When people think baby toys, they do not often think of wooden toys. However, with a few precautions, there is no reason that one could not make a wooden toy for a baby. The great part about wooden toys is that they tend to last longer than plastic toys and can become treasured favorites in the years as they grow up. They may even be toys that they pass on to their children. Here are some things that one should think about when making a wooden toy for the baby.

1.Size. Babies are small. However, they manage to fit a lot of larger things in their mouths. When a baby is exploring his or her environment, they tend to taste everything. For this reason, the wooden toy must be big enough to not fit in the baby’s mouth. The wooden toy should not have any small parts that can be pulled off the toy since the baby might do that while playing with it. You do not want the baby to accidentally choke on the toy that was created to entertain him.

2.Coatings. As previously stated, babies tend to put everything in their mouths. They even tend to chew on things while teething. For this reason, one may wish to refrain from varnishing or painting the toy. If you do decide to paint or varnish the toy, be sure to use a non toxic coating and to check the toy frequently for damage to the coating. If the coating is beginning to chip off, it may be a good idea to remove the coating and reapply.

3. Materials. Be sure the wood is not pre-treated. Some of the pre-treated wood is sprayed or dipped with an arsenic type bug killer or a cyanide type treatment to help the wood to resist warping. This can be fatal to the baby if he or she swallows it. If you are creating a toy for the baby, consider using all natural wood. A soft wood is also a good idea because it will have some give to it if it is chewed and will not splinter like the hard wood would.

4. Shape. Make sure there are no pointed edges on the wooden toy before giving it to the baby. A pointed edge could easily injure the baby if he or she falls on it. To avoid this potentially dangerous situation, the wooden toy should have all the edges sanded down and all points should be sanded to a nice curve.

5. Make up. Most wooden toys have more than just wood on them. Often time’s people add things like eyes and hair to their wooden toys. This is a great idea, but you must be sure to frequently check these additions to the wood for damage. If the eyes or hair appear to be falling off, it may be a good idea to remove the accessory and replace it with new. This way the baby does not risk choking on a piece from the wooden toy.

Every child has toys which are dearest to them and even you as a child would have had toys that you enjoyed playing and having fun with. Millions of toys have been introduced into the market over the years but there remain a list of toys which have remained favorites among children for generations. We give you a list of baby toys that never seem to go out of fashion.

Puzzles – This is an all time favorite among kids. Puzzles need a child to put together different pieces in order to form the whole picture. Once a child starts building the puzzle, his or her curiosity level increases and they have a tendency to not leave the piece until they have finished with it. Apart from sharpening their mental abilities, the game also facilitates their intellectual development.

Ball – Be it a small plastic ball, rubber ball, football, baseball, etc., kids aren’t concerned with it. They want something rolling which they can kick around and have fun with. This is one of the few toys that are liked by every kid. Thus if you are running short of ideas on what to gift a child on his birthday, this may be an ideal gift to make him happy.

Stuffed Animals – Stuffed animals are classic kids toys that lend both elegance and flamboyance. Kids are always cuddly and they always wish to be under the protective care of someone. A stuffed toy such as a teddy bear or a dog is something which they love to take with them wherever they go. However while buying these make sure to buy ones which are soft material because often the constant proximity with the toy may lead to rashes on the child’s skin.

Cars and buses – Children love this kind of stuff. Though most kids prefer the electronic ones which they can control with a remote, it doesn’t mean that they are averse to the mechanical kind. However these can range from the very cheap to expensive and it is up to you to buy one depending on budget.

Toys of favorite cartoon characters – Barbie dolls are evergreen among girls while for boys, their most wanted character toy may change season by season. G.I.Joe, He-man and Spider man were my favorites when I was young and these were inspired by cartoon characters and the trend hasn’t changed in years.

Bath Toys – Kids love having toys around them which can float while they are having bath because playing in the water with these can be a lot of fun and excitement for them.

These are in general, toys that are liked by almost every kid and can be treated as a universal guide when it comes to buying baby toys.

A baby is a bundle of joy to us, and to ensure that this bundle is cheerful you need to provide him/ her with appropriate toys that keep him/ her gurgling with joy and also help in a holistic development of the mind and body.

Choosing the right kind of toy for your baby is thus of utmost importance. Baby toys are generally made of soft materials and/or virgin plastic so as to minimize the possibility of scratches, rash or cuts and abrasions to the tender skin of a baby. The baby toys are also, in general, of bright and contrasting colors so as to literally “catch the baby’s eye”. Many baby toys produce simple sounds on handling so as to capture the little owner’s attention. Specially made chewable toys are also available to help teething babies.

Before going for a baby toy you should always keep in mind the following safety measures to ensure your infant’s well being:

1. Material of the toy should not cause irritation or injury to the baby.
2. The toy should not have detachable parts upon which the baby could choke.
3. The material of the toy should not be carcinogenic.
4. The toys should be washable to ensure good hygiene.
5. It should be a product of an established manufacturer.

Once you have observed the aforesaid precautionary measure you will have to choose the suitable toy for your baby as per the age group. An infant till the age of a year passes through a varied number of stages that require an ever changing plethora of toys to suit their current needs. Following are the various stages in which your infant’s first year can be divided so as to give you the necessary information regarding when you need to buy what kind of toys.

o 0-1 Months: The baby with limited uses of his/her senses will prefer toys with bright contrasting colors. Rattles and soft toys could probably excite them more.

o 1-3 Months: A little more mature with motor skills, the baby will love toys that can be held and played with. Elastic and bendable plastic toys or soft toys with movable appendages are appreciated.

o 3-6 months: The baby is now starting to grow teeth, so the world is an exciting place where everything’s up for a bite! Chewy toys of plastic or rubber (not small enough to be swallowed), colorful stacking blocks and toys with complex sounds are a best bet to “buy” the attention of your baby.

o 6-9 Months: Babies are generally sitting up and trying to crawl by now, so colorful balls and movable toys which stimulate the baby to chase after them and in the process start to crawl, are the toys to be bought.

o 9-12 Months: Now the baby is on the move and desperately trying to grab hold of things to stand up and explore the vicinity. A four-wheel walker is the need of the hour. Apart from that, little complex shape recognition puzzles and building blocks can also be provided.

So, now that you know what to look for, when buying the right toy for your baby, its best that you go and get a reason of your bundle of joy to be cooing with delight!