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Top parenting stories this week
Best Baby Toys
Encourage learning and development with these top five toys for babies and toddlers
by: Nancy Ripton
In This Article
Top Five Baby Toys
- Limiting the number of toys your child has access to gives her a chance to figure them out without just bouncing from one toy to the next.
- Most must-have toys can be introduced at age one or younger so your child can adapt her play with them as she grows.
- Basic building blocks are ideal–the more flexibility in a toy, the longer your child will be interested in it.
- Instead of buying a lot of different animals, get your child a mommy, daddy and baby animal from the same breed to help foster roll play.
- Crayons and paper are one of the best ways for your little one to express her creativity.
T
here's a fine balance between having enough toys to stimulate your child and suddenly finding your home overtaken with clutter. The good news? Less is more when it comes to toys."When children have too many toys, they bounce from one to the next and gain no appreciation for them," says Peter Emmenegger, owner of Inquisitive Kid, an on-line natural toy and furniture store. "Limiting selection helps them stay with each toy longer and really figure it out."
The best solution is to invest in items that will be used over time. Look for quality toys, made with natural materials that will hold up after lots of playtime. Most must-have toys can be introduced at age one or younger and your child can adapt her play with them as she grows. Keep your child busy without turning your home into a Toys R' Us by keeping these five essential items on hand:1. An all-natural doll (Age: from birth) 
A natural doll or plush animal is comforting to the touch and will help with sensory development. From a few months, a baby will be able to cuddle and chew on natural towel dolls (such as the Comforter Brown Zmooz seen here).
As she grows, your child can use the doll as a sleeping companion and playmate to mimic what she sees going on around her. Emmenegger suggests buying a toy that is as unfinished as possible: "Lack of expression on a doll adds to the imagination."
