Watching your baby grow and learn is one of the most magical (and sometimes nerve-wracking) parts of motherhood. Those first rolls, giggles, crawls, and clumsy steps each feel like tiny miracles. While I’ve learned not to compare my baby’s progress to anyone else’s (because, truly, every baby moves at their own pace), I’ve found that having the right tools on hand can make a significant difference.

 In this post, I’ve rounded up some of the most recommended picks for supporting your baby through their big firsts. These aren’t miracle products, but they are well-loved helpers that made those milestone moments feel a little smoother for us. Whether you’re working on tummy time, early walking, or fine motor skills, these products are favorites for a reason.

Tummy Time Triumphs – Head Control & Rolling Over

Tummy time doesn’t always start off as a fan favorite, but it’s a crucial part of building strength. There might be grunts, sighs, and maybe a little protest at first, but making it comfortable and engaging really does make all the difference. The more fun your baby has on their belly, the longer they’ll want to stay there—and the stronger they’ll get, little by little.

To make tummy time and head control a little easier (and more fun), here are a few favorite products that many parents swear by. These picks can help keep your baby engaged and supported as they build those all-important muscles.

Favorite products:

• Baby Einstein Tummy Time Pillow – This soft, perfectly sized pillow props baby up just enough to make tummy time more comfortable without overwhelming them. Additionally, the attached toys help keep babies engaged while they work on developing their neck and shoulder muscles.
• Tummy Time Mirror – Babies are naturally drawn to faces, especially their own. A safe, stand-up mirror can encourage them to lift their head and stay engaged, turning tummy time into a fun and motivating activity.
• Lovevery Play Gym – Designed with development in mind, this play gym features contrast cards, a crinkly zone, and a hidden mirror under the flaps. It grows with your child and helps make tummy time feel more like a mini adventure than a chore.

Grasping Gains – Supporting Fine Motor Development

Watching those tiny fingers reach out and grasp a toy is such a satisfying milestone. Offering toys that are just the right size and shape can significantly help develop fine motor skills, especially when they also serve as mealtime tools or sensory play favorites.

Supporting those early fine motor skills is easier with toys and tools designed to engage and inspire little hands—here are some favorites.

Favorite products:

• Fat Brain Toys Dimpl – This brilliant yet straightforward silicone toy features colorful buttons to be pushed, squished, and poked. It’s perfect for tiny hands and encourages sensory play and hand-eye coordination.
• Manhattan Toy Rattle – Lightweight and easy to hold, this rattle delights babies with bright colors and stretchy elastic straps that make it fascinating to explore.
• Grabease Baby Utensils – Designed specifically for little hands learning to self-feed, these short, chubby silicone utensils help practice grip and precision while building confidence at mealtimes.

Sitting Pretty – Learning to Sit Independently

Once babies start trying to sit up on their own, it’s hard not to cheer like they’re in the Olympics. Safely propping them up helps build those core muscles while they take in the world around them. At this stage, support is everything—giving them plenty of chances to practice sitting upright in soft, safe spots during playtime or even in the tub.

Tip: Many parents find that a Boppy pillow behind their baby provides just the right extra support in case of a tumble backwards.

Favorite products:

• Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Seat – A favorite for those early sitting days, this seat supports baby’s posture without slumping and gives them a fresh perspective on the world. Many parents love that it includes crinkly toys and a snack tray to keep babies happily occupied while they get things done nearby.
• Bath Time Seat– Once babies are strong enough to sit with a little help, a bath time seat can make splash time safer and more fun. Sitting upright in the tub also supports balance and muscle strength, turning bath time into another excellent opportunity to practice sitting.

Movin’ and Groovin’ – Encouraging Baby to Crawl

Once babies start moving, everything changes. Encouraging crawling is all about creating the right environment and offering the right amount of motivation to get started. Whether it’s a favorite toy just out of reach or something a little unconventional (hello, TV remote), a bit of incentive can go a long way. The picks below are much better suited for helping babies scoot, slide, and crawl their way toward independence.

Favorite products:

• Skip Hop Explore & More Follow Bee – This interactive little bee lights up, plays music, and moves in circles or straight lines to encourage crawling. It even adjusts its speed as your baby gets faster, making it a fun challenge for little movers.
• Lovevery Rolling Bell – Montessori-inspired and beautifully simple, this wooden toy rolls with a soft, pleasant sound that’s easy for babies to track and chase. It’s a gentle, low-tech way to motivate crawling and visual engagement.

Standing Tall – Pulling Up and Cruising Skills

This is the stage when babies start pulling up and cruising along furniture, and suddenly your living room feels like an obstacle course. Providing stable, interesting surfaces to hold onto helps encourage their balance and builds leg strength. Here are some favorite products that can help support your baby’s balance and confidence while making this exciting stage safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Favorite products:

• Little Partners Learning Tower – Originally designed for kitchen helpers, this sturdy tower is great for practicing standing with an adult close by. It grows with your child and doubles as a snack perch or a safe spot to “supervise” activities.
• Skip Hop Baby Activity Table – Featuring fun, interchangeable toys and sturdy legs, this table is perfect for encouraging pulling up and practicing cruising. It offers a safe, engaging way for babies to explore movement without bumping into furniture.
• Montessori Wooden Activity Cube – A beautiful and functional addition to any play space, this activity cube includes bead mazes, shape sorters, and spinning parts. It encourages babies to stand and explore with their hands, supporting longer periods of engagement and interaction.

Step by Step – Gaining Confidence on Two Feet

Those first steps are unforgettable, but babies need time, balance practice, and plenty of encouragement to get there. At this stage, walkers that offer support without pushing or scooting are ideal. The goal is to find something sturdy, engaging, and safe to help babies build confidence as they start to move on their own.

Here are some favorite picks that provide just the right support to encourage walking and balance while keeping your little one safe and engaged.

Favorite products:

• Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon –  Heavy and sturdy, this walker wagon is perfect for early walkers who need reliable support without tipping. Plus, it doubles as a toy hauler once walking is mastered—ours now transports blocks and stuffed animals on a daily basis.
• Tiny Land Wonder Walker – This classic wooden push toy offers just the right resistance for beginner walkers and features engaging elements on the front. Its quiet, simple charm makes it a favorite for encouraging balance and movement.

Little Thinkers – Supporting Cognitive Development

From those early newborn moments when babies lock eyes with a high-contrast pattern to the later stages of stacking rings or shaking rattles, cognitive development is happening every day. The best part is that play is learning, and the right toys can spark curiosity and support brain growth without it even feeling like work.

Favorite products:

• Black-and-White Contrast Cards & Toys– Ideal for newborns and younger babies, high-contrast black-and-white images are easier for little eyes to see, helping to develop visual tracking skills. They’re great for tummy time, changing pads, or even taped to stroller canopies.
• Wrist and Sock Rattles – These soft, colorful rattles strap onto a baby’s wrists and feet, encouraging them to discover their own hands and feet. It’s a fun way to promote self-awareness and early cause-and-effect learning.
• Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes – A classic favorite for diaper bags and car seats, this toy plays snippets of classical music and features lights and buttons for babies to explore independently. It’s simple, engaging, and supports auditory and visual development.
• Wooden Montessori Race track – Perfect for older babies (around 9 months and up), this toddler race track encourages hand-eye coordination. Its simple, open-ended design helps nurture growing focus and curiosity.
• Stacking Cups or Rings– These timeless toys are excellent for developing problem-solving skills and spatial awareness. Whether nesting, stacking, or just playing with them, babies get a great brain workout every time.

Final Thoughts

If your baby hasn’t rolled over yet, isn’t crawling “on time,” or prefers chewing on their toes instead of reaching for toys, you’re not doing anything wrong.  Milestones are guideposts, not deadlines. What truly matters is that your baby feels safe, loved, and gently encouraged. There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline for development. Some babies skip crawling, some walk before they talk, and some just want to snuggle until they’re 18 months old—and that’s perfectly okay.

These products aren’t miracle workers, but they are gentle tools to help create growth opportunities.

The best gift you can give your baby is you—your encouragement, your voice reading the same book 100 times, and your arms when they need a break from all the milestone chasing. Products like these helped us create a supportive, low-pressure environment for growth, but the real magic happens in the little moments: smiling during tummy time, singing while cruising, and clapping when they finally sit up.

You’re doing a fantastic job, Mama. Keep cheering them on. Before you know it, those toddlers will be cheering on their little siblings too.