Best play and development products
In this best play and development product comparison, you can find out what the Tell Me Baby community thinks are the top play and development products on the market.
Play and development toys comparison chart
Click on the product name to read more reviews and product details.
"It is great at developing motor skills and hand- eye coordination."
"It is great at developing motor skills and hand- eye coordination."
"We absolutely LOVE this mat! My 10 week old gets so much enrichment and entertainment out of this!"
"We absolutely LOVE this mat! My 10 week old gets so much enrichment and entertainment out of this!"
"Loved this little set! So many different colours and shapes to explore."
"Loved this little set! So many different colours and shapes to explore."
"LOVED watching my son racing around the house in this walker. He enjoyed himself so much and built lots of confidence..."
"LOVED watching my son racing around the house in this walker. He enjoyed himself so much and built lots of confidence..."
"I had this playmat with both my babies, and they both loved it."
"I had this playmat with both my babies, and they both loved it."
"My daughter loves playing with this school set, it has encouraged a lot of independent imaginative play."
"My daughter loves playing with this school set, it has encouraged a lot of independent imaginative play."
"She absolutely loves it! It makes noises and has cute little songs when you open certain doors."
"She absolutely loves it! It makes noises and has cute little songs when you open certain doors."
"What a great toy! My son absolutely loved these and had so much fun with them."
"What a great toy! My son absolutely loved these and had so much fun with them."
"We bought these to keep at grandma's house and my son absolutely loves it when they come out!"
"We bought these to keep at grandma's house and my son absolutely loves it when they come out!"
"We’ve been using it since birth and he adores looking at all the different animals and batting them around to make sound and feel the t..
"We’ve been using it since birth and he adores looking at all the different animals and batting them around to make sound and feel the t.. 
How to choose play and development products
If you are looking for the best play and development products for your baby, use the above play and development comparison chart to search by:
Key play and development product information
- Brand
- Product
- Image
- RRP
- Star rating (from the Tell Me Baby community)
- Number of reviews
- An example of a recent review
Shop play and development products.
Why is play so important
Playing with a baby provides much-needed entertainment, but the benefits don’t stop there – it’s also essential for babies and children’s development.
Through play, babies and children learn a range of skills, including communication, social, language, confidence and gross and fine motor development.
Different types of play
- Unstructured play. Experts say that unstructured play is the best type of play for children as they can explore the world around them without rules.
- Structured play is organised and led by a parent or carer and has a specific purpose—for example, games, swimming lessons or storytime.
Play ideas for newborns and babies
Believe it or not, as a parent, you are fascinating to a baby and a simple game of peek-a-boo is not just perfect for passing the time, it helps with social and emotional development too. These types of games in the early days also help your baby feel more connected with you.
When deciding what toys are best for a baby, look for ones with music, baby-safe bells and mirrors, or different textures – all of these can assist with sensory development. Products that are different shapes, sizes and colours are great for encouraging your child to reach and grasp.
Rattles and development
Rattles are a bit of a wonder toy. As your baby’s vision starts to develop (they can see colours by around five months), rattles are a great toy to play with for a few reasons. Try holding a rattle in one hand, shake it and wait to see if your baby focuses on it. Repeat on the other hand.
Once your baby’s vision is developed, then comes the grasping. Offer your baby a rattle to hold or place a short distance away to encourage her to reach for it.
Make sure the rattle is at least 5cm in diameter to prevent choking. It’s also not recommended to accept hand-me-down rattles.
Tummy time
Tummy time is also crucial for development. There’s a range of different play mats available with all the bells and whistles to help entertain your baby while on his tummy and ultimately developing the muscles needed to roll, crawl and walk.
Choosing safe toys for play
When purchasing products to help with baby’s development, it’s vital to make sure they are safe. Check the age recommendation and make sure it’s not going to be a choking hazard. If the toy looks like it could easily break, it’s probably not a good idea.
If it’s for a baby, it’s going to end up in their mouth, making sure it’s made from non-toxic materials is essential. Not all toys available online are safe for children. Please read our article here on how to buy toys online for children safely.
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