What Are Appropriate Toys For Babies?

When you're shopping for toys for your baby, keep in mind there are toys which are appropriate for children at this age and toys which are definitely not suitable for infants. This is the reason that toy manufacturers list recommended ages for their products. In some cases, a toy may not be safe for a child younger than the age range suggested by the manufacturer to play with.

Toys may also be more or less suitable for children of different ages depending on the stage of development typical of children that age. Play, after all, is one of the ways that we begin to mature physically, mentally and even emotionally. Baby toys also help in the development of an infant's cognitive skills.

Toys and play involving the parent and baby are important to their growing language skills (for instance, singing and reading to your child and naming toys as you play). Parents often choose baby toys based on their educational potential, even at this very early stage. Parents are faced with an enormous number of choices when it comes to baby toys and many new parents especially find themselves at something of a loss as to which toys are age appropriate for their child.

Babies are especially receptive to bright colors and toys which produce sound, especially soothing music. Parents should keep in mind that their baby's vision is not fully developed in their first few months of life and their ability to see objects which are far away is very limited. If you're shopping for a newborn, than mobiles, soft rattles and unbreakable plastic mirrors are all excellent choices.

Safety becomes even more of a concern for babies between the ages of three and six months; this is when they will begin to explore things by putting them in their mouth. Any baby toys you choose must be safe for your baby to chew. At this age, babies are especially drawn to activity centers and other toys which often them opportunities to develop their motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Rattles and teething toys are also appropriate for babies in this stage of growth.

After six months,  babies become much more active, beginning to sit and crawl. Their playtime becomes more vigorous and they enjoy banging two toys together and making noise. It is important to have toys which allow children of this age to enhance their dexterity.  Babies are becoming aware that toys still exist even though they may not be in front of them. 

Parents can start playing games with their babies such as hide and seek at this point.  It is also very important to look for toys that enhance both fine and gross motor skills.These include blocks, shape sorting toys and larger puzzles. Parents should take care to follow age recommendations on toys to ensure the safety and help promote the development of your child's physical and cognitive skills.