By 9 months, your baby may have their favorite toys and can interact with them by moving objects from one hand to the other or looking for a toy that they see you hiding. They'll start playing with toys on their own, and guess what they do? They put them in their mouths. For the first two months of life, the baby does not need or want toys. Most babies don't even discover their own hands until around two months of age.
Finding the perfect toys for your little one really depends on their age. Rosenberg says that for babies 0-3 months old, you should focus on super-simple toys that make noise or play music so they can start tracking sounds. From 4 to 6 months, look for bright, safe and soft toys that are interesting to them and easy to grasp and grip. From 6 to 9 months, you'll want toys that make sounds and have textures, but they should also be safe, as babies are likely to put them in their mouths.
Safe mirrors for babies are also ideal at this age. And from 9 to 12 months, give the baby interactive toys such as building blocks so that they begin to understand that playtime is social and fun. Now you'll see your baby's personality emerge. In the first or second month of life, newborns rely on other people to initiate the interaction.
But by the end of the third month, your baby will attract them with facial expressions, vocalizations and gestures. At five inches in diameter, this ball is perfect for babies three months and older to practice their fine and gross motor skills while grasping and rolling, and can be easily tucked into the car or diaper bag as a travel toy. Babies also begin to explore their surroundings with their hands, reaching out, tapping and grabbing their favorite toy. For babies between two and six months old, toys that can be grasped will help them develop gross motor skills.
In fact, babies must play with their toys every day to learn to fully interact with the world around them. Mia Rosenberg, a psychotherapist and owner of Upsider Therapy, tells Romper that babies will likely begin to show interest in toys within the first few months of their lives. Rubber ducks, cups and jugs for pouring water and floating toys are ideal for babies to play in the bathtub. Babies also love to hit toys to make a sound, and cups are super easy to grab for this activity.
Babies play with toys when they are happy, so make sure they have taken a nap and are well fed.
