Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each milestone will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to communicate with them to help stimulate their learning.
From their first weeks of life, all babies around 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 any available. An essential prerequisite for all learning, play allows children to discover and make the world their own, to practice their new abilities, and to develop their intellect and imagination.
Provided they are appropriate for your child's developmental stage, toys are excellent tools for their learning. Select them carefully: well-chosen toys will offer your little one hours of fun and discovery. Generally, opt for quality materials that are durable and meet child safety standards. Choose bright colors, which are more appealing to young children, and pay attention to the size and weight of the toys you offer: if they are too heavy or too big for small hands, they won't be used. Finally, be sure to respect the minimum age indicated on the toys, especially for toddlers.
At every age, certain toys are almost guaranteed to be a big hit: discover with us these essentials for your baby's toy box!
0 to 4 months: discovering a new world
During the first few months, your baby lies on their back and is not yet able to hold a toy. They gradually awaken by listening, touching, and observing their environment. You can offer them:
- A musical mobile hanging from the bars of his bed, with small colored figurines that rotate to a soft melody.
- An activity mat with arches equipped with small toys hanging above him, which he can observe or tap with his hands and feet.
- A play structure to place in front of him in his deckchair or above him when he is lying down.
4 to 6 months: the time for rattles
Around 4 months old, your baby will finally be able to hold an object in their hand. Colors, textures, and sounds fascinate them: all objects to look at, manipulate, and chew are suitable for this age! They will undoubtedly enjoy:
- Rattles and other small, easy-to-grasp toys that your baby can shake to make them jingle and put in their mouth. Choose them in a variety of colors and materials to diversify your baby's experiences and keep them interested: wood, fabric, plush, adorned with rattles, beads, bells, etc.
- A chain of small toys to attach to his stroller to distract him during walks.
- A teething ring to chew on, if teething starts to bother your baby.
6 to 12 months: time for hand games
Your baby can sit up. Snug in their playpen or on their playmat and surrounded by toys, they are developing all the skills of their hands and mouth: they feel, pinch, pull, push, bite, suck… Now is the time to offer them:
- An activity board with multiple buttons to pull, push, and turn, mirrors, textures, sounds, and music… This multifunctional toy stimulates sight, hearing, and touch, and helps your child understand cause and effect. A classic for hours of discovery!
- Musical toys that he can activate himself.
- Fabric books with different textures to touch.
- Small soft plastic animals to entertain him during bath time.
- Around 8 months, separation anxiety appears. If your baby doesn't already have one, you can offer them a cuddly toy 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 doing his first steps Any toys that allow him to practice this newfound mobility will be greatly appreciated. His fine motor skills are also improving: he's starting to build, stack, and fit things together… only to break everything the next moment! You can give him:
- A walker that will help him stabilize himself and allow him to carry his toys.
- A ride-on toy shaped like a truck, tractor, or animal… This first “vehicle” allows your child to move around the house even if they aren't yet comfortable walking on their own two feet. Choose a model with multidirectional wheels, which is easier to maneuver.
- A push or pull toy that will quickly become your little one's walking companion.
- Stacking or nesting games: colored plastic cubes or cups, shape sorter, pyramid of stacking rings, etc.
- A first construction game, with large pieces that fit together easily.
- A picture book to look through with your baby, naming the objects shown.
18 to 24 months: from baby to child
Your child is full of energy and loves to move. At the same time, their manual dexterity is improving and their imagination is developing as they His vocabulary is expanding . He is making progress on all fronts simultaneously!
You can meet its various needs with:
- A rocking horse.
- Early childhood puzzles with some large wooden pieces equipped with a button to grasp them.
- Very large beads to string onto a cord.
- Large crayons or finger paint
- A small musical instrument: piano, xylophone, maracas, etc.
- A wooden train set and/or toy cars.
- Plastic animals.
- Board books.
2 to 3 years old: Imagination in power
Your child is bursting with creativity and their imagination is running at full speed! It's time to provide them with the tools to invent stories and give shape to their dreams:
- Washable markers or paint and brushes.
- Modeling clay.
- Games to "do as the grown-ups do": 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 a doll.
- A whole array of pirate, princess, hero, fairy, knight, doctor… costumes
- Storybooks to read together in the evening before going to sleep.
