The Best Baby Stroller Toys
- Hannah M.
- UPDATED April 5, 2019
- in Toddler & baby toys
Lamaze
Freddie Firefly
Here’s the thing… most stroller toys are cheap, plastic pieces of junk. Sorry, it’s true! The good news? There are also some diamonds in the rough. We’ve cherry-picked a selection your baby will love (and these won’t embarrass you when you attach them to your stroller.)
The best stroller toys will help a baby stay entertained and calm. They’ll also look adorable and will be made from eco-friendly, non-toxic materials.
Enough spiel, let’s do this!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Lamaze Freddie The Firefly
Upgrade Choice
Product Nice Name
Best Budget Buy
Product Nice Name
How to Pick the Best Stroller Toy for your Baby
1. Recommended Age
The first important feature you’ll want to think about when selecting a stroller toy is the recommended age. You want to make sure you don’t select something that is targeted for babies much younger or older than your child is now. You’ll also want to select a toy that is likely to grow with your child and keep their interest as they get older.
2. Style
There are various styles of stroller toys that are on the market. Some are simply small toys that clip to the handle or canopy of the stroller using a link. Some styles are larger, plastic arches that clip to both sides of the stroller and go over your baby’s head. Additionally, there are also mobiles that you can find that will attach to a stroller or baby carrier. Finally, there are also cloth spirals that wrap around the handle of an infant carrier or front bar of a stroller that have some toys hanging off of them to entertain your child. If you decide on a few styles of stroller toys that you prefer over others, this will definitely help you to narrow down your choices.
3. Versatility
Another feature to consider when selecting a stroller toy is versatility. Do you care if the toy you purchase is only designed to be used in the stroller? Or, do you want to find a toy that can come out of the stroller into your house or wherever your final destination may be to provide your child something to play with there? The mobile and arch styles discussed above and really designed more to just be used with a stroller. They wouldn’t work well to be taken off the stroller so your baby could play with them on the floor. The spiral toys and toys that attach to the stroller with links would be more suited to being taken off the stroller and brought somewhere else where they could be played with.
4. Materials
Next, you’ll want to consider the materials you want your stroller toy to be made out of. Most stroller toys are either cloth, plastic, or some combination of the two. Do you want a softer toy for your baby? Or do you prefer a plastic mobile for them to watch? If you’re considering buying a stroller toy that will also be attached to an infant carrier when you are driving, you’ll want to be extra-selective. Most experts don’t recommend attaching or using anything in a car seat that could become a projectile and cause your baby harm in the event of a crash.
The Car Seat Lady discusses how to select a toy that is safe to use in a car seat. She says that if you hit yourself in the head with the object and say “ouch,” then the toy is not safe for use in a car.
5. Colors
Colors are another feature you’ll want to think about when selecting a stroller toy. Do you want lots of bold and vibrant colors or more subdued colors? What colors does your baby seem drawn to? When thinking about the toys you’ll purchase, keep in mind that babies (especially very young babies) prefer looking at colors that have high contrast. This article by HuggaMind explains the science behind why infants prefer these high contrast colors. Consider these factors when finding the perfect toy for your baby’s stroller!
6. Sounds
Finally, you need to decide if you want the stroller toy to make sounds. Do you want something electronic that plays music for your baby? Or, are you looking for something quieter that might just make some crinkling sounds when your baby plays with it? Making a decision about this feature will also help you to narrow down your search and eliminate some options.
The Winners
#1
Freddy the Firefly is an extremely popular toy by Lamaze (and for good reason). It’s a soft, colorful firefly which you can attach to a link on a stroller or car seat.
- You'll love:
- Your baby will love the bright colors, crinkle sounds, mirror, and attached teething toy.
- Freddy the Firefly is a very versatile toy.
- Your baby can play with it on the floor or in a crib, or it can be attached to a stroller or car seat with the attached link.
- Freddy is very durable and will hold up well to your child playing with him.
- Watch for: If your baby is still very young and not able to grab and hold things well yet, Freddy the Firefly might be a bit too big for them.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Hanging toy to clip to a stroller/car seat
Versatility: Very versatile and easy to bring from one location to another
Materials: Cloth and plastic
Colors: Multi-color
Sounds: Crinkle sounds
#2
The Tiny Love Take-Along Arch Toy was designed to grow with your baby and adapt to their needs. This arch toy features a large beaver, frog, and flower as well as 3 small hanging toys to engage your baby. This toy was given the Upgrade Choice Award.
- You'll love:
- The arch angles' are adjustable so you can set it up so it is at a good position for your baby.
- When your baby is under 5 month old, they will enjoy batting at the hanging toys and observing the bright colors.When your baby is under 5 month old, they will enjoy batting at the hanging toys and observing the bright colors.
- When your baby is over 5 months old, they will love to play with the crinkly frog, spinning bead ball, and teether.
- Watch for: There is a lot going on with this toy, and it could overstimulate some babies.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Arch that clips to the sides of a stroller or car seat
Versatility: The arch would need to be clipped somewhere else like a bouncer for your baby to be able to enjoy it
Materials: Plastic and cloth
Colors: Multi-color
Sounds: Crinkle sounds
#3
The Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Mobile is designed using high-contrast colors to keep the interest and attention of even the youngest babies. The mobile include a clamp so it can be attached to most strollers and infant carrier car seats. This car seat toy was given the Best Budget Buy Award
- You'll love:
- Even very young babies will be attracted to this toy because the high-contrast colors that were selected.
- The hanging cards are reversible with black and white images on one side and color images on the other.
- The mobile is very lightweight and easy to pack and bring along for traveling - Watch for: If your baby is older or is grabbing at toys already, this probably isn't the best choice for them.
Recommended Age: 0 to 5 months
Style: Mobile
Versatility: You could use it in other places, but you would need somewhere to clip it
Materials: Polypropylene plastic sheets
Colors: Black, white, red, and blue
Sounds: No
#4
The O Ball Flex ‘n Go Activity Arch is a fun and colorful arch that is designed to attach to your stroller. There are three hanging toys (an elephant, a ball, and a lion) that will attract and amuse your baby.
- You'll love:
- The elephant, ball, and lion toys are removable, so your child can hold them or play with them when they are not in the stroller.
- 4 linky loops are included so you can attach other favorite toys to the arch.
- Your child will like the bright colors.
- The O Ball design is easy for very young children to grasp. - Watch for:
- Even though the O Ball plastic material is flexible, the arch and toys would still probably be too hard to have in or on a car seat in the car.
- As your child gets older and stronger, they may be able to pull the toys off of the arch or bend the arch.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Arch that clips to sides of stroller or car seat
Versatility: The toys on the arch are removable and can be used elsewhere
Materials: Flexible O Ball Plastic
Colors: Bright blue, yellow, red, and green
Sounds: No
#5
The Infantimo Hug and Tug Musical Giraffe is designed to keep your baby entertained when he or she is sitting in the stroller. It features a pull-down design, so when the giraffe’s body is pulled down, music will play as it slowly goes back up.
- You'll love:
- The music continues to play for 90 seconds as the giraffe moves back up, so you won't constantly be needing to pull it back down for your baby.
- Your baby will enjoy the bright colors and engaging design.
- The giraffe includes 2 attached rings, a mirror, and knotty legs for your child to teeth on.
- Watch for: If your baby is older or is grabbing at toys already, this probably isn't the best choice for them.
Recommended Age: 0 to 5 months
Style: Mobile
Versatility: You could use it in other places, but you would need somewhere to clip it
Materials: Polypropylene plastic sheets
Colors: Black, white, red, and blue
Sounds: No
#6
The TOYMYTOY Spiral Mobile features a spiral design so it can be wrapped around the handle of a car seat or bar of a stroller. Hanging off of the spiral are a monkey, giraffe, and elephant designed to entertain your baby.
- You'll love:
- The spiral design makes it easy to put this toy on or off your stroller or car seat handle.
- Your baby will be captivated by the cute monkey, elephant, and giraffe plush toys that hang off the spiral.
- You can wrap the spiral toy around other areas for your baby, such as the top of an activity mat or a crib (if they are playing, not for sleeping).
- Watch for: The spiral design could cause the toy to shift to one side of the handle on an infant carrier.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Spiral Toy
Versatility: This toy can be brought to others spaces for play
Materials: Cloth and Plastic
Colors: Brown, blue, red, green and yellow
Sounds: Squeaking sounds and music
#7
The Infantimo Tag Along Travel Pals are a set of 3 fun animals that can be attached to a stroller or car seat. The set features a monkey, elephant, and giraffe plush toy.
- You'll love:
- Each toy is designed to entertain your baby. The monkey has an attached teether, the elephant has two rings your baby can grab and clack together, and the giraffe makes a funk crinkle sound when your baby plays with it.
- Your baby will love looking at the animals hanging on their stroller or car seat and reaching up to grab them.
- You can very easily unhook the animals from the stroller or car seat to use them somewhere else.
- Watch for: Depending on the design of your infant carrier, these may not hang in an optimum location for your baby.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Hanging toys to clip to a stroller/car seat
Versatility: This toy can be brought to others spaces for play
Materials: Cloth and Plastic
Colors: Multi-color
Sounds: Crinkle and clicking sounds
#8
The Skip Hop Buddy Dino is a fun blue and green dinosaur who is designed to keep your baby entertained wherever you go. The dino is wearing a yellow textured bandana and holding a teether for your baby.
- You'll love:
- Your baby will love the different textures, crinkle sounds, and the teething toy.
- The dino's bandana can be removed so you can wear it around your wrist to get it to baby quickly.
- The toy can easily go from the stroller to your house or anywhere else you need it to go!
- Watch for: Depending on your baby's age, this toy may be a bit large for them.
Recommended Age: 3 months and up
Style: Hanging toy to clip to a stroller/car seat
Versatility: Very versatile and easy to bring from one location to another
Materials: Cloth and plastic
Colors: Blue, red, and brown
Sounds: Rattle and crinkle sounds
#9
Mortimer The Moose by Lamaze is a colorful toy that is designed to be hung from a stroller or car seat. Mortimer is a cute moose with colorful crinkle paws, yellow teether antlers, and a squeaking belly
- You'll love:
- Mortimer can easily be used in a stroller and then brought inside for continued play.
- Your baby will be engaged by all the sensory input they get from Mortimer and will want to continue playing with him.
- The sounds made by Mortimer are relatively quiet.
- Watch for: Mortimer may be too large for your very young baby.
Recommended Age: 3 months and up
Style: Hanging toy to clip to a stroller/car seat
Versatility: Very versatile and easy to bring from one location to another
Materials: Cloth and plastic
Colors: Brown moose with multi-color accents
Sounds: Squeaking and crinkle sounds
#10
The Tiny Love Take Along Mobile is designed to be clipped above your stroller. It features a hanging bird, bee, and frog that will captivate your baby’s attention.
- You'll love:
- The mobile can easily clip on and off various surfaces, so you can use it on your stroller, crib, or other surfaces to provide quick entertaining and soothing for your baby
- The mobile can play music for 30 minutes without interruption, so you won't need to continue resetting it and disturbing your baby.
- Your baby will love watching the cute animals spin while listening to the soothing music.
- Watch for: Some parents have noted that the sounds from the music and the motor can be annoying.This toy is too hard to be safely used with a car seat when you are driving.
Recommended Age: 0 to 6 months
Style: Mobile
Versatility: Can be clipped above other surfaces in addition to the stroller
Materials: Plastic and cloth
Colors: Blue, green, and orange
Sounds: Musical Sounds
#11
The Skip Hop Silver Lining cloud stroller toy is a charming and simple toy designed to clip onto a stroller or car seat. They toy is designed to look like a cloud with a star and raindrop hanging down. There is a handle to pull the cloud down and make it shake as it moves back up.
- You'll love:
- Your child will love playing with the squeaky star and crinkly raindrop.
- One side of the cloud shows a sun behind the cloud; the other side shows a moon behind the cloud.
- You can use this to begin talking with your child about day and night. As your baby gets older, they'll enjoy being able to pull the cloud down by themselves to watch it move up and shake.
- Watch for: Depending on the width of the bar you plan to hang this from, it may slide down.
Recommended Age: 0 months and up
Style: Hanging toy to clip to a stroller/car seat
Versatility: Very versatile and easy to bring from one location to another
Materials: Cloth and plastic
Colors: White, gray, blue, and yellow
Sounds: Squeaking and crinkle sounds
DIY and Craft Stroller Toys Ideas
DIY Stroller Toy Bar
DIY Crochet Stroller Mobile
DIY Paint Chip Stroller Toy
DIY Stroller Toy Leash
DIY Crinkle Toy
Quick Decision
Lamaze Freddie The Firefly – Best Overall
A captivating toy full of color and crinkle.
Tiny Love Take-Along Arch – Upgrade Choice
The customizability of the arch and the different features it has to engage both young babies and older babies are impressive added features that make this a great buy!
Manhattan Toy Wimmer-Ferguson Travel Toy – Best Budget Buy
A simple, yet appealing, design at a very reasonable price.
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Hannah H.
Hannah is both a parent and a freelance journalist and author. You go, girl! She is an impeccable wordsmith and her warm and witty outlook on life makes her pieces a joy to read.
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