Having a baby is one of the most responsible decisions you can possibly make, but amongst all the worry and stress, not to mention enduring the actual pregnancy itself, there is one preparative activity that is more than a bit exciting.
You will no doubt remember your first toy, which is maybe now one of your most treasured possessions, and you will want to recreate this connection for your own child. So, with that being said, continue reading for a guide to buying toys for your baby.
The Importance of Baby Toys
It is not only for cute and adorable photo opportunities that buying toys for your baby as soon as they are born is a good idea. The top five benefits of baby toys, although there are a multitude of other advantages in buying safe baby toys to play with, are:
- Baby toys spark imagination and creativity
- Baby toys start to make them aware of touch and emotions related to touch
- Baby toys help define their motor development
- Baby toys can help entertain and enrich their minds
- Baby toys engage their senses
Pay Attention to the Age Recommendation on the Label
When searching for the next toy, or indeed set of toys, for your baby, it is incredibly important to ensure to read the label attached to the box or the toy itself thoroughly, paying specific attention to the recommended age restrictions.
The minimum age stated on the label will help you assess:
- If your child will work out how to use and interact with the toy happily
- If the toy is entirely safe for your child to play with
- If the toy matches their interests and growing needs, dependent on their specific stage of development
Top Tips for Choosing the Right Baby Toy
Aside from ensuring you read any attached instructions and labels thoroughly, there are seven other key considerations when shopping for the right toy for your baby and are as follows:
- If the toy is made from plastic, then make sure that the plastic is of a thick consistency and is not thin enough to break apart
- Always ensure, more applicable in the case of toddlers and older infants, that any electric toy which you are considering purchasing is stated as being ‘UL Approved.’
- Always check to see that the toy does not contain any toxic materials
- When choosing an adorable stuffed animal or other toys for your baby, you must first ensure that they are made for babies, but also that they are extremely well-made, as stuffing from such toys could be a potential choking or even suffocation hazard
- Never buy a baby or young child any toy which shoots anything into the air
- As a general rule, the larger the toy, the safer it will be around your baby
- If the toy you are interested in buying makes any kind of noise, ensure that the noise is not too loud, as the baby’s hearing is exceedingly sensitive
- Buy sensory toys for babies and toddlers to simulate their senses and help them develop their communication skills