Toys for toddlers

Good toddler toy features

• Safety. It goes without saying that the toys must be safe not small enough to cause choking if swallowed, not made of any toxic material, not likely to shatter if dropped and broken. Responsible toy manufacturers now pay careful attention to this quality, but you still need to keep it in mind as you make selections.
• Manipulable. A young baby's toys should consist primarily of objects that the baby can manipulate. Toddler Toys (like mobiles) that infants just 'look at' are useful, but soon being able to 'do something' with or to the childs toy becomes of over-riding importance. Toddlers are born with a grasp reflex that lasts until around three months, at which time they voluntarily reach for objects. And many babies, by the time they reach that age, seem to want to hold something in their hands all the time. But they don't use their fingers very well at that time, so the ideal toy for the early months is one that can be grasped by closing the fingers into the palm. Once the grasp is achieved, the infant will look at it, shake it, put it in the mouth, and get very excited about it, and do everything else with it his repertoire of movements will allow. After about eight or nine months, the baby can move the thumb over to meet the forefinger and successfully manipulate many other toys (such as blocks, rings, big beads, etc.).
• Multisensory. In one sense of the word, perhaps every toy possesses this quality. If it can be held (motor), it can also be looked at (visual). Or manipulation of the toy, like shaking a rattle, might produce a sound (auditory). But each of these domains covers a wide range a sound may be loud or soft, musical or harsh; a visual stimulus can vary in shape, color, and texture. Give some thought to how many different sensory qualities a toy possesses.
• Responsive. A tool-toy should do something when the toddler toy does something to it make a sound (like a rattle), roll when you drop it, move if you push it or manage to press a certain button. Responsive toys begin to give babies a sense of power and accomplishment: something they did has had an effect. That feeling is what development is all about.
• Reassuring. A soft, cuddly, warm fuzzy toy is also a tool. It can help a baby find comfort when needs aren't instantly met, when something seems to produce a feeling of anxiety. And that, of course, is a tool we all need throughout our lives.

Amazon's Babies R Us site.

Some other toys for baby that we would recommend include

Dr Seuss toys