Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
Toys are not just entertaining but can be educational too. Kids of all ages love toys. Today, there are toys specifically designed for each age group. Yes, these toys are designed keeping multiple factors in mind. There are multiple toys for multiple uses, and it can be confusing to pick the right ones. In this article we discuss the various options for toys for 2 month old baby and how your little one can benefit from them.
Toys are a way to teach kids to think, understand as well as improve their motor skills. When you give them the right toy for the right age, it can do wonders for their overall development. Toys don’t have much use for a newborn baby. When the baby is around 2 months of age, they start showing interest and can hold some toys too. They are ready for toys.
In This Article
A 2 month old will keep sleeping most of the day. So, a few minutes of playtime during their awake windows will help. Stop once the baby loses interest and starts showing sleep cues. Playing during such times will lead to overstimulation.
Do not extend the play time for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch. This includes tummy time. Slowly stretch the time if your baby seems to want it and is not tired yet. On the contrary, if your baby gets overstimulated, it reduces the playtime.
Parents are bound to receive a few rattles and light and musical toys as gifts after your baby arrives. You may start using the rattles and other handy toys to calm down a crying baby during diaper change and other such times.
You can start buying toys when your baby starts looking around, observing and paying attention to their surroundings. This can happen when they are around 2 months old.
Here are 6 important factors you need to consider when you are buying toys for a 2 month old baby.
Baby’s skin is very tender and can bruise easily. Ensure the toys have a smooth texture without any rough or sharp edges that can hurt them. Babies don’t know to use the toys properly, so the toy must be smooth and safe all around.
Babies will mouth everything. The toy must be big without any tiny parts that can separate and get dislodged in their throats. At the same time, if they are too big, they can smother the baby as they cannot take things off their face.
Having variety can not only keep your baby entertained but can also act as new sensory stimuli (light, music, texture). See what your baby likes more and you can buy more of it if you want to add to their toys collection.
Babies will try to hold, shake and play with all things. Their grips are not strong yet and they will drop items. Light weight toys are easy to lift, hold, and won’t hurt your baby if dropped on themselves too.
Babies will play with anything you give them as they are curious, and everything is new. Giving them age-appropriate toys will stimulate them the right way and aid in their development.
You may not hesitate to spend money on your baby but remember you will be buying plenty of toys as they grow, and your baby will break most of them. The cost of the toy does not determine its value or usability. Everything is new and interesting for your baby. So buy only those that fit within your budget.
Some toys you can buy for a 2 month old are:
Teething toys can be firm yet safe for your baby’s tender gums. Just what they need to chew on as the gums start getting ready to sprout teeth. Though they are called teething toys, you can use them for your baby even before the gums show teeth. It can help in more ways than just during the teething phase.
Skill Development | Benefits |
Oral Motor Skills Development |
Oral motor skills include the movement of the facial muscles such as the mouth, the jaw, the tongue, the lips and the cheeks. Toys such as teethers provide the right path for children to the sensory world and prepare them for complex tasks such as feeding. |
Foundation For Learning Speech Sounds | These motions help to lay the foundation for learning speech sounds as babies begin to babble while learning to say their first words, “mamama” and “dadada” and “bababa.” |
As your baby grows, they start listening to the noises around them. A 2 month old will love music and any noise. Everything is new and piques their curiosity. Feeding this curiosity is very important for their brain development.
Skill Development | Benefits |
Hearing Development | They learn to recognize sounds and differentiate the sources. They will react to loud noises, be soothed by soft noise or your voice and turn towards the sound. |
Visual Tracking Skills | Visual tracking refers to moving the eyes without turning the head fully. Placing a musical toy next to them will encourage them to move their eyes in that direction and find the source of the noise. |
[Read : Baby Hearing Development After Birth]
You can hold these toys in your hand and shake them in front of your baby. The vibrant colours and the rattling noise can calm down a hysterically crying baby. They are easy to carry along. You can stash away a few in your bag or car for emergencies too.
Skill Development | Benefits |
Fine Motor Skill Development | Fine motor skills refer to the use of the small muscles in the hands and wrists. Giving something to hold and shake will help develop their grip and hand movement. |
Learns Cause and Effect | It refers to associating an action with an immediate effect. Babies will learn hitting or shaking the rattle will make noise. |
[Read : Baby’s Fine Motor Skill Development ]
Your 2 month old can see some distance now and can also make out a few colors. Toys and items in bright hues will be very attractive for babies. Though they don’t understand colors yet, they can start realizing the different colors and will gravitate towards a few shades.
Skill Development | Benefits |
Vision Stimulation | Bright colors can hold the baby’s attention and stimulate their vision. Moving colorful toys in their line of sight can develop visual acuity. |
Color Recognition |
Babies can recognize different colors. These toys can lay the foundation for learning the identification of and naming colors. |
Identify Issues With Vision | If your baby is not able to shift their gaze from one bright object to the other or is not able to track the movement of objects, it indicates a possible issue with vision development. |
[Read : When Do Babies Start Seeing Colors?]
Yes, even babies need such toys. Babies can get bored, agitated or irritated easily. Calming toys can reassure a baby and reduce their anxiety. Some babies need help to calm down, once overly stimulated.
Skill Development | Benefits |
Reduce Stimulation | Overstimulation can throw a baby’s developing senses out of balance, causing them to become unsettled. Reducing the stimulation can calm them down and rekindle the senses. |
Provide Comfort | Babies require comfort and soothing when feeling sleepy or agitated. This helps in the healthy development of emotional intelligence. |
Babies love small items – toys or not. Providing the right toys that are safe for them can help them develop new skills without any harm. It will teach a baby to play on their own, explore, and understand various concepts as they grow.
Read Also: Toys For 3 Month Old Baby – Types, Benefits and What to Buy
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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