Musical toys for babies and infants may be frustrating or irritating for adults to hear again and again, but for your child, they are valuable learning and development resources. At birth, the auditory system is quite underdeveloped -- auditory experience though varied sounds is needed for your child's development. Consult your pediatrician if you are concerned about atypical auditory development.
Typical Auditory Development
Unlike some other mammals, human babies are born with relatively underdeveloped sensory abilities. A newborn's vision and hearing develop during the first months and years of life. In the first few months of life, infants cannot always distinguish between different sounds. By the age of 1 year, an infant's understanding and processing of sound's basic properties is usually similar to that of an adult. Auditory development is closely tied to communication, language and verbal development.
Music and Sound in the First Year
At birth, a typical infant is sensitive to a range of different sounds. Usually, low-frequency sounds have a soothing effect, while high-frequency sounds may agitate a newborn. Around 3 months, most infants can locate the direction of a sound source . At around this age, babies begin to enjoy and listen to music and toys that make sounds. At 5 months, musical toys may help a typical child stop crying and start cooing. By 1 year old, most infants understand how sound is made by musical toys, and can repeat those sounds they want to hear again.
Importance of Musical Toys
Music and noise-making toys are essential to infant auditory development, according to a December 2008 article in the journal "Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews." Unlike visual development, which occurs over infancy, auditory development cannot happen unless an infant is provided an auditory-rich "diet" of sounds. Background noise can confuse and hinder early auditory development, and musical toys should be provided in an otherwise quiet environment. As your child develops, provide a range of different sound-making toys, including some that he or she operates to make the sound.
Types of Musical Toys
Musical toys for infants can link sound to stories, word acquisition, physical movement and gross motor skills. Squeaky toys that make a noise when squeezed are soft and usually safe for younger children. Simple percussion instruments, such as hand drums or bells, allow a child to understand and see how the sound is made while also requiring fine and gross motor skills to make the sound. When selecting musical toys, bear in mind they are likely to end up in your child's mouth at some point. Avoid sharp edges or any toy intended for older children.
References
- Auditory Verbal Training.com: Auditory Development Scale, 0-6 Years
- "Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews"; Auditory Development in the Fetus and Infant; S.N. Gaven, J.V. Browne; December 2008
- The Creativity Institute: Educational Toys for Infants
- Phonak.com: The Importance of Establishing a Time Course for Typical Auditory Development
