Babies Learn Through Play!
One of the first thing 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 or so and finds out that can hold things or move them with hands or legs, real learning through play begins.
This is my babygirl's list of favorite toys in her 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 it won't be every baby's favorite but from talking with other fresh parents, 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 time 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!
- This and that about kids...
- Taking pictures of your baby?
#1: Hand Rattle
Babies loves things that make sounds!
Haba Blossom Rattle
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Important to know:
- Petals may be removed for cleaning purposes.
- Center peace made of solid wood.
- Made in Germany.
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Alternatives:
Sassy Baby's First Rattle and Teether 5 Piece Gift Set
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Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
#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: $9.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
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.
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#3: Baby gym
Time to find out what legs are for!
Baby Einstein Activity Gym
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
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.
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Alternatives:
Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe - Lights&Music
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Amazon Price: $58.28 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym
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Amazon Price: $61.47 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Songs & Smiles Discovery Gym
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Amazon Price: $60.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
#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: $34.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
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.
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Alternatives:
Boppy Cradle In Comfort Bouncer - Blue
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Amazon Price: $149.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Fisher-Price Newborn-To-Toddler Rocker
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Amazon Price: $47.97 (as of 07/13/2009)
#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 07/13/2009)
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!
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Alternatives:
Cloth Book: Fluffy Chick and Friends (Touch and Feel Cloth Books)
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Rattle Cloth Book Colors (Priddy Books Big Ideas for Little People)
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Cloth Book Snowy Bear (Touch and Feel Cloth Books)
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Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Squishy Turtle and Friends (Cloth Books)
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Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Sleepy Bunny (Pat the Bunny Cloth Book)
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Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/13/2009)
Baby Gund Barnyard Buddies (Baby Gund Fabric Activity Books)
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Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Where's My Bone Soft Activity Book by Manhattan Toy
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Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
#6: Mirror!
This one rules!
Lamaze My First Mirror
Amazon Price: $19.58 (as of 07/13/2009)
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.
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Alternatives:
Kids Preferred Amazing Baby Developmental Light-Up Musical Mirror
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Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 07/13/2009)
Baby Crib Mirror - Black, White & Red- Infant-Stim
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Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
#7: Buckets
Classic that's never gets old!
Nest & Stack Buckets
Amazon Price: $17.14 (as of 07/13/2009)
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!
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#8: Classical rainbow stacker
One more classic toy..
Stacking Wooden Rings
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
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!
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Alternatives:
Fisher-Price Rainforest Giraffe Stacker
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Amazon Price: $15.49 (as of 07/13/2009)
International Playthings Taggies Animal Friends Stacking Rings
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Amazon Price: $30.57 (as of 07/13/2009)
#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 07/13/2009)
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.
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Alternatives:
Small Uppercase 36 PC / 9 Sq. Ft. 'We Sell Mats' Alphabet and Number Floor Puzzle-Each Tile 6"x6"x3/8" Thick
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Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
#10: More books!
Never enough of these!!!
Baby Says Peekaboo!
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
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!
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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...
This best-selling organizer is the perfect 17-month planner for busy moms. A handy storage pocket, built-in magnetic hanger, 442 stickers, and extra-large grid all make it a breeze for Mom to keep track of up to five family members. Two tabbed quick-reference contact sections keep everyone's information handy. Finally, a calendar that keeps Mom's whole world together!
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
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Share!
What's your baby's, grandchild, nephew or niece dearest toy? Keep in mind we are talking for under 1 year old kids!
bernadette1 wrote...
Awesome selection! Thank you for joinig http://www.squidoo.com/groups/qualityforchildren Quality for Children Group
Posted July 08, 2009
Sojourn wrote...
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!
Posted June 27, 2009
blue22d wrote...
This is an excellent lens and wonderful resource. Five stars and a lensroll to my lens: best on-line reference. Stop by and visit. Thanks.
p.s. My daughter-in-law taught her first child to sign. It was such a help to the whole family. I recommend to all parents for consideration.
Posted June 26, 2009
OhMe wrote...
This is great. I think these toys at an early age are so very important and I enjoyed seeing your baby's favorites.
Posted June 20, 2009
Laniann wrote...
Very attractive lens. I liked that you gave your own point of view on the interaction your baby had with the toys. You make it easier to select a toy and how to take care of it. 5*s
Posted May 20, 2009
This and that about kids...
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by a_willow
