Toys For Baby – The First Year

Toys are one of the most exciting things that a child can possess. Even during the first year of life, a baby can enjoy toys. Not only can toys provide entertainment for a baby, they can also be an essential part of your baby’s growth and development. The toys that you will need for your baby during his first year will change every few months.

As a newborn, your baby will enjoy a few simple toys. Mobiles are great toys for newborns. Some scientific studies even suggest that babies who are stimulated by mobiles may have overall developmental advantages over babies whose environments are not as stimulating. Even though she doesn’t know that it is a duck that is spinning around, and even though she doesn’t know the words to “rock-a-bye baby,” she still may enjoy the yellow blurb up above her and the sounds may soothe her. Other simple toys may be useful for your newborn. This might include toys that squeak or make another noise. Toys that are only black and white are also fascinating to newborns, as are toys that use bright reds and yellows. You can also read soft baby books to your baby at this stage. It is never too early to begin reading to your little one. Soft books can also establish good family reading habits. An unbreakable mirror can be a fascinating toy for your newborn. Although he doesn’t know that it is himself he’s looking at, he will be fascinated wiht his own reflection. He may even begin to smile at himself in the mirror.

By the time your little one hits the three month mark, some amazing development has occurred. Your little one now has begun to understand her hands; she can make a fist, uncurl it, and begin to grab things. The purpose of grabbing something, at this stage, is of course to place it into her mouth! Don’t give your baby a toy if it is not safe to be placed into his mouth. At this point, babies also are becoming more and more aware of their surroundings. They are also more able to respond to you and to their toys. Toys for this stage may include more interactive toys and toys that will allow your baby to explore his boundaries. If you haven’t already begun, books are an excellent toy at this age. Soft books can fascinate your baby, and will help reinforce family reading habits. In addition, your baby may even begin at this stage to put words together with sounds. Especially if you are breastfeeding, you might consider a nursing necklace during this time. It will give your baby something to grab onto to keep you from being hurt! These useful toys also help your baby with visual and touch stimulation that will help her cognitive development. When your baby begins teething, a teething ring or a rattle can be an excellent toy. Many parents place these items in the refrigerator when they are not being used, as the cooler temperature will help soothe their mouth as they teethe. Now that your baby can grab, he can squeeze. Toys that make noise when squeezed, or that move when squeezed, can help her to understand that her actions can produce specific results. In addition, rattles or other toys that make noise can be a source of great enjoyment, and may be able to help with teething. Activity or Play centers are also excellent at this age. These stands that hold dangling toys that your baby can grab at and look at can sometimes keep her interested for yours. These are especially useful before your baby can sit up. Similar items can be placed on a carseat, stroller, or infant seat. Your baby is ready for soft stuffed animals at this point. For safety, you will want to avoid anything with wires inside that could break through the fabric and injure your child.

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.

By the age of nine months to a year, your baby is beginning to make things happen. He is pushing buttons, pulling switches, grabbing objects, and possibly crawling. Babies at this age can now interact with their toys in new and exciting ways. This is the age at which you can introduce toys that work with language development. Toys that say a word when a button is pressed, for example, are particularly appropriate. Your baby may be using simple words like “mom” and “dog,” and will often say them to their toys. Some types of see-and say may be very useful, as are books that make noises when your little one pushes on a button. Toys that are moveable are also enjoyable, and will help continued development of your baby’s fine motor skills. Piling, filling, emptying, knocking down, and dumping are all activities she will enjoy. Babies at this stage like to mimic the things that adults or older children do. Toy shopping carts, toy phones, toy brooms or toy vacuums help the baby to role-play, and explore an entire make-believe world in which they are the adults. Your baby may be able to use toys that help them stand. a variety of wheeled toys with handles, often with spinning figures or the ability to make noise, will help to prepare your tyke for walking. Toys that can be pushed along the floor are also very popular with crawling children. Larger toy cars and trucks can be used to carry blocks from one end of the living room to the other, for example. Sand pails and shovels are also very useful at this stage. A sandbox or a sand table can provide a great deal of entertainment. Always keep an eye on her as she uses these, though, to make sure that she’s not eating too much of the sand. A variety of sorting toys are also available. These help baby exercise his problem-solving skills, as he tries to figure out these simple puzzles. This is a good time to continue reading books to your child. She can also “read” cardboard-style books by himself at this point.

Posted in Baby and Toddler

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Toys For Baby – The First Year

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