterpillar is made from a different textured fabric The tail section of the caterpillar contains a rattle bell within
Cons
Tiny details stitched to the toy may tear and become choking hazards Plays only one song
13. Best For Improving Focus: OKIKI Donkey Plush Stuffed Infant Toy
It made from super soft plush material. This cute donkey plays a piano lullaby that could distract the infant and help them fall asleep. It comes with squeaky feet, paper crinkly ears, teethers, clackers, and baby mirror. This multipurpose toy can also be used with a stroller. Pros
It can be washed with hand The teethers are BPA-free and safe to chew Does not require batteries and plays music with a pull-string Squeaky feet encourage grasping A baby mirror could help the child focus
Cons
The pull-string may tear or break over time The quality of the soft material may not seem very high
How To Choose the Right Baby Musical Toy?
Consider the key factors before choosing the right musical toy. Musical toys for babies are mostly designed to keep them occupied while also helping them develop various developmental abilities. Every toy promotes a different skill. You have to decide which one suits your baby and also helps them have the most fun.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Choosing suitable toys for children can be challenging. Priti Bose, specializing in children’s toys, games, and gifts, can help you choose the right product. She scours through various trusted sources to find high-quality products to ensure your child’s safety. This list of the best baby musical toys includes entertaining, child-friendly options that can help your child improve cognitively. Priti has also considered user reviews to offer you an unbiased opinion.
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