Every parent wants to make sure that their newborn starts their life in the best position possible. One of the most important parts of this is ensuring that they have what they need to be happy and learn about the world around them. Because babies and small children learn primarily through play. It’s important to ensure that they have the right newborn toys available to them. Here’s why baby newborn toys are important as well as a few of our recommendations.
Why do Babies Need Toys?
Toys for babies aren’t just made for fun and entertainment. They actually serve a much greater purpose: helping your baby to develop both physically and mentally. Baby learning toys are designed to engage all of your child’s senses and encourage them to use those senses to explore the world around them. By playing with developmentally appropriate toys consistently. Your newborn will be able to learn and improve upon important skills like hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving.
Now that you know why newborn toys are so important. You’re probably ready to purchase a few. With so many options available, though, it can feel a bit overwhelming and might be difficult for you to choose. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Keep reading for a list of some of the best types of toys for babies, as well as a few of our favorites.
Sensory Toys for Babies
To help your baby develop their senses, you need to purchase toys that will engage those senses. There are a wide variety of sensory toys out there. We encourage you to buy several to give your child as many options to explore as possible.
Textured Toys
Though you may not expect it, babies can actually learn quite a lot from interacting with a wide range of textures. We encourage you to purchase toys with a variety of textures and encourage your child to play with each of them. Some of our favorite textured toys are:
- Textured sensory balls
- Kinetic sand
- Slime
- Bean bags
- Sensory mats
If you purchase these and a few others, your child will never run out of fun sensory toys to play with, and they’ll have a variety of ways to learn about new textures.
Soft Plush Toys
Soft plush toys are also a great sensory toy for children. Depending on the type of plush toy you purchase your child, they can learn to interact with squishy, spongy, and soft textures. In addition, if your child has any sensory issues, a weighted plush toy can be a source of comfort and security. Everyone remembers having plush toys as a child, so we strongly recommend picking up several for your own children. They’ll have a new favorite toy and a cuddly companion all in one!
Kinetic Toys
Kinetic toys cover a fairly wide range of products, and can be anything from busy boards to fidget toys. Each kinetic toy has a common purpose, however: to encourage children to keep their hands busy. These toys may vary in their precision or complexity, so it’s a good idea to start with more basic kinetic toys with features like large buttons and switches, then later move on to more challenging toys like basic puzzles and shape-matching games.
High-Contrast Toys for Babies
When children are first born, they have extremely blurry vision that develops as they grow. High-contrast toys like a black-and-white card can help babies train their vision, learn to look at and track certain objects, and even improve their attention span.
Teething Toys for Babies
As your baby’s first set of teeth start to come in, their gums may become sore and irritated. This may cause them to be fussy and cry more often, so it’s important to give them something that will relieve their pain. While some doctors may prescribe a mild pain reliever like Tylenol, it’s helpful to have some non-medical solutions at your disposal as well.
This is where teething toys come in handy. Teething toys are usually made of a soft material like rubber or silicone, and can give your baby both an idle activity and a way to relieve teething pain. The chewing motion applies pressure to the gums, which is known to give a bit of respite from soreness. Be sure to invest in a teething toy as soon as possible. It’ll keep your baby happy and as pain-free as possible during the teething process.
Looking for more great tips, tricks, and products to get your newborn started off on the right foot? Feel free to visit our site at ToysCentral today!