Many parents find it difficult to choose toys for a new baby – relatives even more so. A young baby won’t be able to interact with his toys much at first, so they should be soft, simple, sturdy, and attractive to look at and touch.
Soft toys Your baby will like soft toys that he is able to squeeze and that have nice textures for him to touch and cuddle.
Mobiles For a newborn baby, a colored mobile hung 10 inches (25 centimeters) above a crib or carriage will provide visual stimulation. Hang it out of reach, but not so high that he can’t focus on it. Change around the parts every few days to hold his interest.
Noisy toys Rattles, soft toys that squeak, and musical toys are all suitable for a young baby. By six months, he loves to play with a music box that he can operate himself- perhaps by pulling a string.
Books Your baby is never too young to be read to. From three to four months, choose books with large, brightly colored pictures; point to common objects and name them while he’s sitting on your knee. Faces always attract him, so show him pictures in magazines and point out the parts of your face, then his face, and then the same parts in the pictures.
SAFETY
Safety is the most important consideration when choosing toys. With a young baby, bear in mind that he is likely to put everything into his mouth.
- Toys such as rattles should be lightweight in case your baby hits himself with them
- Avoid toys with small holes that could trap your baby’s fingers
- Avoid toys with long strings, which could be swallowed or wrapped around your baby’s neck
- Soft toys should be made of flame- retardant material. Ensure they’re washable and colorfast, because he’ll keep putting them in his mouth.
- Small parts that could choke him, like eyes on soft toys, should be firmly attached and checked often
