Gifts for the Tummy Timer, the Sitter, the Roller, & The Crawler
Updated: Nov 09, 2023
My biggest list of surefire movement motivators!
This page contains affiliate links that aid in supporting Movement Mama LLC
(Gifts in order from top right to bottom left and links are found by clicking on the name of each item)
Ball pit balls: The opportunities are endless, but the most popular is my Laundry Basket Sitting Trick found here.
Penguin Wobble toy: Babies love a challenge when it's entertaining. And anything that wobbles and then comes back upright is a hit (hey, maybe that's why they love us mamas so much). Bonus points for this one not having obnoxious music.
O ball: Anything with the O ball shape is perfect for tiny fingers to grasp and little mouths to latch onto! The rattle sound is great for understanding cause & effect & this is the perfect size to chew. I also love these Oball cars! Anything that rolls or drives away is a phenomenal movement motivator!
Sassy Spinner: The spinning motion + twinkling lights capture their attention and makes them forget they're "working out" I love to suction these to the dishwasher during dinner prep for some kitchen tummy time!
Canvas swing: In the winter, this comes inside and is hung over a beam in our basement but we use this daily during the warmer months outside while big sister plays in the yard or to extend wake windows/tame the witching hour!
First 100 Words book: This is so great for language development and the pictures capture baby's attention so well! Point and name and point and name and point and name and you will be on your way to hearing those sweet first words!
The Upseat Infant Seat: If you've been around me any amount of time you've heard my Bumbo/Sit Me Up soapbox. This is the only infant seat I will recommend because it promotes optimal hip and spine positioning + grows a lot longer with your babe. Use code: THEMOVEMENTMAMA10 for 10% off! You can also find my full review of why I love it vs. other seats here.
Linking Rings: The best $4 you will ever spend. They keep toys attached to the stroller. Make toys easier to reach from an activity mat. Are great to chew on. Prevent cups from being thrown on the floor. They're great. Buy them. Now :)
Knob puzzle: Perfect for little fingers… and teeth. So much learning takes place with these. Look for the ones with large knobs and simple shapes for babies under 1!
Shape sorter: I love that the colors help with finding the right shape and it rolls and makes a fun sound that encourages reaching and crawling. If you're looking for even more tips on supporting crawling, check out my full course Crawl on Track!
Bumble Bee Moving Toy: Speaking of crawling, this is one of my all time favorite crawling and tummy down motivators (just consider putting tape over the speaker first LOL).
Stacking cups: Bang them together, stack them up, use them to scoop and pour. Stacking cups are a great open-ended toy that will last your little love a long while of playing
Mirror/Sensory Tummy Time Book: This book is soft, has a mirror, folds out for tummy down sensory play, + is a precious little "barn" theme. If you purchase from that link, you'll be shopping from my Usborne book shop! I always offer Free Shipping on orders over $75--just shoot me an email at themovementmama.info@gmail.com and I'll reimburse ya :)
Name puzzle: Ada June got this for her first Christmas and it was so fun to see how she began to recognize her name from an early age. Those tiny brains are so smart! As they get older, you can even use tiny felt balls + tongs for filling the ridges where the letters are for an additional name recognition activity! I love that the letters are different colors for color recognition, too!
Ball rattle: I swear this thing will hold their attention for much longer than I was expecting. Perfect for tiny hands and mouths, too
Activity table: This style is new to me this year but I LOVE the simplicity of it. It's one of those things I wouldn't mind keeping out in my living room :) You can see all the ways it can be used to promote motor development with a similar toy here. And if you're wanting the one from the reel specifically, here it is. The biggest difference is one has pop-off legs and one has screw-off legs! If you're looking for an activity table that babe can actually sit in, this is the only one I recommend.
Soft block set: Stack em, chew em, knock em down, throw em. These are the definition of an open-ended toy that will be fun for ages.
Black + White cards: These are so great for being motivators in tummy time! Babies love to look at high contrast objects early on!
Pull & Go cars: Good for cause & effect and for chasing via rolling + motivating crawling. These are included in my TOP all-time favorite Crawling motivators in Crawl on Track.
Peekaboo Elmo: One of my favorite toys for tummy time push-up motivation! And a great first learning experience of PeekABoo and how it can establish object permanence. Or if Elmo isn't your thing, this elephant also works wonders!
My First Music set: Musical instruments like this will be used by your little one for years to come! I also love this Musical Push Toy
Exercise ball: One of the best toys for the whole family. Use it to make tummy time more fun, develop sitting strength and balance reactions, crawl and push it, stand and walk with it, and maybe break it out every January for a few weeks when you're working on your fitness :)
Kick piano play mat: The overhead bar engages the arms and the piano entices the feet. This one is awesome for encouraging active play from an early age. I also love to pull off the piano for propped sitting play or hands. and knees reaching!
Play piano: I can't say enough good things about this play piano. Both of my children have used it from the time they can reach in tummy time through 3+ years old. It's perfect for encouraging reaching in tummy time as a rolling precursor. For more info on how to naturally support rolling, check out my full course Roll on Track.
Tunnel: One of my favorite toys for encouraging crawling! If you've got an army crawler, this can aid in them pressing up a bit higher into a hands & knees crawl!
Tummy time water mat: The cool-to-the-touch sensation, the cause & effect show of moving foam shapes on a high contrast background & the tiny bit of support it gives your babe make this one my go-to recommendation for babies who are still just not having it with tummy time. It's also awesome for propped sitting play, hands and knees reaching/batting, and army crawling over!
Little Balance Box: Developed by a PT, I love the way this little box doesn't tip during pull to stand and easily transitions across different surfaces + it can be used as an activity table as your child grows. Ada will sit and color on this table for hours!
Geometric rattle: Anything from Manhattan toys is always so great! Babies love watching the beads slide and feeling the bounce of the strands
Rattle/Teether: The material this is made out of is like magic for little fingers and little sore gums and it's perfect for encouraging hands to midline, a crucial pre-rolling activity.
Squigz spinners: These things are gold for not only tummy time, but for seated play, pulling to stand, cruising, etc etc! The spinning motion captures their attention and makes them forget they're working out (don't we all wish we had something like that)
Caterpillar pillow: I was instantly hooked when I saw one of my virtual patients using this for tummy time and seated play. It's now replaced the Boppy for me, since I didn't love the Boppy for nursing. This pillow is the perfect amount of support for making tummy time a bit easier & creating a safe haven for sitting practice. Plus it's a great "obstacle" for army crawlers. And I have a feeling this one will be involved in some pretend play later on, too!
Play cube: There's a reason so many pediatricians' offices have these in their waiting area--there is so much for your babe to discover and explore. I love breaking this out during attempts to reach in tummy time or a solid space to pull to kneeling play.
Fold-Out Book: The accordion-style of this high contrast book is perfect for head and body rotation in tummy time! If you purchase from that link, you'll be shopping from my Usborne book shop! I always offer Free Shipping on orders over $75--just shoot me an email at themovementmama.info@gmail.com and I'll reimburse ya :)
Wrist/Ankle socks: Body awareness is huge for motor-development. These are one of my favorite ways to encourage feet to mouth, which leads to rolling back to belly. You can find this + so many others in my list of holy grail rolling motivators in Roll on Track.
Squigz Cups: Stick some snacks in these things and suction them wherever you want babe to. move:)
Christmastime gets me so giddy--I can't wait to see the excitement on your sweet babes faces. Tag me @themovementmama in your pics of your little one exploring and engaging with their new toys.