The Best Newborn Toys to Engage Your Little One
Help your infant better understand the world around them while having fun with these top newborn toys.
In their first three months of life, baby is probably asleep more often than not—but don’t be fooled by all that shuteye, your little sleepyhead is going through a lot of physical, social and emotional development. By the three-month mark, you can expect baby to start cooing, recognizing different faces and voices and exploring their surroundings with all five senses. While it’s not all fun and games, play is an important part of helping baby achieve some important developmental milestones. The best toys for newborns tend to feature intriguing textures, high-contrast patterns and easy-to-grasp designs that prompt their brains to build new connections. Not sure what types of toys are up to the task?
When shopping for the infant in your life, you’ll want to make sure the newborn toys you pick out are age-appropriate. This way, baby’s developing physical, emotional and social skills will be supported, as they safely discover and make sense of the world around them. Play mirrors, high-contrast flashcards, colorful rattles and textured, cloth activity books are all standout examples of newborn toys that’ll stimulate your little one’s senses. Better yet, these toys promote baby’s fine motor skills, social abilities, pattern recognition and visual development.
Baby can begin tummy time as soon as they come home from the hospital. To that end, a play gym or activity mat offers a safe space for baby to play on their back or belly from the get go
As your child approaches the three-month mark, they’ll also begin bringing objects toward their mouths,, so be sure to provide teethers on hand, and avoid giving them anything that could pose a choking hazard.
Last but not least, it’s never too early to begin reading to baby. Black-and-white board books or textured cloth books, which prompt newborns to recognize certain images and aid in speech development. And when storytime is over, baby can explore these infant-friendly books with their hands—and their mouths!
From crinkly books and colorful teethers to activity mats and soft blocks, there are a lot of toys for newborns to choose from. To narrow down your search, keep these features in mind when shopping for your little one:
- High-contrast patterns. As your newborn’s eyesight develops, it’s easier for them to see black-and-white or colorful images. Phillips adds that visually stimulating patterns will keep baby’s attention during playtime.
- Easy-to-hold designs. Baby is learning how to hold onto objects, so stick to infant toys that are easy for teeny-tiny hands to grasp. Interesting textures also promote tactile stimulation and teach baby about their sense of touch.
- Interactive toys. Look for playthings that engage baby’s five senses.Toys with soft sounds, music or squeakers encourage baby to make noise, which is critical in language development, says Phillips.
- Safety. For your newborn’s safety, suggests choosing infant toys that are larger than your child’s mouth. Likewise, they shouldn’t have any loose or small pieces that could potentially be ingested.
Remember, almost anything can be a play item at this age. Amin suggests walking around your home, describing what you see and letting your child feel different textures (maybe a soft blanket or a silk scarf) to teach them about their surroundings. What’s more, it’s important for parents to engage with baby, so consider picking out newborn toys that you can use together. After all, playing and learning go hand-in-hand at this stage.