Toys for Babies Under 1 Year Old

THE BEST TOYS FOR BABIES AGED 0-6 MONTHS

If you have just had or, or are expecting a newborn baby, congratulations! This is most likely to be a very happy but challenging time for you. With a newborn baby on your hands, you are likely to spend your days feeding, changing diapers and, if you’re lucky, catching a nap while your baby sleeps. Babies below 6 months may seem like they have very little they can do, but it's never too soon to engage your little one with toys for babies.

TOYS FOR BABIES ARE IMPORTANT

According to the Child Development Institute, newborn baby toys have the most developmental benefits in babies below the 6-month mark. If your baby falls in that age bracket, read about the benefits of toys for babies.

NEWBORN BABY TOYS

Milestones for babies up to two months include palmar grasp (closing their hands around a finger) and attempting to hold a rattle. They have short periods of wakefulness and respond to calming actions such as rocking and soothing music. Your baby's language skills begin to develop, and they begin to recognize familiar voices. Babies below two months of age have a fuzzy vision and only see clearly items that about 20 to 30 centimetres from their eyes. Thisnearsightedness and not being able to hold toys for the first 2 months makes them appreciate sounds more. The best developmental toys for babies this age are dangling toys that they can bat at and ones they can listen to. Objects that move gently and produce calming sounds are better toys for babiesthan those that are static and quiet. Safety is a vital aspect when it comes to choosing newborn baby toys. You will want to avoid things like sharp edges and moving parts that can trap fingers. You will also want to keep an eye out for mouth-safe materials too as everything they touch is going to end up in their mouths.

BEST DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS FOR BABIES 2-6 MONTHS OLD

As children grow older, their sight begins to improve, and they are captivated by high-contrast patterns and bright colours. They also start to get drawn to human faces, and can recognize yours from about two months. By 3 months old, babies find their own reflection fascinating and begin smiling at it. Safe mirrors are one of the best developmental toys for babiesat this age. They can improve a toddler’s understanding of the world, understanding of space, shapes and symmetry. While toys should be fun, it's a bonus if they also help boost specific skills. Some are focused on motor skills with others stimulate their senses or encourage movement. A small toy that tzills or tweets when pressed will keep your baby entertained for months to come. The initially accidental squeaks will help babies become aware of what their hand is doing and strengthen their realisation that cues generate predictable responses. Soft books with easy-to-see patterns or decorations are also one of the best educational baby toys. You can promote your baby's language skills while bonding by lying down next to them, where they can watch you turn the pages as you read aloud to them.

Hand-held toys for babies

The first way that a baby plays is through exploration. They use their senses to learn, which means they like using their hands, mouths, and feet to explore. Rattles can be great educational baby toys. They have textures, colours, and materials that appeal to baby's different senses. They also strengthen the baby’s grasp of cause and effect.

GREAT LEARNING TOYS FOR BABIES UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

By the time of their first birthday, your little one may not be exactly ready to kick a football or put together a puzzle, but there are plenty of great learning toys for 1-year-olds that can have significant long-term benefits for their physical and mental development. At one year, your little one should be learning to walk and a baby walker will provide them with stability as they move along. Your little one’s brain is developing at a phenomenal rate at this age. It is, therefore, essential to choose toys that engage your baby's minds, encourage mental development, and will not get your baby bored quickly. The best developmental toys for babies this age are colourful and fascinating enough to hold their attention, and have features that aid in their development. At this age, babies like to stack toys on top of each other. Many like taking round rings with an opening and placing them on a stacking post. Stacking and nesting toys teach babies how to problem solve using trial and error. They also learn about size differences as they place the biggest toys first, followed by the smallest. From their first birthday, why not browse the best development toys and books for 1-year-old children?