Once your baby girl or boy reaches 8 months old they should have become quite active. They can roll from their back to their front, push themselves up on their hands and knees and many 8 month olds have begun to crawl and even are starting to try and pull themselves up by holding onto furniture and other objects.
Purchasing toys for children of this age is a lot of funbut also confusing because there are so many different toys to choose from.
In order to help you with your gift shopping we have compiled a list of some premium toys for 8 month old babies.
In a Rush? See Our Top 3 Picks Just Below
Top Pick: V-Tech Walker Toy
Runner Up: Garden Playset
2nd Runner Up: Indoor/Outdoor Playpen
Our Criteria for Choosing Toys for an 8 Month Old Baby
When choosing the best toys for babies ofthis age we use two criteria for evaluating each toy which are discussed below.
Educational Value
The first thing we consider is the educational value of the toy to determine if the toy can aid in the physical, cognitive, emotional or social development of the child. This includes aiding in the development of fine and gross motor skills, encouraging the child to play on their own and interact with others and a number of different other skills as well.
Entertainment Value
We also consider the ability of the toy to capture the infants attention, make them smile or laugh, and keep them entertained for a period of time and whether or not the child is likely to return to the toy again and again.
The Best Gifts & Toys for 8 Month Old Girls & Boys
1. Sorting Blocks and Stacking Ring Combo
This combo of sorting blocks and stacking rings makes a great gift for 8 month old infants. These toys are great for helping an infant’s cognitive development and fine motor skills. The sorting blocks can also be banged together and may even be thrown.
Positives
Durable
Grows with child
Negatives
Some customers claimed they got previously returned items
2. Vtech Sit to Stand Walker
This Vtech Walker toy makes a great gift for an 8 month old. With a removable front panel filled with a variety of activities this walker is perfect for children who are sitting up on their own, but will soon be walking.
Positives
Can lock rear wheels to keep the walker from going too fast
The various activities help the child to develop fine motor skills
Negatives
May not be heavy enough not to tip when a child uses the walker to pull themselves up into standing position
3. Crawl N’ Go Snail with Stacker
If you are looking for a great Christmas gift, Easter gift or simply a surprise present for an 8 month old this cute little rolling snail would be ideal. This snail and stacker provides a lot of fun for older infants encouraging them to crawl after the caterpillar. There is also a cute stacker that rides on the snail’s back and can be removed for the baby to play with, removing and replacing the rings on the stacker.
Positives
Two gifts in one
Snail moves its head back and forth
Negatives
Some people did not like the music
4. Disney Go Grippers Push Cars
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These little Disney character cars are fun, are easy for older infants to grip and makes a great gift for either a boy or a girl. They are easy to push and are great for encouraging interaction between the baby and an older sibling or parent.
Positives
Encourages children to crawl after cars
Easy for 8 month olds to grip and pick up
Negatives
Some sets have scratches and missing paint patches
5. Sensory Blocks
These 24 sensory blocks are perfect for infants since they are easy to stack (they stick together) and easy to pull apart. The bright primary colors will capture an infant’s attention and they won’t harm the child if they throw or they hit themselves.
Positives
Nice size
Durable
Negatives
The nubs on these blocks are very hard
6. PlaySkool Poppin’ Pals
If you are looking to give an older baby a gift that will help them develop their fine motor skills and teach them about cause and effect then Poppin’ Pals will make a great gift. The child will be required to pull, push, slide and turn a key in order to get the cute little critters to pop up. They then simply push the animals back down and begin all over again.
Positives
Durable
Doesn’t need batteries
Negatives
Some parents don’t like that this toy has no sound
7. Hohner Kids Musical Toys
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A great gift to introduce a baby to music and sounds, these Hohner Kids musical toys are easy for infants to hold and shake while they explore different sounds.
Positives
Handles are perfect for little hands to hold
Well made
Negatives
One user complained about the smell of these toys
8. Laugh, Learn, and Crawl Around Car
A perfect first car and gift for a baby that is crawling this stationary activity car encourages infants to sit up, crawl, and explore. The dash board has lights, sounds, and activities that will help your child develop their fine motor skills. There is also a small shape sorter and a ball ramp to help entertain the child.
Positives
Keeps child engaged for a good amount of time
Lots of activities
Will grow with the child
Negatives
Very quiet sounds
9. Baby Musical Mat
A great gift for crawling babies, this musical piano mat will allow the infant to explore music as they crawl across the mat. The mat can be set to make 8 different instrument sounds which is a great way to introduce very young children to instruments and music.
Positives
Will grow with child
Soft with no chemical smell
Negatives
Mat is smaller than some people believe
10. Little Tikes Activity Garden Playset
This Activity Garden Playset can be used either indoors or outdoors and opens into a two sided play area to make playtime simpler and fun for babies. This playset is filled with activities including a shape sorter mailbox, a door baby can open and close, knobs to turn, bead tumblers, clicking bugs, a small piano and more.
Positives
Lots of activities to keep the child busy and entertained
Encourages the baby to crawl and to use their fine motor skills
Negatives
Smaller than some people think
What Stuff Can You Buy an 8 Month Old Who Has Too Many Toys?
Some babies have all of the toys they can play with at any given period of time. If buying a gift of a toy is out of the question then here are some alternative baby gifts that the infant and his or her parents will love.
1. PlayPen/ Play Yard
This playpen/ play yard makes a great gift a perfect place to provide the child with a safe play to play while parents are busy. The padded bottom layer is comfortable for the little on to sit and play on or even nap. Plus the play yard is large enough for older siblings to play in the pen as well. It even comes with a removable solid cover to protect infants from the sun.
Positives
Pop up set up
Zip mesh door to keep baby inside
Negatives
Zipper is too easy for infant to manipulate
2. Baby Bath Seat
If you have an older infant that tends to squirm around when taking a bath in the tub then this baby bath seat makes a great gift that will keep the baby safe from slipping or squirming while in the tub.
Positives
Holds baby safe and secure
Allows parents more freedom to bath baby because they don’t need to hold on to wiggling infant.
Negatives
Won’t adhere to a tub without a smooth bottom
Tips for Choosing Good Gifts for 8 Month Old Boys & Girls
- Check with the parents and ask what types of toys or gifts their baby needs or they want for the baby.
- Pay attention to the developmental milestones that infants this age are likely to reach within the next few months and try and choose a toy that will grow with the child.
- Make sure that the toys are safe for an infant. Reading the reviews will help determine the safety of the toy or gift.
Wrapping up the Best Toys & Gift Ideas for 8 Month Olds
We hope this list of the best toys for babies helps you find the perfect toy or gift for the infant in your life.
