With new toys hitting the market every day, how do you know which to choose for your little ones? It can be overwhelming when selecting toys that are safe, age-appropriate, and of course, fun! When shopping for a toy, I look for something that will promote children’s overall development, like fine motor, cognitive, gross motor, oral motor, self-help, and language skills.

With Winter’s first birthday around the corner, I have a much better idea of what toys are the real winners and which ones did not work. So today, I’ve rounded up her absolute favs that have grown with her from 0 to 12 months.

Here are my top must-have toys for baby’s first year: