Toys for Babies (starting from 3 Months to 12 Months)

Baby toys are an important tool for development of a child since birth. They play a vital role in development of a child’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical development. Toys provide an opportunity to learn by engaging a child’s senses and encouraging them to interact with it. Infant items that are simulating helps a child discover different aspects such as color, texture, taste, sound and shape. There are age specific toys that boost certain stage of development in that age.

3-6 months

1. Activity mats – Activity mats provide a colorful and fun amalgamation of different types of learning such as movement, texture, colors and shape. Activity mats have various types of toys hanging overhead because by this age babies lay on their back most of the time and see upwards towards the ceiling. These mats works well for tummy time as well since the base of the mats have toys as well. These usually have a cushion base so your baby is comfortable. Be careful at this age as these can be over-stimulating as well and cause confusion instead of development. You can remove and attach toys according to your child’s age.

2. Squeaky rubber toys – These are safe toys that helps accelerate gripping by the baby. These also make great tub toys for bath time. The toys’ squeaks mostly convert to your child’s enjoyment squeaks. This toy helps sound development, sound location and enhanced gripping. These types of toys also become a good teether in some cases as the baby builds affinity towards it. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Babies often love animal shaped toys in bright colors for visual stimulation. With bright colors, intriguing textures and graphic patterns, squeaky rubber toys will become a staple in your diaper bags.

3. Rattles – Rattles provide arm strength and helps babies exercise their hand grip. Babies are noticed to be delighted while discovering that the toy creates sounds as they move it. Lightweight rattles are preferred as babies have limited arm strength at this age. Adding music to this exercise helps babies create a rhythm as they love music and appreciate rhythm. It should be taken care that rattlers are made of sturdy material and not brittle plastic as they can break and harm your baby. Also, rattlers without small parts are preferred so your baby do not swallow them.

4. Dolls and Soft stuffed animals– During this age, many children are attached to a doll or soft animal. Main criteria’s are soft and cuddly. You should avoid buying anything with wire in the ears or tail – it could hurt your child by poking through the fabric.

Additionally, always make sure there are stitched-on features on your baby’s dolls and animals. Soft toys are potential choking hazards due to plastic eyes and mouth. Also avoid items such as bells, buttons, ribbons, and yarn that your baby can yank off and stuff into her mouth.

5. Board books – Reading to a child at any age will pay off. Board books prove to be beneficial for babies because these can withstand mouthing, drooling, and most other forms of baby love. Few board books even have different types of textures which your baby can feel and play with. Listening to your voice helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of language. And varying the pitch of your voice using accents, singing, and vocalizing will make reading together much more interesting to your child.

6. Pop up toys– This causes development of Cause and effect concept. It is simply the ability for your baby to understand that doing one thing results in something else happening. It is around 5 months old when babies start to develop this skill and it’s why your baby may start to become amused by dropping a spoon or toy just to watch you pick it up. Toys that include things your baby can push, pull or turn to make something else happen in response are ideal for developing this skill. Pop-up toys help your baby learn that if you push a button, pull a lever, or turn a knob something happens. This toy is simple but very motivating to babies as they learn how the world works.

7. Floor Mirror- This toy enables development of social skills. These skills help us to easily interact with other people and read and understand communication. Babies start developing social skills at birth and continue to grow them as they age and their world expands. Toys that encourage your baby to observe human behaviour are perfect for developing her social skills. Floor mirrors are an all-time favourite for developing social skills. Playing with mirror allows your baby to increase awareness about self. They can spend time looking at their favourite baby in the mirror and discovering what they look like and how they move.

8. Stacking Rings –
After placing this toy in front of your baby, you’ll see them trying to chew on it aggressively or pulling the rings off the central pole on their own. This enables your baby to work on motor skills and explore their own abilities with stacking rings. Stacking rings come in different types such as stacking blocks as well which are chew-friendly. Primary colours on stacking rings encourages development of cognitive skills and stacking in a specific order such as rainbow or dark to light helps develop memory.

9. Blanket –
While you may not think of a blanket as a toy, it is an important plaything for babies. Whether you want to play peek-a-boo or hide a toy, blankets help children develop the idea that things continue to exist even when out of sight. Blankets provide a sense of security to babies and they often cannot fall asleep without the specific blanket. It encourages communication between child and parent and helps the child express wants.

10. Who Wears What? Touch & Feel Learning Toy Board Book by Bendon

This book has been appreciated for encouraging speech and language development in babies of this age. As excited as parents may be to hear their baby’s first word, all babies develop their language and speech skills at their own pace. Although things like talking to your baby often throughout the day and reading to him/her will help encourage the development of language skills. Board books are the perfect toy for encouraging language development. After dinner time, most parents sit down with a board book which allows babies to grow their receptive language skills every time you label a picture. If you take their hand and show them how to point to the pictures labelled they are sharpening their expressive language skills.

9-12 months

11. Toys to Pretend With

At this stage, toys that encourage imitative play are essential for the development of your baby’s imagination. Toys that stimulate pretend play can include play food and kitchens, tools and workbenches, dolls and cuddly animals. As your baby gets a little older, consider adding dress-up options, and more accessories for the toys he/she plays with most: A crib for his dolls, a garage for his cars, an apron or tool belt, and so on. By observing parents, babies learn to imitate and toys that help them do so are beneficial. Toys such as cars, trolleys help babies develop motor skills and cognitive skills by understanding their use. 

12. Push Toys to Encourage Walking 

You can’t go wrong with a classic push toy for little cruisers and walkers. When choosing one, look for sturdiness, a comfortable height and a grasping bar that fits nicely into little hands and helps your baby maintain balance.

Some push toys, such as doll strollers and lawnmowers, inspire pretend play too. Others add a lesson in cause and effect (for example, if that lawnmower produces soap bubbles as your baby pushes it, or a puppy opens and closes its mouth as it rolls.

13. Chatter Telephone

Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone is best known for encouraging speech and language development. This classic toy is probably familiar to most of us and is still extremely popular for a reason — it’s tons of fun for babies and toddlers. Babies will begin to form their first sounds and words at their own pace, but this little telephone encourages them to chat away just like mom and dad. The telephone helps babies develop their speech through role play and suggests that you play along with your baby to show him how it’s done. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to model new words and practice language skills through imaginary play.

14. Take-Along Shape Sorter

This toy is known to be good for developing cognitive skills. By 9 months old, your baby is ready to further develop her/his problem-solving skills by playing with more advanced toys. The fact that you can easily tote this shape sorter around on trips is an added bonus.

Parents likes this toy because it is versatile and will keep your baby busy learning and mastering her skills for months to come. A shape sorter works on cognitive skills in many different ways. This puzzle-like toy introduces problem solving, shapes and colours.

Older babies and toddlers will enjoy identifying the objects and zipping and unzipping the bag themselves.

15. Outdoor Toys

Once babies are 9 to 12 months old, they’re able to start enjoying the outdoors. It’s the perfect time to take push toys outside and add backyard playground equipment (such as small slides or playhouses), and convertible trikes or balance bikes. They interact with nature and understand different elements and textures of it. Playing outdoors is good for your baby’s health as it boosts immunity and strengthens eyesight and motor skills. It is always beneficial to avoid toys which increase digital screen time and encourage your babies to play outside in the fresh air in natural light.