I recently had the privilege of meeting Rudy, an ASTRA Certified Play Expert and President of the U.S. Branch of the People Toy Company. To say I was impressed with his wealth of knowledge, and drive to help parents through education, is an understatement! As a mother of three young children, I appreciated the advice that he so willingly shared. But even more so, I appreciate a good company that truly designs with our little ones, baby entertainment, and their milestones in mind!
The People Toy Company has a mission to create products that promote the healthy development of babies, and give parents a fun guided way to keep their babies entertained and engaged. Their toys are designed with a baby’s developmental milestones in mind, and are made in Japan. Many have even won Toy of The Year Awards. Continue reading below for a full list of beneficial toys broken down by your baby’s age.
This article is written by Karissa Tunis
and sponsored by People Toy Company
For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection
First Year Baby Milestones
Throughout a baby’s first year, they are growing and developing their senses. From eyesight, to hearing, touch and smell, babies are trying to take in the world around them and are discovering new objects daily. These objects are actually Brain Builders, which help your baby develop and achieve those important baby milestones. So while parents put a lot of time and research into picking the perfect crib, stroller, or car seat; the same effort should really be made when purchasing toys.
Find Answers for all of Your Common Newborn Concerns
Baby Entertainment – What goes into toy design?
Many experts believe that stimulating the neurons in a baby’s brain is just as important and crucial as nourishing their bodies. So when the People Toy Company is developing a new toy, they ask “Is it stimulating enough? Is there enough texture and sensory to keep a baby’s interest, and yet help them progress?” Their goal is to educate parents about these very important developmental baby milestones by creating charming toys made specifically for your little one’s senses.
Toys that will Engage and Entertain Baby
After doing a lot of research, I came up with a list of things to consider when picking out a new baby toy. The list below is broken down by age. However, please do keep in mind that babies develop at different rates. Especially if they were born premature, or if they are born with any medical or health-related conditions.
Use the list below as a helpful guide to refer to when purchasing a new toy for your own little one, or when picking out the perfect baby gift for a friend! Just keep in mind the baby milestones, and their developmental age.
People Toy Company conveniently sells their products through their website, local baby boutiques, toy stores and through Amazon. We have included the Amazon affiliate links for your convenience below:
Newborn Baby Milestones
Sound and Visual Stimulation
Newborns love the sound and feel of the womb. Look for toys that lightly rattle. The sound can almost mimic the noises from the womb, and the sight of beads rolling around, or something sparkly, can catch their attention. You may even want to try playing with this when they are restless and upset. Perfect toys for this stage are the Cry No More Baby Rattle and the Lullaby Rattle
1 Month Baby Milestones
Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
While their newborn rattles may still be entertaining, look for lightweight soft toys that are easy for them to begin trying to grasp such as the Never Drop Baby Chew
2 Month Baby Milestones
Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Look for rattles that are perfectly sized and balanced in weight for their little hands. If you can find ones that have colorful beads, this will help with their auditory and visual development. Parent guided play of flipping and turning the rattle slowly from one side to the other will allow your little one to watch and listen to the changes. You may even want to look for some rattles or toys that have a soft end for future teething. Perfect toys for this month are the Feather-Light Teething Rattle and the Baby Senses Coordinator
3 Month Baby Milestones
Motor Skills, Oral Development, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Toys that encourage sucking are great for oral development. It’s great when you can find toys that replace fingers in order to avoid later thumb sucking habits. These toys will also come in handy when your baby begins teething. Products with shapes will also allow for oral development as well as visual stimulation. Look for toys that are easy to grip and rotate between their hands. Perfect toys for this month are the Like It Pacifier and the Two Hands Teething Ring
4 Month Baby Milestones
Curiosity, Motor Skills, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Babies will begin trying to stretch out with their hands and feet. It can at times almost look like baby yoga poses, so find toys that allow them to stretch and find zen. Rustling and bell sounds will help with auditory stimulation, and yet also can be comforting. A perfect toy for this month is the Baby Yoga Exercise Ball
5 Month Baby Milestones
Curiosity, Motor Skills, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Sqeaking toys can be fun to introduce at this age. Also look for toys that have multiple colors and textures. This will provide visual stimulation and feel good to their little hands and gums. Perfect toys for this month are Sammy Squid Teether and the Educational Eddie Rattle – which won the National Toy Award
6 Month Baby Milestones
Curiosity, Motor Skills, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Your little one may have a new interest in action and motor skills. Gripping toys are still an excellent choice. Also look for toys with push buttons and pulling add-ons. Reflection toys and mirrors will also become fun amusements at this age. You may even want to pull out some of their newborn rattles again. If your baby is beginning to teeth, make sure you are supplying them with toys that can be nibbled and that are designed to ease sore gums. Perfect toys for this month are the Push & Pull UFO and the Magic Reflection Ball
7 Month Baby Milestones
Curiosity, Motor Skills, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Look for toys that do multiple things. Bright colors, sound making, textured, buttons, and a product that also encourages motor skills will keep your little one busy and entertained for longer periods of time. A perfect toy for this is the Multi-Sense Trumpet
8 Month Baby Milestones
Motor Skills, Curiosity, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
By now your little one is probably gripping toys and turning them around. Pull out some of your newborn rattles, and let them have fun learning how to grip, shake, make some noise, and learn cause and effect as the beads roll from one side to the other. Also, finding toys that vibrate and include multiple actions will add more fun! You can even look for toys that encourage crawling and mobility. A perfect toy for this is the Catch Me If You Can Lion
9 – 12 Month Baby Milestones
Motor Skills, Curiosity, Oral Development, Teething, Sound and Visual Stimulation, Gripping
Your little one is probably on the move, so look for toys that encourage that mobility. If you want them to sit still (good luck 😉 you may want to find blocks or other objects that encourage stacking and rotating. A perfect toy for this is the People Blocks Sets
What do you consider when shopping for baby toys? Let us know on social media!
Thank you to the People Toy Company for supplying this great printable!
Click on the chart below, print it out, and keep as a great guide when buying new toys based on the baby milestones throughout their first year
Free Resources
Enjoy these additional Free Baby Milestone resources from Adore Them:
- Enjoy these free Developmental Baby Milestone printables to help guide you through your little one’s first year
- Becoming a new mom is hard, but you are not alone! Find out what 50 questions run through every new mom’s head, and why it is ok!
- Find out what teething symptoms to look for, and what necessities you should have on hand to help your baby through this phase
For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection
The People Co., ltd was formed in 1977 in Japan and has since been brought to the US market with People Toy Company. Since the start of the company, they have begun creating a range of toys and products loved by children and praised by parents! A lot of research and care goes into the design of every toy to help children achieve developmental milestones through play. To learn more about the People Toy Company and all of their wonderful products that they have to offer, you can visit them on their website or social media:
- Website: peopletoy.co
- Facebook: @peopletoycompany
- Instagram: @peopletoyco
- Twitter: @peopletoyco
Co-Owner: Karissa Tunis
Karissa Tunis is the co-owner of both the parenting website Adore Them and the family event company Milestone Family Expos. Through these ventures she is able to share inspiring, heartfelt insight with large audiences within local communities and across the country! Her knack for all-things-organization allows her to balance content creation, brand partnerships, and event planning without losing sight of what she wants for her own family. Despite her busy schedule, Karissa also makes it a priority to spend quality time with her husband and five children. You will often find her volunteering at her children’s schools, cheering them on from the soccer sidelines, or enjoying the great sites of Charleston, SC with her family.
Contact: Karissa@AdoreThem.com
