Best Toys for Crawling Babies

Need a toy for a crawling baby to encourage their playful exploration?

These top picks are tried and tested to engage your little one and get them on the move!

Whether your baby is not yet crawling but you want to encourage them to get started, they’re just getting started or they’re already confident crawlers, these toys are perfect for encouraging them to practice.

Babies develop the skills needed to crawl by playing on their bellies – so any toys that encourage your baby to enjoy tummy time are a great idea!

These crawling toys are perfect for play during tummy time and roll, move and wiggle to get baby chasing after them.

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Best Crawling Toys

Let’s take a look at those toys in a little more detail!

Toys to help baby learn how to crawl

Best toy for pre-crawlers: Skip Hop Developmental Learn to Crawl Beatbox

This super cute “beet” encourages baby to get crawling thanks to its fun beatbox-style songs that play when the ball is rolled.

It encourages baby to get crawling and chase after the beet. They will love to play and roll this toy!

Babies love the roll-activated beatbox riffs and rattle sounds that encourage them to move it around the room while playing, and chase after it too.

Best toy for encouraging crawling – VTech Crawl Ball

My kids had the VTech Crawl Ball and both got so much out of it! It’s easy to roll along, and features buttons, lights and noises for engaging play.

There are happy animal faces and bright colours all over this fun toy, making it the perfect way to engage them in getting moving along the floor.

Buy VTech Crawl Ball in the UK

Buy VTech Crawl Ball in the US

Best toy for pro-crawlers – Hide and Side Ball Pits, Tents and Tunnels

Once baby is really on the move then an obstacle course is a great way for them to hone their skills.

This set of tunnels and tents is the perfect way to get them crawling. And what I really love about this one is that it’s a toy that will also be much-loved by toddlers so you will get plenty of use out of it.

Can be used indoors or in the garden on a dry day.

Tinoteen Caterpillar Crawler

Babies push down in the centre of the caterpillar and releasing causes it to roll forwards.

The happy, smiley face can be turned and pointed to look in any direction baby wants and there is a music button too to play sounds.

Lights up and has colourful beads in the back wheels to draw baby’s attention.

Melissa and Doug Pullback Car Set

These four soft vehicles can be pulled back and released to make them zoom away.

Babies will love to scramble after them. They’re perfect for imaginative play and will be a loved toy right into their toddler years.

The set comes with four different vehicles including a school bus and police car.

Fisher Price 123 Crawl With Me Puppy

Babies will love to chase after this cute puppy! The pooch has a waggy tail and soft ears they will love to grab.

There are buttons on the collar to press for fun noises, such as the ABCs. They’ll also love pulling on the sock in the puppy’s mouth, which makes the pup shake its head from side to side.

Bright Starts Roll and Glow Monkey

This is a fun and cheeky toy that is bound to make your baby laugh.

Tap the monkey on the head and it sets him off on a wild monkey chase. The two wheels also light up and it plays fun sounds and music.

Peanutshell Tummy Time Roller

This lovely toy does not need batteries, unlike many of the other items on our list.

It’s a super simple concept that is suitable for your baby from three months.

They chase after the cylinder-shaped toy – featuring bright and fun colours – push it to make it roll faster and climb over it.

It has two balls inside which baby will love to see move and try to poke.

SoftZone Climb and Crawl Playset

These foam climbing pieces can be easily moved and put together in any way your baby wants!

Babies can crawl, climb and slide. The set is wipe clean and can be moved outside for playtime on warm days!

Wood rolling drum toy

Prefer wooden toys? This is the one for you! A simple wood rolling drum-shaped toy can be chased along the floor.

This one has balls trapped inside that baby will love to see move as the toy rolls along the floor.

Baby Music Shake Dancing Ball

Babies will be fascinated with this dancing ball! It shakes around and plays joyful music to catch their attention.

The ball bounces along the floor by itself and your baby can also push it along.

Fisher Price Poppity Pop Turtle

This simple and fun toy features colourful balls that pop around when the turtle is rolled along the floor.

Babies can push and crawl after the turtle or chase after it when it’s pushed away from them.

Foam baby play mat

A foam play mat makes crawling on hard floors much more comfortable for babies.

A play mat like this one where you can slot together jigsaw pieces is great because it’s flexible for the type of space that you have.

Baby play mirror

Babies love to stare at their own reflection – it’s part of discovering who they are, how they can move their own body and it’s just great fun!

This cool tummy time mirror with tactile bee and flower to touch is perfect for distracting babies who hate tummy time.

When do babies start crawling

Your baby may start crawling between 6 and 10 months but every baby is different and it could take longer.

My eldest never actually crawled – she rolled until she was ready to walk. But most babies will begin by pushing themselves up with their arms when on their tummy. Then they may start to commando crawl along the floor.

And babies may also get to a stage where they can get onto their hands and knees and rock back and forth, without going anywhere just yet.

Finally they’ll move on to pulling themselves forward – some may start by going backwards! Your baby is likely to be a confident crawler by the time they turn one.

How to teach baby to crawl

There are lots of fun things you can do to encourage your baby to develop their crawling skills!

Try these activities and tips:

Encourage them to spend time on their tummy as much as possible. Make tummy time fun with toys, mirrors and by talking to them.
Toys that help them to enjoy time on their tummy without becoming frustrated or bored are the perfect way to encourage them in the early stages of crawling.
Put a favourite toy just out of reach and encourage them to reach for it.
Placing a mirror in front of them also helps to encourage them to push up on their arms so they can look at themselves face on.

Final thoughts

I hope you’ve found the perfect crawling toy for your baby in this list! There’s a great selection of noisy, wooden and imaginative play toys out there to choose from.

If your baby is well on their way to being a pro crawler then you may love these climbing toys for one year olds.