Shopping for baby toys can be tough. Even with general age guidelines, it's not always clear what exact age a toy is best suited for. Knowing this is especially important during the first 12 months, when babies are beginning to learn, move, and recognize the world around them.

To make it easier to shop for kids' toys, we've broken them down by age range and offer recommendations for toys that best match your baby's growth and development.

0–3 Months

Since newborns can't yet make out the full color spectrum and won't start grasping and swiping at objects until around three months, go for toys that aid in sensory development. Items with simple colors are best for little guys' limited visual range, while mirrors appeal to their growing interest in faces and recognition.

Recommended toys: mobiles; soothers; play gyms; soft stuffed animals and books; unbreakable mirrors; toys with contrasting colors or black-and-white patterns

4 Months

At this point, babies will start to reach for things and try to grasp those items. They'll also begin to giggle, squirm, and recognize familiar faces. With this in mind, activity toys are great for this age. They support babies' developing coordination while encouraging connection between cause and effect. Mobiles are also perfect—but be sure to remove them before babies grow enough to reach them and pull them down.

Recommended toys: mobiles; soothers; play gyms; rattles and teethers

5 Months

Along with rolling from their bellies to their backs, five-month-olds will grasp and mouth objects. They'll also develop the ability to do multiple things at once. That increased activity makes toys with different textures, sounds, lights, and sizes solid picks for boosting motor skills. Mirrored toys are also good for this age, since these babies will start recognizing faces more often and may even begin smiling at their reflection.

Recommended toys: unbreakable mirrors; soft books and stuffed animals; play gyms; musical-instrument toys

6 Months

At this point, little ones are starting to understand cause and effect and may enjoy games like peek-a-boo and toys that return a fun surprise when manipulated. They can sit up with little or no support and participate in activities that center around them. Toys that encourage crawling help with their motor-skill development, and pretend-play toys can strengthen their social, language, and memory skills.

Recommended toys: blocks and stacking toys; toys that move across the floor and roll; stuffed animals that talk, sing, or light up; career- or household-themed toys

7 Months

At seven months, babies may begin to coo and babble, as well as respond to and recognize their name, different voices, and individual tunes. So toys that help set the foundation for early interaction and language skills are great choices. And since little ones will now also start rocking on their hands and knees and creeping on their tummies, you should look for toys that encourage movement and crawling.

Recommended toys: balls; shape sorters; toys that roll and move across the floor; stuffed animals and toys that talk, sing, or light up when you push a button or perform a similar action

8 Months

Eight-month-olds are starting to connect two behaviors together and remember recent events. They may also start associating words with objects, articulating sounds, and crawling in both directions. Toys with things to press and move help encourage a sense of cause and effect, and toys that encourage physical movement get infants further along the road to crawling, standing, and walking.

Recommended toys: musical-instrument toys and toys that sing, play music, or light up; toys that roll or move across the floor; activity panels and table toys that encourage standing; blocks and shape sorters; toys with buttons, dials, and levers

9 Months

At this age, babies' hands are more dexterous, with the ability to pass objects between them or even catch a ball rolled in their direction. Toys that roll or stack may help to develop those fine motor skills, and standing and cruising toys encourage little ones to be on their feet more. Many babies are also able to recognize familiar faces and indicate with gestures, so learning toys that talk and sing are good for strengthening basic language skills.

Recommended toys: blocks and stacking toys; activity panels and table toys that encourage standing; toys with dials and buttons; toys and stuffed animals that sing, play music, or talk

10 Months

Infants may respond to simple instructions, anticipate words and actions, and remember simple sounds. Pretend-play toys can help develop those basic social skills a little more, and toys that encourage early learning further language development and teach little ones basic educational building blocks. Ten-month-olds may also walk around if they're holding onto a hand, so toys that spur physical action are a natural choice.

Recommended toys: activity panels and table toys that encourage standing; toys with dials and buttons; toys and stuffed animals that sing, play music, or talk; career- or household-themed toys

11 Months

Babies may be standing unassisted and cruising along furniture, and their babbling is starting to sound like an actual language. A toy like a play phone is an obvious pairing for the latter, while ride ons help with the former. Blocks and puzzles can also further hone babies' hand-eye coordination at this stage.

Recommended toys: blocks, puzzles, and sequence toys; play phones; foot-to-floor ride on toys; toys with wheels that can be pushed; musical-instrument and musical activity toys

12 Months

One-year-olds are constantly moving. They may mimic and anticipate actions, as well as show affection with hugs and kisses. Toys that encourage coordination and walking are great pairings for kids' newfound need to move and express themselves. Little ones are now also at a point where they understand most of what's being said to them, and make sounds that resemble the language they're raised with—themed play sets help them learn basic words and ideas.

Recommended toys: foot-to-floor ride on toys; toys with wheels that can be pushed; musical-instrument and musical activity toys; animal-themed play sets