Toy and Baby

How often do you hear of someone buying an expensive gift for a young baby and then being disappointed that the child is more interested in the wrapping paper than the carefully chosen toy? Is that a reason not to bother buying toys for your baby? No, it isn’t. Wrapping paper is inviting for a baby but if you’ve seen the soggy mess of paper after half an hour of your baby playing with it then you’ll know that it is a short term fix and not something they will be able to return to play with later.

So when it comes to buying a toy and baby what should you look for?

In the first year of their lives, babies like to explore their environment and learn how to get around. Toys that allow them to safely discover their world and that encourage them to move, stand and ultimately walk are going to benefit their development. Note that I’ve said ‘encourage’ and not ‘help’ – it may seem like a fine distinction but there is actually a significant difference between the two.

There has been a lot written about aids which make it easy for babies to ‘walk’ and how these can actually hamper their development because by using these aids babies then bypass the learning of crucial development skills that they would otherwise get if they learnt under their own steam.

Babies need to learn for themselves how to sit, crawl and walk but toys that encourage them to get moving are great. For a reluctant crawler this can be as simple as rolling a ball away from a child or rolling it near them but just out of reach and encouraging them to move towards it.

Other toys that will benefit their gross motor skills are those that help them to safely stand and move around. Don’t make the mistake I made of buying a small trolley that was so lightweight that when my son pulled back on it to steady himself he fell backwards and the trolley landed on top of him. We then stacked some cans inside the trolley to balance it and it could then take the weight of him wobbling about.

Push or pull toys like small carts or animals that make a clacking sound as they move are also good fun. The equivalent of walkers but without wheels can be fun for baby, especially if they are not yet sitting up or can’t sit on their own for long periods of time. They are basically seats that bounce and fully support baby but allow them to be upright and swivel around. Not only does it stimulate them because they get a different view of the world, the supported seating means they have full use of their hands.

In terms of fine motor skills or small movements, toys that babies can hold in their hands are great. This is especially true for younger babies that haven’t yet learnt to sit. The toy needs to be small enough that they can easily handle the object without it being too heavy and falling on top of them. Things like rattles, large plastic building blocks, small balls and fabric books are both safe and interesting for your baby to explore.

Another great toy for baby is colorful play mats that have two intersecting arches over the top with rattles and soft toys hanging from them. My children both loved these. If they are lying on their back then it encourages them to move because usually each time they do, this will either kick or knock something that makes a noise. They often also have a mirror sewn into one of the hanging soft toys – and if this is positioned near their face it is amazing to watch a baby become completely absorbed in their own reflection.

When your baby passes the one year mark you will be able to start looking for toddler learning toys which is when the educational toy market expands considerably. Get ready!