Playing is not just a moment of relaxation for the child, it is above all about working his mind and creativity. The game is therefore essential to its fulfillment and development. There is therefore no need to overload him with so-called “useful” activities or with too sophisticated toys, it is important to respect his rhythm and his needs.

Difficult to sort through all the toys offered in the store. With so many choices, parents quickly find themselves lost in the face of the shelves. However, there are a few large families of toys more or less adapted to each age. But beware, these lists are not absolute science. By getting to know your child, you will discover their preferences and can adapt these tips to their tastes and interests:

• From 1 to 4 months: baby discovers the world around him and more particularly the colors and the sounds. He also likes to touch and feel the differences in textures and materials. This is the ideal period to offer him a rattle, easy to grab (a wide handle is therefore particularly suitable) and offering, why not, differences to the touch. The mobiles suspended above his cradle are also toys very suitable for this age. With colorful characters, animals, etc., and soft, soothing music, these toys are perfect for keeping baby busy and entertained;
• From 5 to 8 months: at this age, his sense of touch is awakened. He likes to scratch, manipulate and press on objects. It is therefore time to install it on a play mat offering different textures and characters to whet your curiosity. You can also give him more sophisticated rattles, which will offer noises and lights;
• From 9 to 12 months: from 9 months, babies love to move and drop their toys. It is therefore preferable to offer him things that do not break and are washable: rubber figures, soft toys, cubes, etc. Abacuses and other spiral toys allowing the child to move shapes along axes are also appreciated by children of this age;
• From 12 to 18 months: your baby is beginning to take his first steps or at least to stand up. Rolling toys and walking carts are therefore recommended to give him self-confidence and help him gain confidence. Sitting down, he also likes to stack cubes and boxes, and place certain shapes in their containers;
• From 18 to 24 months: once walking, the baby needs to exercise. He runs, jumps and likes to make noise, but he especially enjoys pulling objects. Give him an animal on wheels hanging on a string and he will be very happy. To occupy him in his quiet moments, wooden puzzles and books are also very suitable.

If parents like order and storage, this is not the case at all for babies who prefer to be surrounded by all their toys. Still, to reconcile the two and not feel overwhelmed by all of his games, you can encourage him to help you tidy up but never punish him or make him a threat. If he perceives tidying up as a constraint, the child will tend to refuse to submit to it spontaneously the following times. On the contrary, make this moment a game and try to think about placing the different objects within his reach to develop his curiosity and his autonomy.

While mandatory standards are increasingly stringent and safer, there are some dangers associated with children’s toys. First, always make sure that the game is suitable for your baby’s age. Otherwise, small parts could be ingested by the little ones who like to put all objects in their mouths. Second, remove toys damaged by the child which could now turn out to be sharp or injurious.

Finally, before any use, it is better to let the toy air out to eliminate the odors of toxic solvents, wash fabric objects, and favor natural and untreated and / or organic materials.

Choosing the toys for your child should not leave anything to chance. To please him and stimulate his senses, respect his needs and age and never leave him unattended.