It’s never too early to start shopping for the best 10 toys for your new baby. Here are 10 essential items that will make life with a newborn easier and more enjoyable!
Your baby is learning in leaps and bounds in their first year of life and naturally, you want to provide them with the best toys to aid their development through this crucial time. However, there are so many toys out there that the choice can be overwhelming!
Occupational Therapist Cindy Chuan says the best toys for your baby are toys that encourage open-ended play and exploration. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up an essential selection for your baby.
1. Shape block sorter
Look for toys that will help your baby develop their fine motor and problem-solving skills. Blocks in bright colors and shapes will help your baby learn colors. A shape sorter box where your baby can post the block to the corresponding shape in the box, like Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks, will help them learn problem-solving skills and all about shapes. An essential first toy!
2. Baby activity gym
Investing in a baby activity gym is perfect for encouraging tummy time as well as for playing unrestricted on the floor. Choose a gym like the Bright Starts Safari Blast Activity Gym with toys in different textures hanging where your baby can look up and learn to reach out and grasp.
3. Baby board book
Board books are essential for baby’s first year. Not only does reading with your baby help language and speech development, if you chose a collection of board books, your child can safely learn to turn the pages themselves. And they’ll enjoy board books even more if the pages have different textures to explore like in the ‘That’s not my…’ series. Look for That’s not my koala, That’s not my tractor, and many more!
4. Bath toys
Your baby will enjoy sensory play in the bath and adding bath toys for them to play with can help your child learn about cause and effect. Look for toys like Dymples Under The Sea – Bath Toys that are a bright and stackable with different patterns for the water to run through.
5. Sensory plastic links
When you’re on the go you can provide your baby with play opportunities by adding toys to their stroller or car seat. Choose toys with different colours and textures they can feel. Lamaze Monkey Links have crinkly feet and soft satin for your baby to explore the different textures and the middle monkey has legs that make a clicking sound when your baby stretches them out. So satisfying!
6. Teether with grip and rattle
When your baby starts teething they’ll enjoy having a teether to chomp on that they can carry around themselves. Choose a teether your child can easily hold, like the Bright Starts Grab and Spin Rattle and Teether Toy. Your baby can safely chew the textured handle and can also play with the spinning rattle chamber filled with colourful little balls.
7. Baby-safe floor mirror
Your baby will love looking at faces – including their own! As your baby grows they’ll learn that the face they see in the mirror is theirs – helping them with their own self-discovery. Opt for a baby-safe play mirror-like the Bright Starts Sit & See Safari Floor Mirror that can be placed nearby your little one for tummy time or floor play and folded up and popped away neatly when not in use.
8. Stacking cups
A must-have for a baby’s first year – stacking cups are the perfect toy for your baby to learn how to grasp and release, as well as hand-eye coordination and depth perception. Choose a colourful set like the Playgro Fun Stacking Cups that also have textured patterns each cup for your baby to feel.
9. Baby bath book
Bring two fun opportunities for play together – bath time and book time – with water-safe bath books! Your baby will enjoy exploring the pages and you can talk about the pictures you see. Choose a book like the waterproof plastic Playgro Splash Book that has bright pictures of aquatic creatures for you to name and discuss.
10. Baby walker
A walker that your child can choose to use independently (not a walker that they have to be placed in), can be helpful for your baby’s self-confidence when they’re in their cruising phase. A mobile walker can allow your child to have free movement while they’re learning to walk. Look for one like the Vtech First Steps Baby Walker with Detachable Learning Centre – it has inbuilt toys in a variety of colours and shapes, with fun sounds and music too. Your baby will enjoy discovering all the functions, the cause and effect of pushing the buttons and turning the gears in their own time. You will need to stay close to your baby while they’re exploring with their walker and be ready to assist them while they have fun trying out their new skills.
With these 10 toys at the ready, your baby will be all set to learn through play! Remember to choose baby-safe toys and always supervise your baby while they’re playing. And while they’ll enjoy all these toys very much, keep in mind that in their first year, your baby’s favourite toy will always be you.
Conclusion:
10 essential toys for baby’s first year
As your baby grows they’ll enjoy having a teether to chomp on that they can carry around themselves. Choose a teether your child can easily hold, like the Bright Starts Grab and Spin Rattle and Teether Toy.
Your baby can safely chew the textured handle and can also play with the spinning rattle chamber filled with colorful little balls. 10 Essential Toys For Baby’s First Year Best for baby: 10 essential toys for babies first year 10 Essential Toys For Babies’ First Year 10 Toys
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