Most babies are ready to start playing with toys at around 4 to 6 months old. However, there are some toys that are specifically designed for younger babies, such as rattles and teethers. Play mats are good for tummy time, and play gyms are great when baby is laying on their back. If you are changing your baby's nappy on the floor you can put a play gym over them to keep them occupied and less squirmy. Adding bath toys help make bath time fun, and will encourage your little one to want to get in the water.
Not necessarily. Newborns are often content to just look around and listen to the sounds around them. However, if you want to give your newborn a toy, make sure it is specifically designed for babies of that age group and that it is safe for them to use. Newborns can't see colour, so black and white mobiles are a good option to start. There are also black and white picture books designed for newborns. Rattles and teethers help babies with their grip and hand-eye coordination.
Toys can offer a variety of different benefits for babies, such as:
These are all important aspects of early childhood development. To learn more, talk with your infant care professional.
There are so many different types of toys that babies can play with. Some examples include:
Baby toys can help develop a variety of different skills, such as:
Baby's brain development is important, this is where all their learning happens. There are a variety of different types of toys that can help with brain development, these include:
Some examples of toys that help with physical development include:
As well as helping with other types of development, some types of toys can help with language development too:
Yes, it is possible for babies to become overstimulated if they are given too many toys or if the toys are too loud or bright. If you think your baby is becoming overstimulated, take a break from playing and let them have some time to rest.
If you are concerned about overstimulating your baby, only give them a few toys to play with at a time making sure that at least some of them are non-electronic. Supervise your baby, or better yet, play with them, this way you will see when they start becoming overwhelmed. Some signs that your baby may be overstimulated can include:
