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Finding the best gifts for a 5 month old baby is mostly about hands and mouths. At this age, babies reach, grab, shake and chew nearly everything, so toys that are easy to hold and easy to wash get the most use.
This guide rounds up teethers, shakers and rattles, soft floor-time toys, a little music and a few bath and book picks. Age grades, care needs and sizes are noted for each one. Everything was checked in October 2026, and stock or packaging details can change, so look at the listing before you order.
Quick Picks
| Gift | Best for |
|---|---|
| Comotomo Silicone Teether | Small hands, sore gums |
| Green Toys First Keys | A classic first grab toy |
| Skip Hop Egg Shakers | Shake-and-listen play |
| Hape Put-Stay Rattles | High chair and tray time |
| Hape Beaded Raindrops | Watching beads trickle |
| Fisher-Price Sensory Seasons Book | Crinkle and texture fans |
| Baby Einstein Kickin' Tunes Gym | A bigger group gift |
| Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles | Splashy bath time |
| Indestructibles: Love You, Baby | A first chewable book |
Looking for more options? See our guide to Amazon and brand gift cards, or check the gift-giving calendar so you never miss an occasion.
Comotomo Silicone Baby Teether
Why it’s a good gift: Food-grade silicone in a shape sized for small hands makes this teether easy for a 5 month old to hold and steer to the mouth on their own.
Best for: Babies who chew on their fists
What to check before buying: Rated 3 months and up, and it can go in the dishwasher, a sterilizer, boiling water or the microwave. The brand page showed no price.
Green Toys My First Twist Teether
Why it’s a good gift: A twisty 3D shape with textured charms gives little gums several surfaces to explore. It’s made in the USA from recycled plastic with no BPA, phthalates or PVC.
Best for: Parents who want recycled, made-in-USA toys
What to check before buying: Green Toys shows the age only as a site tag reading 0-1 years, so confirm it on the package. It’s dishwasher safe.
Manhattan Toy Squiggle Loops
Why it’s a good gift: Intertwined loops of textured silicone are easy to grab from any side, and the bumpy surface gives a 5 month old plenty to mouth and feel.
Best for: A light teether for the diaper bag
What to check before buying: It’s small, so it’s easy to lose in a bag. Pop it in the dishwasher between uses.
Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Teether
Why it’s a good gift: Bendable teething loops circle a rattle cube, so there’s always a tube to grab. Chilling it in the fridge gives sore gums something cool to chew.
Best for: Teething babies who also love a rattle
What to check before buying: Buy it new from a trusted seller, not secondhand. Only certain older Winkel Colorburst lots were in a 2017 recall.
Green Toys First Keys
Why it’s a good gift: Four chunky rattle keys hang on a light ring that a 5 month old can wave, shake and chew. The recycled plastic is food safe.
Best for: Babies who reach for your real keys
What to check before buying: Age appears only as a site tag of 0-1 years, so read the box. Wash it on the dishwasher’s top rack or by hand.
Shakers and Rattles to Reach For
Skip Hop Jungle Beats Egg Shaker Set
Why it’s a good gift: Three jungle animals, a zebra, an elephant and a lion, rattle with different sounds and have bumpy tummies. They’re are PVC-free and small enough to wrap a hand around.
Best for: Babies starting to shake things on purpose
What to check before buying: Rated 3 months and up. Each shaker stands about 2.75 inches tall, so keep an eye on play.
Bright Starts Little Shakers 6-Piece Gift Set
Why it’s a good gift: Six rattles in one box, including Oball rattles, a spin rattle and a barbell rattle, give a 5 month old lots of shapes to practice grabbing.
Best for: A bundle gift that covers many grips
What to check before buying: The set is rated 3 to 36 months, with the Oball pieces suited from newborn. Wipe each piece clean.
Hape Put-Stay Rattle Set
Why it’s a good gift: A turtle, an octopus and a whale each make a different sound, and suction-cup bases keep them in place on a tray while baby bats and grabs.
Best for: Babies who toss toys off the tray
What to check before buying: The suction cups only hold on a smooth surface, so test your tray or table first.
Hape Beaded Raindrops
Why it’s a good gift: Tip this wooden rattle and beads trickle down inside like a tiny rain stick. The rounded edges make it comfortable to hold in two hands.
Best for: Babies who love to watch and listen
What to check before buying: The beads are sealed inside, so look it over for cracks before giving it and now and then after.
Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic
Why it’s a good gift: Rubberwood rods on elastic cords squash down and pop back, and sliding beads add a soft rattle. The open shape is easy to catch from many angles.
Best for: Wooden toy fans and classic designs
What to check before buying: The elastic cords can wear over time, so check them every so often and retire the toy if one frays.
Soft Toys, Floor Time and Music
Lamaze Mortimer the Moose Clip & Go
Why it’s a good gift: Mortimer crinkles, jingles and squeaks, and his satin knot legs and textured antlers are made for mouthing. A clip lets him ride along on the stroller.
Best for: Stroller walks and errands
What to check before buying: As a plush moose, he’s for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space and off the car seat during naps.
Fisher-Price Sensory Seasons Soft Book
Why it’s a good gift: Each crinkly page shows a season, with a teether, mirror, high-contrast slider, ribbon taggies and handles that give busy hands lots to do.
Best for: Babies who love crinkle sounds
What to check before buying: Check the taggie stitching often. This soft book is for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.
Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror
Why it’s a good gift: A baby-safe mirror sits in a soft frame with an easel back, ribbon cloud, high-contrast petals and a spinning tracker ball to bat at.
Best for: Tummy time and early sitting practice
What to check before buying: No price was shown on the brand page, so check stock. With ribbons and a soft frame, it’s for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.
Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes Gym
Why it’s a good gift: A kick piano with 70+ melodies, two toy bars, seven detachable toys and a prop pillow keep a 5 month old busy on the floor. The mat goes in the washing machine.
Best for: A group gift for floor play
What to check before buying: You’ll need 3 AA batteries, sold separately. The mat and pillow are for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space at all times.
Hape Rotating Music Box
Why it’s a good gift: Wind it up and this wooden music box turns while it plays for about two and a half minutes, with no batteries involved.
Best for: Calm moments before a nap
What to check before buying: A grown-up does the winding at this age, so set it on a steady surface where baby can watch.
Baby Einstein Star Bright Symphony
Why it’s a good gift: This soft star plays 20 classical melodies with jingles and gentle lights, and its strap attaches to a stroller or car seat for outings.
Best for: Car rides and stroller time
What to check before buying: Uses 2 AA batteries, so make sure the battery door is closed tight. Since it’s a soft toy, the star is for supervised play, keep out of the crib/sleep space.
Bath Time, First Sips and Books
Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles
Why it’s a good gift: Four clear floating domes hold little figures and beads, and the textured rings spin when baby bats at them in the tub.
Best for: Babies who love splashing in the bath
What to check before buying: Rated 4 months and up. Dry them between baths, since the page doesn’t say they’re hole-free.
Munchkin White Hot Safety Bath Ducky
Why it’s a good gift: This watertight duck doesn’t squirt, so no water sits inside, and a disc on its base shows HOT when bath water reaches 104°F or above.
Best for: A small add-on to a bath gift
What to check before buying: The disc is a guide, not a thermometer, so still test the water with your hand or elbow.
ezpz Baby-Led Tiny Cup
Why it’s a good gift: This small open silicone cup is made for babies learning to sip, and it’s sized for tiny hands that are just starting to hold things steady.
Best for: Families starting to practice open-cup sips
What to check before buying: Rated 4 months and up. It’s an open cup, so plan on spills and short practice sessions.
Indestructibles: Love You, Baby
Why it’s a good gift: Stephan Lomp’s 12-page book is chew-proof and washable, so a 5 month old can grab it, gum it and still have it in one piece.
Best for: A first book baby can hold
What to check before buying: The publisher grades it for ages 0 to 2. Wash it by hand when it gets sticky.
How to Choose a Gift for a 5 Month Old
- Expect everything to go in the mouth. Pick items that are easy to wash, such as silicone teethers and chew-proof books.
- Think about grip. Loops, rings and light shakers are easier for a 5 month old to hold than flat or heavy toys.
- Read the age grade. Stick to toys marked 0+, 3m+ or 4m+ for now and save 6m+ toys for later.
- Keep soft toys for awake time. Plush, soft books and play mats belong on the floor with a grown-up nearby, not in the crib.
- Mix in something practical. A first cup or a bath duck pairs well with a toy and gets used right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toys does a 5 month old like?
Most 5 month olds enjoy toys they can grab, shake and mouth, such as teethers, light rattles and crinkly soft books. Mirrors and floor-time toys are also popular.
Are teethers a good gift at 5 months?
Yes, many babies are mouthing everything by now. Look for teethers that are easy to hold and easy to clean, and check the age grade on the package.
Can a 5 month old use a cup?
Some families start practicing with a small open cup, and the ezpz Tiny Cup is graded for 4 months and up. Ask your pediatrician about timing for your baby.
Do battery toys need any special checks?
Make sure the battery door is closed and secure before play, and keep spare batteries out of reach.
Ordering and Delivery Tips
- Order early for big dates. Shipping times vary by seller and season, so check the delivery estimate at checkout.
- Check the seller. Buy from the brand or an authorized seller, especially for baby and kitchen products.
- Keep the receipt. Gift receipts make returns and exchanges easier.
Before You Buy
- Age grade is 5 months or younger
- Easy to wash or wipe clean
- Plush and mats stay out of the crib
- Battery doors are secure
- Buy rattles and teethers new
Product photos are representative stock images from Pixabay, not the exact products listed. Some photos by Vanessa Bucceri, Tomáš Petz on Unsplash.