All children love toys and babies are no exception. Baby toys stimulate their brains and produce wonder and curiosity about their world. Here are some ideas for baby toy gifts for that special girl or boy.
When baby is small, dazzle him/her with a light show. Playskool makes toys for the crib that play music and alternate colored lights. The lights are brilliant but not bright. They are meant to soothe and relax baby not keep him up all night. The musical lullabies will sing him to sleep.
Crib Mobiles
Along this same line, instead of purchasing a regular swing choose one with a mobile and sound. My niece has a baby swing that plays various songs and the birds light up. You can control the speed of the swing so that it swings faster when baby is alert and listening to the music or playing with the mobile. The speed can be slowed down when baby is drifting off to sleep. Baby toy seats that vibrate or bounce entertain baby with their constant motion.
Baby will need a place to store all of their toys. Instead of a wooden toy box, pick out a lined wicker trunk. The wicker trunk is lightweight and easy to carry. More importantly the lid is not heavy. If baby falls in by mistake when reaching for a toy, the child can lift the lid easily.
Get baby in the habit of learning from an early age. Give the gift of books and videos. While baby is too young to read a book at six months, they are not too small to watch and listen to a children's show on DVD or VHS. Pretty soon baby will be swinging and cooing to the beat of characters like Little Einstein's, Sesame Street, Jay-Jay the Jet Plane, and Thomas the Train.
When purchasing stuffed toys for baby gifts, remember: safety first. When baby begins to grow teeth they will want to chew and gnaw on their toys. With plush toys, pieces of the fur may tear off into baby's mouth. Choose cloth toys that are well stitched so the fluffy insides don't come out. Cotton dolls and giant cloth blocks and balls are squishy and soft. Every child needs a teddy bear but wait until baby is much older.
Sometimes baby lies down and doesn't want to go to sleep. They don't cry, but they just want to stare off into space. Give them something to do by giving them wrist rattles. Wrist rattles are appropriate for babies as young as three months of age. The cloth rattle is held around the arm with Velcro®. Every time baby moves his arms it makes a sound. Try placing a rattle on baby's ankles. Whenever he moves his leg, he will also hear a sound. Musical mobiles are also a great choice. Be sure that parents hang them at the end of the crib and not directly over baby's head.
Baby toys can be fun and educational. It's never too early to learn a thing or two. Use these ideas as a guideline for the next baby toy you have to buy. Always keep child safety in mind when purchasing any toy.