Mommy and me favourite toy picks from baby’s 1st year

A while ago I did an entire #momming101 post regarding play and all the fun toys we love. (Read more here) but when it comes to stimulating and playing with your baby, you really don’t need much. Today’s post is all about our number one toy(s) – Ava’s top pick and mine. It’s about the toy(s) that always grabs her attention and keeps her occupied for ages. The one(s) she simply cannot get enough off and has loved from birth till now. Toys that aren’t just fun but educational and worth while.

For Ava it was an easy choice…

Nothing beats her Little Me high contras dangles made by Little Interiors.

I love them too! They keep her happy and occupied during nappy changes, play time and even while we massage her. And with an ever growing collection of designs to choose from you’re sure to find the perfect dangle for baby’s nursery. Or maybe you’re like us, changing things up as often as possible to increase and ensure maximum stimulation.

At first we hung bears over Ava’s changing table. Then when summer came we swopped them out with a bell, mermaid and flat face dangle.

Naturally, Christmas called for festive dangles (because we’re dangle obsessed) and it’s the perfect gift for any baby.

These dangles are so much fun but they are serious too. SERIOUSLY important. Overstimulating little babies, especially during the first three months of life is a bad idea and unfortunately it happens easily . The entire world is new to your little one… Touch, smell, sight, sound. So we actually try to create a calm, warm, peaceful environment with low stimuli.

Other than focussing on mama while being fed, black and white high contrast “targets” are what babies see best and this alone will spike a massive visual stimuli on their retina. This doesn’t just lead to sight development but also increased brain activity and brain development but without overwhelming or confusing baby. Basically, every time your little one looks at one of these dangles he / she is becoming smarter!

It’s been a highlight seeing Ava move from noticing her dangles, to reaching out, swatting and then finally grabbing on to them. The way she interact with the different designs is one of the cutest things ever. The flat dangles worked best while she could only lie on her back but the others were a hit during tummy time and as soon as Ava could sit.

Now that she’s turned one, she still likes looking at her dangles and I’ve made sure to include a few in the play corner of her room. (Keep an eye out for her gorgeous room reveal soon).

Please note: these dangles weren’t meant to be used as a teether so please be careful when baby investigates them. That being said, Ava has dangles all over the house and has never hurt herself while playing with one.

My favourite toy shouldn’t surprise anyone…

It’s a My Tiny Teepee of course.

I know you’re thinking, a teepee can’t be age appropriate for a baby, but I beg to differ. It’s a safe haven perfect for bonding, cuddling and reading stories. We use it as our hide-away when we need to escape the chaos of big family life. It houses our memories, now and forever.

Ava has her very own, doll size teepee (and when I say doll size I mean mini- teepee. It can fit a lot more than just dolls.)

It started out as a cute decor piece and photo prop for special occasions but now we take ours along everywhere we go. Easily folding and fitting into our car.

It’s the perfect outdoor shelter for play and picnics.  It also makes for a sturdy beach tent, protecting baby from the sun and wind. I use ours for some private breastfeeding,nappy changes or a snooze. There’s also no need to be careful with your teepee. Simply pop it in the washing machine when it gets dirty. The fabric is thick and durable. Each teepee is made with incredible skill too. We’ve never had any of our teepees tear or unravel (and we use ours A LOT).

We spend hours cuddling in ours, escaping from the big, vast world. And when Ava’s inside her teepee, a round (or ten) of peek-a-boo only seems natural.

Best of all. This “toy” grows with our babe and soon Ava will be joining Eliana and Lia (with their teepees) for outdoor camping and fantasy play.

Obviously we have a few more toys we adore.You can find them all here, LET’S PLAY: HOW TO STIMULATE YOUR BABY DURING THE FIRST YEAR.

Now, time to share some toys with you…

Win one of the NEW playgyms by Little Interiors. Black or white – your choice. They’ve even included 3 dangles too. These playgyms are stunning. The metal and wood combination is modern and stylish. A beautiful addition to any nursery.

And as an extra bonus, My Tiny Teepee is also giving away a R350 voucher! YAY!

How to enter?

Find this adorable photo of our cutie on our Instagram (@justamamma) and make sure to follow the instructions below it.

SOMETHING EXTRA!!!! For an extra entry leave us a comment below telling us which colour play gym your like best (black or white) and what colour teepee you would buy. Visit our previous post, “Turning 1: Celebrating with a cake smash and giveaway” for full terms and conditions regarding this competition.

Remember to follow both @little.interior, @littleme_decor and @mytinyteepee on Instagram

And give them some love by liking them on Facebook @little.interior and @mytinyteepee

Gain 4 MORE entries by leaving a comment on these giveaway posts too:

3 EASY WAYS TO DOCUMENT BABY’S FIRST YEAR

PURE BEGINNINGS, ONLY THE BEST FOR YOUR BABY

TURNING 1: CELEBRATING WITH A CAKE SMASH AND GIVEAWAY

OUR 2 MOST USED BABY PRODUCTS OF AVA’S FIRST YEAR.