How toys contribute to the development of babies at 11 months
You might count yourself lucky when you receive toys as part of your baby shower gifts from your friends and family. This is because toys play a very important role in the growth and development of your baby.
At this stage in your baby’s life, she wants off your chest and prefers to move around more, exploring as much of her environment as she possibly can. Push toys are excellent options to help her get around, unassisted by you. This fosters some form of independence.
Your baby is likely grabbing everything within reach at this point, from toys to household items and everything in between. As frustrating as it can feel, this is actually a good thing! It develops her motor skills, especially in the arms as they reach out and the hands as they manipulate the objects. The toys, therefore, teach her how to hold objects of different shapes and sizes.
Different textures and moving parts on toys will also develop the fine motor skills of your baby. When she plays with toys that encourage small movements, she’s able to become more dexterous as her hand-eye coordination improves.
Toys for 11-month-old babies can help them to recognize the shapes and sizes of objects. As they become familiar with the shape, they're able to recognize a different object that is molded in the same form. By spending time with similar toys, babies can also detect differences between them over time. They also know that the toys exist even when they can’t see them, a concept known as object permanence.
This is also the stage where babies tend to put things into their mouths, discovering that some of them are edible and some are not. Nevertheless, they'll keep putting whatever they find into their mouths as they continue to learn.
At 11 months, you'll notice that your baby is able to sit and concentrate on a toy for a few minutes. This is great, as it develops his or her focus levels and ability to concentrate on a task.
Toys for an 11-month-old baby: what are the best options at this age?
There are numerous toys stores that offer a wide variety of toys for children of all ages. However, our focus here is on your 11-month-old tot. What would be the ideal toy for your little one to play with as you relax and pump your breasts for her next meal? Here are some of the best toys for an 11-month-old baby.
Shape sorters
These are toys that have hollowed out shapes with corresponding pieces, and the goal is for the baby to put the pieces into the hole of the right shape. This helps the baby enhance cognitive development and the fine motor skills that come with manipulating the piece into the hole.
Blocks
Playing with wooden blocks is good for your child because it helps develop spatial reasoning. The different sizes of the blocks provide a unique challenge to the baby when she’s stacking them up. Building blocks are often used in a social setting, increasing your 11-month-old's ability to interact with your or other babies.
Balls
Your child will throw, roll, kick, and bounce round toys all over the place. This kind of interaction improves both motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Since the ball moves around quite often, you might be on call to retrieve it when it goes into places she cannot reach. Helping your child in this way can further grow the bond you already have. Remember, one of the plus points of breastfeeding is forging and strengthening a bond with your little one.
Books
While your baby might not yet be able to read, you can read to her to help improve language skills. Books also have drawings that stimulate the curiosity of your little one. Some books also have pop-up inserts when you open them, which allows your baby to visualize the characters from a different angle.
Musical toys
Toys that play music or sounds are very stimulating for children. They're usually electronic and require the baby to press a button to elicit an audio response. These toys enhance memory because the baby learns which button brings which sound. They also provide continuous learning and help further develop language skills.
Bucket and spade
If your baby is playing in the sand, give her a bucket and spade! Figuring out how to shovel sand into the bucket improves cognitive skills, while the experience of playing in the sandbox with others improves the baby's social connections.
Toy telephone
Toy telephones are brightly colored and also have a sound element to them. They stimulate your baby’s ability to listen, as well as the tactile response when she presses the buttons. Like musical toys, this is usually an educational toy.
Tips to consider when choosing toys for an 11-month-old baby
Due to the curiosity of your baby at this age, you should always take care when choosing which toys she can play with while you go about your other activities. Here are some tips on how to pick an 11-month-old baby toy:
- Make sure the toys are large enough so that the baby cannot swallow them
- Toys that run on batteries should have the batteries secured to prevent the baby from chewing on them and ingesting dangerous chemicals
- Try to avoid hand-me-down toys that might not meet current safety standards
- Don’t use old toys lacquered in paint that contains lead, mercury, arsenic, or cadmium
- Ensure that chew toys are made of sturdy material that the baby’s new sharp teeth won’t break through
- Don’t pick toys with a cord or string longer than a foot, as this can pose a strangulation hazard
- Choose toys that are appropriate weights and sizes for your baby
Your 11-month-old baby needs toys so that she can continue to grow and develop, and there are plenty of toys you can choose from that will support these goals. If you’re browsing through the toy store and aren’t sure about what a certain toy does and its potential hazards, don’t hesitate to ask.