Toy and Baby

Q: My baby is 5 weeks old. What kind of toy and baby things are right for a young baby?

A: Good for you for asking about this! What a fabulous parent you are.

Many people think their newborn baby can't "do" anything but in fact, they are learning at an extremely rapid pace every day.

Right after birth she can recognize her mother's voice, and even turn her head towards you when you are talking.

Contrary to popular belief, infants can see fairly well within the first few weeks, as long as the object is between 8 to 12 inches from their face. This is the right distance.

It is so nice to know that when you are breastfeeding, they really are gazing up at you!

In terms of the right toys for your baby, black & white toys are best before infants are about three months old. That is not to say that colored toys are bad, but infants just can't see color very well until about 3 months old.

Young babies can still enjoy the contrasts of colored toys and your baby will love to see different shapes and hear different noises too. My kids always love those colorful crinkly sounding toys.

By the way, don't be afraid to play with your new baby! Sing and talk to her as much as you can, and play everyday. Have fun!

For more ideas on what activities you can do with your young baby, please visit this great site: Little Kids' Games Online

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