Toys for Newborns

[CupcakesHay]

I've bought the usual activity mat and a swing thing for my baby-to-be. I'm going to be first-time mum - so don't want to overload it with toys - but can anyone recommend some good toys which babies enjoy which I can buy?

(aside from a teddy bear - i've got that :))

[BertieBotts]

Newborns really don't look at toys much... best thing to get is probably books at this stage. I didn't find DS played with toys really until he could sit up.

[FloraFinching]

Agree with Bertie. My DD didn't start to get interested in toys until 6-9month. Until then she was happy to chew a teddy, or just bat the stuff on her baby gym.

I drove myself demented trying to "play" with a 6 week old baby until the penny dropped that it really isn't necessary .

[resistanceisfutile]

Newborns don't really need toys - but after 3/4 months they may like:

Activity mat / baby gym

Colourful mobile

Rattles

Crinkly toys (that make a rustly sound)

Baby swing

Mirror

Rainmaker

Cloth books

[Cies]

I'd reiterate what everyone else has said - newborns don't really need toys.

Fwiw my ds is now 9mo and is totally uninterested in the vast swathe of soft toys that he was given when he was born. Things that have been successful are:

from 3 mo:
activity mat
baby gym
linkies - the plastic rings used to hold toys onto pushchairs etc.

and from maybe 6 mo:
a kind of mesh ball - bendy plastic, but he can get his fingers through the holes.
wooden things - teething ring, rattle, spinning top, wooden spoons
a wickerwork ball with a bell inside it

[DaisyDaresYOU]

The only thing my dd was interested in was her pretty in pink dream light show.newborns aint interested in toys tbh they just sleep poop wee drink :o my dd started playing with toys at around 6months.

[Tyson86]

Still a teddy bear but you could get a slumber bear, ive heard they are meant to be good as they have the sound of a mothers womb for the baby to listen to.

[StrikeUpTheBand]

Would second the light show/mobile idea...from birth they seem to be lulled to sleep by the light show because it sort of stops them crying because they are listening to it! Worked with mine anyway :-)

[Tikkabillajive]

We were given a whoozit when my dd was born which both my children seemed to like looking at from an early age - I used to hang it at the side of the pram.

And I found a cot mobile indispensable - we had one second hand from my SIL and my dd would lie happily in her cot watching it for ages - I think it was a Tiny Love one.

But I would echo advice to hold back on buying too much too soon - you are bound to be inundated with stuff when your baby is born, and as they grow and develop you will want to buy things for each new stage - soon you will be knee-deep in toys!

[smokiejo]

I have to say as a retailer of baby and wooden toys, I also agree. Babies don't NEED toys, it's normally the parents wanting to indulge their new fabulous addition - which is fine.
A top tip when you are choosing toys:
I would definitely start with a play mat as the baby is then in an environment of discovery when they begin to realise the world is actually quite big!
Then you are looking for toys and rattles that encourage each stage of their developemnt: clutching toys and rattles, toys that encourage movement, so balls (maybe the Sqwish by Manhattan as it's light and easy to get hold of).
Basically, at my shop, Little Nut Tree Toys, we ask the customer what their babies are beginning to do and focus toys in on that - so peek-a-boo toys, clutching, and movement.
Hope that helps.