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Montessori Felt Busy Book – Farm or Puppy (Ages 3–6)Montessori Felt Busy Book – Farm or Puppy (Ages 3–6)
Montessori Felt Busy Book – Farm or Puppy (Ages 3–6)
$42.99
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$42.99
54-in-1 Musical Busy Board with Lights & Sound54-in-1 Musical Busy Board with Lights & Sound
54-in-1 Musical Busy Board with Lights & Sound
$89.99
$0.00
$89.99
Interactive Owl Activity Cube – 3 Designs (Ages 3+)Interactive Owl Activity Cube – 3 Designs (Ages 3+)
Interactive Owl Activity Cube – 3 Designs (Ages 3+)
$64.99
$0.00
$64.99
Special Product

Special Product

kids wooden puzzle 120 Pieces - Toys Shop Australia | Educational Toyskids wooden puzzle 120 Pieces - Toys Shop Australia | Educational Toys
120-Piece Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle – 20 Designs
$15.99
$15.99
3d Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers3D wooden animal puzzle - Toys Shop Australia | Educational Toys
3D Wooden Animal Puzzle – 30 Designs
$9.99
$9.99
3D Animal and vehicle wooden puzzle - Toys Shop Australia | Educational Toys3D Animal and vehicle wooden puzzle - Toys Shop Australia | Educational Toys
3D Wooden Puzzle Baby Montessori
$12.99
$12.99

Busy Boards for Infants

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Busy boards for babies and infants

Looking for a busy board for a baby? Start with the age on the label. Most busy boards are made for children aged 3 and over, and only a few are designed for babies. This page shows what each baby-friendly busy cube (often searched as a busy box) and soft sensory toy in our range actually states, and where to go when your child is ready for more.

Want to compare every style? Browse our full Busy Board collection, from baby-friendly cubes to boards and felt books for older children.

Baby busy board and busy cube picks, by age on the listing

The ages below come from each product listing. Babies develop at their own pace, so check the label on the item you receive and supervise all play.

Product Age on listing Type Good to know
Magic Tissue Box 6–18 months Soft fabric pull-and-post toy Babies pull scarves and crinkly cloths out and post them back in. No batteries. Comes in several designs, and stock varies by design.
22-Activity Montessori Busy Board Cube 6 months and above Busy cube, manual and battery-free About 20 × 19.5 × 20 cm with a carry strap, in Brown or Colorful. Removable triangular panels need adult supervision.
10-in-1 Montessori Travel Busy Cube 18 months and above Travel busy cube, manual and battery-free Ten activities, including a steering wheel, switches, gears and push buttons, on a cube about 19 × 12 × 12.5 cm.

Not every product in this collection is for babies. Switch, light-and-music and felt book styles are listed for ages 3 to 6, so check the age on each listing before you buy. If your child is older, see our busy boards for toddlers.

Busy board for a baby by age: 6, 7, 9 and 10 months and beyond

Parents often search by month, and a few months make a big difference to what a baby can handle. Use this as a general guide, then follow the age on the product listing.

Age What babies are often doing What to look for Read next
6–7 months Sitting with support, grabbing, mouthing and passing toys from hand to hand Light, soft or rounded toys with nothing that can be pulled off Busy board for a 6 month old: safety guide
9–10 months Crawling, poking and pulling, with an early pincer grip starting to develop Larger controls to turn, push and pull, and parts that are firmly fixed Busy board for a 9 month old
12 months and beyond Pulling to stand, twisting, pressing and starting to copy what they see A mix of two or three fastening types, and an age label that matches your child Best busy board for a 1 year old

Not sure how the types differ? Our guide to busy board types for babies and toddlers compares them side by side, and what age busy boards are for explains how to match a board to your child.

How a baby busy board supports development

Babies love cause and effect: pull a cloth and it comes out, turn a gear and it spins. A busy board or cube turns that curiosity into hands-on practice, with no screen needed.

How a baby busy board supports development

Fine motor skills

Grasping, pinching, twisting and sliding help babies build the hand strength they will use later for feeding and drawing.

Hand-eye coordination

Babies watch a feature while guiding their fingers to it, linking what they see to what their hands do.

Cause and effect

Pulling, pressing and turning show a baby that their own actions make something happen, an early lesson in problem-solving.

Screen-free focus

One latch, gear or cloth can hold a baby's attention for a few minutes at a time, building concentration in short, manageable bursts.

Baby busy box, busy cube or busy board book: which is right?

These names overlap, so here is how we use them.

Busy cube or busy box

A multi-sided toy with a different manual control on each face, such as buttons, gears, switches and a steering wheel. Turn the cube to find the next activity. Both of our baby-friendly cubes are battery-free. Explore more Montessori busy cubes and boards.

Busy board

A flat panel of latches, dials and switches. Most boards in our range are listed for ages 3 and over, so for a baby a cube or soft toy is usually the easier starting point. Compare them all in our busy board range.

Busy board book

Soft felt pages with zips, buttons and ties. The felt busy books we stock are listed for ages 3 to 6, so they suit toddlers and preschoolers rather than babies. See our felt busy boards when your child is ready.

Using a busy board with a baby: floor, playpen, cot and pram

Where you play matters as much as what you play with.

  • Floor and playpen: Play where you can see your baby, with the toy on a firm surface. Lighter toys are easiest for small hands to move.
  • Cot: Keep the sleep space clear. Take any busy board, cube or soft toy out before sleep, and never tie or hang one from the cot rails.
  • Pram and car seat: Choose something light and compact, and keep any carry strap or cord with the adult, not the baby.
  • Anywhere: Check regularly that nothing has worked loose, and stop using a toy that is cracked or has a loose part.

What to check before buying a busy board for a baby

  • The age on the listing suits your baby. Several items in this collection are labelled for ages 3 and over.
  • There are no small parts that can come off, because loose pieces are a choking hazard for children under three.
  • The toy is light enough for your baby to handle, with rounded edges and firmly fixed controls.
  • It is battery-free, or the battery cover is secured. Switch boards need batteries and are listed for ages 3 and over.
  • You know how to clean it. Wipe hard plastic with a damp cloth, and check the listing for fabric care.

Thinking of building your own? Read our safety-first guide to making a busy board for a baby, or browse the DIY busy board ideas guide for layouts to adapt. Whatever you build, leave out small parts and loose cords.

More busy boards to explore

Baby busy board FAQs

What age can a baby start using a busy board?

It depends on the product, so follow the age on the listing. In this range, the Magic Tissue Box is listed for 6 to 18 months, the 22-Activity Cube is listed for 6 months and above, and the 10-in-1 Travel Busy Cube is marked 18 months and above. Many other boards in our wider range are listed for ages 3 and over. Always supervise play.

What is a baby busy box or busy cube?

A busy cube, sometimes called a busy box, is a multi-sided toy with a different hands-on activity on each face, such as buttons, gears, switches and a steering wheel. Babies turn the cube to find the next control. See the baby-friendly cubes in the table above.

Is there a busy board for a 6 or 7 month old?

At this age, choose something light, simple and free of detachable parts. The Magic Tissue Box is listed for 6 to 18 months, and the 22-Activity Cube is listed for 6 months and above. Switch and light-and-music boards in our range are listed for ages 3 and over, so they are not suitable. Our 6 month old safety guide has more detail.

What should I look for in a busy board for a 9 or 10 month old?

Look for larger controls that are easy to turn, push and pull, and for parts that are firmly fixed. Check the age on the listing, and read our guide to a busy board for a 9 month old before you choose.

Is a busy board book suitable for a baby?

The felt busy books we stock are listed for ages 3 to 6, so they suit older children. For a younger baby, a soft sensory toy such as the Magic Tissue Box is a better fit. Browse felt busy boards once your child is ready.

Can I use a busy board in a playpen or cot?

A light busy toy can be used for supervised play in a playpen. Keep the cot clear for sleep: remove any busy board or cube before sleep, and never tie or hang one from cot rails.

Do switch boards suit babies?

No. The LED switch busy board in this collection is listed for ages 3 and over and runs on 2 AAA batteries. For babies, choose a battery-free cube or soft toy and check the age on the listing.

Do you ship Australia-wide, and what is the return policy?

We ship within Australia only. Orders are usually processed and dispatched within 2 to 4 business days, and standard delivery generally takes about 2 to 4 business days to most destinations. Shipping is calculated at checkout. Unused items in original condition and packaging can be returned within 14 days for an exchange or store credit, and damaged or defective items are replaced or refunded. See our shipping policy and refund policy for full details.

Find a busy board for your baby's stage

Start with the baby-friendly picks above, or browse the full Busy Board collection to compare every style once your child is ready for more.

Browse all busy boards