Baby Toys Buying Guide: How to Choose by Age
It's important to select age-appropriate toys for your child. Buying an item that is too advanced for a newborn can lead to a frustrated baby and could be a possible safety hazard. Alternatively, picking a toy that is aimed at infants and giving it to a toddler will be a waste of money and result in a bored child. When making a toy purchase, consider the particular skills you want to enhance and the toy's construction (i.e. wooden toys  vs. battery-operated toys ). Before making your purchase, read the safety guidelines and instructions. Finally, have a little fun. Look for attractive colors and textures that will be sure to capture a child's attention. Please see the Toy Resources Page for external links with thorough information on product recalls, reviews, and more.
Quick Picks
Here are some quick picks to get started right away on your search for the perfect toy.
Stage One: Baby's First Toys
Stage Two: Little Explorers
They feel more comfortable in their environments and are ready to explore. At this stage, a child can confidently controlling their head and might have started to crawl. These little tots are ready to experiment with new types of toys. For the first time, they will be able to interact with their toys, this means the toys need to be more durable and more advanced. Stuffed animals, blocks, and cardboard books are perfect at this stage. Look for toys that will facilitate their need to move and start comprehending concepts like reading and building. Stacking toys and pop-up toys are great toy ideas to develop baby's problem-solving skills.
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Stage Three: Baby on the Run
Once a baby is walking, keeping them entertained and out of trouble is a big job. Toddlers, from 1-2 years old, have incredible amounts of energy. These little balls of energy can explore most areas of the home and they need toys to channel their energy and enable them to learn. Favorite toddler games involve mimicking adult activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and doing yard work. Toddlers want to listen to music, talk on phones and drive cars. Hence, look-alikes toys are quite popular. Spending time outdoors is a great way to wear a toddler out. Kids at this age will be ready for sand boxes and balls. Toddlers are working on their fine-motor skills and they are ready to tackle puzzles and interactive books. By age 2, toddlers will also be ready for simple, and supervised, arts and crafts projects. And don't forget about bath-time fun --these toys will encourage a child to scrub up and start taking care of their own needs.
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Stage Four: Preschool Preparation
By age 3, children are ready to care for their own basic needs. They are becoming increasingly independent and are speaking for themselves, mastering potty-training, and starting to prepare for school. Preschoolers can manage many arts and crafts projects. Some will be able to follow along when reading books and can recite the alphabet and count. Books, puzzles and other toys they may encounter in kindergarten are great ways to entertain a preschooler. Pretend toys are still important, and playing "house" and "school" will be popular pastimes. Sports equipment, board games, and building kits are great toys to teach your child about fair play, sharing and teamwork. Keep in mind that by this age, gender specific toys will also become available. Don't be shy about getting a doll for your son (to teach him about button, zippers, etc.) and a football for your daughter (to teach her about the importance of fitness and exercise).
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