Best Stacking Toy: The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys

It’s a classic! Colorful stacking cups like this pick are a winner with every baby.

What We Liked

• Trusted brand. This brand has a good safety record. This toy is made with NO BPA, lead or phthalates.

• Affordable. 

• Drainable for water play. A small hole in the bottom allows them to be used in the bath tub as well.

Best Musical Toy: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes Musical Toy

The right musical baby toy has to balance fun with volume control (for mom and dad). This one does the trick.

What We Liked

• Seven tunes. With many toys topping $30 and even $50, it’s nice to find something that entertains and stimulates at a reasonable price.

• Sound and lights. Easy to hold as well.

• Super cute + portable. It’s easy to pop this toy into a diaper bag.

Best Bath Toy: Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy

With so many great bath toys on the market, it was hard to narrow down the field to just one top choice. However, Munchkin’s Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toys (four total) take the crown for overall fun.

What We Liked

• Floating fun. Each toy spins and rattles—but they also float in the tub. The disco turtle is a personal favorite.

• Easy to clean. One caveat: it is possible to get water inside the bubble and that can cause the bubbles to fog over.

• Silicone ring makes them easy to grab.

Best Teether/Rattle Toy: Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

This toy does double duty as both a teether and rattle. Here’s an overview:

What We Liked

• Easy to hold. All the rings make this easy for a baby to grasp.

• Nice for teething. Let’s be honest—a baby will teethe on any toy. This toy is intended as both a sensory toy AND a teether. 

• Top favorite among our baby testers, year in and out.

 

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing baby gear, including toys, since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward safety, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Baby Bargains is your independent and unbiased source for expert baby gear reviews.