Your baby’s first year of life is an exciting time, but it can also be full of confusion and uncertainty if you don’t know what to look for when buying toys for babies. Babies don’t know how to tell you what they want, so you have to take the initiative and get creative in your search for the best toys on the market. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for toys for boys or babies as a new parent
Size
Babies’ heads and hands can only support certain sizes of toys. It’s important to pick toys that are just large enough to grasp without being so small they’re a choking hazard.
Smaller toys will also be easier for your baby to carry around, making it more likely they’ll engage with them frequently. Bigger is better when it comes to baby toys!
Also take into account how big you want something like a stuffed animal or ball – babies love these, but older kids will not appreciate having something squished in their lap or dragged across the floor.
Lights, Music, Sounds and Other Features
In general, your baby will be more drawn to different kinds of toys that play music or have lights and sounds. Lights and music can be useful for keeping your baby engaged if you’re busy doing other things around them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing toys for boys with volume controls on sound-producing pieces, since constant loud noise isn’t good for your baby’s developing ears.
For touchy babies, look for toys with a variety of textures so they don’t feel overwhelmed by one material. Toys that encourage visual tracking — such as stacking rings — are also helpful in fine motor development as she gets older.
Easy To Grasp/Hold
It is ideal if your baby's toys are light, have no sharp edges, and have parts that can be easily grasped by little hands. That way, you can rest assured that your baby is safe from harm even when alone.
An added bonus to toys designed with these features is that they’re easy for babies to hold on their own. This helps develop their fine motor skills at an early age while also keeping them entertained.
Durability of Baby Toy
Durability is probably one of, if not THE most important things when buying toys for boys. As they grow and learn they are constantly putting everything in their mouth, pulling on anything that seems like it will move or make noise, and throwing anything even remotely heavy.
Just a couple of days ago I was helping my brother with his three-month-old daughter before going out of town and within minutes we were replacing every toy she had because she pulled them apart faster than you could blink.
Textures & Colors
Sensory stimulation is crucial during a baby’s first few months of life. From colors and patterns on your walls to different textures and sounds—your baby is taking in a ton of information every day. Help give your baby a head start by exposing them to as many colors, shapes, and textures as possible.