Growing Up

As your kiddo’s eyesight and hearing develops, they will also begin to identify personal favorites. Within the first 3 months, you’ll be able to recognize which toys double as their best buds and which ones are starting to gather a bit of dust. So if you feel that there’s a fun or educational toy you would want them to play with as they grow up, bring these toys into your baby’s environment early on and encourage your child to discover them. Add these into the mix while your baby is enjoying tummy time, for example – they’ll be looking up, stretching their arms, and grabbing what’s near them.

Another way to go about it is during bath time or nursing! As your baby is lying on their back, you can take a colorful and dangly toy and sway it right above them. The swinging movement is sure to grab their attention, to the point where they may try to grasp the toy with their lil’ fingers (and improve their fine motor skills while they’re at it!).

But even if, despite your best efforts, your chosen toys don’t exactly stick – don’t be surprised or discouraged. Toys can be a fickle lot! What matters at the end of the day is that introducing toys is just another opportunity to bond with your baby. As you give them the toys, pull ‘em back, and repeat, you’ll be on the road to becoming their partner in play – a relationship which will hopefully last for years to come.