Toys for newborns?

You can tell I'm a first time mom (well, will be soon!)...
Had a friend (who doesn't have kids) over last night and showed her all the stuff we have for the babies (have been ready for them for a while now, just in case): tons of clothes, stocking up on diapers, swinging crib etc.... She pointed out that we have no toys at all for the twins. Which is true; we have a good few books for them already, and a couple o fluffy toys which were gifts- and which I am not sure would be safe to put in their crib when they are newborn-, but no toys.

So my question is: Are there any good toys for the newborn- 3 months age? Do they even need toys or will they sleep and cry most o the time? I was thinking of getting a mobile for their crib but really cannot think of anything else.

 

From newborn-3 mo they won't be able to play with anything, but they'll enjoy having cool stuff to look at. Early on, they are fascinated with simple, high contrast designs. Doesn't have to be anything fancy - if you take some white paper and draw big simple patterns with a black marker like thick stripes, checkers, smiley face, etc, they will totally bug out on it. Bright simple colors are also a hit. When they start trying to reach for things, it's good to have some very lightweight, easy to hold toys. (For example, we have a couple sock monkeys that are very light, and it was really easy for them to grab onto those long skinny legs and tails.)

Good luck with delivery!

 

Mobiles are a great idea -- we love the Tiny Love ones, which have a lot to look at, and great music.

One tip, if you get one mobile for each crib, get two different ones -- because for the first few months, you will likely put them together to watch the mobiles, even if they sleep separately -- and you'll have some variety if you get different ones!

Otherwise, yeah, babies that young don't really play...by the 3-month mark, they might be entertained by some rattles that you velcro to their hands or feet, but even that is a stretch...

 

I agree with pp's for mobiles. Our pnp had a mobile, which was good because we didn't use the cribs until about 3 months (and then we had other mobiles for the cribs).

The other thing that I would have never thought about was an activity mat. My cousin gave us her TinyLove one and the hanging toys. Starting around 6 weeks old I put the girls under it and they loved to look at the toys hanging above them. It was awhile before they started swatting and playing, but that mat got a lot of use! (from 6 weeks until about 5-6 months!). Here is the one we have (it plays music too!): http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266983

As for rattles, stuffed animals, other toys, etc.. they really don't get into them until they can hold onto things, which if I remember correctly is past the 3 month mark. It sounds like you have plenty of stuff for your lil ones. GL with the rest of your pg!

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ Jan 31 2008, 08:19 AM) [snapback]598417[/snapback]
I agree with pp's for mobiles. Our pnp had a mobile, which was good because we didn't use the cribs until about 3 months (and then we had other mobiles for the cribs).

The other thing that I would have never thought about was an activity mat. My cousin gave us her TinyLove one and the hanging toys. Starting around 6 weeks old I put the girls under it and they loved to look at the toys hanging above them. It was awhile before they started swatting and playing, but that mat got a lot of use! (from 6 weeks until about 5-6 months!). Here is the one we have (it plays music too!): http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266983

As for rattles, stuffed animals, other toys, etc.. they really don't get into them until they can hold onto things, which if I remember correctly is past the 3 month mark. It sounds like you have plenty of stuff for your lil ones. GL with the rest of your pg!


I second that playmat. We have 1 and the babies love dit until recently. We used it without the arches and toys when they first came home as a place to put them down and by 4-6 weeks we attached them and the loved looking at the toys. On rare occasion they would hit one and stare in awe.

We have 2 different mobiles and they still like them a lot.

Other than that toys are a waste at that age!

 

Another vote for the play gyms :good: We had two- the Tiny Love (red/white/black one) and the Boppy Entertain Me (I think that was the name- w/ the mini boppy and bugs) Anyways- these were the only things that "entertained" them for a long time. They got real excited once they figured out they could make the butterfly sing and light up (but that took a good while!) And now at 9.5 mo they still play w/ the Tiny Love gym- the boppy one is set up where it's too easy to collapse.

Oh, and one other toy that they liked early on was the FP aquarium that goes in their crib. B LOVES those little fish! I felt bad taking it out of the cribs a few weeks ago, but the stinkers figured out how to use them to climb on!

 

Our babies are almost 3 months and are JUST starting to like to look at toys with bright colors and squeaky noises. They are finally starting to like being under the gym thing. Up until now, the only thing that has really fasinated them is looking up at the ceiling fans...seriously! They love those things!

 

i second the ceiling fans- i don't know what it is about those things!

 

QUOTE(melissak @ Jan 31 2008, 01:28 PM) [snapback]599002[/snapback]
Our babies are almost 3 months and are JUST starting to like to look at toys with bright colors and squeaky noises. They are finally starting to like being under the gym thing. Up until now, the only thing that has really fasinated them is looking up at the ceiling fans...seriously! They love those things!


Seriosuly! The best "toys" in our house are the ceiling fan and the skylights in the living room -- both babies are obsessed with the ceiling in that room! Also, ours just started to show interest in the playmat too (we have the Tiny Love one). Katelyn likes the mirror (typical little girl, eh?) and Gabe loves that bird! I'm so relieved that they can lay there for a while and be entertained ... :yahoo:

 

My kids also started liking to hold or look at things around 2 months old. The free black & white flash cards we got from Pampers were their favorite. Christmas lights along the ceiling could hold the attention of all three kids for a long time as well. Basically, little hand-held toys are your best bet. Tinybirdorganics.com has a lot of good, natural items for the newborn-6 months age range and so does teenibanini.com .

 

i would get a playmat they can lay on and look up and see the toys - that will stimulate them w/o having to do anything. Don't be disappointed, though, it'll take them a while to get interested in it. good luck w/ delivery!

 

We didn't have a ton of toys that early either, but the ceiling fan, and a mobile were helpful.

Even now, and 10.5 months, and after a grand spoiling from the inlaws at Christmas, they still enjoy the simplest household things, like plastic bowls, stuffed animals, and my latest favorite--DAd's Big Gulp cup...they stick their faces in it and babble away to hear the echo!!! :lol: :lol:

 

you don't need toys till they can grab something at 3 months.
wrist rattles, linkadoos, anything black/white patterned is good for the first 3 months. anything crinkly or rattly, or textured. they like to look at bold black/white patterns/shapes. just print somethings on your computer, and save your money for later. they also can hear things so music/light up toys are good like the FP ocean wonders soothing aquarium that you can hang on the crib.

 

Before 3 months we used the activity mats. It played songs and they woudl just lay and look at the toys hangning and listen to the music. I would also put them in the bouncy seat and they would look at the toys hanging from it.

After 3 mo things get more interesting. Mine loved the rings first. They are cheap, easy to hold on to and chew on. THen I knew they were ready for more.

 

I can't recall the age, but the first real "toy" my boys got fascinated with were the LINKS/RINGS. They STILL love those things. We have links hooked on almost everything in our house & they seem to grab for those more than anything. Mine didn't like their activity gym until recently, but enjoyed their bouncy seats early on. We also have the FP Aquarium soother in one crib & the FP Rainforest soother in the other. They started liking those probably around 4 mos or so. Really, not many toys in that 0-3 range!

 

we bought baby gym for themwhen they were in first month. but really we did not know about any such thing earlier, it was on sale at my BH's office. one of my girls really liked it at that time she enjoyed the lighting and sounds but other was uncomfertable with it, she was always crying when was put under it...... so can't say about babies choice... but it is the best toy for infents.... and now at third months both like it. so i think u can go for an infant gym.