Look out! Something wonderful has happened to your 6- to 12-month-old – he's becoming more mobile every day! Changes must be made around the house, such as installing safety gates, pulling out the playpen and growing eyes in the back of your head! Another change is the type of toys your baby will enjoy. Which toys are best for babies 6 to 12 months old?

"Don't complicate their world; simplify it," says Claire Green, executive director of Parents' Choice Foundation, a non-profit consumer guide to children's media and toys. "Balls, wooden spoons, plastic dishes, plastic containers with blocks to 'put in and take out.' In other words, simple toys that illustrate connections – cause and effect." Green says everyday household items – spoons, pans, plastic containers – encourage little ones to explore and discover.

Play may seem like all fun, but your baby is definitely getting more out of it. "As children learn to sit up by themselves, they find that they can play with both hands," says Green. "Balls and toys that roll encourage crawlers to follow the toy and push it again. When they are able to stand and can see the world from a new perspective, they begin to learn that things relate to one another. 'Pull apart and put together' toys are great ways to encourage these new discoveries."

We've all seen moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas standing in the toy aisles shaking and inspecting every toy, trying to find just the right one, making sure it's safe. And that's exactly what they need to do. Green says parents should be alert and observant when selecting toys for their child. "Although the toy manufacturers adhere to government safety regulations and guidelines, toys can be recalled after a number of years on the market," she says. "Check to see if the toy is breakable and if any part of the toy is sharp. Unless the toy is designed to 'pull apart, put together,' it shouldn't."

Green says that although you should rely on expert recommendations, you know your child best. "Play with your child, watch your child play with others. You'll soon recognize what holds her interests." And introduce one toy at a time. According to Green, this encourages discovery and the makings of an attention span.

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