Play Time
Tikiri Monkey Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00This cheeky little natural rubber monkey is a wonderfully safe and engaging multi-purpose toy for your little one. With an in-built rattle, it is safe for teething and is a...
Tikiri Teething Comforter Meiya the Mouse
$22.00Meiya the mouse is lovely and now here she is as a teething comforter, these are soft fabrics with a rubber teething head. Comforters are great for young children and...
Tikiri Teething Comforter Alvin the Elephant
$22.00Alvin the Elephant is adorable and now here he is as a teething comforter, these are soft fabrics with a rubber teething head. Comforters are great for young children and...
Bunnies By The Bay Cubby Bear Plush Toy
$26.00Lots of pacifiers lost? Say no more, this cute silly buddy will be the solution to this problem. Floppy, sloppy, silly and soft, this playful pacifier holding silly buddies, tie...
Jellycat Jellycat Odette Ostrich
$40.00Jellycat Odette Ostrich is the perfect special companion for your little one anywhere, with her silky feathers in a unique dusty pink, and her long fluffy legs, whether it is...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Koala
$28.00All the way from sunny Australia, it's Jellycat Bashful Koala! This cuddler from Down Under has the softest grey fur and flopsy limbs for bonza cuddles. A big, squidgy nose in...
Moulin Roty Moulin Roty Musical Toy Mimi The Mouse
$54.00Moulin Roty Musical Toy Mimi the Mouse is soft enough to cuddle to and has soothing music to enjoy. Helps in sensory development. This plush mouse is a musical sorcerer's...
Moulin Roty Moulin Roty Musical Toy Josephine The...
$50.00Moulin Roty Musical Toy Josephine the Whale is a musical plush from Olga’s Journey collection.Colorful and practical to hang on the crib with a pretty fastener, your baby will fall asleep...
LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething Ring Set Ginger Honey
$12.00LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething Ring Set Ginger Honey is lightweight and easy to grab and hold for soothing teething relief. Free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead, and cadmium. LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething...
LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething Ring Set Pastel
$12.00LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething Ring Set Pastel is lightweight and easy to grab and hold for soothing teething relief. Free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead, and cadmium. LouLou Lollipop Wild Teething Ring...
Lamaze Lamaze Colorful Journey Caterpillar
$16.00Embark on a sensory adventure with this adorable caterpillar pal! On one side, each accordion panel is bursting with bright colors, playful images, and exciting things to explore - like a...
Tikiri Butterfly Natural Rubber Toy
$18.00This super cute Tikiri Butterfly Rattle Toy from the Garden Friends Collection has come from the garden to provide comfort and joy for bath times and bedtimes. Each contains an enclosed...
Lamaze Lamaze Freddie the Firefly
$22.00A fascinating flyer to brighten their mind! Complete with a ladybug teether hidden in a pocket, knotted limbs to grab, and a large clip for on-the-go, Lamaze Freddie the Firefly is...
Lamaze Lamaze 3-in-1 Clip & Go Bear
$22.00This cuddly bear is full of surprises!It starts as an adorable plush bear with a big round face. But then, pull on its legs and - goodness! - there's a...
Bella Tunno Bella Tunno Happy Links Ombre
$15.00The Bella Tunno Happy Links set includes 5 links for teething playing and organizing. Attach them to the stroller, rocker, play gym, or carrier to bring the fun wherever you go. ...
Maileg Maileg Mini Dining Table Set Toy
$60.00Invite your friend for Sunday supper at the dining table. The set contains a round table and 2 metal chairs. Oval table measures 6.5" x 3.5" Chairs are 5" tall...
Jellycat Jellycat Fleury Petunia Soother
$25.00Jellycat Fleury Petunia Soother would like to invite you to a lazy garden party! Where? Right here on this fuzzy fur lawn! Jellycat Fleury Petunia Soother Details: Suitable from birth. 40 degree Celsius wash only;...
Jellycat Jellycat Fleury Daisy Soother
$25.00Jellycat Fleury Daisy Soother would like to invite you to a lazy garden party! Where? Right here on this fuzzy fur lawn! Jellycat Fleury Daisy Soother Details: Suitable from birth. 40 degree Celsius...
Jellycat Jellycat Blossom Bunny Dusky Blue
$18.00Jellycat Blossom Bunny is a popular fellow with scrummy-soft Jellycat fur and lovely long flopsy ears means that with just one cuddle, you’ll never want to let go. Irresistibly cute and...
Moulin Roty Rattle Comforter Sous Mon Baobab Elep...
$32.00From Under my Baobab Tree collection, this lovely and soft Moulin Roty Elephant Rattle Comforter Doll has long legs and arms for baby to grasp, a mane and whiskers to stroke and a...
Moulin Roty Rattle Comforter Sous Mon Baobab Giraffe
$32.00From Under my Baobab Tree collection, this lovely and soft Moulin Roty Giraffe Rattle Comforter Doll has long legs and arms for baby to grasp, long ears and a tail to...
Moulin Roty Rattle Comforter Sous Mon Baobab Lion
$32.00From Under my Baobab Tree collection, this lovely and soft Moulin Roty Lion Rattle Comforter Doll has long legs and arms for baby to grasp, a mane and whiskers to stroke and a...
Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Busy Ring Teething Activity Toy...
$14.00Teethe, Play & Explore! A sensory sensation, the Itzy Bitzy Busy Ring™ has all the love in the details with multiple features for the baby to explore. Textured teethers and...
Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Busy Ring Teething Activity Toy...
$14.00Teethe, Play & Explore! A sensory sensation, the Itzy Bitzy Busy Ring™ has all the love in the details with multiple features for the baby to explore. Textured teethers and...
Play is essential for children because it contributes to their intellectual, physical, emotional and social development. When children play, they exercise their creativity, develop their imagination, master their dexterity, improve their cognitive ability and build physical strength. Experts agree that the best kinds of play allow kids to set their own goals, negotiate challenges, develop and share ideas, and make their own rules.
But how can we make sure our kids are getting enough healthy, unstructured play time when they’re growing up in an overscheduled and stressful environment, when parents are overly focused on producing high academic achievers, and safety concerns prevent us from letting our kids roam around freely and unsupervised? Perhaps the best thing we can do for our kids is to make sure they have the right kinds of toys at home to make play time most rewarding.
First and foremost is safety. Safe toys for young children are sturdy, without sharp parts or splinters, free of pinching hazards, and easy to clean. If the toy will be used by an infant, it’s important that parts aren’t small enough to become a choking hazard.
Toys must be made from non-toxic materials and coated with lead-free paints. You should steer clear of antique toys, second-hand toys and homemade toys that have not been tested and approved by a certified testing lab, or may have been produced before the current regulations governing toy manufacturing were in effect.
In addition to being safe, a good toy will match the child’s appropriate stage of development and abilities.
The best baby activity toys for infants between 0-6 months are things they can reach, grasp, suck on, shake, and make noise with. Some age-appropriate toys for little babies are squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and board books.
Infants between 6-12 months are starting to crawl, sit up and pull themselves to a standing position. They are capable putting things in and out of containers and placing objects on top of each other. Some of the best baby activity toys for this age group are dolls, vehicles with wheels, bath toys, large beads, nesting toys, large soft blocks, wooden blocks, and push & pull toys.
As your child continues to grow, look for toys that will encourage them to explore, create, pretend, imagine, and learn from trial and error.