Fun Toys That Teach

Babies love to explore textures, and this soft stacker offers lots of stimulating surfaces, from smooth satins to bumpy polka dots. As your child's motor skills develop, she'll learn to pull the rings off and push 'em back on; in the meantime, they make good teethers! (Brainy Baby, $25; bigblackbear.com) 6 months and up

"Aliyah adores the textures -- she makes sure to taste every layer."

-- Amber Kae Platt-Bennett, mom of Aliyah, 9 months, Amelia, OH