Holiday guide: Best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies

Babies are born with natural curiosity and gather information about the world through their senses. Babies enjoy looking at the world around them—lights, shapes, patterns, and colors. At about 3 months, they begin to swipe at objects and might try to reach for them.

Suggested toys
Rattles and play keys with high-contrast colors that make interesting noises, and musical crib mobiles with bright, primary-color objects or patterns that stimulate your baby's sense of sight. But keep toys out of the crib. Mobiles can be suspended near or above the crib as long as they're safely mounted. Mobiles are safest near the foot of the bed, where they can't fall on a child. Remove the mobile when your baby can push up on his hands and knees, at about 6 months.

Babies can see bright colors and shapes of rattles and play keys (for babies younger than 4 months, the toy should be any combination of red, black and white—the colors this age group sees best), feel their smooth or nubby texture, hear their rattling or clinking sound, and mouth them, which stimulates brain development.

See best toys for babies 4-10 months old for related information.