Six Important Toys for the First Six Months

In the first 6 months of life a baby is developing their physical and mental motor skills. Certain toys can help your baby with this developmental process.

1. Gym or Playground
A gym or playground is a great item to have for your baby. A mat that you lay on the floor that has activities for your baby to enjoy while working on strengthening their muscles as they lay on their belly or back is considered to be a gym or playground. Often playgrounds have more elaborate activities. Depending on the kind that you get for your baby will determine all that it can help your baby with. In the simplest form they will help with hand-eye coordination, physical development and cognitive development depending on the design and the activities that it has. In the more elaborate ones development of speech and social skills may come into play.

2. Bouncer or Swing
By having a bouncer or swing for your baby you will not only have a place for them to play you will also have a place for them to nap. Bouncers are small chairs that vibrate with the slightest touch. Babies are able to be buckled into them and rest easy, when they move they are gently bounced back to sleep. When a baby is awake they are able to be comfortable as they peer at an arch that you are able to hang toys from. Swings are great if your baby, and often many babies enjoy this, likes to be gently swung to sleep. Once they are asleep you can keep them in the swinging motion by keeping the mechanical swing on. Plus when the baby is awake they have a very comfortable place to play in. Both the swing and the bouncer can help a baby with their hand-eye coordination and cognitive development when you are able to hang toys from them but depending on the toys that are hanging your child may be able to work on their speech and social skills as well.