Best newborn baby toys 2024
Are you expecting? Or know someone who is? Or perhaps a baby has arrived and you want to treat the little bundle of joy. It can be overwhelming preparing for the pitter patter of tiny feet so here’s my rundown of the best newborn toys for any baby shower wishlist.
Sensory/ tactile toy
This one’s an exciting one – it’s going to be your child’s first teddy! Ideally you want a soft toy suitable for newborns with lots of textures. The Fidget Caterpillar or Salty Sam Activity Toy from Lamaze fits the bill. I used the mermaid activity toy from Mama and Papas for my little one as it chimed and crinkled on the fin, while the hair tickled my baby’s little fingers.
Baby gym
I tried to fight this one as they’re a fair bit of money but baby gyms really do set your baby up for movement and give them great opportunities for independent, curious play – something you desperately want when they’ve been lying on you for hours on end. Please don’t be tempted by the dull, beige ones you can buy with three dangly toys. You want high contrast black and white for clear images for newborns like the Kinderkraft 4Smart Contrasting Sensory Mat – or bright colours to appeal to baby eyes from 16 weeks like the Fisher Price 3-in-1 Rainforest Sensory Gym.
Sleep toy
Ewan the Sheep was my best friend when I was a new parent. He offers different recordings to soothe your newborn back to sleep like a womb-mimicking heartbeat, vacuum cleaner, rainfall and gentle harp lullaby. Not only did my daughter benefit, but it lulled us parents back to sleep too – and we actually struggled with sleep when she moved into her own room. Other popular sleeping aids are Ollie the Owl and the less cuddly Tommee Tippee Dreammaker.
Teether toy
Well, you know it’s going to be useful at some point – especially as plenty of children are teething before the six month mark. There’s two big teethers on the market: Sophie the Giraffe and Matchstick Monkey. Both come in gift sets with added toothbrushes or rattles etc (a must-have for baby shower wishlists).
High contrast baby books
Newborns’ colour perception is limited to black, white and grey, because their eyes aren’t fully developed at birth. As a result, babies love to look at high contrast, black and white images, which stand out in their blurry worlds. Research has proven that they register strongly on a baby’s retina which sends stronger signals to their brain and encourage it to grow. My advice: buy a concertina book. If you set it up along a change mat, it’s a great way to keep your newborn entertained. Just put them nearby – they can only see between 20-30cm away.
Bath toy thermometer
Since the day we got this giraffe thermometer from Amazon, we’ve called it ‘giraffey bathy’ – and over two years later, it’s still going strong. More bath toys will become available at the six month mark but for now, you just need something the baby can practise holding – and keeping the bath water at the right temperature is a great plus.
Rattle
Rattles are great for early brain development: babies notice that as they move their hands, the rattle sounds, and start linking cause and effect. They also work on the baby’s fine motor skills by encouraging different types of grasping and shaking skills. You can have them on wristbands, as maracas or with colourful beads the baby can watch. I recommend a variety – as long as they’re safe for newborns.
Bouncer (or infant-to-toddler rocker)
Bouncers are the must-have place to put your newborn when they’re awake and not on your lap. By having some dangly toys, they also hold the newborn’s attention and encourage interaction in those early days – so obviously you have to get one, right? Erm, no. If you can afford Baby Bjorn’s latest model, well done you but cheap brands like the ones I used didn’t cut the mustard. I much preferred infant-to-toddler rockers which come with sensory toys. Some even have vibrate functions to encourage newborn sleep which – speaking from experience – is a lifesaver.
Easy grasp baby ball
I got one of these for my firstborn and it was the first toy she ever played with – I hung it from her rocker bar and she used to hit it like a pinata. Over two years later, it’s still a mainstay in her toybox – only now we use it for throwing and catching. The large holes make it a great toy for learning to grip and grab and it’s nice and light to appeal to baby’s newborn strength.
You
Yes, I know it’s cliched but you really are your baby’s most valuable toy – so don’t feel under pressure to splash the cash in the early days. Even as newborns, babies want to learn about the world around them – so any activities out and about are brilliant. Or you can pull funny faces at your baby as they love to look at your face. Just by being there, you are teaching your child how to have their needs met and how this new world works.
