Choosing the Right Toys for Your Little 'Learning Machine'

(ARA) - You know your baby is amazing, but did you know he or she is a virtual learning machine? Babies, even the smallest newborns, spend every waking moment learning, research shows. And they learn best through play with age-appropriate toys and loving interaction with their caregivers.

"It's important to focus on ways to nurture babies' changing needs through the multiple stages of their development," says Ryan Gunnigle, president and CEO of Kids II, Inc., an infant and toddler toy and baby gear company. "Parents often look to get some help from toys to keep their babies engaged. Products that adapt as babies grow and their sense of play evolves are the ones to seek out for both versatility and value."

So what type of toy and play is best for your baby? Recent research by Kids II sheds some light on how to help babies play through multiple phases of development.

Newborns

Newborn babies spend a lot of floor time lying on their backs. Because of this stationary position, it is important to engage baby in visual and auditory stimulation. To do this, moms can place toys and other stimulating objects hanging overhead whether from a play gym's bar or a bouncer seat's toy bar. Products that have dancing lights that help develop eye tracking or long-playing melodies tend to provide the best stimulation at this stage.

Tummy Time

Doctors recommend tummy time two-three times a day to help babies develop strength, balance and coordination. Research reveals that keeping more toys and activities around baby while he is on his tummy helps keep him engaged in play longer. Three-dimensional surface features found on some play mats, such as crinkle and textured flaps, provide baby with additional tactile stimulation. Once baby moves past tummy time, he will become even more curious of the world around him and will crave more movement.

Active Discovery

Between about four and six months, babies are at the active discovery stage -- between lying and sitting up. Parents may find babies are less interested in standard gyms at this stage because they tend to roll away from the gym once they are able to move on their own. Kids II research has shown that moms often find themselves continually standing near their babies as they play in these traditional gyms -- constantly repositioning their babies under the toy bars. Infant play environments like the Bright Starts Baby's PlayPlace help babies develop through play by keeping them totally engaged in the fun, using soft fold-up walls accompanied by adjustable toy bars and stimulating toys to help ensure babies stay focused on the fun and don't roll away.

Crawling

At this stage of development, baby is ready and rearing to go. Flexible infant play environments, such as Baby's PlayPlace can actually grow with baby as it is easily converted into an extra-long, soft tunnel. Toys hanging from toy bars and sides panels provide fun interaction as baby crawls through, encouraging crawling and exploration. Preventing injury is always top of mind for moms, so try to choose toys that also offer protective elements.

Active Play

Once babies can fully sit up, they require 360 degrees of stimulation, Kids II research indicates. Toys and play environments that are versatile are ideal for this stage of baby's development because they provide constant stimulation for baby even when he is actively discovering his surroundings. Babies need extra space to give them room for playtime and stimulation now that they are moving around, so choosing products that can expand and cover large floor areas providing a soft place for play are ideal.

For additional information on Baby's PlayPlace and other developmentally appropriate toys and products for infants and toddlers, visit www.brightstarts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent