How To Choose The Right Infant Toys

By : Rachel Nunez

Having a baby is definitely an exciting moment especially for new parents. You can get really unstoppable when it comes to giving the best for your baby. By the time your little one is born, you probably have all stuff ready clothes, blankets, bath essentials and even toys.

Infant toys are best introduced to babies when they reach their sixth month or so. At this time, their senses and motor skills are more developed and can appreciate the benefits of these toys. But since babies are still so delicate, you must be careful when choosing toys as not every toy in the market is safe and suitable for infants. This brings us to ask what should be considered when buying your toys for babies.

First of all, consider the safety of your baby. With all the news about toys containing harmful chemicals, we should be aware of what we are buying and where we buy. Check the status of manufacture and the toy itself if it is not on the list of recalled toys or if it contains toxic chemicals.

The health department or any other concerned government agency is your best source of information. If you are still unsure however, go for brands that are known for producing quality toys for infants. These toys may be a bit pricey but considering your children safety, it must be worth the tag.

Also, check the appearance of toy. Toys that have long strings, sharp edges and with little detachable parts can pose great danger to your babies. Strings can cause strangulation, edges may cause wound or injury and tiny parts can be swallowed.

While you can prevent harm by always keeping an eye on your child, it is better not to take risk. The best toys for your new arrival are usually the soft and light ones in case it accidentally drops on your infant.

Aside from being safe, the best toys for infants should also be educational. In this stage where they learn simple movements such as open and close, you could choose toys that enhance their mental skills. As an example, you can use hand puppets to demonstrate open and close with the mouth of puppet.

Musical toys can be educational and amusing too. Your child will learn to appreciate and differentiate various sounds but watch out for toys that can be too loud for sensitive of your baby hearing.

Make sure to adjust the volume to a tolerable level. As an alternative, you can buy audio cds and play it on the background. Nursery rhymes are the most popular choices for this, as well as characters like Barney.

Lastly, read the label particularly the warning signs. Most toy packaging has a visibly written recommended age. However you fancy a toy for your baby, do not give it if it does not fit his age group. This goes the same with toys that are gifts to your child. You can always keep those until old of your child enough.

As parents or gift givers, you should not allow price or design alone to rule your buying decision. Bear in mind that safety and purpose should always be your primary concerns when hunting for baby toys

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