The Infant Toy Checklist- Don't Leave Home Without It!
Jun 13 '01
The Bottom Line Follow a check-list and choosing an infant toy will be a piece of cake!
Having just had a baby a little over a year ago, and also having had another child as well, I know plenty in the category of "How To Choose an Infant Toy." Please come with me as I take you through a check-list that you will surely want to refer to when choosing your infant toy!
SAFETY
Before you shut the front door, take out your car keys, and drive-off to the Toy Store, you should ALWAYS go over a small, yet quite important, safety check-list involving infant toys.
1. Anything smaller than a silver dollar is potentially dangerous and a child is liable to choke on it. If you are not sure, DO NOT take the chance, simply pass it on by!
2. All toys that are painted should only be covered in non-toxic paint. Any other kinds are harmful to your child if they teethe on it or it chips off and is eaten. If again, you are unsure, contact the Toy Manufacturer and check. If they cannot give you a straight answer, yet another reason to pass it on by!
3. Check all stuffed animals for loose tags, long ribbons, loose button eyes, or excess string from a nose and such.
4. Educate yourself on toys before you go to the store- check Manufacturer Web Sites for any recalls or sales.
AGE APPROPRIATE
When choosing the infant toy, make sure that you take the time to read the package or box. Each one is, and should be, clearly marked with the age in which the toy is appropriate for. In the end, your own judgement will be the final decision, as we know, all children develop differently.
COLOR AND TEXTURE
Infant toys should have bright and vibrant colors- something that screams fun and happy. Newborn to the age of 3 months should be introduced more to toys with black, white, and red in them, as this is what they can only see at that stage.
Textures can be anything smooth, bumpy, round, or square, as long as the toy does not contain sharp corners or edges.
TYPE OF TOY
Toys come in all shapes and sizes, and with growing market of toys everywhere, the Infant toys are surely aplenty! So when you come across the aisle or aisles of toys, make sure you know WHAT TYPE of toy you are looking for! Not sure? Read on and maybe this will help you.
1. Educational- the best kind of toy is that kind that teaches while your child is having fun all at the same time. Educational infant toys can be subtle like a pail and shapes, or as wild as a talking phone with buttons when pushed speak of the ABC's and Farm Animals.
2. Plush toys- these are the cute little stuffed bears and bunnies that baby loves to crawl up and snuggle with.
3. Electronic- these are the toys that will go off in the middle of the night to either soothe your little one back to sleep, or wake up the entire household! Check to make sure there is a way to adjust the volume, easy access to changing the batteries, and an on/off switch. V-Tech and Fisher-Price have been excellent in this department!
KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER
Please keep in mind the following when you are choosing that infant toy:
1. Practicality- you want to make sure that the toy will be played with, and not bought because it was the "in" toy at the time. Stuffed toys are nice, but if baby has to many, half of them will never be played with.
2. Durability- Can this toy be dropped from a high chair or stroller without breaking? Will it stand up to lil' Emily's teething and drooling months? How will it handle in different climates? If it doesn't, let the word out and contact the Company with the problem.
3. Longeveity- Will this toy stand the test of time? I have toys from when I was little that have done this, and some that have cracked "under pressure", sort of speak.
LET'S GO SHOPPING
It's finally time to go an buy that infant toy! So, it's off to the Mall!
1. Budget- when shopping for the infant toy, keep in mind how much you want to spend on that child. If you do not keep a budget, then you may wind up spending over and beyond what you could truly afford. An average small infant toy costs between $5-$10, and the larger will cost you between $10-$20.
2. Comparison shop- check your Sunday Ads and use them to your advantage! Most places honor competitor's ads, so don't bother running around town, bring the ads you need to your favorite place to shop and relax while you save!
3. Second-hand- I LOVE to go to garage sales, but I have my limits and boundaries, EXPECIALLY on infant toys! DO NOT buy soft or cloth rattles, older toys, such as metal or wood ones, and anything with permanent marks. These toys are hazordous to the baby's health and well-being, avoid them at all costs. There are also second-hand stores which are much more careful of washing and weeding out the junk and unsafe toys.
NAME BRAND ALWAYS BEST?
Yes and no. I have found great toys with name brands, and other toys that are of a small company which are just as great. Name brand will always be more expensive, and usually have an excellent customer service to back it up as well. I feel that you can always rely on Fisher-Price, Little Tikes, Playskool, Sesame Street, and Disney products. Always make sure that even though Blue and Elmo are adorable, they are there to make the product CUTER, and not neccessarily the right toy to play with.
I hope that all of the information will help you choose the right infant toy for your special little one.
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