Babies Learn Through Play!
From the moment they open their eyes for the first time, babies are learning. You may think that this small newborn doesn't get anything. You are so wrong! She/he is learning from touching you, smelling you, hearing you, looking into your face, even from breastfeeding.
One of the first things your baby will learn is to associate the feel of your touch, the sound of your voice, and the sight of your face with getting his or her needs for comfort and food met. You can encourage your newborn to learn by stimulating your newborn's senses in positive ways - with smiles, smoothing sounds, and gentle caresses.
Once your baby turns 3 months and finds out that hands are used for holding things, or move things with hands and legs, real learning through play begins.
This is my babygirl's list of her favorite toys in first year!
How toys are ranked?
As I said in title, this is all about my babygirl's favorite toys in her first year of life. Maybe these will not be every baby's favorite but from talking with other fresh parents, the most of their babies also love these toys. My babygirl started to interact with toys when she was 10 weeks old. Until then her favorite toy was looking into my face and watching the expressions I make.Most of educational baby books will tell you that you should buy colorful or black and white mobile and put it on your baby's cradle. This didn't work for my baby. She wasn't interested at all. But it doesn't mean you baby won't love it.
Toys are not rated in standard way - first is the best, instead they are ranked by the time (period of growth) they were interesting to my child.
Top 10 educational toys for 0-12 months
Selection made by a year old babygirl!
- #1: Hand Rattle
- #2: Hanging rattle
- #3: Baby gym
- #4: Baby bouncer
- #5: Books early start!!! - Cloth books
- #6: Mirror!
- #7: Buckets
- #8: Classical rainbow stacker
- #9: Foam floor puzzles
- #10: More books!
- Babies have a lot to say... even before they can speak.
- Little Help for Busy Moms!
- Looking for Baby Toys on Amazon
- Toys safety tips!
- Resources with More Informations
- Share with me story about your baby's favorite toy!
- This and that about kids...
- Taking pictures of your baby?
#1: Hand Rattle
Babies loves things that make sounds!
Haba Flowery Touching and Clutching Ring
Amazon Price: $7.19 (as of 11/26/2009)
Important to know:
- Petals may be removed for cleaning purposes.
- Center peace made of solid wood.
- Made in Germany.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Alternatives:
Sassy Baby's First Rattle and Teether 5 Piece Gift Set
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
#2: Hanging rattle
Going on a trip or visiting? Need a toy that can be hang on car seat!
Lamaze Jacques the Peacock
Amazon Price: $8.59 (as of 11/27/2009)
The back of the toy is made of black and white fabric opposite to front that is bright colored. It has the crinkly sound babies love. Each of the "feathers" has a different interest point - a squeaker, a soft bulb, a mirror, and satin touch ribbons. The peacock is light enough - and the feather panels thin enough - for little hands to grab, tug and pick up without easily dropping.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Alternatives:
#3: Baby gym
Time to find out what legs are for!
Baby Einstein Activity Gym
Amazon Price: $49.88 (as of 11/27/2009)
This soft, colorful mat is easy to clean. It has toys that can be easily detached and also comes with extra hooks so you can attach some other toys. This is a toy that can be used for babies from one month or so until they reach one year. Also is good for tummy time and teaching to crawl.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe - Lights&Music
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $46.94 (as of 11/27/2009)
Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $50.00 (as of 11/27/2009)
Fisher-Price Songs & Smiles Discovery Gym
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $60.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
#4: Baby bouncer
Where ever you go, baby goes with you!
From my own experience, this was one of the most useful things I bought for my daughter! When I put her inside, she was right next to me and safe. Why I have put it between toys? Because it has an arc where you can hang toys. So she is not bored. Also, my babygirl used to take a nap in it during day.
Fisher-Price Think Pink Bouncer
Amazon Price: $34.59 (as of 11/27/2009)
You can bounce baby in it, you can move it here and there, you can take it with you when you go visit, you can change toys, you can let baby sleep in it during day and it's safe.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Boppy Cradle In Comfort Bouncer - Blue
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $129.00 (as of 11/27/2009)
Fisher-Price Newborn-To-Toddler Rocker
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $37.77 (as of 11/27/2009)
#5: Books early start!!! - Cloth books
It's important to introduce book to baby early.
Touch & Feel Rattle Book - Animal Colors and Counting Bugs
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
It's made of textile and it has rattle! What more you want?!? They have beautiful, bright colors that attract babies and rattles with bids. Also goes to baby's mouth when ever possible! They are portable and you can bring them everywhere!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Cloth Book: Fluffy Chick and Friends (Touch and Feel Cloth Books)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
Rattle Cloth Book Colors (Priddy Books Big Ideas for Little People)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
Cloth Book Snowy Bear (Touch and Feel Cloth Books)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
Squishy Turtle and Friends (Cloth Books)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/27/2009)
Sleepy Bunny (Pat the Bunny Cloth Book)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 11/27/2009)
Baby Gund Barnyard Buddies (Baby Gund Fabric Activity Books)
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/27/2009)
Where's My Bone Soft Activity Book by Manhattan Toy
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $19.71 (as of 11/27/2009)
#6: Mirror!
This one rules!
Lamaze My First Mirror
Amazon Price: $19.68 (as of 11/27/2009)
You can attach it to the crib, the car seat- or just leave it on the wedge and play with it on the floor. It's portable, light weight, easy to clean and unbreakable.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Kids Preferred Amazing Baby Developmental Light-Up Musical Mirror
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $19.91 (as of 11/27/2009)
Baby Crib Mirror - Black, White & Red- Infant-Stim
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 11/27/2009)
#7: Buckets
Classic that's never gets old!
Nest & Stack Buckets
Amazon Price: $15.12 (as of 11/27/2009)
Perfect toy to see little engineering minds being nurtured as they nest, stack - knock over towers! Learning includes the sorting shapes to help them work on problem solving too! And it's great for bath time!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
#8: Classical rainbow stacker
One more classic toy..
Stacking Wooden Rings
Amazon Price: $9.90 (as of 11/27/2009)
This stacking toys are great because they don't get boring for long period of time what makes them very cheap! Even children at 3-4 years loves to play with them!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Fisher-Price Rainforest Giraffe Stacker
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 11/27/2009)
#9: Foam floor puzzles
You'll maybe wonder why...
Small Uppercase 36 PC / 9 Sq. Ft. 'We Sell Mats' Alphabet and Number Floor Puzzle-Each Tile 6"x6"x3/8" Thick
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
Multi-functional foam soft floor puzzles - easy to clean, light weight and colorful. Something that is interesting even for 2 or 3 year old kids.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Alternatives:
Small Uppercase 36 PC / 9 Sq. Ft. 'We Sell Mats' Alphabet and Number Floor Puzzle-Each Tile 6"x6"x3/8" Thick
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
-
Kids Love Alphabet Foam Playmats!
-
If you consider buying a carpet for your kids room, I would warmly recommend to consider the alphabet foam playmats in the form of puzzles! I've bought 2 sets of these colorful puzzle mats for our girl when she was 10 months old. She's now f...
#10: More books!
Never enough of these!!!
Baby Says Peekaboo!
Amazon Price: (as of 11/26/2009)
Books are always best solution if you don't know what to buy as a gift for someones birthday, babyshower or new mother. Kids will love them if you make some interesting story followed with lots of different sounds you make while reading. Or singing about characters inside book!
Avg. Customer Rating:
Alternatives:
Babies have a lot to say... even before they can speak.
Listen to what they have to say with the Original Baby Signs Program!
Wouldn't you just love to know what your baby is trying to tell you? And she's trying. Only in different language than one we are using!
What Baby Signs® Program offers:
Over two decades of research by Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn, much of it funded by the National Institutes of Health, has shown that using the Baby Signs® Program provides many benefits for children and their parents. Using the Baby Signs® Program . . .
* Reduces tears, tantrums and frustration
* Makes learning to talk easier
* Boosts self-esteem and self-confidence
* Stimulates intellectual development
* Strengthens the parent-child bond
I would recommend everybody to try it specially since there is 30 day return policy (of course, products must contain all of their original components and must be undamaged).
Check out Free Baby Signs Quick Reference Guide with order. Code: FREEBIE
Little Help for Busy Moms!
Organizing Mommy Time...
Mom's Plan-it with Sound Wall Calendar: The ideal planning calendar for the family. Includes a recordable voice memo, large planning grid, dry-erase message board, dry-erase pen with built-in eraser, and a quick-reference contacts section. Record up to 30 second voice messages!
Looking for Baby Toys on Amazon
Toys safety tips!
* Read and follow the age label, warnings, safety messages and assembly instructions for the toy
* Look for sturdy, well-made toys
* Remember that toys for older children may not be safe for younger children
* Children under three years of age tend to put things in their mouths - small toys, small balls or small loose toy parts are choking hazards for these children
* find more at Toy Safety Tips (Pamphlet).
Resources with More Informations
Gifts for Children & Parenting
This lens has been awarded with 2nd place in Squidoo Home for The Holidays Contest for 2008 - category Gifts for the Kids! Thanks to all who voted for this lens! I'm really glad you liked it!-
Peekaboo! Where are you?
-
Peekaboo was my baby girl's favorite game from her 4th month. And still is! She is almost 15 months now! This is game where you don't need much - for start only a piece of clothing is sufficient! You can hide yours or baby's face and once you pull c...
-
365 TV-Free Activities You Can Do With Your Child
-
Make the most of your time with your child - whether it is five minutes or a whole afternoon - with simple, fun activities that will excite the whole family. From arts and crafts to toymaking to math and number games, 365 TV-Free Activities You Can D...
-
First Birthday Presents List
-
If you are like me, you have a problem selecting just the right present for kids birthdays, Christmas and other occasions. Since I'm in my 30's, there is a lots of newborns, babies, and small kids around me - more of them almost each month! That's no...
-
Gentle Baby Care
-
Scared of becoming a parent for first time? Not sure how to handle all of it? Scared by people talking about sleepless nights, crying, colics, etc.? I know I was!!! I hated people telling me: 'You'll see.', 'Why you should have it better then me?' or...
Share with me story about your baby's favorite toy!
During those first 12 months of baby's life!
What's your baby's, grandchild, nephew or niece dearest toy? Keep in mind we are talking about babies under 1 year old!
-
Reply
- PinkWeddingDresses PinkWeddingDresses Nov 5, 2009 @ 5:34 am
- I love this "her favorite toy was looking into my face and watching the expressions I make"... it makes me go "awwww..." :)
Hey, I still love cloth books and mirrors, you know? :P
-
Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Oct 2, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
- You might think that these baby toys have value for only a limited time, but I have found that many of them can be used for years to teach math skills, language arts skills, and starting your child on the road to reading.
This lens is now featured on Educational Value of the FamilyFun Top Toy Awards 2009.
-
Reply
- 80sGirl 80sGirl Aug 10, 2009 @ 10:28 am
- This is a very good list - many of the items were also favorites of my 1 year old baby girl - especially the play gym and the mirror. Another thing that she really liked was one of those soft books you can put family photos in to help baby become familiar with mommy, daddy, grandma, etc.
-
Reply
- bernadette1 bernadette1 Jul 8, 2009 @ 10:47 am
- Awesome selection! Thank you for joinig http://www.squidoo.com/groups/qualityforchildren Quality for Children Group
-
Reply
- Sojourn Sojourn Jun 27, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
- These are so cute and all of my kids loved these types of toys, too (although they've gotten so much more colorful and creative over the past few years!). Excellent list!
- Load More
This and that about kids...
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTaking pictures of your baby?
Send cutest picture of your baby and win prizes!
You've captured that special moment, your children are uniquely beautiful and you want to share them with the world! Why not take a chance on winning great prizes in online baby photo contest; and best of all, a chance to be spotted by the right
Talent and Casting Agents!
by a_willow
Explore related pages
Thanksgiving Baby Shop...featuring cute and funny t-shirts, onesies, and bibs for Thanksgiving!- Welcome to JC Baby, your home for cute, unique, and funny baby apparel. Th...
Little Tikes Toys Made in USA- Thomas and Friends Collection Thomas and Friends Train Bed It's off to dreamlan...
365 TV-Free Activities You Can Do With Your Child- Make the most of your time with your child - whether it is five minutes or a who...
Gentle Baby Care- Scared of becoming a parent for first time? Not sure how to handle all of it? Sc...
First Birthday Presents List- If you are like me, you have a problem selecting just the right present for kids...
Even Babies Love Maya the Bee- This educational cartoon that was made in 55 episodes was broadcasted on TV when...
