At the age of six to nine months, your baby is in a whole new world developmentally. His motor skills are drastically improving as he learns to pinch and grab and pick up a variety objects. He is generally sitting up by himself, and he is learning to crawl.

One of the most fun types of toys that you can use at this stage are bath toys. The tried-and-true rubber ducky can be especially enjoyable, although many babies are satisfied with just a small cup that the can fill up and empty out again.

This is the stage at which you can introduce a ball to your baby. You can begin by just letting her hold it; eventually, you will be able to play with it alongside her, rolling it back and forth between you. Also, you can play a game of “fetch” where you throw the ball and she will race across the floor to go get it.

Activity tables or activity tablets are very useful at this age. The large colorful switches, the big bright buttons, the noisemakers, poppers, clickers and mirrors are all stimulating. There is usually enough variety in these toys that, once your baby loses interest in one button, another lever will grab his attention.

Your baby may be able to play with blocks at this point. He may be able to stack as many as two or three blocks, and then knock them down again. Pile them into containers for him, and then dump them out. He’ll be doing it in no time.

You can continue to use soft books with your baby at this stage, although many will be ready to move up to sturdy cardboard-type books. You can read pop-up type books with your child, as well as interactive books that have opening flaps or that make sounds.

Sometimes, household items will make the best toys at this stage. Plastic bowls, wooden spoons, cups and other items allow your baby to make all sorts of noises, but also to imitate you.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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