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!

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