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Baby Toys
Baby toys are fun, not just for babies but for the adults who get to play too while watching their adored baby discovering how fascinating, noisy, and multicolored the world is! Baby toys encompass much more than the Baby Rattles you may remember. Soft books, mirrors, balls, Baby Swings, Rocking Horses, cuddly toys that make noises, Baby Socks that rattle or tinkle when baby kicks-these are just some of the toys for small babies, and the choices expand at around six months as baby gets bigger and able to sit up.
A great strategy, which works with older children too, is not to keep all the baby toys out at once. Put some toys away for a week or two and watch as they are greeted with fresh pleasure when they reemerge. (Of course, if baby has a particular favorite doll, blanket, or other comfort toy, don't take it away!) If visitors bring two new toys, put one away for a day when both you and baby need a new distraction.
Nowadays, we hear a lot about "educational" toys, for babies as well as for toddlers and preschoolers. High-contrast colors like red, black and white are thought to be easier for young babies' immature eyes to perceive, and more stimulating to them than the soft pastels traditionally associated with babies. There are baby videos and CD's that claim to support brain development. And you'll notice that some of the soft books your baby may like to look at (and chew on) may have the alphabet or numbers on them. A lot of these products are of good quality, and your baby will be delighted by them, returning over and over again to particular favorites. But don't get too focused on choosing baby toys for their educational value. Babies are learning all the time. A trip to the corner store in the stroller is a feast for their senses-the colors, the sounds, the feel of the breeze. Your baby needs varied experiences and always lots of close interaction with you. Baby toys that you can play with together are some of the best. (Do you have a good baby book or two with information about how babies interact and learn at different stages? These can give great ideas for games to play with your baby, like peekaboo or making favorite baby toys disappear under a blanket and reappear as if by magic.)
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