Playtime isn't just about having fun. When babies play, they learn about themselves and the world around them, and their interactions with toys, books and people help support social, cognitive, emotional and physical growth, reports BabyCenter. But with so many toys and activities to choose from, parents are often confused about exactly how to play with their babies at different ages and stages. Understanding your baby's development can help you choose age-appropriate toys to help her learn, laugh and have fun.
One to Three Months
At this stage, it's still to early for your baby to participate in games and activities, but everything in her world is new to her, meaning she'll love interacting with you in simple ways. Smile at her and let her study your face, since infants this age are drawn to human faces, according to BabyCenter. She also will enjoy hearing the sound of your voice, so sing to her, read stories and let her know what's happening around her by narrating your way through everyday activities like changing diapers, preparing bottles and giving baths. Offer her toys that she can enjoy watching and listening to, since she's still too young to grasp and manipulate objects; mobiles, music boxes, rattles, unbreakable mirrors, sensory toys and soft books with high-contrast patterns or pictures of faces are all good choices for this age group.
Three to Six Months
Babies in the three- to six-month age range are finally ready to begin hands-on play with the world around them, so offer your infant toys that he can safely explore with his hands and mouth. Try placing him in front of a mirror so he can check out his own reflection, and set aside time for reading every day; enjoying books together lets your baby hear your voice while exploring the book's pictures and textures. His hands and feet are also ready to get in on the action, so offer him toys that he can reach for and grasp, and put your hands near his feet so he can practice kicking them. Good toys for babies at this age include playmats, stuffed animals, toy bars for the stroller or car seat, board books, teething rings, light rattles and squeaky toys.
Six to Nine Months
As your baby becomes more coordinated, she can now handle objects easier. She'll enjoy practicing this new skill by banging objects together, so provide her with plenty of unbreakable lightweight toys that produce satisfying noises. She's also beginning to understand that objects still exist when out of sight, so you can cover up a favorite toy with a blanket while she's watching and let her have fun uncovering it. Your baby will enjoy activities that she can anticipate, like Itsy Bitsy Spider and This Little Piggy, which combine nursery rhymes with finger play. Balls, soft blocks, busy boards, books, chunky cars and soft dolls are age-appropriate toys.
Nine to 12 Months
Now that your baby is rapidly approaching toddlerhood, he's probably busy figuring out how to move around his world, whether it's by crawling, cruising or walking. Let him explore safely by removing dangerous objects from his reach and giving him access to household objects like wooden spoons, plastic bowls and metal pots. He'll also enjoy reading books with you, especially if they contain flaps he can lift and pages he can turn by himself. Other fun toys for this age include shape sorters, push toys, books, blocks, toy phones and a toy bucket and shovel.
