When you bring your new baby home
from the hospital, you will want everything in the nursery to be perfect and
welcoming to your new child. However, from a very young age babies will not
necessarily recognise the world around them and will only really respond to
things they can touch and feel, which is why their first toys are so important.
Toys help children develop and this developmental process begins from a baby’s
first days. You will find that your baby reacts better to some toys than
others, so should have a good range of different toys to experiment with.
Thankfully there are plenty of great toys out there to give you some choices.
When a baby is very young they
will not be able to focus on much, and will only learn to recognise things that
are right in front of them. Bright and colourful toys with high contrast
patterns will be best for your baby to see as they will be able to recognise
them easily. babies also start to recognise faces from the day they are born so
try to pick out something with a smiling face that they can start to recognise
as a face as they play. Something like the Fisher Price Soothe and Glow
Seahorse would be perfect as it is in bright blues, greens and yellows and has
a cute smiling face which will comfort your baby. It is also made in soft plush
and it’s tummy gently glows as it is held to create a comforting nightlight and
help your baby fall to sleep on it’s own. The seahorse also plays comforting
music which will stimulate all of your baby’s senses and may easily make it
your child’s favourite first toy.
Mobiles are great for babies as
they spend the first few months of their life horizontal and can be constantly
entertained by having something always in their reach which they can see and
play with. You will find that your baby will reach out and grab everything that
comes close, so a mobile with soft toys attached which will allow your child to
safely explore with his or her hands would be ideal. The Beanstalk Baby Playmat
and Gym is a great product for newborns as it is a comfortable playmat that can
be laid on any surface or the ground, keeping baby warm and comfortable, and
has bright coloured animal characters attached to the top bar which your child
can play with to their hearts content. Again, the playmat comes in high
contrast colours which are easier for your baby to see as they pick out the
individual shapes and colours, helping their eyesight to develop as well as
letting them explore the world around them safely.
Finally, keep an eye out for toys
which make noises when pressed in different ways, as these can help your baby
to learn more about their own bodies, working out what happens when they press
or cuddle their toy and how they are making these things happen.
