Babies are eager to learn about the world around them, and they have much to learn. Every new shape, colour, texture, taste and sound is a learning experience for them.
For the first month, your new-born’s vision will be fuzzy. They will only be able to focus on objects about 20cm or 30cm away from their eyes. If you are playing with your baby during their first month, keep your face no more than 30cm from theirs, so they can see your expressions. If you show them a toy, hold it at this distance from their face.
Your baby’s hearing is well-developed at birth. They’ll turn their heads towards you when they hear the sound of your voice. Their hearing will also help them to find a noisy toy to play with.
In their first few months, the toys your baby will love most are the ones they can look at and listen to. Choose toys from a range that has been designed to be visually appealing with bright colours and textures. Also, Toys won’t just enhance your baby’s physical development. Once they are able to join in simple games with you, play will develop their cognitive, creative and social development skills.
Babies are born with a powerful instinct to grasp from birth, but your baby probably won’t start to develop this skill until they are about three months old. Toys are a great incentive for your baby to perfect their grabbing technique. If you dangle an enticing toy within their line of sight, like the sheep baby comforter, they will reach to catch it.
Giving your baby toys that are safe and stimulating will help them discover their senses. Rattles and toys that make music are favourites for little ones. Toys with contrasting colours are fascinating for babies to explore and stimulate their developing vision. As they grow, infants can use toys to explore object permanence and cause and effect relationships. They also need objects such as blocks to help them build motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
By the time your baby is about five months old, they’ll start to explore toys by putting them in their mouth. Your baby has more control over their tongue and lips than their hands and fingers at first. In fact, their mouth has more nerve endings per square millimetre than any other part of their body. Toys should be chosen with safety in mind and be made from durable, non-toxic materials with no sharp edges. Make sure that all toys are safe for chewing, and check labels. Never attach a toy to a cot or playpen with elastic or string, as these can pose a strangling risk.
By six months your baby may be able to sit up, which will give them a whole new perspective on the world. Lots more toys will come into his field of vision like Roary Dinosaur who can sit up with them!
Help them explore the brand-new world with their imagination and toys!