Best infant toys from a infant teacher perspective.

To the first time moms out there, I know everything can be overwhelming with all the latest gizmos and toys for your new precious baby. Hack if you were anything like me then you think you need to have all these baby toys taking over your nursery. Well let me tell you a little secret. You don’t need that much toys for your baby. Toy much toys have the opposite effect and overwhelms them. I’ve seen this happen many times as an infant teacher. Show With what I know and learn through the years I will give you my recommendations that will help your baby achieve milestones while playing.

1. Activity gym - any brand will do. The purpose of the activity gym is to get them to work their hand and eyes coordination. Bright star has some adorable ones and the are very affordable too.
2. Water play mat - I swear by water mats. This is a must with helps encourage tummy. All the infants I had in my care loved them. Some of them have foam shape fishes and stars that the infants tries to grab. Another thing I love about this is you can use cold or warm water and see how the infants react. It lets them explore their senses without a mess. Also a must know is once the baby is fussing remove them from there tummy time. You want to encourage tummy time but not force it on them. Start by doing a few minutes a few times a day. 
3. Bumbo - I start using the bumbo once the infants are able to hold there had up well during tummy time. This helps them build some core muscles that will help them learn to sit independently. 
4. Summer Infant activities chair - This is very similarly to the bumbo but with an activity try with toys built in to help keep the infants entertained. This also grows with your infant and can be used as a high chair and finally as a booster seat. The only difference between the activity seat and bumbo would be better head control. 
5. Banana Teether/ tooth brush - This banana tooth brush is the best teether. It’s the perfect size for your babies to hold and reaches where they want to chew at without gagging themselves.
6. A few rattles - you only need about three of them.  They are nice for your babies to hold and transfer backwards and forwards in their hands. 
7. Stacking cups- my infants loves stacking cups. They can chew on them, transfer from one hand to another, knock them down, and bang them together. Once they are old enough they will stack a few and take them off the other cups. Make this into a game and take turns and you will be surprised how fast they catch on.
8. Chain links - these are must. You can attach them to the activity gym, activity chair, car seats, or seat belts with a rattle attached to the other side some when they drop the toy then can get it back very easy.
9. You-  That’s right. They need you, moms and dads. They need a that positive attachment they will play a simple game like peeka boo, with them. You are build trust which will encourage them to explore the world around them. Sing to them, read them a story, put down that phone and enjoy your infants while they are still little. Cuddle them anytime you get. Enjoy these speak moments.