While toys and playtime seem trivial to adults, playing is important to children. Toys and playtime aid in a child's growth and development. Therefore, it's important to be mindful of the toys you choose for your child. You will need to watch out not only for his learning; you also need to ensure his safety.
Stimulate his senses
The primary reason you want to give toys to your infant child is to stimulate his senses. Infants' senses, after all, are still in their development stages, and anything that can help them go by will help.
From birth to two months, you can get him crib companions in primary colors. Stuffed toys and animals are a good choice. You can also hang a mobile with colorful materials on top of his crib. Go for contrasting and bright colors. Primary colors, like red, yellow and blue work best.
After two months, your baby will likely start grabbing objects. Encourage him to explore different textures. You can also encourage him to explore his sense of hearing by giving him rattles. By this time, he will also be curious with his feet. Let him wear colorful socks or booties, which he can also grab.
Music
Babies are fascinated by music, and letting your child listen to music starting at a young age can help intrigue him and get his interest. Musical toys can also help soothe your baby when he is uneasy.
Go for functional toys
By the time your baby starts growing teeth, this will be quite an uncomfortable stage for him. You can get him toys that double as teethers. These usually come in tough, but flexible plastic or silicone material. You can also get him teethers that contain liquid inside. You can cool these in the fridge, and this can help soothe your baby's sore gums.
Ensure his safety
Remember that children will put just about anything in their mouths. Therefore, any toy you will give your infant child should be clean and safe. The toy should not have any small parts that can be swallowed. The toy should also be made of safe materials. For example, some plastics may be colored with paint that contains lead. These should be avoided.
You should also avoid toys that contain string or elastics, as these might get caught around your child's neck. If you need to attach toys to his crib, use Velcro instead. When buying toys, be mindful of the packaging. Keep plastic bags away from your child, as these can cause suffocation. Similarly, twisty wires and store tags are small and might get swallowed.
Each child is unique. What is enjoyable to one child may not necessarily be fun to another. If you have kids, you will notice that each one has his own preference. This starts even at a young age. You will need to be observant and mindful of the kinds of toys that your infant child likes. Chances are, he will have favorite toys, and you should encourage him to be curious and to keep exploring.
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