When buying baby's toys and choosing the type of play to engage in, making smart choices can pay off. Here, experts, moms, and a dad tell us what types of playthings and activities helped their little ones learn most. It's never too early to start!
Puzzles and musical instruments
"Peekaboo was one of my daughter's favorite games, and board books! She loved books! My boys also liked large blocks and stackable cups. All three of my kids were big fans of puzzles and musical instruments."
— Johanna Torres, Mom.com editor and mom of three
Get fluent in gibberish
"Talk gibberish, sing a song, read stories, and start talking to them like they know what you are talking to them about. If the baby responds back in their gibberish language, that is your first success."
— Anonymous, dad of two
Tummy time
"Tummy time is great for developing their motor skills. It gets them moving and using their brain to figure out how to get from point A to point B."
— Erika Santos, mom of one
Change it up
"Sensory play and variety. I found both my babies really loved variety and would get really bored of the same 'play' activities if we did them too much."
— Nicole Coppola, mom of two
Reading to a young baby has numerous benefits
"The optimal play is quite age dependent. Still, a baby should be stimulated by toys and encouraged to move towards them in an attempt to play and interact with the toy/object. Tummy time is important for not only play but strengthening the core muscle groups to facilitate movement and strength as the child ages and matures, allowing the child to reach important milestones. Even activities such as reading to a young baby have numerous benefits to the enjoyment and development of the infant."
— Matthew S. Cohen, MD, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician currently practicing in Long Beach, New York
Converse with your baby
"Lots of talking, reading, and showing them how toys work. Back-and-forth conversations with baby are fun and help them understand the rules of language."
— Jacalyn Wetzel, MSW, LCSW-A, mom of four and author of Taming the Wild Child: A Practical Guide to Navigating the Early Years
