My baby really loves to play. From the time Luka was 2 months old the more he could get into his hands the better. My biggest issues, in the beginning, were finding toys that were light enough he could actually hold to practice his grip, and would also enjoy looking at.
The toy that made the biggest breakthrough in Luka feeling comfortable grasping and reaching was the Oball. The Oball is very light to the point that if your baby hits him/herself in the head they will be fine. The Oball comes in several varieties (including a football shape with rattle) and is easy to wash so you won't have to worry about your baby putting it near its mouth. Once Luka was a bit older and could handle a heavier toy we introduced the Winkel. Luka loves grasping the Winkel with both hands and tugging on the little loops.
When we wanted to give Luka the chance to help develop motor skills and some supervised independence, our pediatrician recommend a baby gym with charms the baby could bat at to help aid in opening his hands. The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick n Play is wonderful. This baby gym grows with the baby and the keyboard flips up once the baby is sitting. I must also admit the featured song "The Animals Play all Day" is addictive. If you check the reviews for this item on the Fisher-Price website you will see posts from parents asking for the lyrics to that song. For time-saving I will post a printer friendly version of the lyrics below. Since the charms that come with the baby gym are a little too high for young babies I recommend the Bright Starts Lots of Links. I actually linked up his Oball and connected it to the arch of the gym when I needed completely hands free time for housework etc. Also when you are on the go the links are great for connecting toys to car seats, strollers, and even baby carriers.
Luka loves anything soft, that can give comfort. I wanted a toy that fit that description but also would help with motor skills as well. The Sassy Go Go Bugs are a huge hit! Each little bug offers a different sensation for your baby. One bug makes a rattling sound, another has crinkle paper in it and the third a little bell. Each attachable is easy to move and provides great visual and auditory stimulation for babies. An added bonus is they wash well, we wash ours in little mesh garment bags and air dry. The First Years First Rattle and the Infantino Discover and Play Soft Blocks provide visual stimulation for your baby and are really safe distractions during diaper changes. Luka's go-to item for comfort is his Gund Baby Bubbles Elephant, he will not put it down! The plush toy has these wonderful bean bag feet I just adore that help it stand up but also offer stimulation to the baby. The giant ears are easy for the baby to grab and it is very lightweight.
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