Best toys, activities, play yards, and swings for baby (2024)

FAQs

What are the best types of toys and experiences for babies? ›

Good toys for young infants:

Things they can reach for, hold, suck on, shake, make noise with—rattles, large rings, squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and vinyl and board books.

What age should my baby be for a swingset? Outdoor baby swings are intended for children between six months to four years of age. Doctors recommend that once your baby can sit up and has stable control of their head, your baby can gently use an outdoor baby or toddler swing.

Building blocks, simple puzzles, and choo-choos hone fine-motor development...so do art toys, like molding clay and coloring books. Meanwhile, card games like Go Fish and early board games bolster language skills.

Pegboard puzzles, nesting cups or blocks, and buckets with holes for different shaped blocks challenge hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Mechanical toys. Pop-up toys and "busy" boxes with knobs, buttons, and levers encourage fine motor skills and problem solving, and teach cause-and-effect.

Toddlers learn and develop through creative activities like drama, art, craft, music and dance. Experiencing, discovering and experimenting are the most important parts of toddler creative activities. Encourage toddlers by letting them lead creative activities, giving them time and space, and praising them.

Sleeping in baby swings has been linked to higher risks of injury, flat spots on heads, blocked airways, accidental suffocation, and death. For these reasons, if a baby does fall asleep in a swing, their parent or caregiver should carefully pick them up out of the swing and move them to their crib or bassinet.

Babies can enjoy the fun of swinging as early as six months, provided they have proper head and neck control. Be sure to take it slow and safe, and don't be afraid to ask our team at Swing Set Mall for guidance.

Your baby loves watching your face and playing peekaboo games. Nappy-changing is a great time for face-to-face play. Give your baby different objects to feel – soft toys, rattles or cloth books with pages of different textures are fun. Feeling different things helps your baby learn about the world.

What toys will keep a 1 year old busy? ›

"Toys can also pose fun challenges for 1-year-olds to figure out — think about a stacking ring, nesting cups, shape-sorters, a busy-box or simple wooden knob puzzles. And it's never too early for set of cube blocks, plus a basket or bucket to drop them in and dump them out of.

Hearing: Rattles, toys that squeak, and simple musical instruments like egg shakers. Vision: High contrast toys help with baby's vision development. Look for black-and-white toys to help baby. Touch: Squishy and soft toys, like stuffed animals, can bring baby comfort.

At first, your baby will primarily learn about the world through their hands and mouth. A textured toy like the Sensory Ball that they can easily hold and mouth provides engaging sensory input. They can also use it to practice bringing their hands to the midline of their body, an important early developmental skill.