When it comes to choosing toys for your new baby, it's important to select safe, simple objects that promote exploration and open play. Rattles, balls, activity gyms, and board books are great for encouraging developmental milestones during the first six months. But what about the rest of the year? Here is a list of 25 essential toys that will help support your baby as they change and develop new skills during their first 12 months. One of the best developmental toys for babies is a toy gym. The Bonobo gym from EZPlay Toys is a great example.
This fun set includes two sensory balls and eight individual beads that bind together to create an engaging toy for your baby. Soft puzzles, such as the popular Manhattan Toy Skwish, allow even young babies to explore how structures respond to their crushing. When your baby starts to move and take those first wobbly steps, a sit-and-stand system can become a push toy for piloting around the house. The Programming Pendants from Osmo are also a great choice. Not only do they provide an opportunity for creative play, but they also introduce advanced programming topics such as algorithms, sequences, variables, and binary coding. The Lamaze Clip & Go is another must-have toy.
It's a teether, it's a rattle, and it's a developmental toy that parents say babies go crazy about. These colorful and durable links can be used individually or joined together to form a chain that is perfect for keeping toys attached to the stroller. At seven months of age, your baby will be able to spot a toy on the floor and stretch it to grab it. This requires visual acuity, hand-eye coordination, and balance. The Busy Baby Mat from Busy Baby is an excellent choice for this stage.
It's a food grade silicone placemat that sticks to any smooth, clean surface and allows parents to attach baby's toys to the mat thanks to innovative straps. Finally, the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Activity Center is an ideal developmental toy for babies in their first year. This set includes a discovery mirror, gazing flaps, crumpled paper, grip tapes, pull ring, teether and a squeaker. It's sure to attract your baby's imagination at different stages of development during their first 12 months.
