A Comprehensive Guide to Baby Developmental Milestones and Choosing the Right Toy

Babies grow tremendously fast during first two years. They grow teeth, bones fuses and learn to walk, eat, recognize expressions, repeat them, express themselves and more, babies and kids need stimulating toys that help them hone their skills. These physiological and psychological developments are marked as per their age, each age corresponds to each development called - Child's Development Milestones. Lets get an extensive look at them.

Physical Developmental Milestones and Suitable Toys for baby

1. Lifting Head: By 1-2 months, babies can lift their head while on their stomach. Lightweight toys like soft blocks or beanbags that encourage baby to lift their head while playing.
2. Rolling Over: Around 2-4 months, babies develop the strength to roll over from their back to their stomach and vice versa. Toys with a smooth surface, such as rolling balls or soft books, that encourage baby to roll over and explore.
3. Sitting Up: Between 4-6 months, babies start to sit up with support, eventually achieving independence around 7-8 months. Activity centers like playmats or activity tables with hanging toys that keep baby engaged while sitting up. Handheld light and musical toy goes a long way, especially when its time for baby's scheduled immunization.
4. Crawling: Crawling is a significant milestone that occurs between 6-10 months, although some babies may crawl earlier or later than this range. Soft tunnels, baby gym and tents that encourage baby to crawl through and explore their surroundings.
5. Sitting Up Unassisted: By 9-12 months, most babies can sit up without any support. Soft blocks or cups that challenge baby to develop their balance and sitting skills.
6. Teething: It begins around 6 months of age but varies, when babies start teething and may exhibit signs of discomfort or pain. Soft teething toys or cold teething rings that provide relief for sore gums and promote healthy teething. Even cold muslin cloth can be given to chew upon.

Language and Communication Developmental Milestones and Toys for each stage

1. Cooing and Vocal Play: From birth to 2 months, babies start making cooing sounds and engaging in vocal play. Musical toys or sound-emitting toys that encourage baby to engage in vocal play and respond to different sounds fits best for this age.
2. Babbling: Around 4-6 months, babies begin babbling and making consonant-vowel combinations. Talking toys with simple phrases or sentences that encourage baby to imitate and develop their language skills, but nothing replaces constant talks by parents.
3. Saying First Words: Typically around 9-12 months, babies take their first steps towards language development by saying their first words. Toys that associate words with images, such as flashcards or word books, that encourage baby to learn and communicate through language. There are various plush books, or texture books that engage baby's curiosity.

Cognitive Developmental Milestones of Baby's First Year and toys that help enhance them

1. Recognizing Familiar Faces: By 2-4 months, babies start recognizing familiar faces and people. Mirror toys or reflective surfaces that allow baby to explore their own face and develop self-awareness. This when you can play hiding your face and popping again.
2. Imitation: Around 6-9 months, babies begin imitating actions and sounds they've seen or heard before. Activity toys like shape sorters or stacking cups that challenge baby to problem-solve and develop their cognitive skills. Once babies learn how to sit they engage more and more its an exceptional exploration age. Let them play with textures and colors, just be cautious about not putting everything in their mouth, taste is a sensory experience and babies will do it.
3. Problem-Solving: Between 9-12 months, babies start to exhibit problem-solving skills by figuring out how to achieve a desired outcome. Soft puzzle toys with simple pieces that encourage baby to problem-solve and think critically.