Feeding and sleeping do dominate your baby's world for the first few months, but already it is important to understand the value of stimulating your baby through developmental and fun play.
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| Touch and feel from birth: Lamaze Musical Inchworm
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Safety
You're probably aware of the need to keep toys with sharp edges or breakable parts away from your child. You're also most likely
aware that many toys carry warning signs because they are unsuitable for under-3s due to being made with small parts. (Parents of children who have passed their third birthday should continue to be cautious if their child has a particular love of chewing everything
she picks up).
Look, too, for toys which might have long ties on them which could strangle a baby, or hard and heavy objects which a
small baby might drop onto her face when she is laying down.
Age appropriate
Beyond basic safety, most toys for young children come with age-ranges on the packaging. Any toys for children under one year
will be safe for your baby to handle, but if they are better suited to babies who can sit up, then don't push them on a younger child in
the hope it will advance their mental stimulation. It is better for your child to find easy amusement than to fail to understand
something beyond her ability.
What to buy?
You don't have to rush to the nearest toy shop to stock up on playthings. Your child will love playing with boxes, fabrics and even
(safe) kitchen utensils as they pass through these different stages. However, there are companies which specialise in 'developmental'
toys, taking into account contrasting colours, sounds and shapes.
Lamaze (pronounced La-mars) offer clearly defined ranges from birth upwards as
part of what they call their 'Infant Development System'. Soft, bright and safe to play with, their toys feature mirrors, things that
make noises and plenty of texture for young fingers to explore.
V-tech make battery operated toys better
suited to children from three months and into toddlerhood. Their chunky toy mobile phone is a favourite with parents of children
who are often found rooting in bags for gadgets that make a noise!
Baby Dazzlers is a website specialising in baby and toddler
toys for pleasure and developmental purposes. Their ranges source from different companies and include the beautiful wooden
Sonello Grasping Toy.
Gymini is a bright baby gym range available through Jojo Maman Bebe. Other companies like Mothercare and Early Learning Centre also offer 'baby gyms' which are colourful playmats with
arches over them from which small cuddly objects hang. The idea is that your child can enjoy the stimulation of colour whilst playing
on her front and learn to reach with her arms and legs to move the mobiles above her if she rolls on her back.
The First Years Toys for the nursery and bath, developed with expert consultants, to compliment the brand's strong range of home, safety and feeding products.
For more about first baby toys for specific motor skills, hand-eye coordination and so on, check out our article on baby's first toys.
