Home >> Toys >> Infants Toys

Smarter Baby Gifts

Although a baby's brain has 100 billion neurons at birth, the wiring between the neurons has not yet formed. The blueprint for the neuron connections occurs from birth to age 3, refining itself through age 11. Buy gifts for babies which provide them intellectual and physical stimulation. Toys that stimulate feelings and language help babies connect an increased number of neurons.

Classical Music CDs
- When you give the gift of classical music to babies, you may be doing much more than giving them something relaxing to listen to. Although based on controversial results from scientific studies, the Mozart Effect states exposing babies in the womb and infants to Mozart, as well as other classical music, may increase their intelligence. A 2006 scientific study on adults at the Department of Education in Slovenia revealed Mozart's music does enhance the task-performance and learning areas of the brain, so giving a baby a classical music CD may be worth a try.
Black, White and Red Toys
- Babies see high contrast colors best until they reach the age of 6 months, then they can see all of the colors clearly. Black, white and red best capture a baby's attention, promoting physical and visual development. You can find a wide range of smarter baby toys in black, white and reds. Examples include books, flashcards, mobiles hung over the crib and crib mirrors in black, white and red.
Interactive Baby Videos
- Check out interactive videos made just for babies. These may feature nature, art and music babies enjoy, or teach babies about first movements like dancing, clapping and first steps. Other videos introduce English, French and Spanish to babies aged 6 to 12 months. Also look for puppet collections based on characters from a baby's favorite interactive videos.
Cloth Books and Pop-Up Books
- Cloth, cardboard and pop-up books -- books with three-dimensional pictures -- make ideal baby gifts. They help get babies used to reading and stimulate the senses. The most critical time for children to learn to read is during the first two years of life. For babies from birth to 3 months of age, hold a cloth or cardboard book close, so the baby can touch, grab and see it, which helps develop depth perception. Pop-up books are a perfect choice for babies about 18 months of age. Giving books and taking the time to read together helps the child view reading as a positive experience throughout his or her life.

Infants Toys