A child is the most precious gift one can ask for, so it goes without saying that we always want nothing but the best of quality, safety and comfort when it comes to the things we buy and the choices we make for them. Whether you’re a first-time parent or a loved one looking for the perfect gift for a newborn, infant or toddler, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide for the ideal offerings for every stage of development throughout a baby’s first few years of life.
0-3 MONTHS
Things to know about 0-3-month olds:
They will spend much of their time lying down
Their heads may be raised only briefly, up to 45O, at around 3 months
They will only be able to see blurry black and white images, with a bit of red
At 2-3 months, they can clench their fists and push objects with their feet
Tip: Consider starting with toys that are helpful for improving neck strength, visual development and grasping ability.
The ideal gifts: Black & White Soft Toys
They can roll over from front to back and back to front
They are able to sit upright for a few minutes at a time when put into seating position
They will gradually be able to sit upright on their own without falling over
They will start recognising familiar sounds, faces and voices
Their eye muscles work well and they are now able to focus on smaller objects
Their fine motor skills are more advanced and they can grasp smaller objects and identify different textures
Tip: Consider adding more complex and interactive toys to your baby’s collection. It can be along the lines of learning & education toys, as well as multifunctional toys that feature multiple textures, colours, gadgets, etc.
They move around a lot, start talking and making recognizable sounds
They enjoy looking at books with pictures and will enjoy you interacting with them
They will crawl around on all fours, pull themselves with their arms, attempt to walk and stand
Their fine motor skills are improving further and more rapidly They will enjoy activities such as cuddling and rolling on the floor
They can sit upright for longer periods, typically surrounded by toys and entertainment
They poke and point with their finger, bang things together and transfers objects from one hand to another
Tip: Consider giving your baby a mix of interactive, educational and brain developmental toys, along with toys that also enable them to explore their increasingly developing physical abilities, such as play gyms and play pens.
They are in touch with their needs and will do things such as handing you a book when they want you to read to them
They will repeat sounds and actions to get your attention and affection
They have favourite toys and develop emotional connections with people and objects
They enjoy sociable and interactive games like hide-and-seek
They are old enough to grasp and catch on habits and routines with training and positive reinforcement
Tip: While keeping them busy with more or less the same toys they’ve known since they were 9-12 months old and adding on more advanced toys gradually, this is the perfect time to start your baby on potty training, using fun and interesting methods of positive reinforcement.
They can stand on their tippy-toes, run and even kick or throw a ball
They can climb up and down from furniture without any support
They can walk up and down stairs while holding on
They can carry a large toy or several toys while walking
Tip: Consider introducing more solid toys with solid movable parts, as well as brain development and learning & educational toys such as puzzles, interactive books, etc.