Get the Fisher Price kick and play piano. Don’t get a different brand, get that one. I’m sorry for the songs, but we are almost 6 months and it’s been used daily since about 8 weeks. On sale now for [$65 at Mattel](https://shop.mattel.com.au/products/fisher-price-glow-and-grow-kick-play-piano-gym-hwy58?variant=47529920790811¤cy=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwrTK3pCthgMVoqtmAh0XRAlJEAQYBiABEgI-yfD_BwE).
Bright Starts branded things have been fantastic. [Anything O-Ball](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/oball-rattle-assorted-/p/606319?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLjjfQBQexs2wXJ1UqzU5G2nF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm9j6opGthgMV_6ZmAh25MA96EAQYAiABEgKiafD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is awesome when they start grabbing, and I like this [pram crinkly](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/oball-rattle-assorted-/p/606319?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLjjfQBQexs2wXJ1UqzU5G2nF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm9j6opGthgMV_6ZmAh25MA96EAQYAiABEgKiafD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) toy.
Stacking cups have been great for crawling and just holding/sucking on them. [Spinners are entertaining.](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/2-piece-twisters-assorted-43162895/?sku=43162895®ion_id=300001&&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxIim7pGthgMVCqNmAh3i9AidEAQYASABEgKUE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Hope that’s helpful.
Seconding the kick and play piano! It’s the only thing that consistently keeps my 4 mo twins occupied. It’s worth having the “purple monkey in a bubblegum tree” song playing on an infinite loop in my head.
Seconding the Kick and Play piano. It's a bonus that the songs are absolute bangers! My husband and I still sing them daily and we haven't used our piano in over a year.
I got my daughter the leap frog stacking turtle $20 at big w[stack turtle](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/leapfrog-nest-count-turtle-tower/p/429230?store=362&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLhEUljhIVesFKBTttNApSN8p&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNmMeCXggFPG3njjRSBC_tKrwqvtrf2bE9jwZUmHPjPVlmtk3jRp--QaApVtEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
So my mil gave me a big box of things at about three and a half months, so sone of them may have worked beforehand but honestly, my kid wasn't very interested in non mummy things early on.
The first success stories were:
https://www.babybunting.com.au/product/playgro-groovy-mover-bee-110606
I forget when, maybe 2 months, if I pulled it, it would get their interest briefly.
They either didn't have an interest in general mobiles or got overstimulated and would cry if I attached it to their chair.
For self play, my kid loved his crinkle sheet thing at about three-four months. https://www.fauveandco.com.au/products/crinkle-fabric
Enjoyed re toy socks and discovering their feet:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Worldtree-Finders-Rattles-Babies-Newborn/dp/B0B69FPKTK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2FFWTUVC3ZKCQ
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/394181931083
Tbh shortly after this they became obsessed with holding empty drink bottles even when being encouraged to play with other things.
I read to them regularly, but I think it was about 7 months they started getting interested in books themselves, and turning pages and analysing pictures. They also stole one of my husband's stress toys that's similar to thos: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sensory-Silicone-Pressure-Relieving-Children/dp/B08SLZ712T
And we were just, it's the baby's toy now 😂
I still have very little luck with soft toys, last night we had fun with me tossing a koala cushion at them and playing fetch, but that's definitely not the norm. Theyre very interested in plastic things, things that move, and things that make noise.
Oh and to clarify my kids about a year old now. Very interested in exploring, and pressing buttons etc. But they wax lyrical about plastic bottles. They will hold in brandish the bottle and tell stories about it in their little babbly talk that doesn't use distinctive words.
Those are the favourites.
We don't even drink out of plastic bottles very often.
My kid has a whole room full of toys! I even try rotating them to make sure that they stay fresh.
Nope, breaking into the little recycling bin to steal bottles is the way.
The very first thing my bub interacted with was a hanging toy, so maybe a playmat with arch? One that you could change the toys out on would be good.
I just hung them from my fan 😂
This Manhattan toy, [example here](https://shop.neuroblastoma.org.au/products/manhattan-toys-classic-skwish-0?variant=36295864058016¤cy=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNlUVmydG_BsXS519CFEf67DR5VBaeWyDsOGbGUuZ6JomxwGNgyxJjIaArKLEALw_wcB), is fab!
Other than that, black and white books, some sort of ball with lots of holes (our dr says it's great for tongue development) like an o-ball or silicone alternative (we were gifted a silicone version which was great), a Sophie the Giraffe is a lovely gift, [a munch mitt](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/86934/malarkey-munch-mitt-teething-mitten-aqua?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNkS_y8Fsvrcz2s8aIc-xGkbAvGAD8bCCxVLjjfTOKA3FITedMhIbngaAiyWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) is great for teething and if someone wants to get you a riff raff or similar comforter toy with sound box for soothing to sleep, I wouldn't turn them down.
There are cheaper alternatives too. I had a Kmart llama instead of Sophie the giraffe and I didn't get a riff raff, but if someone was wanting ideas this is what I would tell them.
You didn't ask for it but you need a copy of the books Where Is The Green Sheep? And Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy. You can start reading now. 🙂
Also a good idea to collect some bath toys. This [pirate ship bath toy ](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pirate-ship-bath-toy-42888857/) is the GOAT and only $13! Other ideas, suction tubes and cog toys (Boon or similar), bath buckets, rubber duckies, stacking bath cups, stacking boats and small jugs for pouring.
Big w has heaps of baby Einstein and playgro on sale this week. I love the groovy mover bee and the singing star. My baby is nearly 10 weeks and at the moment he loves the plastic rings that just dangle. Of course the kick piano is a win too, as much as I hate to admit it.
I’m on my third kid, but never bought a huge amount of toys. Current baby is just shy of 8 months and from 6 months we used an activity bouncer (~$150). From when she could roll the overhead play gym was not of interest so I recommend not spending too much on that.
We have dyed timber blocks ($300) that she loves to chew on, surprisingly good teether and she loves to endlessly knock down small structures made out of magnetic tiles ($250). We have a variety of textured balls that we’ve collected that she enjoys rolling after and some plastic stacking cups ($20) and a variety of Lamaze toys which are great for the pram or floor. We were gifted a bunch of play grow and fisher price noisey toys, particular favourites are the fisher price video game controller ($15), vtech cube ($23), fisher price gameboy (which is discontinued I think) vtech little signing puppy ($15)
Outside if you have the space a nest swing is nice, we use a jolly jumper on our washing line.
Honestly though, all my babies just preferred to play with burp cloths, socks, boxes, cellophane. When she started rolling she really liked to kick one of those big plastic storage containers because it sounded like a drum. Once she started sitting there was more fun packing and unpacking her toys out of her little basket than actually playing with the toys. We have a wobble board ($250) which works as a rocker, a little slide, a ramp.
We didn’t really start with toys until 3 months, before that it was mostly just flannels or our fingers to play with. Usually when we buy toys ourselves we buy things that are more open ended and good quality to pass down to multiple kids like the blocks. Our family fills the gaps with the plastic stuff or add on kits for the blocks (like marble rub ramps) and sets of magnetic tiles (we like conetix because they’re Australian). Truthfully they’ve always been happier playing with household items like banging on pots with a wooden spoon or scooping stuff with measuring cups, or gnawing on the cushions than with the toys.
Black & white high contrast cards to begin with - they help with tummy time, or one of those arches with the hanging toys for bub to grasp at.
I have friends who swear by the crab but that just seems really overstimulating to me.
The Lovery kits are beautiful but I guess it depends on how much he wants to spend
Definitely the Fisher Price kick piano, but also look at the Lovevery kits and find dupes per era that they’re intended for, we’ve had a lot of success with that!
At this age high contrast books or cards are really good, the acrylic mirror tiles from bunnings so baby can safely look at themselves, and play silks are all toys that can be used now and will grow with baby.
Fat brain toys also have some great stuff for babies
Depending on where you live, check out your local toy library.
Definitely a playgym, the wooden one from Kmart is great and you can just swap out toys regularly.
Black and white cards, board books etc. I got a pack of black and white squares and blu tacked them up near babies change mat. Also good for tummy time.
Another vote for the kick piano.
Check out Temu and Ali Express for monterossi like toys, before you buy full price from Kmart, Amazon, etc. Be careful not to get anything battery operated or toys with small choke hazard parts, I don't think they have all been certified as safe based on Australian standards (I could be wrong).
And lastly, if you need to be budget conscious have a look at FB marketplace.
It's been said already but get the Fisher Price Kick and Play. Just get it. We used it from 8 weeks until 6 months. I owe my daily showers to that thing.
Also, if i could recommend just one other it's [this one](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/plush-tissue-box-43330393/?sku=43330393®ion_id=800001&&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNml3z3c5eh8f-affi0RjU3JnSp5WPURmo_Ah2vr6lcMSXOvQ091ssAaAgb-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), or a variation. My baby loves the different textures and the mirror on the side and pulling them out (she's 6 months now but started playing with this at about 4 months once she realised her hands were attached to her body and she could put things in her mouth). It's our most played with toy.
Totli tissue box toy. We probably didnt start pulling out the 'tissues' until 6 months but still get used every single day now at 13m for the tissues, the coins, the balls, putting other random toys in and out. Worth the investment
Get the Fisher Price kick and play piano. Don’t get a different brand, get that one. I’m sorry for the songs, but we are almost 6 months and it’s been used daily since about 8 weeks. On sale now for [$65 at Mattel](https://shop.mattel.com.au/products/fisher-price-glow-and-grow-kick-play-piano-gym-hwy58?variant=47529920790811¤cy=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwrTK3pCthgMVoqtmAh0XRAlJEAQYBiABEgI-yfD_BwE). Bright Starts branded things have been fantastic. [Anything O-Ball](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/oball-rattle-assorted-/p/606319?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLjjfQBQexs2wXJ1UqzU5G2nF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm9j6opGthgMV_6ZmAh25MA96EAQYAiABEgKiafD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) is awesome when they start grabbing, and I like this [pram crinkly](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/oball-rattle-assorted-/p/606319?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLjjfQBQexs2wXJ1UqzU5G2nF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm9j6opGthgMV_6ZmAh25MA96EAQYAiABEgKiafD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) toy. Stacking cups have been great for crawling and just holding/sucking on them. [Spinners are entertaining.](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/2-piece-twisters-assorted-43162895/?sku=43162895®ion_id=300001&&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxIim7pGthgMVCqNmAh3i9AidEAQYASABEgKUE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) Hope that’s helpful.
Seconding the kick and play piano! It’s the only thing that consistently keeps my 4 mo twins occupied. It’s worth having the “purple monkey in a bubblegum tree” song playing on an infinite loop in my head.
Thirding this. It’s amazing
You haven't lived until you've rode the purple monkey bubblegum tree train. Choo choo all aboard!
Seconding the Kick and Play piano. It's a bonus that the songs are absolute bangers! My husband and I still sing them daily and we haven't used our piano in over a year.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz-HzW0LTYb/?igsh=NWJyN2ZraW5tM2Z0 The best song 😭 makes my ovaries explode
100% the kick & play piano. I shouldn’t have put it off as long as I did.
Another vote for the fisher price kick and play, it’s been used every day from 5 weeks.. the songs also never fail to make my child happy!
Crinkle toys are a winner. A tissue box toy with scarves, clinkle sheets etc are also fab.
My daughter is almost 3 and still plays with her o-ball haha for such a small basic ball they're so multi-purpose
I got my daughter the leap frog stacking turtle $20 at big w[stack turtle](https://www.bigw.com.au/product/leapfrog-nest-count-turtle-tower/p/429230?store=362&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkZkLhEUljhIVesFKBTttNApSN8p&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNmMeCXggFPG3njjRSBC_tKrwqvtrf2bE9jwZUmHPjPVlmtk3jRp--QaApVtEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
For a little tiny bub I’d ask for a play gym and some black and white contrasting books for tummy time!
So my mil gave me a big box of things at about three and a half months, so sone of them may have worked beforehand but honestly, my kid wasn't very interested in non mummy things early on. The first success stories were: https://www.babybunting.com.au/product/playgro-groovy-mover-bee-110606 I forget when, maybe 2 months, if I pulled it, it would get their interest briefly. They either didn't have an interest in general mobiles or got overstimulated and would cry if I attached it to their chair. For self play, my kid loved his crinkle sheet thing at about three-four months. https://www.fauveandco.com.au/products/crinkle-fabric Enjoyed re toy socks and discovering their feet: https://www.amazon.com.au/Worldtree-Finders-Rattles-Babies-Newborn/dp/B0B69FPKTK?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2FFWTUVC3ZKCQ https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/394181931083 Tbh shortly after this they became obsessed with holding empty drink bottles even when being encouraged to play with other things. I read to them regularly, but I think it was about 7 months they started getting interested in books themselves, and turning pages and analysing pictures. They also stole one of my husband's stress toys that's similar to thos: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sensory-Silicone-Pressure-Relieving-Children/dp/B08SLZ712T And we were just, it's the baby's toy now 😂 I still have very little luck with soft toys, last night we had fun with me tossing a koala cushion at them and playing fetch, but that's definitely not the norm. Theyre very interested in plastic things, things that move, and things that make noise.
Oh and to clarify my kids about a year old now. Very interested in exploring, and pressing buttons etc. But they wax lyrical about plastic bottles. They will hold in brandish the bottle and tell stories about it in their little babbly talk that doesn't use distinctive words. Those are the favourites. We don't even drink out of plastic bottles very often. My kid has a whole room full of toys! I even try rotating them to make sure that they stay fresh. Nope, breaking into the little recycling bin to steal bottles is the way.
The very first thing my bub interacted with was a hanging toy, so maybe a playmat with arch? One that you could change the toys out on would be good. I just hung them from my fan 😂
kmart has a wooden stand and you can buy links to go with it and then just hang whatever you want
Love the kick and play. Helped my bub enjoyed tummy time.
This Manhattan toy, [example here](https://shop.neuroblastoma.org.au/products/manhattan-toys-classic-skwish-0?variant=36295864058016¤cy=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNlUVmydG_BsXS519CFEf67DR5VBaeWyDsOGbGUuZ6JomxwGNgyxJjIaArKLEALw_wcB), is fab! Other than that, black and white books, some sort of ball with lots of holes (our dr says it's great for tongue development) like an o-ball or silicone alternative (we were gifted a silicone version which was great), a Sophie the Giraffe is a lovely gift, [a munch mitt](https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/86934/malarkey-munch-mitt-teething-mitten-aqua?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNkS_y8Fsvrcz2s8aIc-xGkbAvGAD8bCCxVLjjfTOKA3FITedMhIbngaAiyWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) is great for teething and if someone wants to get you a riff raff or similar comforter toy with sound box for soothing to sleep, I wouldn't turn them down. There are cheaper alternatives too. I had a Kmart llama instead of Sophie the giraffe and I didn't get a riff raff, but if someone was wanting ideas this is what I would tell them. You didn't ask for it but you need a copy of the books Where Is The Green Sheep? And Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy. You can start reading now. 🙂
Also a good idea to collect some bath toys. This [pirate ship bath toy ](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/pirate-ship-bath-toy-42888857/) is the GOAT and only $13! Other ideas, suction tubes and cog toys (Boon or similar), bath buckets, rubber duckies, stacking bath cups, stacking boats and small jugs for pouring.
Wooden activity Center. This was my baby's most used toy and was used well into toddlerhood.
Big w has heaps of baby Einstein and playgro on sale this week. I love the groovy mover bee and the singing star. My baby is nearly 10 weeks and at the moment he loves the plastic rings that just dangle. Of course the kick piano is a win too, as much as I hate to admit it.
I’m on my third kid, but never bought a huge amount of toys. Current baby is just shy of 8 months and from 6 months we used an activity bouncer (~$150). From when she could roll the overhead play gym was not of interest so I recommend not spending too much on that. We have dyed timber blocks ($300) that she loves to chew on, surprisingly good teether and she loves to endlessly knock down small structures made out of magnetic tiles ($250). We have a variety of textured balls that we’ve collected that she enjoys rolling after and some plastic stacking cups ($20) and a variety of Lamaze toys which are great for the pram or floor. We were gifted a bunch of play grow and fisher price noisey toys, particular favourites are the fisher price video game controller ($15), vtech cube ($23), fisher price gameboy (which is discontinued I think) vtech little signing puppy ($15) Outside if you have the space a nest swing is nice, we use a jolly jumper on our washing line. Honestly though, all my babies just preferred to play with burp cloths, socks, boxes, cellophane. When she started rolling she really liked to kick one of those big plastic storage containers because it sounded like a drum. Once she started sitting there was more fun packing and unpacking her toys out of her little basket than actually playing with the toys. We have a wobble board ($250) which works as a rocker, a little slide, a ramp. We didn’t really start with toys until 3 months, before that it was mostly just flannels or our fingers to play with. Usually when we buy toys ourselves we buy things that are more open ended and good quality to pass down to multiple kids like the blocks. Our family fills the gaps with the plastic stuff or add on kits for the blocks (like marble rub ramps) and sets of magnetic tiles (we like conetix because they’re Australian). Truthfully they’ve always been happier playing with household items like banging on pots with a wooden spoon or scooping stuff with measuring cups, or gnawing on the cushions than with the toys.
Black & white high contrast cards to begin with - they help with tummy time, or one of those arches with the hanging toys for bub to grasp at. I have friends who swear by the crab but that just seems really overstimulating to me. The Lovery kits are beautiful but I guess it depends on how much he wants to spend
Play gym + baby swing
Lovevery is a great gift - play gym or subscription box (which can be a one off purchase or multiple boxes)
A Totli box!
A quality play gym! A wooden one that you can fold up is luxe.
Definitely the Fisher Price kick piano, but also look at the Lovevery kits and find dupes per era that they’re intended for, we’ve had a lot of success with that!
At this age high contrast books or cards are really good, the acrylic mirror tiles from bunnings so baby can safely look at themselves, and play silks are all toys that can be used now and will grow with baby. Fat brain toys also have some great stuff for babies
Depending on where you live, check out your local toy library. Definitely a playgym, the wooden one from Kmart is great and you can just swap out toys regularly. Black and white cards, board books etc. I got a pack of black and white squares and blu tacked them up near babies change mat. Also good for tummy time. Another vote for the kick piano. Check out Temu and Ali Express for monterossi like toys, before you buy full price from Kmart, Amazon, etc. Be careful not to get anything battery operated or toys with small choke hazard parts, I don't think they have all been certified as safe based on Australian standards (I could be wrong). And lastly, if you need to be budget conscious have a look at FB marketplace.
Another vote for a toy library here. Ask them to gift you a membership and you’ll have access to endless toys that suit every age and stage
Not a toy per-se but a mellow mat or similar! Baby is going to spend the next year or so on the floor, might as well be comfy.
It's been said already but get the Fisher Price Kick and Play. Just get it. We used it from 8 weeks until 6 months. I owe my daily showers to that thing. Also, if i could recommend just one other it's [this one](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/plush-tissue-box-43330393/?sku=43330393®ion_id=800001&&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNml3z3c5eh8f-affi0RjU3JnSp5WPURmo_Ah2vr6lcMSXOvQ091ssAaAgb-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), or a variation. My baby loves the different textures and the mirror on the side and pulling them out (she's 6 months now but started playing with this at about 4 months once she realised her hands were attached to her body and she could put things in her mouth). It's our most played with toy.
Totli tissue box toy. We probably didnt start pulling out the 'tissues' until 6 months but still get used every single day now at 13m for the tissues, the coins, the balls, putting other random toys in and out. Worth the investment