Toys are not just entertaining but can be educational too. Kids of all ages love toys. Today, there are toys specifically designed for each age group. Yes, these toys are designed keeping multiple factors in mind. There are multiple toys for multiple uses, and it can be confusing to pick the right ones. In this article we discuss the various options for toys for 2 month old baby and how your little one can benefit from them.
Toys are a way to teach kids to think, understand as well as improve their motor skills. When you give them the right toy for the right age, it can do wonders for their overall development. Toys don’t have much use for a newborn baby. When the baby is around 2 months of age, they start showing interest and can hold some toys too. They are ready for toys.
In This Article
- How Much Playtime Does a 2 Month Old Baby Need?
- When Should You Start Buying Baby Toys?
- What to Consider While Buying Toys For 2 Month Old Baby?
- List of Top 5 Types of Toys to Buy For a 2 Month Old Baby
How Much Playtime Does a 2 Month Old Baby Need?
A 2 month old will keep sleeping most of the day. So, a few minutes of playtime during their awake windows will help. Stop once the baby loses interest and starts showing sleep cues. Playing during such times will lead to overstimulation.
Do not extend the play time for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a stretch. This includes tummy time. Slowly stretch the time if your baby seems to want it and is not tired yet. On the contrary, if your baby gets overstimulated, it reduces the playtime.
When Should You Start Buying Baby Toys?
Parents are bound to receive a few rattles and light and musical toys as gifts after your baby arrives. You may start using the rattles and other handy toys to calm down a crying baby during diaper change and other such times.
You can start buying toys when your baby starts looking around, observing and paying attention to their surroundings. This can happen when they are around 2 months old.
What to Consider While Buying Toys For 2 Month Old Baby?
Here are 6 important factors you need to consider when you are buying toys for a 2 month old baby.
1. Material
Baby’s skin is very tender and can bruise easily. Ensure the toys have a smooth texture without any rough or sharp edges that can hurt them. Babies don’t know to use the toys properly, so the toy must be smooth and safe all around.
2. Size
Babies will mouth everything. The toy must be big without any tiny parts that can separate and get dislodged in their throats. At the same time, if they are too big, they can smother the baby as they cannot take things off their face.
3. Type
Having variety can not only keep your baby entertained but can also act as new sensory stimuli (light, music, texture). See what your baby likes more and you can buy more of it if you want to add to their toys collection.
4. Weight
Babies will try to hold, shake and play with all things. Their grips are not strong yet and they will drop items. Light weight toys are easy to lift, hold, and won’t hurt your baby if dropped on themselves too.
5. Age-Appropriate
Babies will play with anything you give them as they are curious, and everything is new. Giving them age-appropriate toys will stimulate them the right way and aid in their development.
6. Cost
You may not hesitate to spend money on your baby but remember you will be buying plenty of toys as they grow, and your baby will break most of them. The cost of the toy does not determine its value or usability. Everything is new and interesting for your baby. So buy only those that fit within your budget.
List of Top 5 Types of Toys to Buy For a 2 Month Old Baby
Some toys you can buy for a 2 month old are:
1. Teething Toys
Teething toys can be firm yet safe for your baby’s tender gums. Just what they need to chew on as the gums start getting ready to sprout teeth. Though they are called teething toys, you can use them for your baby even before the gums show teeth. It can help in more ways than just during the teething phase.
How Can Teething Toys Help a 2 Month Old Baby?
| Skill Development | Benefits |
| Oral Motor Skills Development |
Oral motor skills include the movement of the facial muscles such as the mouth, the jaw, the tongue, the lips and the cheeks. Toys such as teethers provide the right path for children to the sensory world and prepare them for complex tasks such as feeding. |
| Foundation For Learning Speech Sounds | These motions help to lay the foundation for learning speech sounds as babies begin to babble while learning to say their first words, “mamama” and “dadada” and “bababa.” |
Teething Toys You May Want to Consider For a 2 Month Old Baby
- Teething rings
- Teethers with different textures (smooth/ bumps)
- Teething blankets
- Teethers in various shapes (animals, shapes)
- Teethers in different materials (silicon, wood, cloth)
Few Top Brand in India For Buying Baby Teethers
- Chic Buddy
- Baby Go
- Fun Blast
2. Musical Toys
As your baby grows, they start listening to the noises around them. A 2 month old will love music and any noise. Everything is new and piques their curiosity. Feeding this curiosity is very important for their brain development.
How Can Musical Toys Help a 2 Month Old Baby?
| Skill Development | Benefits |
| Hearing Development | They learn to recognize sounds and differentiate the sources. They will react to loud noises, be soothed by soft noise or your voice and turn towards the sound. |
| Visual Tracking Skills | Visual tracking refers to moving the eyes without turning the head fully. Placing a musical toy next to them will encourage them to move their eyes in that direction and find the source of the noise. |
Musical Toys You May Want to Consider For a 2 Month Old Baby
- Battery operated toys (stationary and moving)
- Toys that make noise when pressed
- Hanging toys with music
Few Top Brands in India For Buying Musical Toys
- Toyshines
- Mee Mee
[Read : Baby Hearing Development After Birth]
3. Rattle Toys
You can hold these toys in your hand and shake them in front of your baby. The vibrant colours and the rattling noise can calm down a hysterically crying baby. They are easy to carry along. You can stash away a few in your bag or car for emergencies too.
How Can Rattle Toys Help a 2 Month Old Baby?
| Skill Development | Benefits |
| Fine Motor Skill Development | Fine motor skills refer to the use of the small muscles in the hands and wrists. Giving something to hold and shake will help develop their grip and hand movement. |
| Learns Cause and Effect | It refers to associating an action with an immediate effect. Babies will learn hitting or shaking the rattle will make noise. |
Rattle Toys You May Want to Consider For a 2 Month Old Baby
- Curved rattles that are easy to hold
- Rattles with handles or grooves for better grip
- Rattles in different materials (wood, plastic, cloth)
- Flexible rattles that can be bent or chewed on
- Rattle balls
- Rattles with clips that can be attached to a car seat or pram.
Few Top Brands in India For Buying Rattle Toys
- Giggles
- Ratans
[Read : Baby’s Fine Motor Skill Development ]
4. Colorful Toys
Your 2 month old can see some distance now and can also make out a few colors. Toys and items in bright hues will be very attractive for babies. Though they don’t understand colors yet, they can start realizing the different colors and will gravitate towards a few shades.
How Can Colorful Toys Help a 2 Month Old Baby?
| Skill Development | Benefits |
| Vision Stimulation | Bright colors can hold the baby’s attention and stimulate their vision. Moving colorful toys in their line of sight can develop visual acuity. |
| Color Recognition |
Babies can recognize different colors. These toys can lay the foundation for learning the identification of and naming colors. |
| Identify Issues With Vision | If your baby is not able to shift their gaze from one bright object to the other or is not able to track the movement of objects, it indicates a possible issue with vision development. |
Colorful Toys You May Want to Consider For a 2 Month Old Baby
- Colorful cloth toys (balls, blocks, shapes)
- Balls
- Blocks
- Picture books
- Toys in different shapes (animals, moon, vegetables)
Few Top Brands in India For Buying Colorful Toys
- Funskool
- Mee Mee
- Little’s
[Read : When Do Babies Start Seeing Colors?]
5. Calming Toys
Yes, even babies need such toys. Babies can get bored, agitated or irritated easily. Calming toys can reassure a baby and reduce their anxiety. Some babies need help to calm down, once overly stimulated.
How Can Calming Toys Help Your 2 Month Old Baby?
| Skill Development | Benefits |
| Reduce Stimulation | Overstimulation can throw a baby’s developing senses out of balance, causing them to become unsettled. Reducing the stimulation can calm them down and rekindle the senses. |
| Provide Comfort | Babies require comfort and soothing when feeling sleepy or agitated. This helps in the healthy development of emotional intelligence. |
Calming Toys You May Want to Consider For a 2 Month Old Baby
- Teething toys
- Snuggle toys
- Toys with a soft glowing light
- Bouncers
Few Top Brands in India For Buying Calming Toys
- Little’s
- Luvlap
Babies love small items – toys or not. Providing the right toys that are safe for them can help them develop new skills without any harm. It will teach a baby to play on their own, explore, and understand various concepts as they grow.
Read Also: Toys For 3 Month Old Baby – Types, Benefits and What to Buy
