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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Favourite Toys for Development up to 1 yrs old

20 replies

CrashBang · 31/01/2012 23:18

I've a little baby that is nearly 3 months old. He is starting to interact with objects now, which is exciting! What toys did your little one like between 3 months and 1 year of age which helped his or her development?

It would be great to get some suggestions about what works or worked for you.

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gamerwidow · 31/01/2012 23:23

Stacking cups are the best things we ever got. DD has played with them pretty much every day since she was 6 months and she is now 18 months. They can be used for knocking down when they are too small to stack them or as part of role play i.e. cup of tea or to teach about colours etc.
Also you can't have enough books, ones with flaps and textured bits are good for when they're little because they won't concentrate on a story.

Original poster

CrashBang · 02/02/2012 11:38

Thats great gamerwidow - at the moment baba is very fond of five linked plastic rings from ELC with kinks and bumps in/on them.

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ChipsnCheese · 02/02/2012 11:43

Shaky, jangly, rattly toys that can be held, hit, chewed, bashed etc.
At 3mo though please don't worry about development. Life will teach them, and it would be sad to get hung up about milestomes at such an early age. Enjoy!!!!

tootiredtothinkofanickname · 02/02/2012 13:17

DS is almost 1 and has just started to be interested in toys, so far all he wanted to do was chew everything he could get his hands on. He is still chewing on everything now, but also playing with some toys. Other babies were playing with toys at 6 months, he was just looking around the room and trying to crawl, and try to get everyone's attention by babbling at them (he is very sociable).

It depends on the baby, really. To be honest DS could have done without any toys and just be happy with a wooden spoon or a teether, the only thing I would recommend as well are board books with flaps and textures.

diyqueen · 02/02/2012 13:22

I don't know about helping her development (not sure how I'd tell!) but dd's favourites so far (she's 10mo) have been her baby gym (with linky things so you can hang what you like off it - we hung some of those wrist bells on it and she loved swiping at them when she was your baby's age), a Fisher Price jumparoo, and anything that makes a noise, as ChipsnCheese said. We have a Bright Starts honeycomb-type ball thing that has a jingly ball inside it that is very easy to grab and this was one of the things she found easiest to pick up to start with, and still likes shaking it and bashing it about on the floor. We bought the jumparoo to try and satisfy her desire to be upright all the time when she was little and have had lots of mileage out of it - at 3 months she loved lwatching the lights and swatting at the toys, at 4/5 months she loved spinning the spinny bits on it, and at 6 months learned to jump and still loves a good bounce now. And I agree with books too - especially anything with flaps to lift (Dear Zoo is a favourite).

rrreow · 02/02/2012 17:30

DS (nearly 9 months now) likes his blocks (he picks them up, puts them in his mouth, throws them, 'talks' to them, and knocks down towers I build) and he also LOVES those spinny wheel things that have something in them so they make noise when they are spun, they are on/part of a lot of toys for this age group, sorry rubbish at describing it!

More than anything though, he loves stuff that aren't his toys.. the remote control, iPhone, the laptop, the laptop power cord...

Bamaluz · 02/02/2012 17:37

Oh yes they always love things that aren't actually toys. Have a look at Treasure baskets

BoysAreLikeDogs · 02/02/2012 18:10

yy was coming on to say treasure basket

LittleMilla · 02/02/2012 19:22

Everything above. My 8mo ds has had so much fun with http://www.elc.co.uk/Discover-Cylinder/130766,default,pd.html. We were given it and and first a bit "eh?" But from about three months he started to grasp the different bits that crinkle etc. Now he started to work out that he can pull the bits OUT of it. And next I expect him to work out he can put things IN.

HIGHLY recommend.

legobuilder · 02/02/2012 20:29

ELC tea set in a bag was v loved - it's' a good: bath toy, making mud pies, in sand pits; and for actually being a tea set.

agree with stacking cups (to be used as above) and books also.

vtech first computer

any toy that "walked" e.g. the ELC turtle. Also get the VTech walker early - you'll get it anyway when he start walking and bubs may as well get use out of the buttony board with phone etc on the front now!

Bonkerz · 02/02/2012 20:37

Was also going to say treasure basket. Easily done. Get a silver rescue blanket (first aid ones) a nice wicker basket. Some wooden spoons. Large shells, sponge, loofah, plastic mirror, wooden pegs, empty tin (I have a small baby milk one), pumice stone, rattan balls. My 9 month old has loved playing with his since he could hold stuff!!!! Anything shiny and jingly and reflective.

smoggii · 02/02/2012 21:24

Have you seen the 'Old Mcdonald' puppet glove. My baby has loved that (and the song and noises) since she was about 5 months and she still loves it now (nearly 13 months) but now she can say the animals and do the noises.

The fisher price laugh and learn chair great for learning music and helped her stand and sit by herself from around 9 months.

Lamaze freddie the firefly she loved.

A soft backed mirror (she loves her own reflection).

Most important interaction with Mummy or Daddy

Original poster

CrashBang · 04/02/2012 09:08

All great suggestions - thanks! It's not that I'm worried ChipsnCheese. I will e buying some toys and it's nice to know what other parents found their children enjoyed.

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glenthebattleostrich · 04/02/2012 14:44

I was also going to say treasure basket, add in some bits of shiney fabric if you can get some, my DD loved that as do my mindees.

Also, DD loved her Sophie the Giraffe. It's a teething toy which squeaks. DD carried hers everywhere for about 6 months and now my friends DS is enjoying it.

nearlytherenow · 04/02/2012 15:03

Was also going to suggest a treasure basket. Mine have both loved sets of bunches of old keys, old phones, old remote controls , empty flip top blusher / pressed powder boxes etc (they love the real ones too, I just try to discourage chewing these!). DS2 loves to rip up paper / old magazines, and both boys have enjoyed playing with muslins / tea towels (peekaboo type games). They do have some real toys too - Freddie the Firefly has been a favourite, and Sophie, and stacking cups, and closer to aged one DS1 absolutely loved anything on a string that he could pull along the floor (continuing a theme of homemade, I just used to tie strings to his existing toys for a bit of variation, rather than buying lots of toys with strings).

haloflo · 05/02/2012 11:04

Another good game is peekaboo. Just use a muslin and hide behind it. Or hide toys under it. Or throw it over the babies head! It teaches them that things are still there, even when hidden. My 10mo loves this game and now can play it herself by putting the muslin or her head.

She also loves songs. Get a CD or visit a rhyme time at your local library if you need to re learn the songs (I defiantly did!)

Another vote for stacking cups, and lift up flap books. My DD loves the Peekaboo Jungle/Park/Farm books.

My DD got into toys when she could sit up by herself. An inflatable sit me up ring was great when she was learning to sit and helped her play in a safe environment.

haloflo · 05/02/2012 11:08

And how could I forget the vtech baby walker?! My DD loves this even though she can't walk with it yet so it should last us a few more months. The front panel comes off and has loads of things for the baby to move and buttons to press . She also loves the music "hello puppy calling, do you want to play with me" even though it drives me mad! I bet you can get one second hand as i've seen loads near me for a good price (under £10)

PriscillaQueenOfTheDesert · 05/02/2012 11:09

One of my Ds's favourite things before he was one was a little box I'd put together of shiny things. A twirly metal egg cup, some sparkly bangles, some tin foil, some tea spoons, glitter bouncy ball (about same size as a tennis ball) some holographic wrapping paper etc. Very cheap and easy to put together and kept him occupied for ages.

Also a small blow up paddling pool full of shredded paper. I'd hide the little Schleich animals in there and he'd have a fab time scrunching and crunching, hiding and finding.

EBDteacher · 05/02/2012 15:27

This book is great because it suggest what they might be learning and activites that will help development month by month.

I didn't use the lesson plan format ( at lessons for babies) but I did find the suggestions of things to do and games to play at each stage really useful.

Baby's First Skills

Original poster

CrashBang · 06/02/2012 01:32

That's a great book, and the treasure box/basket is a great idea too. It's so nice to hear of all the toys and games that your children like. Makes me smile - I've plenty of ideas here to keep him busy!

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