Infant refers to children under one year of age. In the first year, babies learn about the world through the senses. Infants enjoy looking, touching, hearing, tasting, and smelling. They learn to move around, reach for things, and explore their environment. Sensations nourish the baby’s brain as they continue to develop milestones.
Through my two decades of working with young children, I have had the opportunity to try out a great multitude of toys. I have thoroughly assessed the toy benefits based on age, appeal, safety, and durability. Furthermore, I have examined if a child can play with the toy in multiple ways, if the toy appeals to several senses, promotes problem-solving, and boosts imagination. Most importantly, does the toy include ways for children to use their hands and fingers to help build the small muscles and coordination?
Below is a list of 10 educational toys for infants.
1) Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror is an essential mirror for newborns. Some babies might initially dislike tummy time, and this baby safe, lightweight mirror will capture the baby’s attention. Babies are fascinated by seeing their reflection. The mirror offers attractive high contrast colors. It provides soft and crinkly texture; spinning the black and white ball creates a rattling sound. Great simple design, easy to wipe down, and carry around as needed. Might be used later to encourage crawling.
2) Blige SMTF Cute Animal Soft Baby Socks Toys Wrist Rattles and Foot Finders help babies find their hands and feet while moving arms and kicking legs to create a rattling sound. These simple, colorful socks and cuffs entertain babies for a bit. It promotes hand, foot, and eye-coordination and sensory development. Soft and easy to wash.
3) Manhattan Toy Skwish Natural Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy. The toy is a unique, lightweight wooden rattle with sliding beads that create gentile and pleasant sounds. This multi-sensory toy that encourages reaching, grasping, and two-handed play. Classic natural wood look and safe to chew.
4) Wooden Rattle and Crochet Elephant Teething Rattle is an eco-friendly, safe, non-toxic wood and cotton crochet rattle set. Easy to grasp, provides texture exploration, shaking sounds, and it is safe to mouth. There is a choice of three beautiful animal rattle sets available. Excellent quality, gently handwash to clean.
5) Mini Tudou Soft and Textured Building Baby Blocks are fun for reaching, grasping, stacking, and balancing. Blocks are light, soft, and safe to chew. Babies enjoy feeling different surface details; they curiously look at designs. Blocks are amusing to squeeze and create gentle sound. Easy to wipe clean; please do not submerge in water.
6) Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball is fun to reach for, easy to hold and throw. The ball offers multiple textures, makes gentle sounds, and it is visually appealing to little eyes.
7) Sassy Wonder Wheel Activity Center has a suction cup base that attaches flat surfaces. Babies love to spin the wheel, watch the wheel move, and hear the sound it creates. They enjoy touching and poking multiple textures on the wheel. Easy to bring along wherever you might go and capture the baby’s attention when needed.
8) Bright Starts Light & Learn Drum with Melodies is well-loved by babies. Babies love tapping on the drum with both hands and enjoy hearing songs and looking at lights. The drum engages children to “dance” and “sing.” The child will enjoy playing with the toy drum for a long time.
9) Fat Brain Toys Tobbles Neo has six uniquely designed stackable spheres. Children can stack, nest, topple, spin, and engage in creative play. Vividly colored spheres are all different sizes, which helps with grip control and problem-solving skills.
10) Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM Learning Toy offers various textures, colors, and sounds. Stacking circles promotes grasping and hand-eye coordination. Initially, children enjoy the sensory exploration of different rings. Later on, they learn to sort, sequence, and build.
Based on personal and professional experience, I found all these early toys engaging, exciting, and motivating for most of the infants.
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