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Toys for Your Newborn
Author: Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
You've probably been waiting for this day for what seems like forever. You've been waiting to play with your child! Now, your baby is here, and you find them so little, perhaps fragile. There's still plenty of ways to play. Newborns will thrive and grow with the stimulation you provide their minds and bodies.
Toys for the newborn are designed to support your baby's growth and development. This growth and development includes social, emotional, cognitive, as well as fine (small) and gross (large) motor skills.
Check out:
- Non-breakable mirrors especially designed for use with babies. What's better than looking at a beautiful baby? You may interact with your baby with silly sayings like "whose in the mirror?" as well as "peek-a-boo" fun (note: most babies find the game of peek-a-boo fun as they develop object permanence, around approximately 9 months).
- Toys that include music. Your baby's vision may still be developing, but their sense of hearing is keen (in fact, research shows they've been listening to sounds and music since around the 20th week of pregnancy!). From a simple CD player, which you use to explore a multitude of music (the library is a wonderful source for free rentals of CDs of children's music, as well as classical, jazz, and other genres), to toys which may play music, newborns will enjoy an array of soft, musical sounds.
- Toys with textures. These may include rattles and soft, plush animals. Explore different textures, including soft, bumpy, and smooth. In the earliest days, your baby may not yet have the ability to grasp an object. Textured toys that may be best include those that baby can lie upon.
- Toys that have a natural cause and effect. This type of toy will respond to your baby's actions (whether it be lights, sounds, or music). This may include items like wrist and/or sock rattles. Your infant may also enjoy toys that provide varying colors or sounds. A good example of this is a bouncy seat that features calming vibrations and visuals such as water movement and toy fish that move gently with accompanying lights.
- Brightly colored or highly contrasted colored toys (i.e. black, white, and red). This may include soft books, a mobile that hangs above her/his crib or bassinet, or hand-held toys (even if baby cannot quite grip them yet).
Your baby is here!
It's time to play.
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