Looking for a birth gift or to stimulate your baby's senses? This article is for you! To accompany them in their discovery of the world around them, nothing better than early learning games. Here is our pick of the 20 best baby toys and activities!
The first few months of a child are the most important. It is during this period that babies discover the world around them, and develop their senses. This essential awakening period is facilitated by games, toys and family activities. Dolls, soft toys, books, jigsaw puzzles, walkers, rattles, all these objects help baby discover animal noises, colors, shapes and participate in the development of his motor skills. In wood, plastic or fabric, large or small, there is something for every price. Here is our list of the best toys to accompany baby in his first steps!
1. Games that stimulate motor skills
- Bamtry play and play mat
A waterproof and colorful play mat that allows baby to have fun while discovering animals. Regardless of their age, your child will be able to play with their toys as well as with their cars since the mat is reversible! Foldable, it can be easily stored once baby has finished playing.
Available on Amazon.
- Sauthon's rattle-plush whale
Entirely made of velvet and poplin, this plush little rattle whale is so soft that baby will never let go. From birth your child will be able to sleep with his rattle, shake him when he wants to play! This activity toy will stimulate their curiosity and their motor skills.
Available at Berceau Magique.
- Nature & Découverte's walking cart
How to stimulate baby's motor skills if he / she isn't walking? The wooden walking cart is the solution! With him, baby will discover the world around him on his own two feet. The handles adapt to the age and size of the child for better support. Once the first steps are over, baby can finally have fun with the many activities: mirror, box of shapes, storage bin for stuffed animals and games of all kinds, all in relation to the animals he is likely to meet during a walk in the woods.
Available on Nature & Découvertes.
- Vilac's red metal carrier car
To stimulate the motor skills and muscles of baby's legs, carriers are essential. With this bright red racing car, your child will go from novelty to novelty. This Vilac racing car will accompany children in their first steps! With this metal toy, Lewis Hamilton's succession is assured!
Available on La Redoute.
2. Learn and play with music
- Hape's musical tumbling penguin
With this Hape wooden activity penguin, children will discover sounds and have fun with this waddling toy. Very light, this penguin is however not recommended for babies under 6 months. Very important, the safety of the toy is tested by the manufacturers! With Hape, Love play Learn.
Available on Amazon.
- Djeco baby Rainy rain stick
The soothing colors and sounds of the Djeco rain stick captivate baby. With the colorful beads and patterns, this beech wood rattle will become an essential companion. In addition to stimulating hearing through music, this toy stimulates motor skills. A 2-in-1 awakening game!
Available on Magic Cradle
- Vilac musical awakening set
This Vilac musical awakening set is made up of 3 wooden musical instruments: a tambourine, a maraca and a rattle. It will allow toddlers to discover music with toys. Decorated and suitable for small hands, these instruments can be used from the age of 18 months.
Available on La Redoute
- Lilliputiens Musical Activity Cube
Full of color and playful, this musical awakening cube accompanies babies in their discovery of animal noises. The different textures, the bright colors, the different activities will develop his imagination, his thinking and his motor skills. The various accessories (teething ring, mirror, colored labels, hidden objects, animal sounds, pull-along toy) will keep baby entertained for several hours!
Available on Magic Cradle
3. Activities that stimulate thinking and curiosity
Full of colors and stackable pieces, this buildable everything is not trivial. Baby will have to stack the pieces and cubes in the correct order for the mouse to climb his ladder, the cat to hello and the snail to move forward. This set is an ideal first building toy for ages 18 months and up!
Available on Amazon
- Janod's Baby Forest cube pyramid
This construction game, made up of 6 wooden stackable cubes, will encourage baby to develop coordination, thinking and observation skills. Each side of a cube is illustrated on a different theme: animals, numbers, shapes, colors, objects. From 12 months baby will be able to play and stack the cubes but in the right order!
Available on Amazon
- Vertbaudet built-in puzzle
A great classic of our childhood, the puzzle is making a comeback. This brightly shaped and colorful wooden puzzle is made of thick pieces that are easy to handle! From 12 months, baby thus develops his thinking, his dexterity, and his knowledge of animals. The 9 thick pieces can also be built in or used as toys.
Available on Vertbaudet
- Little Dutch wooden shape box
With its different animals, the Little Dutch wooden shape box is a puzzle game that will keep baby busy. The different openings will force your child to think and find the right combinations to fit each of the pieces inside the cube. From 12 months, children will be able to recognize shapes, colors, animals, etc.
Available on Magic Cradle
4. The book, the best way to make them dream
- Sophie la Girafe activity book
A great friend of our childhood, Sophie the giraffe is also known to babies. The Sophie la Girafe brand awakening book will engage your child's many senses thanks to the many activities and textures to discover. Each page is illustrated with a different number, which will prepare them for entering school. Easy to grip, baby can carry it everywhere!
Available on Magic Cradle
- Vtech's Baby Surprise Book
This animated book by VTech and its 6 interactive pages will arouse baby's curiosity. 3 buttons to discover animals, objects, colors and songs. This book will also allow your child to stimulate his sense of touch with the elephant's head and its rustling paper ears. If you want to take it on a mop, no worries! The tether ring allows it to be attached to the bars of the bed or a stroller. 4 songs, 20 melodies and nothing but laughter!
Available on Amazon
- Snow Babies, Cajole me!
Because animals fascinate children, this book illustrated by Maëlle Cheval presents the baby animals of the ice floe. Polar bear, baby seal or little fox are the characters that will accompany baby in his discovery of the ice floe. From a collection of books, Snow Babies develops the sense of touch and stimulates language
Available on Amazon
This small illustrated book full of colors allows children to discover the sounds of animals. Just press the chip and the animals cry out! Dog, cat, duck, rabbit, guinea pig and pony, it's all there! Simple colorful, and strong, baby can take it anywhere.
Available on Amazon
5. Bath toys
- 12 sprinkler marine animals
This set of 12 plastic bath toys gives baby the chance to express his boundless imagination. On the theme of the sea, your child will feel like Poseidon! Your child's little hands will be able to easily grab hold of these funny spray animals thanks to their mini size. With the storage case, you can carry them everywhere!
Available on Amazon
- The crazy pipes, Sophie la Girafe
With Sophie la Girafe's crazy tips, the baths will never have been so crazy! Thanks to the 3 suction cups, they hang on the wall of the bathtub or shower. From 12 months, baby can then learn the cause and effect system, improve his motor skills and, above all, have fun!
Available on Vertbaudet
- VTECH- Super Siege 2 in 1
This interactive 2-in-1 bath seat is completely secure with its 4 suction cups and removable activity board. During the bath, baby to have fun with the many toys at his disposal: pranking frog, illuminated button in the shape of animals, etc. With the 70 phrases, songs and melody, your child will be able to learn to count. Little more, the sound volume is adjustable and the seat is equipped with an automatic shutdown.
Available on Amazon
- Vertbaudet fox bath cap and glove set
It is not just early learning games that stimulate baby. Clothes are also a good way to keep them entertained. Bathrobes have never been so soft thanks to this Fox bath cape and matching washcloth! The must ? The little hood and the little fox ears.
Available on Vertbaudet
Awakening in children is necessary from an early age. The sole purpose of these activities is to help your child develop his skills and senses: motor skills, dexterity, hearing, sight and touch. They teach him everything that is necessary to build himself.
Choosing a gift for a baby is never easy. We don't know what will please him, if the toy will amuse him, scare him and especially if it is suitable for his age. Here is a list of important things to keep in mind before buying a baby activity toy:
– the age : the most important criterion. Check the box for the age recommended by the suppliers. Also check for small parts, kids love to put things in their mouths, so be careful!
– Utilisation facility : the toy should be easy to use. The often young child should be able to have fun.
– The opinions : Before you start buying an early learning toy, be sure to check the reviews of other parents to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Even if baby cannot read and cannot yet understand the meaning of stories, toddler books exist and are very useful! Cardboard or full fabric items are ideal – it can turn the page and put the book in his mouth safely. The best is to opt for books with textured pages; contrasts and different materials allow baby to develop baby's touch.
The world of childcare is a real market. Many brands compete with each other. Some manage to stand out. Among them we find Dejco, Janod, Haba, Vilac, Hape, Lilliputiens, Vertbaudet, Sophie la Girafe …