Stimulate, Engage, and Soothe Your Newborn
Welcoming a newborn into your home is a beautiful, exciting time, and finding the right toys can help stimulate your baby’s development while creating moments of bonding and joy. In these first few months, your baby takes in their surroundings, and toys that engage their senses are invaluable. Below, I’ve rounded up some of the best toys for 0-3 month-olds—perfect for helping them explore their new world.
1. High-Contrast Toys
Newborns can see best when objects are close to their face, especially items with bold, contrasting colors. Black-and-white soft books provide visual stimulation, introducing them to shapes and patterns.
- We love this high-contrast folding soft book that includes a mirror! Great for tummy time.
- These high-contrast flashcards are great for stimulation on the go! Easy to pack in your bag.
- My baby loved these hanging high-contrast rattle toys! We hung them from his play gym and car seat. He continued to enjoy playing with them hanging on the play gym while sitting up!
2. Rattles with Soft Sounds
Rattles are great for helping babies develop auditory awareness. Look for ones that are soft and gentle, with a light, rattling sound that won’t startle them. These also help improve their grasp reflex when they’re ready to start reaching.
- We love the O Ball rattle and its family of toys! Their design makes it easier for learning hands to grip and feel rewarded instead of frustrated.
- We’re big Little Einstein fans in this house. We love this colorful, sensory teether and rattle! Always at a great price too!
- High-contrast soft rattle socks are a blast! Baby will love kicking and making music.
3. Baby Gym or Play Mat
A play gym with hanging toys encourages tummy time and helps build motor skills as your baby reaches and kicks. Opt for mats with various textures and colors to stimulate both touch and sight.
- We were able to get the coveted Lovevery Play Gym secondhand and it was great! If you want to save some money, and still get all the same benefits of the Lovevery Play Gym, I would recommend this Play Gym which includes more hanging toys and high-contrast cards.
- The Fisher Price play mat with a kicking piano is another great option that gives you more use as your little one ages. It can modify and stay a favorite toy as they sit and crawl.
- Got a small space? This foldable, wooden play gym is perfect! It gives your baby the same simulation while saving space. Plus it’s much easier than the others to move around the house or travel with!
4. Crinkle Toys
Crinkle toys are lightweight and easy for newborns to grip. The crinkly sound stimulates their sense of hearing, while the bright colors and textures provide visual and tactile stimulation.
- Our baby’s favorite crinkle toy is this Bright Starts elephant, which we lovingly named Mr. Crinkles. It has a loop on the back that you can use a pacifier clip to attach anywhere safely! We connect him to our stroller strap.
- Soft, crinkle books, like this one, or this set, are great! They’re fun to read for story time, but also a wonderful sensory, toy teething toy!
- Itzy Ritzy toys have been our baby’s favorite- especially for hanging toys! These Itzy Lovey animals offer so much for a great price.
5. Soft Mirrors
Babies love looking at faces, including their own! A soft, baby-safe mirror can entertain them while encouraging visual tracking and self-recognition.
- The high-contrast folding soft book that includes a mirror is a wonderful option!
- If you love the Itzy Ritzy toys, like we do then this cow with a tummy mirror is perfect! Fun to use for tummy time, offers sensory play, and is a cute stuffed animal friend to keep for years.
- This Bright Starts mirror is the classic option. Props up for tummy time and can fold up.
6. Teething Toys
Though many babies don’t start teething until later, some infants enjoy gumming on soft teething rings from a young age. Make sure to choose a soft, easy-to-hold option that’s safe for their gums. Bonus: it starts to build their feeding skills by bringing items to their mouth.
- My baby’s absolute favorite teething toy is the teething straw! Lightweight, easy to hold, and helps teach mouth mapping.
- My favorite teething toy has been these over-the-hand-style silicone chicks! They have been a great thumb-sucking deterrent.
- Another Itzy Ritzy favorite, is this teething ring and rattle. You can use a pacifier clip to attach anywhere safely!
7. Activity Balls
Soft activity balls with different textures encourage your baby to explore with their hands and mouth. They are easy for little hands to grasp and can help improve hand-eye coordination as they start to grasp and reach.
- We love the O Ball and its family of toys! Their design makes it easier for learning hands to grip and feel rewarded instead of frustrated.
- Dubbed the “science ball” in our home, we love this teething, rattle, ball!
- A soft fabric ball offering lots of textures and crinkle is a must! Plus this one is machine washable.
Choosing the Right Toys for Your Baby
Remember, babies develop at their own pace, and each toy offers unique benefits. Rotate toys to keep things fresh and observe what engages your baby the most. Creating a stimulating environment with just a few key items is a wonderful way to help them grow and explore their surroundings.
Hope this guide to the best toys for 0-3 month-olds helps you make special memories with your little one!
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