At 9 months, most babies still try to put everything in their mouths and may have a hard time staying upright—key points to remember when thinking about the safety of toys at this age.

Here are nine essential baby toys parents (or nonparents searching for a gift) can turn to if you’re unsure where to start.

It's never easy to shop for children, especially when it comes to toys, no matter what age they are. What works for one child ...