Newborn babies are naturally entertained by the world around them and will quite happily lie and stare at a cot mobile, cuddly toy or other object for quite some time. By the time they get to about three months old however, babies will start trying to move around and explore and this is a great time to introduce activity toys to give them a sense of freedom before they are able to walk.

There are lots of different activity toys available for babies of different ages, the most popular being activity centers and mats, baby bouncers, rockers and swings and baby walkers. You should always check that the toy is suitable for the developmental age of your child. Activity toys usually come with recommended age ranges but you should also pay attention to requirements such as your baby being able to hold his head up unaided.

For young babies, activity mats are great. Babies will happily lie on these and play with the textures and toys on the mat. They are also good for ‘tummy time’ which helps to strengthen your baby’s neck so that he can support his head on his own. Mats come in all different styles from plain fabric mats to fancy styles with toys hung over them.

Bouncing chairs are also good for babies from birth and they find the movement very soothing. Baby swings are similar but usually more expensive and battery operated. Some chairs have an extra vibrating function which can be good if your baby will not go to sleep.

From three or four months you can start using a door bouncer which is great fun for babies and helps them to develop their leg muscles getting them ready for walking. These bouncers are inexpensive and can be used in any doorway of the suitable width.

These days, it seems as though there’s a plethora of baby toys out there that all claim to encourage your child’s intelligence, increase physical development and even encourage hidden talents to form and grow.

Kids’ cameras will be taken to a new level of sophistication with the launch of the Kidizoom 3D camera in 2011. Kidizoom Cameras from techno toy manufacturer VTech are the market leader when it comes to digital cameras designed especially for kids. There will be two brand new products added to the line up in the coming year, the Kidizoom 3D camera and the Kidizoom Twist camera. Read on to find out more about whether this unique kids 3D digital camera could turn out to be one of the best selling toys of 2011.

With a 2MP resolution, Kidizoom cameras may not be the most technologically advanced digital cameras around but they are made to be simple to operate whilst having a robust and durable exterior body with special rubberised grips and an innovative dual eyepiece which means they are easy for kids to use with the capability to withstand many drops and scrapes.

The Kidizoom camera range now consists of an entry-level digital camera in pink or blue and a hand-held digital camcorder in pink or blue. They have become extremely popular in recent years, consistently topping the best selling toys chart. With the new addition of the 3D and Twist models, the success is set to continue.

The VTech Kidizoom 3D digital camera is most certainly the stand-out model; kids will simply love the idea of being able to shoot 3D photos and movie. It is slightly more advanced than previous Kidizoom models, aimed at children aged 5 years and upwards. There is a distinctive and innovative twin-lens design that enables it to shoot in 3D, together with a handy 3D-2D swap button that allows you to switch the camera back to shoot in standard definition if you wish. You can watch your 3D creations on the built-in 3.1-inch LCD screen or by hooking the camera up to a standard definition TV or PC monitor, you will be able to view your creations in 3D with the glasses provided even if you do not have a 3D TV.

The Kidizoom 3D digital camera is sure to take the toy market by storm when it is launched later in 2011. To keep up to date with the latest toy news and reviews and find out more about the Top Toys of 2011, click the links below.