Newborn Toys
Guidelines for Choosing Newborn Toys
Babies are clean slates, upon which many new skills and abilities await to be added through the interaction of their families as well as a wide selection of newborn toys. Because infants lack the ability to recognize what is beneficial and what can be dangerous, parents must be very cautious when introducing toys to the child.
Toys are often thought to be merely instruments of whimsy. This assessment may be true in some cases, but in a great many instances involving toys for babies, they are also tools for growth. Developing cognitive thinking, enhancing physical abilities, leading to language skills and developing both emotional and social skills are important jobs that seemingly frivolous and amusing toys carry out. Think of these toys as building blocks for a child’s wellbeing and future success and they take on an entirely new prospective.
Newborn babies face an immense task upon being born; beginning with absolutely no skills other than to suckle and cry yet required to learn to walk, speak, socialize and acquire mobility skills within a few short years. It’s an incredible job, yet one that they take on eagerly and with zeal. Infants use everything within their scope as a learning tool, so it is important for parents to carefully examine what toys and activities to which they are exposed. The best newborn toys are those which are as educational as they are entertaining.
Babies utilize everything within their power to absorb information; taste, smell, touch, sight and sound. From the moment a child is born, it is exposed to a variety of these elements; when offered in the right manner such as an appropriate toy, the child is able to begin its learning process. Toys that are designed for infants should offer methods of utilizing these basic abilities to challenge and interest the child. One way of capturing their visual sense is to provide colorful mobiles and mirrors specially designed for infants. Noises captivate babies; rattles, musical toys and squeeze toys have a way to gain the interest of babies even before they are able to reach for them.
Some toys for infants carry dual purposes. Story books, for example, offer brightly colored pictures and smooth pages; however, they also provide a great opportunity to bond with a parent or other family member who is taking the time to read to them. Babies will respond to the inflections in the voice as the reader acts out the story. To relax babies while also exposing them to their surroundings, the infant can be placed in a baby swing. Music softly fills the air around the baby in synchronized tones with the soothing sway of the swing as the child can gaze around. One type of toy that is found in most every baby’s toy collection is one of a popup variety. Turning the crank produces a catchy snippet of music before suddenly a cloth puppet like figure pops up out of the box; delightfully surprising the baby. A variation of this toy is for slightly older babies who are able to push large colored buttons to prompt a door to fly open and a figure to pop out.
Before exposing your child to any newborn toys, check the packaging for safety warnings. The toy must be fully non-toxic with no small parts or opportunities to otherwise provide a threat to the child. While age specific declarations are included on packaging, you know your child’s development best and as such, you are able to determine if a toy is appropriate for the baby’s current stage of development. It can always be set aside if you deem it to be too advanced. Allow both independent play and interactive play to help your child develop full social skills.
Babies are like little sponges; able to absorb a great deal of information. By choosing the right newborn toys, you can control and ensure that the information is appropriate and safe for your baby.