Must-Have Toys for 3-Month-Old

As a parent, you may be wondering when to introduce toys to your infant and which toys are ideal for promoting early development. Around three months, babies begin to stay awake longer and explore what their tiny hands, feet, and mouths can do. This is an ideal time to introduce baby toys that promote sensory and motor skill development. In this guide, we'll look at the best toys for three-month-olds, as well as how to choose toys that will help them grow as they explore sights, sounds, and textures. With the correct toys, you can make playtime enjoyable and beneficial to their early development in an age-appropriate manner.

What Toys Should a 3-Month-Old Baby Have?

At three months old, babies begin to stay awake for extended periods of time, exhibit curiosity about their environment, and even grasp for items. It's the ideal moment to introduce toys that promote sensory and motor development. Tummy time paly mats, paly gyms, teethers, rattles, and musical toys, etc are all excellent options for this age group. To keep your baby entertained, rotate a few toys in and out during diaper changes, tummy time, or short play periods. These toys are ideal for developing early abilities including as hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, grip strength, and fine and gross motor development—all while making playtime enjoyable and age-appropriate.

The Best Toys for 3-Month-Old Babies

Each of these toys offers unique benefits for your little one's sensory and motor skills development.

1. Tummy Time Mat for Babies

A tummy time mat is one of the most effective instruments for promoting your baby's motor development. Tummy time helps to develop neck, shoulder, and core strength, which are required for subsequent milestones including as rolling and crawling. To capture your baby's interest, use mats with brilliant colors and high-contrast patterns. Some tummy time mats also include little toys to help reaching and grabbing, making this developmental exercise more fun.

2. Baby Play Gym

A baby play gym with hanging toys can give limitless fun while also developing motor abilities. These gyms frequently include a range of toys, such as rattles, mirrors, and textured soft book materials, which Attracting babies to reach, bat, and kick while strengthening their hand-eye coordination. To accommodate your baby's developing talents and interests, choose a play gym made of soft, safe materials with adjustable hanging toys.

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3. Handheld Baby Rattle

Rattles are a traditional choice for infants. Lightweight and durable handheld rattles are ideal toys for 3-month-olds since they are easy to grasp and enable newborns to practice grasping objects. The soft rattle sound stimulates their hearing, while shaking promotes cause-and-effect learning. For added intrigue, try for rattles with high contrasting colors or textured handle surfaces.

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4. Baby Teething Toys

Some babies begin using their mouths to explore objects as early as three months, however teething may still be a few months off. Baby teething toys can provide soothing textures for chewing and can also help your infant practice gripping. Choose chewable, soft materials that are easy to clean and devoid of BPA.

5. Best comfort toy for 3-month-olds

Soft, comforting toys like loveys or snuggly baby blankets help babies explore new textures and can even become beloved comfort items. Loveys are small, flat blankets with soft textures that babies can hold, cuddle, or chew. These toys are especially useful for self-soothing and can be a source of security during naps or car rides.

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6. Soft Baby Books

Books for babies? Absolutely! Baby’s vision is rapidly developing during the first 12 months of life, and the contrast of black and white images is easiest for newborns to see. Soft baby books with basic images and high contrast colors help a baby's developing vision. Fabric books with various textures and crinkling sounds are suitable for newborns to chew, tug, and explore, promoting early storytelling and sensory exploration.

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7. Baby Toys With Lights & Music

Musical and light-up toys can be stimulating to a 3-month-old's senses. Gentle lights and soft noises is full of auditory and visual delights and help newborns focus their attention, enabling them to track movements and explore new sensory experiences. However, it is best to limit time the usage of these toys because overstimulation can be overwhelming for sensitive infants. A few minutes of musical play is typically plenty for a three-month-old.

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What to Look for in Toys For a 3-Month-Old

Danielle MacCourtney, MS, OTR/L, ATP, a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Tiny Transformations Therapy Services, recommends that parents use a variety of play postures as well as new sensory experiences to help their infant develop. This could involve introducing soft textures with tactile toys or providing newborns with objects they can grasp with both hands to aid establish midline orientation. Similarly, choosing toys that engage many senses, such as mirrors, not only fosters early communication abilities but also promotes upper body strength during tummy time. Toys with musical melodic elements or basic, high-contrast graphics can also help babies investigate their surroundings, according to MacCourtney.

When selecting toys for your 3-month-old, keep these key features in mind to ensure safe and beneficial play:

• Safety: Choose toys made from non-toxic, baby-safe materials. Avoid any toys with small parts or sharp edges that could pose a choking hazard.
• Sensory Stimulation: Look for toys that stimulate your baby’s senses, encourage them to reach and grasp, or introduce them to new textures, sounds, and colors. Toys that support tummy time or gentle movement are especially beneficial.
• Small, Lightweight Designs: Since a 3-month-old’s grasp is still developing, opt for toys that are easy for small hands to hold. Lightweight and soft toys are ideal for this age.
• Simplicity: Babies don’t need flashy, complicated toys to be entertained or to grow. Often, the simplest toys—like rattles, soft loveys, or a colorful play mat—are the best for supporting their natural development.

Plus, more from Tumama News:

When Do Babies Start Playing with Toys?

How to Choose the Perfect Baby Gym

Walking Cat Toy: Interactive Plush for Kids' Fun

Why are high contrast toys good for newborns?