Toys are instrumental in this development process and creates opportunities for them to learn. We’ve put together the best toys for babies from newborns to age 1.
As babies are brought into a world of discovery, they will learn as they interact and engage
with whatever comes their way. They will understand more about themselves, and the world we live in. Toys are instrumental in this development process and creates opportunities for them to learn. Since there’s so much to learn starting out as babies, we’ve put together a list of toys that are beneficial to their growing process during their first year. Babies will explore their new world with their maturing senses; through smell, touch, taste, hearing and seeing.
Now what may seem like a simple toy to most adults are actually toys that provide great benefits for babies in many ways. During the first six months, babies will rely mainly on their eyes and ears.
Newborn babies are new to the world and will be at its most sensitive and fragile state making crib mobile an excellent choice as their first toy. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing for the nursery, Crib mobile can provide stimulation and aid for memory development, and understanding cause and effect. The bright colors hanging from their heads will captivate their attention since its easy to see and they will appreciate music as their sight and hearing are their strongest senses at this early stage of their life.
Remember, they can only see about 12 inches from their face and after a month, they will drawn to your face since they are starting recognition. Make sure the toy mobile is not reachable for the baby and hanging at safe height. The crib mobile can be removed once the child is either able to get up on its knees and hands or at 5 months. Crib mobile can serve as a stimulation for babies and an aid for soothing babies to sleep.
Toynity Baby Mobile Choices
Starting at three weeks, babies will continue to build strength, making baby play mats a great toy choice! With play mats, they are safely on their backs looking up at hanging ornaments that will capture their attention accompanied with sounds and music. With babies spending most of their time on their backs, it’s important tummy time is incorporated into their play schedule. Tummy time is when babies lay on their bellies. This helps with building head, neck and upper body strength. The recommendation is the first few weeks to start at 1-2 minutes, 2-3 times a day. It’s best to cover the floor with a rug or something soft like a blanket before placing the play mats on top.
Toynity Toy Playmats Choices
Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym
Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Lights and Music Play Mat
Fisher-Price Music & Lights Deluxe Gym, Rainforest
About two months, babies are ready for soft balls, squeezers, rattlers and teethers. Rattles are colorful, noise makers and made up of different textures. Babies can develop eye coordination and sense of sound as they follow the sound direction of the rattles. As they grasp and learn to hold and shake the rattle, they are engaging their fine motor skills and learn about cause and effect. This is when they are realizing they can actually make things happen! As they get closer to teething, they can chew on the rattler to soothe their itch.
Toynity Toy Rattle Choices:
The First Years My First Rattle
Sassy My First Rattles Gift Set
Fisher-Price Rattle ‘n Rock Maracas, Green/Yellow
Toynity Teether Choices:
Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle and Sensory Teether Toy
Baby Banana Infant Training Toothbrush and Teether, Yellow
From two to six months, teeth will start and the first sight of tooth may not appear until the fifth or sixth month. Babies are extremely curious and WILL put anything in their mouths. When babies have sore gums, rubber rings and cold teethers from the refrigerator (not freezer, since it can be too cold for babies) can provide relief.
Around this time, babies will also react to interactive toys and toys that create instantaneous feedback. Anything will they can hold and shake would provide the satisfaction for their excitement. This makes texture toys, rings, keys, links and blocks very popular for the babies.
Toynity Choices:
Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks Playset
In their final six months, babies have seemed to grown leaps and bounds since birth. They have accomplished many milestones and at this point, babies are moving targets and are becoming little curious explorers.
Around six to nine months, they are starting their solid foods, sitting, babbling and banging pots and pans. Once babies can pick things up and move or toss them, they will enjoy toys blocks, shapes and balls and are likely to open and close things. Make sure balls is large enough that it cannot fit in their mouths to prevent choking (larger than 1.75 in diameter).
Here are some great options for them. This is a good toy for them to play while learning and sitting.
Toynity Choice:
Babies will also become more interested in things they can hold and this is when it’s a good time to introduce books. Start reading to them to instill love for books early. This is a great time for bonding with the baby as they listen and interact with the pages with you to encourage language development.
Toynity Baby Book Choices
Baby Einstein Primary Pages High Contrast Book
Playgro 0182252 My First Pets Book for Baby
At nine to twelve months, babies have become problems solvers who are now crawlers, or walkers. They will also show empathy and understand emotions and become creative in getting attention. Toys like stuff dolls, kid shopping carts, simulation toys and stuff dolls which are great in promoting imaginative play to exert these newly creative attributes for the babies.
Toynity Choice for Simulation Toys:
Toynity Choice for Kids Shopping Cart Toys:
Ride-on toys are popular for encouraging standing and cruising. These explorers will embrace any assistance they can get for their journeys.
Toynity Choice for Ride-ons:
Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride and Ride Elephant
Pull toys will help with improving balance and coordination and assist with walking. These will trigger sensory experience and contribute to their growth.
Large piece puzzles are also really good toys for babies in this age range. It is an educational tool that provides many opportunities for babies to understand visual-spatial reasoning and problem solving. For example, if they cannot fit a the correct piece for the puzzle, they are required to rethink and find one that does match. The pieces are large enough that it’s not overwhelming for them. All of these skills are essential to daily life and a continual learning skill.
Toynity Choice for Baby Puzzles:
Melissa & Doug Farm Wooden Chunky Puzzle (8 pcs)
Melissa & Doug Shapes Wooden Chunky Puzzle (8 pcs)
Melissa & Doug 2053 Shapes Knob Wooden Puzzle
