Between birth and two years old, your baby will evolve at an extraordinary speed and each of their progress will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major milestones in their development and how to interact with them to help stimulate their awakening.
From their first weeks of life, all babies in the world play spontaneously: first with their own body and that of their mother or father, then with objects in their environment or with toys if they have them available. An essential prerequisite for all learning, play allows children to discover and appropriate the world, to exercise their new abilities, and to develop their intellect and imagination.
Provided they are adapted to your child's stage of development, toys are excellent tools for their development. Select them carefully: well-chosen, they will offer long hours of pleasure and discovery for your little one. In general, opt for quality, resistant materials that comply with child safety standards. Prefer bright colors, which are more attractive to little ones, and pay attention to the size and weight of the toys you offer your child: if they are too heavy or too large for their small hands, they will not be used. Finally, make sure to respect the minimum age indicated on the toys, especially for toddlers.
At every age, some toys are almost guaranteed to be a huge hit: discover with us these essentials for your baby's toy box!
0 to 4 months: discovering a new world
During their first months, your baby lies on their back and is not yet able to hold a toy in their hands. They gradually awaken by listening, touching, and observing their surroundings. You can offer them:
- A musical mobile attached to the bars of their bed, with small colorful figures that spin to a soft melody.
- A play mat with arches equipped with small hanging toys above them, which they can observe or tap with their hands and feet.
- A play gym to place in front of them in their bouncer or above them when they are lying down.
4 to 6 months: rattle time
Around 4 months, your baby finally manages to hold an object in their hand. Colors, textures, and sounds fascinate them: all objects to look at, manipulate, and chew on are suitable for this age! They will undoubtedly appreciate:
- Rattles and other small, easy-to-grasp toys that they can shake to make them jingle and put in their mouth. Choose them in various colors and materials to diversify your baby's experiences and renew their interest: wood, fabric, plush, filled with bells, beads, chimes, etc.
- A chain of small toys to attach to their stroller to distract them during walks.
- A teething ring to chew on, if teething starts to bother your baby.
6 to 12 months: hands-on play time
Your baby is sitting up. Well settled in their playpen or on their playmat and surrounded by their toys, they exercise all the abilities of their hands and mouth: they feel, pinch, pull, push, bite, suck... It's time to offer them:
- An activity board, with multiple buttons to pull, push, turn, mirrors, textures, sounds, and music... This multifunctional toy stimulates sight, hearing, and touch, and allows your child to understand cause and effect. A great classic for long moments of discovery!
- Musical toys that they can activate themselves.
- Fabric books with different textures to touch.
- Small soft plastic animals to entertain them during bath time.
- Around 8 months, separation anxiety appears. If they don't already have one, you can offer your baby a comfort object imbued with your scent to reassure them: this substitute object will quickly become an irreplaceable companion.
12 to 18 months: on the road to mobility
Your baby is taking their first steps : all toys that allow them to exercise this new mobility will be greatly appreciated. Their fine motor skills are also improving: they begin to build, stack, nest... only to break everything the next moment! You can give them:
- A walking cart that will help them stabilize and allow them to transport their toys.
- A ride-on toy in the shape of a truck, tractor, animal... This first "vehicle" gives them the ability to move around the house even if they are not yet comfortable on their own two feet. Opt for a model with multi-directional wheels, which is easier to maneuver.
- A push or pull toy, which will quickly become your little one's walking companion.
- Nesting or stacking games: colored plastic cubes or cups, shape sorter, stacking rings pyramid, etc.
- A first construction set, with large pieces that fit together easily.
- A picture book to flip through with your baby while naming the objects presented.
18 to 24 months: from baby to child
Your child is full of energy and loves movement. At the same time, their manual dexterity refines and their imagination develops as their language expands. They are progressing on all fronts simultaneously!
You can meet their different needs with:
- A rocking horse.
- First-age puzzles with a few large wooden pieces with a knob to grasp them.
- Very large beads to thread on a string.
- Large crayons or finger paint.
- A small musical instrument: piano, xylophone, maracas, etc.
- A wooden train set and/or small cars.
- Plastic animals.
- Board books.
2 to 3 years old: Imagination in power
Your child is bursting with creativity and their imagination is in full swing! It's time to provide them with tools to invent stories and give shape to their dreams:
- Washable markers or paint and brushes.
- Play-Doh.
- Games for "acting like grown-ups": play kitchen, shop, miniature kitchen, workbench, etc.
- Miniature worlds to imagine a thousand and one stories: farm, dollhouse, school, fire station, garage, etc.
- A baby doll or doll.
- A pirate, princess, hero, fairy, knight, doctor costume, etc.
- Storybooks to read together in the evening before falling asleep.
