Introduction

It is not until after 6 months that babies really start to play with toys in the more traditional sense of the word, such as knocking over blocks, rolling a ball, or cuddling with a teddy bear, for example. However, younger infants can interact with age-appropriate playthings, such as by shaking a rattle.

By the age of nine months, your baby may already have favourite toys and be able to play with them by transferring objects from one hand to the other or looking for a toy you’ve hidden.

Here are the various stages you’ll see when your baby begins to interact with toys more, as well as the several plaything categories that will keep him occupied from infancy through toddlerhood.

Newborn to two months old

When you are holding your newborn, one of the most exciting things he will gaze at will be your happy face because newborns can only see items that are 8 to 12 inches away at this age. When a baby is a newborn, playing and quality time are synonymous, and as you hold, touch, and converse with him, he will have all the entertainment he needs.

Babies learn about the world through touch, sight, and hearing, therefore some of the finest toys for a one-month-old may include playthings with contrasting colours, gentle sounds, and various textures. Think of colourful, eye-catching mobiles, playmats with toys hanging from them, and tactile rattles.

2-4 months of age

The mobile and the playmat with the vibrantly contrasted colours will continue to keep their attraction because your baby will still appreciate many of the same toys he did when he was a newborn. But by the time he is four months old, he will probably love clutching and shaking objects like rattles and swinging at toys that are dangling from his playmat (as opposed to just staring at them).

Around this age, he’ll also enjoy soft, multi-textured rattles, cloth or board books, and unbreakable, baby-safe mirrors, among other things. He will smile at his own reflection even though he is unaware that he is doing so.

At this moment, you can also play with your baby by having him shake the rattle (with your help).

4-6 months of age

Your infant can now move his head, hands, and legs with increased independence. He has the ability to roll over, balance on his arms, and even kick something. Four to six month olds also have stronger hand-eye coordination than newborns; by month six, he probably will be able to pass toys from hand to hand.

For 4- and 5-month-olds, activity mats will still be fun, but you can also add multi-textured books and toys that produce noise when your baby shakes, squeezes, or presses them. He will particularly enjoy toys that are simple for him to grip onto and grab (in addition to being simpler for him to get them into his mouth), such as robust board books, soft balls, and teething toys.

Additionally, he’ll feel it.An activity centre or busy box with levers and sounds, which will assist educate cause and effect (“I do this, the toy does that!”), as well as offer him a newfound sense of independence, would be ideal. He might even choose one stuffed animal to be his permanent buddy. Just demonstrate what to do, then watch him leave.

For your protection, keep small objects like toys, marbles, magnets, and other choking risks out of his reach because newborns at this age prefer to explore their mouths a lot.

12 to 6 months of age

During the second half of his first year, your developing kid will accomplish several significant milestones. He’ll learn to sit up, stand up by himself, cruise (walk while hanging onto furniture), and possibly even take his first steps between the ages of 6 and 12 months. All of these skills provide your baby a fresh perspective on his toys (and how he plays with them).

Additionally, he will begin to comprehend the idea of object permanence, which states that even though something leaves his field of vision, it still exists. And he will advance from using his hand to rake a toy in his direction to picking things up with his thumb and forefinger (known as the pincer grasp).

Anything is acceptable to give to a 6- to 12-month-old.

even though it isn’t really a “toy,” that is secure for him to explore. Babies may begin to play more independently at this age, while your little one may initially need to follow your instruction (ex. “This is how you roll a cup”). Good choices include vehicles or balls that will entice your baby to crawl after them, as well as toys that play music when your baby pushes or clicks a button.

Standing toys like activity tables and stacking rings that your baby can push and balance upright are especially beneficial for 7- and 8-month-olds.

You can introduce toys that promote problem-solving as your child gets older: Shape sorters are among of the greatest toys for 9-month-olds, while for 10- to 12-month-olds, basic puzzles, stacking items toys and puppets.

Of course, your baby will still enjoy some of their earlier favourites, such as cuddly animals and board books. Also keep in mind that household goods can be transformed into toys: Wooden spoons, plastic containers, and measuring cups are perennial favourites.

In particular, the push- and pull-toys that he may use to hone his walking techniques will keep him entertained well into his second year. Purchasing pretend play items like play food, strollers, and shopping carts is also a fantastic idea right now.

What characteristics should I search for in a toy?

The following characteristics increase the likelihood that your baby’s first toys will be a hit:

requesting his response to

Your infant will use sound to determine the location of an object until his eyesight is completely mature. It’s a good idea to use rattles, wind chimes, or musical mobiles.

high contrast patterns with vivid colours. Early on, your infant can learn to distinguish between variations in forms and patterns with the use of high contrast black, white, and red toys. He will adore vividly coloured toys when he gets older.

Movement. Your baby will love toys that move throughout his first three months. His eyesight is still developing, therefore he has a harder time seeing stationary objects than moving ones.

jangly objects. Until your infant can sit up, toys that hang from a baby gym’s arch are excellent options. Utilizing toys will aid in his grasping ability development.

toys that are tactile. Exploration is best done with toys or fabric books that have various textures. Your baby’s senses will be stimulated by noticing the contrast between soft and scrunchy materials.

Conclusion

Babies are all unique. It’s possible that your infant will begin grabbing or playing with toys sooner or later than the timelines we’ve given. Whenever it is, both you and they will have a lot of fun with this.

Make sure your baby has had a nap and is well-fed before letting them play with toys. Once they are thoroughly engaged in playing, they will also communicate when they are done by throwing away the toys, acting irritable, or losing interest