Babies like looking at and exploring the world around them. Even the small world of their crib can be a learning environment when the proper toys are present. When picking out toys for your baby's crib choose safe toys that will help your child's senses develop. Always remove toys from the crib after your baby is finished playing and especially when they are sleeping. Supervise your baby while it is playing in the crib.
In general, babies like contrasting colors. For the first few months of life while your baby's vision is developing, consider toys with high contrast color combinations. Black and white toys are popular include other brightly colored toys as well. Babies enjoy feeling the different textures and shapes of objects. Look for toys with smooth bumps and textures that your baby can explore with his or her fingers. Large, round edged blocks in wood or plastic make good toys. In addition, soft, light toys that they can squeeze and hold easily are a good choice. Because everything will go straight from your baby's hands to mouth, look for toys that are designed to be chewed on, like teething rings and rattles. To develop your child's ability to distinguish sounds, purchase some toys that make noises, like rattles, musical toys, and squeaky toys. Babies notice movement. Bright mobiles and crib gyms can provide moving objects for your baby to discover.
Beyond these basic toy ideas there are other considerations. Because your baby will be a chewing, slobbering machine look for sturdy, non-toxic, unbreakable toys. Choose toys that are made of new, hygienic materials. You'll want choose toys that are easy to clean after a day of chewing. Look for stuffed toys that are washable. Read the labels carefully as some will require hand washing and line drying rather than machine wash and dry. Other toys, such as rattles and teethers that can be washed by hand are good as well. Some toys are labeled dishwasher safe.
Keep safety in mind above all else. Always check to make sure the toys you are purchasing are appropriate for your child's age. Toys are labeled to help you choose the correct toys for your child's age. Many labels will state if the toy is not suitable for children under 3 years of age. Read these labels and any instructions that come with the toy. If a toy is not labeled, or instructions are not provided, do not buy the toy. Some toys have small parts that are not appropriate for small children. If a toy's label includes the words "choking hazard" do not buy this toy for your infant or put this kind of toy in your baby's crib. Toys of this kind usually have small removable parts and are designed for older children. Your baby can swallow these parts or choke on them.
Always examine toys carefully before putting them in the crib with your child. Toys should be in good condition. Stuffed toys should have sturdy seams that won't pull apart if your child chews or pulls on them. All toys should have smooth corners and no sharp edges. Watch out for any toys with parts that could pinch your baby's fingers. Toys with strings should not be used in cribs. Your baby could become tangled up in the strings. In addition, look for ribbons on your baby's toys. Cut off any ribbons before giving your child the toy. Babies like to chew on everything and ribbons can choke them.
Here are some examples of the most popular types of crib toys along with some purchasing and safety tips.
Rattles and Teething Rings
These toys come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Purchase several different kinds to give your baby variety. You may find that your baby prefers one type of rattle or teether more so than others. Rattles and teethers should be big enough that your child cannot fit the entire toy in his or her mouth. Rattles should have handles that are at least 2 inches wide. Don't use strings to tie rattles, teethers, or other toys to the crib.
Crib Gyms
Crib gyms are one of the most popular toys for the crib. Crib gyms are usually tied or hooked onto the crib rails and hang above the baby and mattress. They have a variety of balls, bells and other small toys attached to them that the baby looks at and tries to reach. Look for gyms that are colorful and interesting. Some crib gyms offer music, so test each to see how loud they are, if you like the songs available, and if they have an off switch. Before you purchase any crib gym examine it thoroughly. If the store doesn't have a display model out ask for one of the gyms to be removed from the box. The gym shouldn't have any sharp points or hooks that could catch on your baby's clothing, hair, or skin. Look to see how the crib gym attaches to your crib rails. Some gyms are harder to attach if you have a crib bumper pad in place. Crib gyms should come with a warning label that advises you to remove the crib once your child is 5 months old or as soon as they are pushing up. Some children develop faster than others so keep watch on your baby's progress. If your baby has started pushing up onto his or her hands and knees you need to remove the crib gym immediately. Babies love reaching for and pulling on colorful things. Once they are pushing up onto their hands they could pull on the crib gym and become entangled. The crib gyms become dangerous when they fall onto or are pulled onto the baby. Some infants have been injured, choked, and even strangled, when crib gyms fell onto them. If you are planning to use a crib gym make sure it is securely fastened to the crib rails so it will not fall onto your baby. Also, the crib gym should be placed high enough that your child cannot reach it. Adjust the placement of the crib gym or lower the crib mattress so that your child cannot reach the toy. Having one of these toys on your crib can make it harder to place your infant in the crib when they are sleeping. If you have a gym on your crib make sure your baby is not wearing hooded outfits or outfits with draw strings of any kind. There have been instances of children choking to death after their clothing became tangled up in a crib gym.
Mobiles
If you are planning to purchase a mobile for your child's crib consider colors and dimensionality. Hold the mobile up for inspection from baby's eye view. Two-dimensional mobiles can be harder for babies to see than mobiles with three-dimensional qualities. Many mobile also play music. Listening to the tunes available will help you decide between similar mobiles. Like crib gyms, mobiles attach to and hang above the crib. Similar safety rules apply. Make sure the mobile is securely attached to the crib, is high enough the baby can't reach, and that it is removed once your child is 5 months old or when your child starts to push up. If your mobile has strings make sure they are out of your baby's reach.
Stuffed Animals
Choose stuffed toys that do not have small hard parts, like buttons, eyes, or wheels, which could come off the toy when your baby chews on it. A variety of stuffed animals are available that are made specifically for your baby. These have sewn eyes and are created out of hygienic materials. Remove all stuffed toys from the crib when your child is sleeping. Once your child is old enough to roll over on their own you can leave one stuffed animal in the crib. For children over one year of age, one or two stuffed toys are acceptable. Try to avoid putting piles of stuffed animals in your baby's crib. Older babies can use piles of toys as steppingstones to climb out of the crib.
Follow these tips to give your baby a happy and safe crib playtime. Pick safe toys that will stimulate your child's senses, always observe your baby when playing in the crib, and remove toys after your baby falls asleep.
