Nursery to Toddler

Petstages Puppy Cool Teether for Dogs $6.99 Made with knotted streamers that are easy to chew for any size dog and plush that will not harm young or tender gums. Can be frozen to help sooth tender gums and curb dogs desire to chew.

Sophie the Giraffe Natural Teether $18.95 Every Baby’s Favorite Teether! WHY do Babies LOVE Sophie? Sophie the Giraffe’s skinny, long neck is easy for little fingers to grasp and the little nubs feel sooo good on baby’s tender gums. This lovable teether is designed to stimulate ALL 5 SENSES. Sight: From birth to 3 months, a baby’s eyesight is usually limited to high contrasts. The attention-catching spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and is easily recognizable object to reassure and comfort. Hearing: Sophie the Giraffe’s happy little squeak keeps baby amused, stimulates hearing and helps baby understand the link between cause and effect. Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is made of 100% natural rubber and food paint and is completely safe to chew. The soft texture and many chewable parts (ears, horns, legs) make her perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums during teething. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber from the Hevea tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify from all the other toys. Touch: Touch is the first means a baby has of communicating with the outside world. Sophie the Giraffe’s soft body reminds baby of Mother’s skin and stimulates physiological and emotional responses that soothe and promote healthy well-being. Specifications: Sophie the Giraffe is 7 inches tall and made of 100% Natural Rubber (phthalates Free) and food paint. BPA-Free. Made in France. Recommended for children birth-12 months. Complies to the U.S safety requirements of ASTM F963. Makes a great gift! Comes packaged in an attractive gift box with a card to personalize for baby.

Hevea Natural Rubber Panda Teether $11.95 This cute panda-shaped teether is made of 100% natural rubber, a safe and biodegradable material, so you never have to worry about what’s going in your baby’s mouth. It’s free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates! True to their commitment to help our planet, Hevea donates 10 DKK to the World Wildlife Fund, WWF, in Denmark for each Natural Rubber Panda Teether sold. Hevea pacifiers and teethers are different from all others because they are produced sustainably. Hevea gives you the opportunity to give only the best to your child while at the same time taking care of their world. Features: Made of 100% natural rubber No PVC, no BPA, no phthalates, no artificial colors! Hygienic one piece design – no joints, cracks or edges Soft material and ergonomic shape – easy for tiny hands to grasp Packaged in a beautiful box made of recycled paper Meets EU standard EN1400, US regulations CPSIA & AUS regulation AS 2432-1991 Danish designed, Malaysian produced – Hevea has an excellent cooperation with the producer in Malaysia, who guarantees that the workers are well-paid and that their rights are respected.

Vulli 200318, Sophie Giraffe So’ Pure Vanilla Teether $15.5 So Pure Vanilla Teether is made of 100% natural rubber. It is BPA, PVC & phthalates free. It is ideal for soothing painful gums.

Natursutten Natural Rubber Chill-It Fish Teether $9.95 Natursutten Chill-It Teethers are made from non-toxic EVA plastic.  They contain no Bipshenol-A, phthalates, or PVC.  Made in Germany, they meet all strict EU safety standards. This fish teether contains zero harmful chemicals, so you never have to worry about dangerous toxins entering your little one’s mouth.  It can be refrigerated for a numbing effect and the textured bumps help to further soothe baby’s sore gums. Features: BPA, PVC and phthalates free Can be refrigerated Textured to soothe the gums

Chan Pie Gnon Natural Teether – Pie (pink) $13.99 Vulli teethers are unusually captivating to babies and they insist on taking them wherever you go! Friends of the oh-so popular Sophie the Giraffe, Chan Pie Gnon Natural Rubber Teethers are quickly becoming a favorite. With their soft texture and mushroom shape that allows for an easy grasp, your baby will love squeezing their belly to hear a Squeak and cooing at the happy little faces. Moms love knowing they are offering their child a safe and chemical- free teether. Chan Pie Gnon comes from the French word “champignon”, which means mushroom. 5 inches long. Features: 100% Natural Rubber is soft, safe & non-toxic for baby to bite & chew paints Completely non-toxic, BPA-free, and phthalate-free with no PVC Decorated with non-toxic, food-grade paints Nubs on the head help soothe sore, teething gums Makes a soft squeak when squeezed Lightweight design and mushroom shape makes it easy to grasp Available in three Models: Chan (blue), Pie (pink), and Gnon (yellow) Recommended for ages Newborn–2 years Handmade in the French Alps

Chan Pie Gnon Natural Teether – Chan (blue) $13.99 Vulli teethers are unusually captivating to babies and they insist on taking them wherever you go! Friends of the oh-so popular Sophie the Giraffe, Chan Pie Gnon Natural Rubber Teethers are quickly becoming a favorite. With their soft texture and mushroom shape that allows for an easy grasp, your baby will love squeezing their belly to hear a Squeak and cooing at the happy little faces. Moms love knowing they are offering their child a safe and chemical- free teether. Chan Pie Gnon comes from the French word “champignon”, which means mushroom. 5 inches long. Features: 100% Natural Rubber is soft, safe & non-toxic for baby to bite & chew paints Completely non-toxic, BPA-free, and phthalate-free with no PVC Decorated with non-toxic, food-grade paints Nubs on the head help soothe sore, teething gums Makes a soft squeak when squeezed Lightweight design and mushroom shape makes it easy to grasp Available in three Models: Chan (blue), Pie (pink), and Gnon (yellow) Recommended for ages Newborn–2 years Handmade in the French Alps

Chan Pie Gnon Natural Teether – Gnon (yellow) $13.99 Vulli teethers are unusually captivating to babies and they insist on taking them wherever you go! Friends of the oh-so popular Sophie the Giraffe, Chan Pie Gnon Natural Rubber Teethers are quickly becoming a favorite. With their soft texture and mushroom shape that allows for an easy grasp, your baby will love squeezing their belly to hear a Squeak and cooing at the happy little faces. Moms love knowing they are offering their child a safe and chemical- free teether. Chan Pie Gnon comes from the French word “champignon”, which means mushroom. 5 inches long. Features: 100% Natural Rubber is soft, safe & non-toxic for baby to bite & chew paints Completely non-toxic, BPA-free, and phthalate-free with no PVC Decorated with non-toxic, food-grade paints Nubs on the head help soothe sore, teething gums Makes a soft squeak when squeezed Lightweight design and mushroom shape makes it easy to grasp Available in three Models: Chan (blue), Pie (pink), and Gnon (yellow) Recommended for ages Newborn–2 years Handmade in the French Alps

Nuby Softees Super Soft Teether – Yellow Oddball $4.95 The Natural Touch Softees Super Soft Teether’s unique textured design provides comfort to baby’s delicate gums. It provides stimulus to the lips and tongue which promote the transition from nursing to chewing. Baby will love the soft surface. Includes a hygienic carrying case! BPA-Free. For birth & up.

Nuby Softees Super Soft Teether – Blue Oddball $4.95 The Natural Touch Softees Super Soft Teether’s unique textured design provides comfort to baby’s delicate gums. It provides stimulus to the lips and tongue which promote the transition from nursing to chewing. Baby will love the soft surface. Includes a hygienic carrying case! BPA-Free. For birth & up.

natural wooden teether

Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic $10.89 Intrigue and engage your little one with the colorful, curious Skwish Classic. Designed by Manhattan Toy, the Skwish appeals to your baby’s visual and tactile senses, making this sophisticated toy a source of wonder and learning. Measures 5.5″ diameter….

Maple Teethers $8.99 Before there was plastic teethers, there was wood. Durable and attractive, wooden teethers are naturally anti-microbial so they are great for the baby. No finishes or chemical coatings – a totally organic teether….

Wonderworld Pinky Cosmetic Set $29.99 The Pinky Cosmetic is is a little girls dream! The Pinky Cosmetic Set wooden role-play set includes a mirror, face powder, eye shadow, lipstick, nail polish and makeup brushes in a cute fabric cosmetic bag. This is the ultimate play cosmetic set.Product Measures: 3x7x5Recommended Ages: 36 months -…

Wonder Croquet $43.62 With it’s cute painted animal characters, this beautifully crafted wooden Wonder Croquet Set from Wonderworld will provide lots of active fun indoors or out! Comes with an adjustable height mallet, so the rest of the family can play too!Product Measures: 5x15x7Recommended Ages: 36 months -…

Wee Organics – Wooden Teether

Choosing Age-Appropriate Toys

Choosing the right toy for your child’s age is not just a matter of selecting a toy that will engage, entertain and educate them, it is also a matter of safety. If you’ve browsed the aisles of any toy store lately you probably know that selecting the right toy can be a difficult undertaking. Not only do you want a toy that you can rest assured will provide no danger to your child, but you also want to select a toy that will help your child develop their full potential.

Research indicates that children who are provided with age-appropriate toys that are stimulating will help children to more fully develop their physical, cognitive and creative abilities. By learning which toys are right for your child’s age you can help them to stimulate the connections in their brains that are responsible for building your child’s future intelligence.

Keep in mind that it is never to early to begin this all important process. Even the youngest babies can begin responding to bright colors, helping their vision to develop more quickly.

Children under Six Months:

• Mobiles in bright colors will stimulate vision
• Activity centers to encourage reaching for motor control development
• Mirrors designed with baby safety in mind to encourage your child to explore faces
• Rattlers and teethers that will introduce baby to new textures.
• Board books-even at this young age reading to your baby will help them with beginning language development

6 to 12 Months

During this time period, it is important to begin focusing on interactive play with your child. This includes introducing the concept of cause and effect as well working on eye-hand coordination. Simple games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” are fun ways to help your baby discover the wonders of their new world. In addition, look for these types of toys to further stimulate your child’s development and learning:

• Toys that are musical and make sounds
• Baby gyms and activity courses to stimulate crawling
• Bouncers to stimulate physical activity
• Play telephones to encourage communication through mimicking
• Soft dolls and stuffed animals for kids who love to cuddle
• Wooden and soft blocks for stacking, filling and dumping games

12-18 Months

Around the time your child turns one he or she may begin to walk or experiment with taking those first steps. Toys at this age should focus on supporting your child’s curiosity in exploration while further developing fine motor coordination.

• Swing sets and safety trikes encourage physical activity and development
• Building blocks for eye-hand coordination
• Nesting cups and shape sorters to improve eye-hand coordination as well as problem solving skills
• Storybooks/picture books for language and vocabulary development
• Toddler appropriate videos and music

18-24 Months

By the time they are a 1 1/2 years old most children begin to use their imagination in play. This typically takes on the form of make-believe; however, in reality this type of play is helping them to develop problem solving strategies. Look for toys that support this important time of development by expanding their exposure to shapes, colors, ability to follow instructions and language. The important key to remember at this age is that kids are truly learning with hands-on play.

• Costumes and dress-up to stimulate imagination
• Push and pull toys that support both tykes that are beginning to walk as well as advanced walkers
• Puzzles that are easy to manipulate with a small number of pieces
• Playhouses and other scaled down objects that your child sees everyday will give them the opportunity to mimic the world around them.
• Swing sets to develop physical skills

24-36 Months

At age two children begin to really focus on fine motor coordination, even though they do not realize it, of course. By this age kids can begin working with board games suitable for their age as well as craft type projects and toys. Most kids this age are also ready to begin playing with other kids, so you may also wish to look for games and toys that are more structured in nature that previous toys.

• Simple board games and puzzles to encourage further eye-hand coordination and memory development.
• Outdoor equipment such as swing sets, riding vehicles and tricycles to build physical skills
• Beginner musical instruments
• Playhouses
• Sand boxes
• Train sets
• Dolls
• Cars/trucks
• Costumes/dress-up
• Art sets
• Storybooks for language development and vocabulary building
• Videos and music, especially those that expose kids to numbers and the alphabet

By keeping in mind which toys are age-appropriate you will be in a better position to help support the lightening fast development of your child’s brain and actually step up their learning and development.

About the Author

Go to the Baking Chicken website for information on how to bake chicken. Visit the Boxing Tips website for info on boxing techniques. Want to learn everything on boxing exercises? Visit the Boxing Workouts website.