Infant toys aren't just for play. Toys can help babies learn concepts that apply to the world around them and figure out how things work. Toys can also help infants develop motor skills and muscle control. So it's important to choose the best playthings for your little one, toys that are age appropriate, enjoyable and safe.
Colors, Sound and Motion
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in general, infants are interested in things with bright primary colors and high contrast between colors. Keep designs simple, with clear lines and features. Infants especially like toys with human or animal facial features. Babies are more drawn to toys if they move and make noise, but avoid loud sounds and sudden movements. Once babies have good motor skills, they enjoy producing effects on toys by their own activity, such as pushing buttons or pulling strings. This also helps them learn about cause and effect. Even though an infant won't be able to read for a few years, it's never too early to introduce books. Babies enjoy looking at pictures in cloth or board books and being read aloud to.
Newborns
Babies under two months enjoy seeing and hearing interesting things, so toys for this age range should focus on bright colors, sounds and patterns, according to the CPSC. Soft blocks or balls, rattles, teethers, cloth toys, squeeze toys and toys that hang down for batting and kicking are suitable for babies, beginning at around six weeks. Once your baby is able to put objects in her mouth, be very careful about what you allow her to play with.
Two to Six Months
The CPSC reports that infants between two and six months like touching, holding, batting, turning, shaking, kicking and mouthing objects. From four months on, infants will probably enjoy disks or keys on a ring, interlocking plastic rings and small hand-held manipulatives. Most babies around this age also enjoy infant gyms, or mats with several soft toys suspended overhead that babies can grab, pull, kick and bat around, as well as "tummy time" mats, which help little ones learn head control and strengthen arm and torso muscles. Between four and six months, babies become especially interested in watching themselves in mirrors, so choose ones that are large and unbreakable with soft edges to attach to the crib, playpen or wall. When infants can sit alone, they enjoy outdoor swings that hang from trees or rafters. According to Parents magazine, sensory development is especially important, so look for toys with different textures.
Seven to Nine Months
Between seven and nine months, babies develop longer attention spans, so they become more interested in exploring toys, doing things like banging, poking, twisting, squeezing, shaking, biting, throwing, opening, shutting, emptying and filling. Activity boxes, simple puzzles and pop-up boxes are popular. Once babies can crawl, they might enjoy toys they can push on wheels. Around this age, infants can begin to use construction toys, like blocks. They also start to enjoy sand and water toys.
Ten to Twelve Months
As babies approach their first birthday, they show interest in object mastery and making things happen. They enjoy stacking, putting in and taking out, pouring, fitting one object into another, opening and closing, pressing buttons and levers, turning things and pushing balls and cars, according to the CPSC. When your little one begins to attempt to walk, try push toys that he can hold onto as he moves around, but not walkers, as these have been deemed unsafe by the CPSC.
Safety Considerations
As you choose toys for your infant, it's important to select items that are as safe as they are enjoyable. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that all toys and toy parts should be larger than your child's mouth, to prevent choking. Toys should not be able to fit through an empty toilet paper roll. Inspect stuffed animals and dolls to make sure that all parts are sewn on securely and that all seams and edges are tight. Loose ribbons and strings longer than 12 inches can cause strangulation. Avoid toys that have small bean-like stuffing that can cause choking or suffocation if swallowed. Pay attention to toy labels. Read warning labels and age recommendations, and make sure all materials are nontoxic. Electric toys should be UL approved. Hanging crib toys and mobiles should be removed as soon as your child can push up on his hands and knees, to avoid strangulation.
