This newborn baby toys guide is a must-have reference and starting point for selecting developmentally appropriate toys and activities for newborn babies from birth through one month. The key to choosing toys is understanding infants’ basic abilities and preferences as they grow. These abilities and preferences are important in attracting and motivating infants to engage with toys because true learning and retention only come through engagement.
So, how do we pick the right toy for the right child? This is where we need to look at age as a GUIDELINE to selecting toys. The U.S. Product & Safety Commission (CPSC) and international ASTM are the organizations that oversee toy regulations and keep products safe for our kids. They have developed these regulations by categorizing toys by the child’s age. However, the age was determined by the abilities and preferences of typically developing children, and it is well known that children develop abilities at different rates. So, as you select toys for your child, please look at age as a guide and abilities and preferences as a better indicator.
From the moment they are born, newborns start acquiring information from their physical senses, learning from what they see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Optimal newborn development is based on feeling safe, secure, and loved. This Newborn Baby Toys Guide will take parents through toys and activities for their newborn babies. But they are not what you think!
The first month is critical to understanding how newborns play differently from older infants. The newborn is probably asleep more often than not—but don’t be fooled by all that shuteye; that little sleepyhead is going through a lot of physical, social, and emotional development. Learning through play is important in helping your newborn achieve important developmental milestones. So, what exactly does play mean for an infant?
Table of contents
What Play Means for the Newborn Baby?
During the first month of life, babies mainly sleep and eat. However, their social-emotional interactions with you are crucial for their cognitive development. Showing kindness and treating the infant carefully will help the baby feel safe and secure; everything else is built from there. Most of the babies movements are linked to newborn reflexes at this stage, and infant toys are not required.
The newborn will mainly look, listen, suck, and make grasping movements. Their physical development is progressing through non-voluntary spontaneous kicking and arm movements, and control over these gross motor skills is just beginning to develop. Fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, will develop slowly while using their tiny hands. Reflexes, such as bite-release, rooting, and sucking, indicate early stages of language development. Socially and emotionally, the baby will spend most of its time staring at and watching the caregiver’s faces and learning to react to different facial expressions, tones of voice, and sudden movements.
The newborn’s play is about interactions and a good time to bond with caregivers. Play is a great opportunity to talk with your baby and help them learn about words, language, and conversation. The more you play and talk together, the more words your baby hears. This first month should be spent with close facial interactions so they can learn to trust and depend on you, strengthening the bond with your baby. This helps your baby feel loved and secure. Playing together can tell you a lot about your baby’s personality and preferences.
Newborn Baby Toys
Newborn Baby Toys
Caregivers can use toys during activities, but newborn toys are unnecessary at this stage. The newborn early childhood development is greatly influenced by the mental health of the provider who cares for them. The caregiver should be attuned to the newborn, meet the child’s needs, nurture a healthy attachment to the infant, and ensure the infant is feeling safe, secure and loved. Here are the general guidelines for newborns:
Newborn Baby Activities
Activities for newborn babies set the stage for their lifelong growth and development. They help develop sensory and motor skills, ignite imagination and creativity, and allow for early bonding with caregivers, parents, and grandparents. Getting the best toys for children 0-12 months can make all the difference as they begin to explore the world, but the newborns will start using educational toys once they have control of their arm movements and begin to reach out. This generally happens toward the end of the first month.
Newborn Baby Sight
Newborn babies can distinguish between the colors red and green from birth. At the age of 2 months, all the color receptors in their eyes are fully functional, and by 3 months, infants tend to prefer colors like yellow and red over those like blue and green. At 3 months of age, they also start showing a preference for patterned objects over solid ones, and their eyesight has developed to the point where they can see objects several feet away. But for now, red and green colors should be prioritized during the first month.
Newborn Baby Bonding
Activities with newborns involve interactions between caregiver and baby. This means that all you need to get started with newborn play is yourself and your baby. One way to bond is called Kangaroo Care, or skin-to-skin contact. Simply hold your baby close to your chest while they are wearing only a diaper, allowing them to feel your warmth and heartbeat. Another way to bond is by reading or singing to your baby, and this helps them become familiar with your voice and encourages their language development.
Follow your baby’s cues. Even babies with a lot of energy need downtime and might feel overwhelmed if you keep trying to play with them when they’re tired. If your baby seems startled or upset, you can play a quieter game later.
This website has categories set up for children of all ages. Toys and activities should be chosen according to the child’s abilities rather than their age. It’s good to try plenty of different play activities with your baby. This gives your baby many ways to learn about their world.
Educational Play
Books
Start reading to babies early! You may have already been doing this throughout your pregnancy. Reading promotes brain development and teaches about language and emotions. Read slowly at first. It’s never too early to start, but remember to hold the book close – newborns can see only about 20-30 cm before their eyes. At the newborn stage, the baby will focus on your face, tone of voice, and emotions as you read.
Educational Technology
Newborns will enjoy audio with gentle, predictable sounds best played at low volumes. Most types of screen time are best saved until the child is over two years old. But! Connecting with family and friends over video calls can be fun.
Music Play
Singing, chatting, tickling, cuddling, counting toes, and blowing raspberries are some of the activities newborns enjoy. They also love nursery rhymes that involve touch, like ‘Round and round the garden.’ Sharing nursery rhymes or traditional songs from your own culture and language is important, too.
Exploratory Play
Sensory Time
During diaper changes, engage with your baby by making faces, smiling, laughing, rolling your eyes, or sticking out your tongue. Playing peekaboo games can be a fun way to interact with your baby.
You can offer your baby various objects to touch, such as soft toys, rattles, or cloth books with textured pages. This will help your baby explore and learn about their surroundings.
Expose your baby to different visual stimuli, such as people, rooms, and the outdoors.
Make sure your baby can see your face when you talk. Talk or make sounds with your baby, and wait for them to respond. This shows your baby that conversations involve taking turns, listening, and responding to social cues.
Bath Time
The best bath toys to take during the first month will be a washcloth or other very soft item.
Active Play
Tummy Time
Give your baby tummy time each day using a playmat or blanket on the ground or floor. This encourages your baby to move and roll, gives them practice holding up their head, and lets them see things differently. Place your baby on their tummy for only a few minutes each day, gradually increasing the duration as they grow stronger. Watch for stress, and remove from tummy before the baby starts to cry. This should be an exercise to build strength, but should also be enjoyable for the newborn. Always watch your baby during tummy time and remember to put them on their back for sleep.
Conclusion
The newborn baby’s favorite toy … is you! As you work through this first month together, you set the stage for development and create a world of imagination for your baby. During these first few weeks, remember to have plenty of options for the child. Enjoy yourselves, and have a great time. It’s play only if it’s fun.
Please follow your newborn’s lead, such as their abilities and preferences. Babies develop differently and may reach out for toys before the first-month ends. The newborn will begin reaching out to touch anything near in the next two months. When they start reaching, they are ready for baby toys, play gym, developmental toys with bright colors, and more.
References
- Newborn Development: Birth to 1 month
- Toy Safety Guidance for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
- Developmentally Appropriate Toys: What and Why are they Important?
- Whole child Education: What is the Approach to Teaching?
- Zero to Three
- Consumer Product and Safety Commission
I value your input and comments tremendously. If there is anything else I should include in this blog post, please let me know! Until my next post, Keep Everything Simple. Talk with you soon!
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
Tuesday 14th of January 2025
As a first-time mum, finding safe and stimulating toys for a newborn felt like a daunting task. I wish I had read this article when my child was a baby, as it breaks it all down. I love how it stresses the importance of sensory toys for early development and what to look for, like soft textures and contrasting colours.
Fransic verso
Tuesday 17th of December 2024
I didn't think about the reading books but actually, you made a great point. The newborn will learn as keep reading every day from voice, and tone and even hearing the words would make them pronounce the words as well.
Oli
Thursday 12th of December 2024
This list of newborn baby toys is so thoughtful! It’s great how it highlights options that are not only fun but also support early development. Perfect for new parents!
Carol Colborn
Thursday 12th of December 2024
What a great conclusion! Your maternity leave us strategically important.
Emily
Wednesday 11th of December 2024
These are such wonderful ideas! My friend has a newborn and I wanted to pick up something for the baby for Christmas. Something that makes music is perfect. :)