From rattles to bicycles
Babies are weird and wonderful creatures…but often they’re just plain weird! It can be downright baffling trying to figure out why they’re ignorant of mirrors, balls and TV… but are fascinated by a piece of cellophane or a piece of patterned fabric. They get more understandable as they get older, but if you want to avoid a lot of wasted toys and dollars, it’s best to understand age-appropriate toy theory early on. For babies, toys are more than just a way to pass the time, since they don’t have to wash dishes or work: they are vital for the development of intelligence and a sense of self. Here we created a guide to baby toy ages and stages to demystify the entire process.
Toys for babies from 0 to 3 months.
At this stage, a baby’s best toy is really their parents! They don’t have much of a grip or fine motor skills to speak of, so your involvement in their play is vital. However, you can help that development together with tools:
• Mobiles – For those times when you are going to sleep or just waking up, a mobile on the side of the crib is a great thing to have. Mobiles encourage pattern recognition, hand-eye coordination and a sense of ‘object permanence’. The best is a mobile toy that plays music.
• Music: Both regular adult CDs and children’s music and toys that play their own tunes are excellent for building neural pathways at this age.
• Contrasting and Colorful Items: Items with high contrast colors or black and white get a lot of attention!
Toys for babies from 3 to 6 months.
All the toys that your baby’s relatives bought him after he was born will begin to circulate and be used at this age. Interactive, grasping play is starting to become a reality, so choose baby toys like:
• Books: Some babies love books, others couldn’t care less. However, now is a good time to introduce them and see what your child thinks.
• Rattles and stuffed animals: Anything that makes a noise and has a simple reaction to it is good for babies at this age.
• Nursing Collars: Many babies (including mine!) love to pinch mom or dad’s chest and neck while feeding. A nursing collar is a great alternative toy to the skin on your clavicle…
• Mirrors: The mirror stage of development comes at a different time for all babies, starting now.
Toys for babies from 6 to 9 months.
Babies are becoming much more interesting and interested at this age! Choose baby toys that offer little challenges, but not too big, or your child just won’t bother. Look for toys like:
• Stacking blocks, cups, and boxes: If your baby can’t do it on his own, show him how.
• Bath toys: Anything that drips, reads or floats is good at this age.
• Musical toys – If your baby can figure out how to make music play on his toy, he’ll love it.
Toys for babies from 9 to 12 months
Your little one has almost graduated from his first year of life; These are the baby toys that most children at this age like:
• Push and pull toys: Push and pull toys that do not require walking are the most practical.
• Dolls: Children start to be a little more imaginative with dolls at this age, beyond biting and hitting them!
