Your Picks for Top Developmental Toys for Baby?

I like to stick wtih the basics...wood toys whenever possible and as few of those "leap frog" type of toys. My experience is that the "more" a toy does on it's own, the less your child will learn from it. I LOVE www.atoygarden.com, www.rosiehippo.com, www.bellalunatoys.com, and www.threesisterstoys.com. These sites all have the back to basics toys that enhance the child's imagination and ability to learn to play in the most creative manner possible. They also have a great selection of arts and crafts supplies for your child when that time comes! Good luck!

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None of them will make a difference. Dangle something shiny and they're happy. :-) Babies at this age are just learning about the world around them, how their arms and legs move. The toys advertising cognitive development are just aiming at your pocketbook.

2 moms found this helpful

Don't get suckered in by all these "developmental" toys. Interact with your
baby. Talk and sing to him. Play peek a boo, paticake, etc. and he
will do just fine.

I sell Discovery Toys and we have some amazing products for babies.

I have to put the Try-Angle as my #1 favorite infant toy because there is SO much they can do with it. It can lie flat for tummy time or stand up for when they are sitting. Each side has something different to work fine motor skills. Plus, the different colors and sounds, as well as the mirror, really help the baby to learn. http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

The Play & Learn Snail is a great first puzzle. Your baby can learn to put it together and take it apart, plus benefit from the different sounds and textures. http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

To view these and all of my products, please visit http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao I am more than happy to provide more info about any toy you see on the site or to help with your purchase. When your child is a little older, i have great recommendations for toddlers and preschools that have really helped my son!

K.

The best toy my son had was the Leap Frog Learning/music Table. At 6 months he started looking at it while laying on his belly on the floor (before adding the legs to the table) one he could stand he loved using the table to support himself while playing with it and later it helped him cruise. I highly reccommend it.

blocks and nesting cups are great faves that teach a LOT simple as they seem.

I would stick to very basic toys , stacking cups , blocks , a small ball , rattles. Most of the all singing all dancing toys are aimed at parents spending money rather than for the child to learn , they really do not need the amount of toys that are out there today. I know it is tempting to buy them , especially if you are on your first child , I did the same myself , now child #3 is not interested in any toys for her age group and is much happier chasing the other 2 up and down whilst clutching a hand bag! , I actually got rid of all my toddler aged toys yesterday as they were unplayed with and collecting dust!

Alex toys has good developmental type toys.
Hands down best toy we ever bought for our son is the classic fisher price stackable Rings. He has loved them since 6months when he could just hold them and bite them and now he is 14 months and carries and stacks them all day!
Simple toys are best then they have many uses...:)

I personally like the basic toys that we had when we were kids. Building blocks, balls, legos. For a 5 month old things that they can hold and look at and that are safe to chew on. Those toys that they can put the matching shapes in are good.

Here is a link:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_toys-for-3-to-6-month-olds_81...

Baby Center is a great resource/info site.

Keep in mind, age-development and age appropriateness and going by your child's cues. That way, it will mean less frustration... and not overly expected expectations of how a baby will "play.

Kids, develop through play. Anything, contributes to cognitive development... even just laying on a blanket outside and looking up at the sky and trees and leaves.

A baby this age for example, is not going to "stack" blocks.... nor put puzzles together. But they love to bang things together... or grab things.

all the best,
Susan

My children always loved Discovery Toys. I'd go with what she said. They also are of good quality. Good luck!

With a 32 year reputation of earning Dr. Toy and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio awards, Parenting Magazine and loads of other awards, Discovery Toys educational toys are your best bet. They are not available in stores, but through home parties or online at www.toysofdiscovery.com.

I highly recommend their Measure Up Cups, 12 graduated cups that stack and/or nest. Your baby can dump and fill the cups with water in the bathtub, or sand when you go to the sandbox or the beach. As (s)he grows, there are many other things to learn. The size of the animal pictured on the bottom of each cup is dependent on how large the cup is: the smallest cup has a tiny butterfly; the largest a whale. Each cup is numbered, and gives the number in 3 different languages. I could go on and on, but that is typical of the open-ended quality of these toys.