The toy that gets loved most is rarely the loudest, biggest or most impressive one in the nursery. It is usually the familiar friend your baby reaches for during a cuddle, a car trip or the winding-down moments before bed. The best baby toy can bring comfort as well as entertainment, helping create small, reassuring rituals in a stage of life where almost everything else changes quickly.
For Australian parents, choosing one can feel surprisingly tricky. There are rattles, teethers, plush animals, activity toys and musical toys, all promising something different. The right choice depends on your child’s age, temperament and the moment you need it to support - whether that is tummy time, quiet play, travel or a more settled bedtime routine.
Note: Whilst we will never tell you how to Parent we do recommend to please always follow Red Nose Safe Sleep Guidelines including no objects in the sleep zone until 12 months or older.
What makes the best baby toy?
A great baby toy does not need dozens of features. It needs to meet your baby where they are developmentally, feel pleasant to touch and be simple enough to become familiar. Babies learn through repetition. A toy they see, hear and hold regularly can become a comforting part of their day, rather than one more item in an overflowing toy basket.
For newborns and young babies, sensory appeal matters most. High-contrast colours are easier for developing eyes to notice, while varied soft textures invite gentle exploration. A light rattle or crinkle can offer cause-and-effect play: your baby moves the toy, it makes a sound, and they begin to connect their action with what happens next.
As babies grow into toddlers, the best toys often offer more independence. Easy-to-press buttons, a soft body they can carry and familiar sounds can give a little one a sense of control. That matters at bedtime too. A toddler who can turn on a soothing sound independently may feel more confident as they practise settling into their routine.
The goal is not to keep your child occupied every minute. It is to choose a toy with a clear purpose, whether that is sensory discovery, comfort, connection or calm.
Choose a baby toy for the moment you need help with
Not every toy needs to do every job. Being clear about when you hope your baby will use it makes choosing easier and helps avoid buying something that looks lovely but ends up untouched.
For cuddles and emotional comfort
A soft plush toy or comforter can become a familiar presence during feeds, pram walks and supervised quiet time. Babies and toddlers often respond strongly to the feel and smell of a familiar item, especially when they are tired, away from home or adjusting to a new routine.
Look for a design that is soft without being overly bulky, with features that are securely attached and easy for little hands to hold. A machine-washable option is particularly helpful. Comfort toys spend time on the floor, in the pram, at daycare and occasionally in places you would rather not think about, so easy cleaning is not a small detail.
For sensory play and early learning
Young babies are drawn to contrast, texture and gentle sound. A toy with black-and-white details, tactile fabrics or a soft rattle can provide meaningful stimulation without flooding them with lights, noise and activity.
More features are not always better. If your baby tends to become overstimulated late in the day, a flashing, high-energy toy may not suit the time you are trying to create calm. Save high-energy play for alert daytime windows and choose softer sensory experiences as bedtime gets closer.
For a soothing bedtime routine
A plush companion with a removable sound machine can offer something a standard soft toy cannot: a repeatable cue that it is time to rest. Gentle white noise, heartbeat-inspired sounds or lullabies can help soften unpredictable household noise and make a new room feel more familiar during travel or overnight stays.
The consistency is often as useful as the sound itself. When the same toy and the same calming sound are used as part of the wind-down routine, your child starts to recognise the pattern: feed, cuddle, story, soothing sound, sleep. It will not solve every wake-up, particularly during illness, teething or developmental changes, but it can give families a practical foundation to return to.
Safety comes before the cute factor
Every baby toy should be chosen with age suitability and safe use in mind. Check the manufacturer’s age recommendation, inspect the toy regularly for loose parts or damaged seams, and keep batteries or sound-box components secure and out of reach.
For sleep, follow current safe sleep guidance. Babies should sleep in a clear, flat, safe sleep space, without soft toys, comforters, loose blankets or other items in the cot or bassinet. A soothing plush toy may be used for cuddles and part of a supervised bedtime routine, then removed before placing a newborn or young baby down to sleep. Always follow the product instructions and the latest advice from trusted Australian safe sleep authorities.
For older children, consider how they will use the toy. Can they operate it comfortably? Is the volume gentle and adjustable? Does it have a timer, so it does not continue playing longer than needed? Thoughtful details make a real difference at 2 am, when nobody wants to search through menus or fumble with tiny switches.
Why a removable sound box is worth considering
A removable sound box is one of those practical features that becomes more valuable over time. It allows the plush outer to be washed when needed, while the sound component stays protected. It also means the toy can continue as a cuddle companion even when you do not need sound support.
Portability matters too. A compact sound toy can travel from the nursery to the pram, grandparent’s house or a weekend away without adding another separate device to your packing list. For babies, hearing the same familiar sound in an unfamiliar setting may make transitions feel less abrupt. For parents, it is one less bedtime variable to manage.
At Love by EMI, this combination of a soft character toy and removable soothing sound machine is designed around real family routines. It gives little ones a comforting companion while giving parents a simple tool they can use consistently at home and on the go.
A toy your child can grow with is often the better buy
Babies change quickly, so it is understandable to want a toy that will not be outgrown in a fortnight. The answer is not necessarily a complicated toy. It is one that can take on a different role as your child develops.
A high-contrast plush may first be something your newborn watches during supervised play. Later, it may be a toy they grasp, cuddle and bring along in the car. By toddlerhood, it can become a much-loved bedtime companion, particularly if they can activate its gentle sounds themselves.
This kind of longevity also comes from durability. Soft fabrics should hold up to regular washing, controls should be straightforward, and the toy should be made for everyday handling rather than just a nursery shelf. A well-chosen toy earns its place because it works through the messy, beautiful reality of family life.
Keep the routine simple
If you are introducing a new comfort toy or sound toy, give it a predictable place in the day. Use it during a calm cuddle before naps or as part of the same short bedtime rhythm each evening. Avoid making it another exciting activity right before sleep.
Your baby may take to it immediately, or they may need time. Some children form a strong attachment to a particular toy; others simply enjoy the familiar sound and soft texture without becoming attached. Both responses are completely normal. What helps most is keeping the routine gentle and consistent, rather than expecting a toy to do all the settling on its own.
The best baby toy is the one that makes everyday moments feel a little easier: a familiar cuddle after a big day, a gentle sound during the bedtime wind-down, and a small piece of home wherever your family happens to be.