Have you ever wondered why you should buy rattles for babies? Here are some reasons to help buy the best rattles for babies. Learn why these first baby toys are so important to a child’s development.
What Is My Baby Learning?
After learning to recognize your voice, your face, and your touch, and to associate them with comfort, your baby will start responding even more to you during these months — and will even give you a smile!
Babies this age spend more time awake and become more curious about their surroundings. They are getting physically stronger and better able to coordinate movements. Encourage the learning process by talking to your little one, responding to his or her vocal expressions, and providing colorful age-appropriate toys.
You’ll now see your baby’s personality emerge. In the first month or two of life, newborns depend on others to initiate interaction. But by the end of the third month your baby will engage you with facial expressions, vocalizations, and gestures.
Your baby will carefully watch your facial expressions and listen to your voice, responding to you with coos and gurgles. At around 2 months, your baby will respond to your smile with a smile. Between 3 and 4 months, most infants can squeal with delight and laugh out loud. Babies will start to open and shut their fists, opening up new possibilities. They can hold a rattle placed in their hands. They’ll soon discover that they’re the one that made the rattle make noise!
At age 3-6 months babies are able to grasp toys and love baby rattles that make noise. From 6-9 months babies are developing the ability to master new fine motor skills. With this increased dexterity, babys like toys that are interactive with buttons, music, and lights they can command.
Babies also start to explore their surroundings with their hands, reaching out, swatting at, and grasping for a favorite toy. They’ll also begin to notice their hands and feet, and they’ll become a source of amusement. They enjoy staring at their hands, playing with their fingers, and bringing their hands or a toy to their mouth.
The Best Reasons to Buy Rattles for Babies
Rattles can be made of wood, plastic or cloth. Some are brightly colored, while others might be red, white and black. Rattles arrive in all different shapes and might look like animals, keys, flowers or musical instruments.
Many baby rattles make noises and sounds when they are shaken. These sounds can range from the dull sounds typical of wooden rattles to jingling or bell type sounds from metal rattles. Many rattles also have other textures that provide sounds like crinkling noises.
Some rattles might even have batteries and display lights or play lullabies when a button is pushed. Rattles with lights and music that are activated through the push of a button teach babies about cause and effect. A baby will learn that if they push a button, they are able to activate the toy, and this will help them be more curious in their learning.
Why Does My Baby Like Some Rattles and Not Others?
Many parents will find that not every baby likes the same toy and the same is true for rattles. Some babies get scared when they hear sudden noises from their rattles and cry. Another baby might find the sounds soothing and calm down when they hear the sounds.
Do not be surprised if your child’s favorite rattle also helps them get motivated to learn other more challenging skills. Tummy time is not fun for babies, but it is important. Babies need to learn to be comfortable lying on their bellies while they lift their head to develop head and neck control. By placing a baby’s favorite rattle just out of their reach, they might be more motivated to lift their head, learn to roll to get their rattle, or even squirm along the floor on their belly to start crawling.
