Five months is when babies discover their hands. They reach for everything, grab with both hands, pass toys back and forth and bring them straight to their mouths. Many are rolling over and starting to sit with support. The best toys for a 5-month-old are soft, light and easy to grab, with a gentle sound, a friendly face or a bold shape to explore.
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Every toy in this guide is from Estella, a family-owned New York brand making baby gifts since 2003. Our toys are hand-knit one at a time by artisans in Peru with a soft organic cotton exterior. We’ve earned 1,800+ five-star reviews from 55,000+ families, been featured in Vogue, and you’ll never find us on Amazon.
In this guide:
- Our quick picks
- What 5-month-olds love
- Top toys for a 5-month-old
- Gift sets for a 5-month-old
- What size to give
- Ready to give
- Frequently asked questions
Our Quick Picks
- Best first toy: the NYC Taxi Baby Rattle ($28), our bestselling rattle.
- Best under $50: the NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set ($48), two New York icons to grab and shake.
- Best keepsake: Frank the Dog ($72), a first friend for years to come.
- Best gift set: the NYC Embroidered Baby Gift Set ($228), clothes, rattles and a book in one gift box.
What 5-Month-Olds Love
Grabbing and passing. Light toys with easy shapes help little hands practice gripping and switching hands.
Making a sound. A soft rattle they can shake themselves is an early lesson in cause and effect.
Faces and bold colors. Stitched faces and bright, simple shapes hold a baby’s attention.
Something soft to hold. A small lovey or plush friend is comforting during awake, supervised play. Keep soft toys and loveys out of the crib until after the first birthday.
The best toys at this age are the same for boys and girls. Choose by what the family loves (animals, sports or New York) rather than by color.
Top Toys for a 5-Month-Old
NYC Taxi Baby Rattle
Our bestselling rattle: a bright yellow cab with a checkered stripe, easy for small hands to hold.
Giraffe Baby Rattle
Long neck and long legs give babies plenty to grab from any angle.
Adorable: Great! Perfectly made and cute as can be ❤️
Toni the Elephant Rattle
A soothing grey elephant with a small heart stitched on her leg, a nod to the endangered Sumatran elephant.
Charming Baby Toy! The toy is beautifully made and has a little heart embroidered on one leg.
NYC Taxi & Pretzel Baby Rattle Set
Two New York icons, a taxi and a pretzel, for the tiniest city fan. Two shapes to grab, shake and swap.
NYC Baby Rattle Gift Set
A taxi, a hot dog, a pretzel and the Big Apple: four shapes and textures to grab, shake and swap.
Safari Baby Rattle Set
A lion, an elephant, a giraffe and a monkey, perfect for animal sounds and peekaboo.
All American Baby Rattles
A soft baseball, basketball and football for the littlest fan in a sports-loving family.
Frank the Dog
A 12-inch hand-knit dog with floppy ears, a stitched face and a little taxi on his chest, a first friend for years to come.
Adorable: Great quality, my son loves them!
NYC Taxi Baby Teddy Bear
A small, soft bear dressed for the city, sized for little hands and easy to bring along.
NYC Taxi Lovey Security Blanket
A hand-knit taxi lovey with pom-pom wheels, about 14" x 14": just enough to grab and snuggle.
NYC ABCs Baby Board Book
Bold pictures for babies who love being read to.
Gift Sets for a 5-Month-Old
NYC Little Explorers Baby Gift Set
Two organic cotton bodysuits, a matching NYC bib, hand-knit taxi and Big Apple rattles and a New York board book. Choose 6–12 months.
NYC Embroidered Baby Gift Set
Three embroidered organic cotton bodysuits, four hand-knit rattles and an NYC ABCs board book, in a gift box. Our bestseller.
What Size to Give a 5-Month-Old
Most 5-month-olds wear 3–6 months now and 6–12 months soon after. If you’re not sure, choose 6–12 months so the gift lasts. Rattles, loveys and plush toys need no size at all.
Ready to Give
Add a free gift message in your cart, and every order includes a gift receipt with no prices. Gift boxing is $8, complimentary on orders over $175. Orders ship within 1–2 business days, with free shipping on U.S. orders over $75.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best toy for a 5-month-old?
A light, soft toy that’s easy to grab and makes a gentle sound, like a hand-knit rattle, is a favorite at this age.
Do 5-month-olds prefer stimulating or soothing toys?
A bit of both. Bright, easy-to-grab toys encourage reaching and shaking, while a soft lovey or plush friend is comforting during cuddles.
Are soft toys okay for a baby who mouths everything?
Our rattles and plush toys have an organic cotton exterior, hand-knit in Peru, with a polyester fill. Each product page lists its materials. As with any toy, supervise playtime.
What should I buy a 5-month-old for Christmas?
A hand-knit rattle or two, a soft friend like Frank the Dog, or a gift set in 6–12 months so it fits through the winter.
Can I buy Estella on Amazon?
No. Estella is sold only at estella-nyc.com and at select museum and boutique partners.
More Ideas, Made with Love
Shopping for a baby girl? See our gifts for a 5-month-old baby girl. Browse our hand-knit baby rattles and unique baby gifts, or for Christmas, our Baby’s First Christmas gifts.
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