Electronic toys for babies 0-12 months

Electronic toys for babies 0-12 months work best when the lights, sounds and textures come slowly and stay gentle. In the first half of the year that usually means musical baby toys that reward a swipe of the hand, soft companions with heartbeat and white noise settings for the cot, and night lights that cast stars across the ceiling at bedtime. From around six months, sitting and crawling change what a baby wants: activity tables, busy cubes and drums invite banging, pressing and turning, and a crawling toy that scoots just out of reach gives a reason to move.

These are the interactive toys for infants that suit tummy time, high chairs, car seats and pram trips, plus light-up baby toys for winding down. Peek-a-boo play sits somewhere in the middle, half game and half lesson in object permanence. They also make straightforward first birthday, christening and Christmas gifts for anyone shopping for a baby under one.