TheToyZone is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more!
Hero image

15 Best Toys for Crawlers

Updated 19 January 2021

This post may contain affiliate links.

Author
Author avatar
Daniel Booth

Daniel is our primary content producer here at TheToyZone. He is a big kid at heart and a self confessed geek. His mission is to find toys that kids will treasure, researching and writing about toys he wants to play with himself.

When babies reach the age where they can crawl, it opens up a whole new world of exploration and fun for them. So it’s important to find the right toys that help them develop and grow as well as keep them entertained and safe. There are lots of toys out there designed for this crucial age, with cute and cuddly characters and activities that guide them on their path to toddling around.

Our recommendations include bees, bear cubs, penguins, and trains, each with their own features designed for every stage of crawler development all with exciting colors, sounds, and textures to keep them engaged and happy. We’ve done our research and ruled out the fake reviews to find just the 15 best crawler toys that you can trust.

  • 1LAMAZE Peek-A-Boo Forest, Fun Interactive Baby Book with Inspiring Rhymes and Stories, Multi, one Size (L27901B)

    B0043D28B4-LAMAZE Peek-A-Boo Forest, Fun Interactive Baby Book with Inspiring Rhymes and Stories, Multi, one Size (L27901B)

    The LAMAZE Peek-A-Boo Forest is a cute, soft book that babies can play with on their own to push their fine motor skills. It is made with six pages, and all of them are colorful and appealing with various patterns and child-friendly animal characters to stimulate visual learning and recognition. This book is designed so that babies can open and flip through the pages on their own, but with the words in them, it is also a great teaching tool for parents to read to help kids start learning different words and sounds. There are multiple textures for babies to feel as they go through the book as well for additional stimulation.

    What we love

    • Easy for babies to follow along thanks to the simple, repetitive words and bright colors
    • Cute peek-a-boo design that hides a different animal on each page for babies to discover

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Some of the textures could have a greater variety as some appear too similar
  • 2Playskool Poppin’ Pals Pop-up Activity Toy for Babies and Toddlers Ages 9 Months and Up (Amazon Exclusive)

    B00DSIQS6G-Playskool Poppin’ Pals Pop-up Activity Toy for Babies and Toddlers Ages 9 Months and Up (Amazon Exclusive)

    The Playskool Poppin' Pals Pop-Up Activity Toy makes playtime and learning even more fun for babies. By its design, it inspires hands-on playing that will develop a child's fine motor skills and allow them to recognize cause-and-effect. It features five different designs for them to press to see the animals: a key, two switches positioned at different angles, a lever, and a beeper. With this layout, kids have to twist, pull, push, and slide to see the cute animals hidden away in their compartments. This pop-up toy plays well on the floor, so it can work well for active kids who like to crawl or scoot around. There is even a small handle that babies can grasp to move it as they wish.

    What we love

    • A fun way to teach babies about animals, colors, and numbers
    • The design is a straightforward and effective way to help develop various motor functions

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Might be a bit better if the animals were designed with slightly more realistic features and colors
  • 3Melissa & Doug K's Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set - Soft Baby Toy Set With 4 Cars and Trucks and Carrying Case

    B00EX5K1GG-Melissa & Doug K's Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set - Soft Baby Toy Set With 4 Cars and Trucks and Carrying Case

    The Melissa & Doug Pull-Back Vehicles are some of the 15 best toys for crawlers to introduce them to playing with toy cars. It comes with four different vehicles that are all soft to the touch. This includes a police car, family car, fire truck, and a school bus. They all have adorable drivers with smiling faces to interest young children. These are simple enough for babies to use without assistance. Inside the vehicles is a rev-up mechanism that encourages them to simply pull them back with minimal effort and let the vehicles so that they race off. The self-rolling wheels allow them to go a good distance, which then gets babies crawling after them.

    What we love

    • Although they are soft to handle, the vehicles seem to maintain their shape even when squeezed
    • The vehicles are designed to withstand running into obstacles as they may change direction and keep going

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The wheels seem unable to function on carpet, so the vehicles are best played on hard floor or play mats
  • 4VTech Explore and Crawl Learning Cub

    B00ZCZU7D8-VTech Explore and Crawl Learning Cub

    The VTech Explore and Crawl Learning Cub is an adorable, well-made crawling toy that features a cute teddy bear design. All that is needed to get it going is a simple press of the heart-shaped button. Once it is moving, the bear says phrases that are both fun and encouraging to inspire babies to go after the plush stuffed animal. This bear also has a sweet ladybug friend on its shoulder that further captures a baby's attention thanks to the flashing light function. Rather than be just one of the 15 best toys for crawlers, this bear cub is versatile in how it helps babies reach their developmental milestones. There are more than 50 songs, sounds, melodies, and phrases that work to introduce them to shapes and colors.

    What we love

    • Has realistic crawling motions to better teach babies how to move
    • Features several verbal encouragements and lessons about shapes and colors from the bear

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • May need a break-in period as it might crawl only for a few seconds at first
  • 5VTech Baby Lil' Critters Moosical Beads Amazon Exclusive, Purple

    B0148NCN9A-VTech Baby Lil' Critters Moosical Beads Amazon Exclusive, Purple

    The VTech Baby Lil' Critters Moosical Beads is a singing and talking toy that babies will love playing with on the floor. It is useful not just to get a child active and moving, but also for their tactile and motor skill development. This features a bead ring with a spinning square in the center and two light-up buttons that feature "A, B, C" and "1, 2, 3" respectively. Available in two different colors, this cute toy cow has more than 30 phrases, sounds, and songs to excite babies. They get a good introduction to important things such as shapes, letters, numbers, and colors. There is also a nice variety of textures to better stimulate them.

    What we love

    • Includes numerous fun and educational modes
    • The bead ring is a comfortable size for babies to grasp with ease

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The toy may have to be repositioned from time to time as it doesn't always sit up well
  • 6Hape Penguin Musical Wobbler | Colorful Wobbling Melody Penguin, Roly Poly Toy for Kids 6 Months+, Multicolor, 5'' x 2'' (E0331)

    B07217GBJB-Hape Penguin Musical Wobbler | Colorful Wobbling Melody Penguin, Roly Poly Toy for Kids 6 Months+, Multicolor, 5'' x 2'' (E0331)

    A cute and eco-friendly toy, the Hape Penguin Musical Wobbler is a wonderful choice for playtime and to help babies develop crawling skills. This toy can stimulate them in numerous ways. It is a roly-poly toy so kids can swat at it without sending it rolling too far away. When it is waddling, the arms will adorably shake. Also, when it is pushed and begins to waddle, it will emit soothing, gentle sounds. These tinkling sounds are at a moderate level too so babies are not surprised or overwhelmed.In addition to waddling, this cute, brightly colored penguin can also roll, rock, and spin around. When it is all done, it settles back in place ready for children to interact with it again.

    What we love

    • Emits sounds without the use of batteries so kids can play with it all the time
    • Thanks to the rounded bottom, it can teach babies about cause-and-effect

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The bottom is rather heavy, so parents may have to supervise babies if they pick it up
  • 7Skip Hop Developmental Learning Crawl Toy, Explore & More 3-Stage Follow-Me, Bee

    B072JNNTGB-Skip Hop Developmental Learning Crawl Toy, Explore & More 3-Stage Follow-Me, Bee

    The Skip Hop Explore & More Follow-me Bee features three stages to make it one of the best toys for crawlers at various skill levels. Stage 1 is known as the pre-crawling stage, and the bee will wobble without falling over. At Stage 2, for beginner crawlers, the cloud can move in a circular motion and stays in a small area so it won't travel too far. With Stage 3, for advanced crawlers, the cloud's movements are random to encourage babies to move. It is an instant appeal to kids thanks to its whimsical, adorable design. Babies are rewarded for their movements by colorful lights and sounds. The rattles on the bee are designed with teething in mind as they're gentle for babies to chew on.

    What we love

    • Has good mobility as it moves well on hard surfaces and has sensors to avoid obstacles
    • It is a good toy to use for babies at various stages of their crawling development

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The bee can be removed from its base too easily and babies may need help putting it back in
  • 8Fisher-Price Hello Sunshine Rattle Ball

    B07DK2M9WZ-Fisher-Price Hello Sunshine Rattle Ball

    The Fisher-Price Hello Sunshine Rattle Ball is a stunning toy with two ways to play. Babies can sit and enjoy the adorably designed ball or crawl after it by pushing it so that it rolls around. Concerning its design, the ball is two-sided as it features a bright smiling sunshine face and grinning rainbow clouds on the other side. When babies sit and play with it, they can shake it to hear the colorful beads rattle inside the ball. A simple roll is all it takes to get it moving. Since the ball only makes the rattling sound when it is moved, this continually encourages babies to reach for it, pick it up, or roll it around so that they are rewarded with the fun rattling. It not only develops their crawling, but their coordination and balance as well.

    What we love

    • Lightweight design so that it is easier for babies to pick up and roll around
    • Easily engages babies thanks to the colorful, playful design and rattling sounds

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The plastic casing may get scuffed or scratched from rolling around on hard floors
  • 9VATOS Baby Toy Car, Drop and Go Train,Baby Musical Toy Train with 3 Balls Light Talking,Toddler Boy Toys for 1 2 3 Year Old,Early Educational Toys Learning Toy for 1.5+ Year Old Boys Girls

    B07G3QYL2W-VATOS Baby Toy Car, Drop and Go Train,Baby Musical Toy Train with 3 Balls Light Talking,Toddler Boy Toys for 1 2 3 Year Old,Early Educational Toys Learning Toy for 1.5+ Year Old Boys Girls

    The Drop and Go Train from VATOS is an innovative way to help babies learn and develop their crawling skills. With its bright, vividly colored design, it can instantly capture their attention. There are even lights and sounds that come from it to further attract them and hold their interest over time. Besides the entertainment, the train comes in handy for development thanks to the included colorful balls. Babies will take the balls and drop them into the chimney on the train. In turn, the train will begin to move as the balls loop down through the chimney. Otherwise, they can also come out through the back so kids can chase after them and return them to the train. It helps get babies on the move while also aiding in their motor skills.

    What we love

    • Designed with multiple play modes to keep babies entertained and busy
    • The balls are a good size for babies to hold onto without being small enough to fit in their mouths

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The train does not seem to move as well on the carpet as it does on flat, hard floors
  • 10TINOTEEN Musical Baby Toy Toddlers, Crawling and Singing Bee Toys

    B07H1BSZTC-TINOTEEN Musical Baby Toy Toddlers, Crawling and Singing Bee Toys

    The TINOTEEN Crawling and Singing Bee is a lively toy that will inspire your baby to chase after it once it gets going. Several aspects of this appeal to young children to aid their development. It features stimulating blinking eyes and flashing tentacles. This even attracts babies with fun and elegant songs. As for movement, the bee utilizes omni-direction moving. The legs move forward and backward, and if the bee happens to encounter an obstacle in its path, it will promptly change directions so that babies or parents don't have to reach for it to keep it walking. This adorable bug is the ideal size for young children to grasp and handle as they please once they catch it.

    What we love

    • Features anti-fall materials so that it can withstand rough play or being dropped
    • Manages to change direction rather quickly whenever something blocks its path

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The feet don't appear to move as well on carpet or tile flooring
  • 11RenFox Kids Musical Mats, Music Piano Keyboard Dance Floor Mat Carpet Animal Blanket Touch Playmat Early Education Toys for Baby Girls Boys(43.3x14.2in)

    B07MBDZCXT-RenFox Kids Musical Mats, Music Piano Keyboard Dance Floor Mat Carpet Animal Blanket Touch Playmat Early Education Toys for Baby Girls Boys(43.3x14.2in)

    The RenFox Kids Musical Mats is one of the 15 best toys for crawlers that encourage their development while stimulating their musical creativity. It is made from non-toxic, soft non-woven fabric that won't irritate babies. At the same time, this material should be easier to wash in case of spills or other accidents. This also has good portability since it folds down and becomes compact enough for packing. As for its functionality, it plays different instrument sounds for early introduction to music as well as motivation. The nine black keys on the piano also correspond to various musical tones. It rewards babies for their movements, encouraging them to crawl. Additionally, this mat has different modes for kids to record musical creations of their own, to playback songs, and more.

    What we love

    • The design allows it to grow with babies so they can use it when they're older
    • Includes a eight unique instruments for babies to create diverse music

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The back could benefit from non-slip material as it may move around as babies crawl on top
  • 12Mini Tudou Baby Blocks Soft Building Blocks Baby Toys Teethers Toy Educational Squeeze Play with Numbers Animals Shapes Textures 6 Months and Up 12PCS

    B07MW4QW26-Mini Tudou Baby Blocks Soft Building Blocks Baby Toys Teethers Toy Educational Squeeze Play with Numbers Animals Shapes Textures 6 Months and Up 12PCS

    The Mini Tudou Baby Blocks is a unique 12-piece set to keep kids active and happy as they play and learn. Each of the blocks is a different color, and they all have an embossed design on them. There are 12 different animals, 12 geometric patterns, 9 kinds of fruits, numbers that go from 0-9 as well as having mathematical signs (-, +, and =), and 12 shapes meant for matching and stacking the blocks. These can introduce babies to counting, problem-solving, and animal and food recognition. They are also great for teething purposes since they are made from soft material that is constructed with chewing in mind. When these toys are squeezed, they even make a cool squeaking sound.

    What we love

    • The blocks are a safe non-swallow size that are easy for babies to pick up and handle
    • They come in a box that offers ideal storage so that they're simple to clean up

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Not all the matching pieces fit snug so some blocks may not stack very well
  • 13Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM Learning Toy, 9 Piece Set, Age 6+ Months

    B07NXDJ52C-Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM Learning Toy, 9 Piece Set, Age 6+ Months

    The Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring is a unique toy for crawlers as it encourages babies to go after the various rings to successfully place them on the tower. It includes a straight post designed to accept rings of different sizes, which also helps develop hand-eye coordination at a young age. This is a nine-piece set so babies have plenty to work with. Although they vary in size, all of the rings are made big enough for small hands to grip with ease. The center of each ring is the same size so babies can stack them no matter what direction they are facing. For further stimulation, the rings vary in bold coloring and different patterns from solid, to stripes, and polka dots. The rings are numbered to inspire counting, and they even have different textures and weights.

    What we love

    • Made from reliable plastic that can withstand frequent, rough handling
    • Thoughtful design as it stimulates babies in several different ways from texture to color

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Need careful cleaning rings aren't water-tight so parents have to take caution when cleaning them
  • 14Toddlers Baby Music Shake Dancing Ball Toy, Move and Crawl Ball Toys for Kids,Bouncing Sensory Learning Ball Toys Ideal Gift for Baby Boys and Girls, Endless Fun for Children

    B07RJ38NBH-Toddlers Baby Music Shake Dancing Ball Toy, Move and Crawl Ball Toys for Kids,Bouncing Sensory Learning Ball Toys Ideal Gift for Baby Boys and Girls, Endless Fun for Children

    The YMDLY Music Shake Dancing Ball is an animated, wildly active toy that can thrill babies into making their first independent movements on the floor. With bright colors, this ball vibrates and rolls across the floor through dancing, crawling, and jumping. As it is self-bouncing and self-rolling, to activate it, babies only need to pat it and watch it race off. It is designed with child-friendly "horns" sticking out all around that are soft to the touch. There are two types of modes for parents to put the toy in. With the switch in the middle position, beating the ball will encourage it to dance to music for five seconds. The last position will let it dance for ten seconds instead.

    What we love

    • Well-made with durable, long-lasting material
    • With its fun self-rolling feature, it does well at persuading babies to crawl after it

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • The toy lacks any volume control so the music is always rather loud
  • 15Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months Musical Press and Go Baby Toys 12-18 Months Baby Girl Gifts Baby Boy Toys Crawling Toys with Light Inflant Toys 6-12 Months Toys 1 Year Old Girls Boys

    B082G33BNV-Baby Toys 6 to 12 Months Musical Press and Go Baby Toys 12-18 Months Baby Girl Gifts Baby Boy Toys Crawling Toys with Light Inflant Toys 6-12 Months Toys 1 Year Old Girls Boys

    The cute CubicFun Musical Press and Go Inchworm promote crawling skills as well as a baby's fine motor skills. This versatile toy does more than just move around. The head can be turned so that its smiling face can be seen at various angles. This also makes diverse sounds for babies to recognize. As for the wheels, the front two have a cool vortex design while the back two are filled with colorful beads. This toy even lights up and plays fun music to entertain babies. To get it moving, all a child has to do is press down on it. This type of design helps babies build up muscle strength and inspires them to interact more with the toy as they become aware of the cause-and-effect system in place.

    What we love

    • Babies can press down on the inchworm for it to move without assistance
    • The toy can travel a good distance on hard floors and low-pile carpet

    What We Don't Like That Much

    • Might have to replace the batteries often as it can go through them quickly