The Top Toys for Babies from Birth to 6 Months

The Top Toys for Babies from Birth to 6 Months

April 15th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In the first six months of your baby’s life, the best toys will be ones that engage him visually and encourage him to reach out and touch. As his eyesight improves from birth, toys which promote hand-eye coordination are tops. Toys that make noise to draw his attention are also good choices.

From birth to six months there is a large improvement in your baby’s motor skills, most notably in his ability to hold up his head and even sit with or without support. Because of this vast difference in the abilities of a newborn and a six month old, toys that grow with baby are a good investment.

Infant Gyms

For the first few months of life, your baby will spend the majority of his time on his back, looking up. Infant gyms, in spite of a name that implies climbing, are designed for infants to lie beneath them and look up at a variety of different hanging toys. Many of the toys are removable so that baby can take a closer look at them once he develops to the point of handling toys. Look for toys with high contrast colors, especially black and white, which are the easiest for baby to see.

Some infant gyms convert from a lie-beneath toy to a toy that baby can sit in front of, to allow him to continue to enjoy the gym after he is able to sit up. There are also some which offer tummy-time entertainment as well, for when baby is lying on his tummy. Brightly colored mats with different textures are perfect for tummy time, such as the one accompanying the Fisher Price Miracles & Milestones Magical Mobile Gym, which features a panda bear with a high contrast black and white face.

Textures and Sounds

Many of the early toys for baby are small, handheld toys, which offer either interesting textures for baby to feel, or make sounds, or both. They should also be in high-contrast colors to allow baby to see them better. Rattles fall into this category, but the standard rattle has come a long way over the years. Today’s rattles come in soft and hard options, or with a combination of both. The best of these toys will have an easy to grasp handle, varied textures, and surfaces for baby to put in her mouth and chew on, as she will quickly learn to do.

Rattling isn’t the only sound that is great for baby. Look for toys such as those made by popular baby toy maker Sassy for crinkling, rustling and bell sounds as well. Rattles and bells that can be attached to baby’s ankles and wrists will turn his very own limbs into an entertaining toy.

Mirror, Mirror

As your baby’s eyesight improves, she will discover the fascination of seeing her own reflection. Although she won’t yet connect that baby in the mirror with her own self, she will love to watch. Look for toys with built in shatter-proof mirrors large enough for baby to see her whole face, such as the Leap Frog Rhyming Reflections Crib and Floor Mirror, which makes animal sounds and plays a cheerful song too.

In these early months of baby’s life, a great deal of development is going on. Stimulating baby visually, as well as with sounds and textures, will help her to grow and learn about the world around her.

Playtime with Baby: Six Great Games!

Playtime with Baby: Six Great Games!

April 13th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Play is crucial to your baby’s development, as is interaction with you. It stands to reason that playing games with mom and dad are a great way to help your baby learn and develop. Simple, fun games are perfect for the kind of one on one attention your baby craves. Don’t worry about the flash cards just yet – your baby is learning plenty just from games just like these.

Peek-a-boo! I See You!

The classic baby game is popular for a reason; it’s fun, it’s simple, and babies absolutely love it. You can play in any number of ways too, from simply covering your face with your hands and pulling them off suddenly, to hiding around a corner and popping out to baby’s delight. Turn the tables on baby by tossing a light blanket over her head, and then pretending you can’t find her. She’ll giggle with delight when you pull the blanket down and “discover” her. Eventually, she’ll pull the blanket off herself, and watch for your reaction. Peek-a-boo comes full circle!

Bucket of Fun

Start with any kind of container, such as a bucket, basket, or box. Grab a pile of blocks or other small toys. One by one, drop them into the bucket, counting out loud, then let baby dump them out to her great pleasure. Next, change the game up a bit, dividing the blocks into colors and adding them one color at a time. Ask baby to help you pull them back out in the same manner.

Baby Hand

Play this game on a day when you don’t mind a little noise! Pull out various items in the kitchen such as pots, bowls, and cups (plastic, please!) and turn them upside down. Hand baby a wooden spoon and grab one yourself, and drum out some rhythms together! Baby will love making all kinds of different sounds, and making noise with not only your permission but your complicity is twice the fun.

Delicious Baby!

Nothing will make your baby laugh harder than pretending to eat up his little toes, fingers, and especially his tummy. Go all out with the performance, making lip-smacking and chewing sounds, and you will be rewarded with even bigger giggles. Label the body parts as you go to help baby learn their names.

Ready for Take-off

When baby is old enough to hold his head up very well, help him to take to the air! Holding him on his tummy with your arms underneath him, and fly him around the room making airplane sounds. For older babies, try lying on your back on the floor with your feet up in the air. Carefully arrange baby on your feet so that you can lift him into the air, holding onto his hands for balance. Then bring baby in for a landing by slowly dropping him onto your chest for a kiss on arrival!

Build It Up, Knock It Down

Baby will love building towers of blocks with you. See how high you can build and then get ready for the best part; tearing it down! Babies love to make a mess, and watching mom or dad get a good laugh out of their Godzilla act is just the icing on the cake.

There are endless possibilities for fun games you can play with baby, as long as you don’t mind getting down on the floor and getting a little silly. The rewards of baby’s learning and laughter are well worth it.

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

March 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Even in the earliest months, there are games you can play with your baby to engage, stimulate, and encourage development. While baby isn’t really ready yet for much in the way of toys, she is taking everything in and will soon start responding to your efforts to communicate. Simple games, although they start out one sided, are a great way to motivate those responses.

Remember when you are talking to and playing with your new baby, especially in the first three months, that her eyesight is still developing. She sees best from a distance of about a foot, and is best able to make out high contrast colors, especially black and white. So keep games up close and personal to allow baby to see what’s going on.

Making Faces

Young babies respond best to human faces. There is nothing they would rather look at, so using your face to play games with baby is a great way to get started. Start with the most basic baby game – peek-a-boo. First hide your whole face in your hands, then try hiding just half, covering one eye and then the other, or just your mouth or eyes. Next, drop down out of baby’s sight and then reappear.

Make different faces for baby by changing your expression, sticking out your tongue, and raising your eyebrows. You can combine this game with peek-a-boo by varying the expression on your face every time it reappears. Eventually, you will notice that she starts smiling or trying to imitate your expressions, but for the first few months she is just taking it all in. Don’t be disappointed if there isn’t as much reaction as you had hoped for; your baby is just too young yet to respond, but she is definitely paying attention.

A Little Anatomy Lesson

In the first months of life, your baby is just learning that he even has a body, never mind what to do with it. Discovering body parts like hands and feet are great fun for baby, and games that point out body parts are a great way to help baby locate and learn all about his own body.

A classic game like “This Little Piggy” is a great one for young babies. It’s best done with baby lying on his back, so his feet can be up in the air and within his range of sight. Kneel over him and grab each toe as you play the game. Stick with the traditional tale of the piggy that went to market and the one who stayed home, or make up your own words. Just make sure to include the grand finale, tickling your fingers up baby’s body!

Another simple anatomy game is to lay your baby on the floor and kiss each body part in turn, naming them as you go. Start at the feet and work your way up so you can finish by kissing his soft little cheeks and lips! This is a wonderful post-bath game when you can get at all those little parts before putting clothes on again!

Remember that your baby is learning even when he is very young and doesn’t appear to be involved in what’s going on. His developing mind is working overtime absorbing information and trying to make sense of it. Before long, baby will start playing his part in the games as well, and you will realize he was paying attention all along.