When shopping for toys, it can be hard to tell which ones will be age-appropriate for your baby. Here are some recommendations to help you choose toys that are appropriate for different stages of development.

When choosing toys for a child, the first thing to consider is what stage of development he or she is in. During the first two months of life, babies don’t need or want toys. But that doesn’t mean they’re not interactive at this age–in fact, it’s just the opposite! During these first two months, babies spend a lot of time watching and listening to the people around them.

Best Baby Toys 0-2 Months

During the first two months, your baby is learning a lot about how he or she interacts with the world. The best things you can do are hold and cuddle your baby, talk to him or her, smile at him or her, make eye contact with them and sing to them. Also read books out loud to them. They’ll love ‘Peek-a-boo’.

Best Baby Toys for 2 to 3 Months of Age

It’s around two to three months of age that most babies discover their hands. Holding and shaking things become a great source of entertainment. This is the start of development in gross motor skills.

Babies learn to manipulate their environment by touching, grasping and shaking things. The most important thing you can do to help your child develop these skills is to provide toys that encourage physical activity and that don’t contain small parts that could pose a choking hazard.

This is the time to introduce toys. Toys help babies understand that their actions—moving their hands, for example—have an effect on the environment. Fine motor skills are still a ways away, but this is where it all starts. The best toys for this age group are lightweight, soft and have no small, detachable parts.

When introducing a new toy or activity to your baby, watch for his or her reaction. By watching your baby’s reactions to each object and activity you introduce, you’ll learn to recognize the things that make your baby happy.

Best Baby Toys for 3 to 6 Months of Age

For babies this age, exploration means putting things to the test. They will bang objects against each other, and against their own bodies. They will also put objects into their mouths so keep this in mind when choosing your baby’s playthings. Some excellent toys for babies this age include:

• Lightweight balls
• Rattles
• Paper (crumpled or flat)
• Stacking toys
• Cardboard boxes
• Soft toys
• Tummy mats with bright color