What Toys To Buy For Your Baby

Toys are excellent products that can help with your baby’s learning and development. With the multitude of products and brands available in the market today, it is very easy to pick a toy for your child. However, this fact is a doubled edged sword. With so many choices available, it is also very easy to go wrong with picking. You might end up buying something that is not age appropriate or does not add any learning value at all. How do you make sure you buy the right things?

If you are looking for toys for a baby, here is a checklist of the best things that you can buy and give. Use this check list when you are buying for your little one, or for a niece, nephew or god-kids. Don’t worry, this list is mommy and daddy approved as well.

Haba Rainbow Fabric Ball

Here are some toys for very young babies:

• Baby-safe mirror – Babies love to stare at themselves, they find their own reflection entertaining and interesting. We love this Sassy Floor and Crib Mirror, which is non-breakable, has a soft frame and comes with straps so you can attach them to the crib.
• Cloth toy – Easy to hold and grasp on. Varying textures encourage little hands to explore. Cloth toys come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors.
• Play Mat or Baby Gym – Comes with hanging toys which baby can reach out to. Play mats also encourage tummy time and rolling.
• Rattles – Simple and stimulating. Choose a rattle that is light-weight yet sturdy, and they have been tried and trusted for centuries!
• Soft book – Stimulates the brain, easy to hold on to and chew. Check out this soft teething book by Sesame Street. It is multi-textured and has rubbery corners for teething. Colors and print encourage visual development and can be used from 0 months onwards.

For Older Babies

• Plush toy or stuffed animal – Gives your little one a sense of security.
• Push toy – Helps baby balance as he or she starts to stand up and learn how to walk. Here’s a sturdy one by Fisher Price which serves as an activity toy and transforms into a walker as baby grows older.
• Shape sorter – Encourages dexterity and helps develop sorting, matching and counting skills.
• Blocks – Simple toys that encourage creativity, but small babies will definitely have a fun time kicking them and knocking down block towers.

Some Things To Remember:

Always buy products that are age appropriate and safe to use, and buy from a reliable brand like Melissa and Doug or Fisher Price. Read labels, if it says 12+ months onwards, do not let your six month old play with it. Some products may have choking hazards and are not recommended for babies and very small children, so always buy toys that are sturdy and well constructed as well.

It may be tempting to put out all the toys on the floor (or playpen or bed) for your baby to enjoy, but it helps to keep toys interesting and new by rotating them regularly. Put out a few toys and keep the rest for a week or so. Then, rotate them so that they appear new and exciting each time you take them out.

Top 5 Melissa and Doug Products

There are many toys in the market that are designed for babies and toddlers, and if you are thinking of buying toys for your little one, then it is important that you choose those that are educational and appropriate for your child’s age.

In the search for age appropriate and educational products, you might want to consider toys from Melissa and Doug. The brand carries over 2,000 innovative items in their line – a lot of them very simple and basic, yet designed to pique your kids’ creativity and other skills. Truly, Melissa and Doug toys are designed for fun and learning, and here are a few of our top favorites:

Plush Giraffe Toy

Large and over the top, this plush giraffe is something that your toddler can actually ride and sit on. The plush toy is realistic looking, cuddly and huggable. At 57 inches, it is a really big animal stuffed toy that can stand on its own. This is recommended for kids three years and older.

Pound and Roll

If you are tired of plastic toys and want to go back to basics with a simple, well-crafted childhood favorite, then you are going to like the Deluxe Pound and Roll, as your child is bound to as well. This is made from sturdy wood, is well-crafted and brightly colored, helping your little one develop color, size and shape differentiation skills.

Animal Puzzle Book

What we love about this Animal Puzzle Book is that it is magnetic, which means that your child can easily put the puzzle pieces in place without it falling off. The book features pet, wild, farm and sea animals and is richly colored to enrich your little one’s imagination. This toy weighs 2.4 pounds (a little bit heavy than regular puzzle books) and is recommended for toddlers 24 months to 4 years of age.

Architectural Unit Block Set

This set features 44 wooden blocks which come in eleven different shapes. Well crafted yet simple, this block set encourages creative freedom as your tot creates and rebuilds architectural masterpieces each and every day. Adults can enjoy the blocks, too! This toy is recommended for children 3 years and older.

Stack and Sort Board

Great for children two years and older, the Stack and Sort Board features five colorful shapes that your little one can mix and match by stacking or sorting. This educational toy helps your little one learn about shapes and develops color recognition, dexterity, fine motor, matching and counting skills.

These five are just a few of the Melissa and Doug toys available at Little Green Duckling. Check out this link for other M&D toys that we love as well.

Travel Toys: Best rated toys for entertaining your little one during a long trip

Entertaining your little one while you are driving is dangerous. Entertaining your little one while on a long plane or train ride is exhausting. Why not look into some of Little Green Duckling’s top rated toys that keep little ones entertained longer while you travel?

1.Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes toy: Perfect for travel, this small hand-held music toy plays soothing music. Unlike many toys with sound, this toy has high sound quality and beautiful music that you and your baby will never tire of. The toy is brightly colored and rattles when shaken. Keep this toy in the car or diaper bag and it will always come in handy.

2. Ziggles toy: With all of its textures, colors, and fabrics, the Ziggles toy is perfect for toddlers & babies that like to explore, chew, and touch; keeping them entertained for longer. Small and easily thrown into a diaper bag, the Ziggles toy is great for travel. This toy is also great for train or plane rides! Because it does not make noise, it will not disturb other passengers.

3. Woodours Baby Bear Beanbag with Teether: How cute is he? This bear will comfort your little one when they can’t be in your arms. Cuddly, soft, and fun to chew on, the Woodours Baby Bear is a bundle of love. Great to have for your teething baby, as he serves as a toy, a cuddle buddy, and a teether. His small size is perfect for little hands and traveling.

4. Baby’s My First Photo Album of Family & Friends: Babies and toddlers alike love pictures of familiar faces, including their own. Fill this album with photos of family, friends, and baby. Great for traveling when your baby needs something to look at. When they start talking, teach them to say the names of the people in the pictures, this will keep them entertained for even longer. With 15 slots for 4×6 photos, you’ll have plenty of room to get everybody in the book!

5. Cloud B Gentle Giraffe On The Go Travel Sound Machine with Four Soothing Sounds: This adorable (and very soft) giraffe hooks onto strollers, car seats, rockers & cribs, making it the perfect sound machine for everywhere. Take it to the park or bring it to grandma’s house. Use it in the living room or on the expressway. The Cloud B Gentle Giraffe makes 4 peaceful sounds: safari groove, gentle stream, safari trail and Victoria falls. Perfect for traveling or staying at home, it will help your baby sleep anywhere.