The Best Newborn Toys for Development: 0-3 Months

Welcome to parenthood!

A mother kissing her newborn baby with the words How to playwith your newborn, the best toys for 0-3 month old babies.

The first three months of a baby’s life are a remarkable period of rapid growth and development. As a parent, you play a crucial role in fostering your little one’s early learning experiences. One effective way to stimulate their senses and promote cognitive, motor, and social development is through the use of newborn toys.

Table of Contents

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of newborn toys during the first three months, take a brief look at significant developmental milestones during this period, and provide valuable insights on what to look for when choosing educational newborn toys. And of course, I’ll include a list of my absolute favorite newborn toys!

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Baby Developments in the First 3 Months

During the first three months, your snuggly little newborn is actually going through impressive transformations, both physically and cognitively. Here are some key developmental milestones to keep in mind:

Sensory: In the early weeks, babies’ senses are developing rapidly. They begin to respond to sounds, track objects with their eyes, and explore their environment through touch. The right developmental toys help enhance their sensory experiences.
Motor Skills: Even during these first few months babies are developing their motor skills! They learn to control their head movements, discover their hands and feet, and may even begin to bat at objects or grasp them with their tiny fingers.
Social: From the day they are born, babies are wired for social connection – humans are a social species! Little ones learn to recognize faces, make eye contact, and respond to smiles and gentle voices. They might even be flashing their own gummy smiles at you around this time (and melting your heart). Finding the right toys can help you to foster these early social interactions and bond with your baby.

[Related post: What is Montessori Learning?]

Why Newborn Toys Are Important in the First 3 Months

Newborn toys actually serve a pretty important job of supporting your baby’s early development. Here are some reasons why they are important specifically during the first three months:

Stimulation and Engagement: Newborn toys provide essential sensory stimulation and help to activate those developing senses we talked about. Vibrant colors, contrasting patterns, and interesting textures can captivate their attention and foster curiosity.
Motor Skills Development: By offering toys that encourage reaching, grasping, and kicking, you can help enhance your baby’s motor skills. Toys with different shapes, sizes, and textures can promote hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.
Cognitive Development: The right newborn toys can aid cognitive development by introducing cause-and-effect relationships. For example, toys that produce sounds or have movable parts teach babies about actions and consequences and can encourage the development of their problem-solving skills from an early age.
Emotional Bonding: Playing with your baby using newborn toys creates a special bonding experience. The shared moments of laughter, exploration, and discovery help strengthen the emotional connection between you and your little one.

[Related post: Is the SNOO worth it?]

A newborn baby playing with a colorful toy on his back.

What to Look for in an Educational Newborn Toy

When you’re shopping for educational toys for your little one, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make sure you pick the right ones.

Safety: Opt for toys that are age-appropriate and meet safety standards. Look for toys made from non-toxic materials, without small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
Sensory Stimulation: Select toys that engage multiple senses. Look for toys with different textures, bright colors, and various sounds to provide a rich sensory experience for your baby.
Developmental Age: Seek toys that align with your baby’s developmental stage. Toys that support tummy time, encourage reaching and grasping or promote visual tracking are excellent choices for this age group.
Versatility: Choose toys that offer versatility and adaptability as your baby grows. Look for toys with adjustable features or multiple play options to ensure they remain engaging and stimulating as your little one progresses through different developmental milestones. After all, saving money by finding toys that grow with your baby is always a plus!
Durability and Ease of Cleaning: Babies tend to explore toys with their mouths, so opt for textures and toys that are easy to wash or wipe down – wooden newborn toys are a great option!

My Favorite Newborn Toys for Development

Ahh, you’ve finally made it to the best part – the toys! Most of these toys are found on Amazon or Etsy (my personal favorite shopping platform because it supports small business owners over large corporations).