Parenting - Prenatal to preschool/Parenting_PrenatalToPreschool.bin/dp/0020/00208.txt

Text File | 1993-06-14 | 27KB | 452 lines

$Unique_ID{PAR00208}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Birth to 6 Months:  Selecting Toys and Equipment}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Mendelson, Robert A
Mendelson, Lottie M
Meyerhoff, Michael K
Ames, Louise Bates}
$Subject{Birth to 6 Months Selecting Toys Equipment safety swallow swallowing
gag gagging nontoxic health hazard hazards manufactured manufacturer
manufacturers regulation regulations age mobile mobiles mirrors mirror cribs
sense senses rattle rattles stuffed animals gifts crib gym entertained
diapering bathing interpersonal awareness car seat high chair chairs stroller
strollers hazards mechanical swing swings jump seats walker walkers HOMEMADE
PURCHASES purchased purchase}
$Log{}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


Birth to 6 Months:  Selecting Toys and Equipment


     What role do toys play during the first six months of life?

     Play is the business of babies, and toys are the tools of their trade.
The items that your baby encounters as she begins to explore her world will
nurture her expanding curiosity.  They will provide her with chances to
collect information that she can use to build concepts of increasing
complexity.  They will challenge her to develop skills.  And they can help her
have some fun.  However, remember that, during this period in particular,
virtually everything in her environment will give her the opportunities and
experiences she needs.  While appropriate toys certainly can be a part of
these processes, no individual item has a unique or tremendously powerful
capacity to either teach or entertain your baby all by itself.


     What are the important factors to keep in mind as I go about choosing
toys for my baby?

     First and foremost is safety.  Remember, anything that is in your baby's
hands is likely to end up in her mouth.  Make sure that any item--or any
removable part--is no less than an inch-and-a-quarter in any dimension so that
it cannot be swallowed and gagged upon.  Avoid anything with sharp corners,
jagged edges, or pointy protrusions.  And see to it that all materials and
paints used in the production of any item are nontoxic.  Next, check for
durability.  Don't be shy about removing a toy from its box and giving it a
good going-over.  If it can be broken into little pieces, if buttons or other
decorations can be torn off without too much effort, etc., the toy is
potentially dangerous.  Also, if it cannot be washed easily and often, the toy
can become a health hazard.  And finally, look for play value--that is, the
extent to which an item matches the current interests and abilities of your
baby.


     I understand that toy manufacturers have to abide by extensive federal
regulations.  Does this mean that all products on the market are guaranteed to
be safe for my baby?

     These regulations go a long way toward protecting your baby from unsafe
playthings, but they are not an absolute guarantee.  It is always possible
that a slightly defective item will slip past the safety checks and end up in
a store.  Moreover, many toys from other countries that are not subject to
such regulations, and many toys that were produced before the regulations went
into effect, end up on the more informal markets, such as rummage sales, flea
markets, etc.  Therefore, before purchasing any plaything for your baby, you
would be wise to give it a good going-over yourself to make sure that all
safety factors are in order.  Furthermore, it is a good idea to periodically
check toys you have purchased to make sure they are in good repair.  An item
that passes all safety checks at the time of purchase can immediately become a
serious hazard as soon as it is broken, chipped, or otherwise damaged.


     Is the recommended age range that appears on the box a reliable guide
when it comes to determining play value?

     Unfortunately, no.  Because toy manufacturers must comply with federal
safety regulations to avoid lawsuits, you can be fairly confident that the age
range on the box takes safety considerations into account.  Play value,
however, is another matter.  The interests and abilities of children change so
rapidly during the early years that the truly appropriate age range for nearly
all items is rarely greater than a few months.  However, since the toy
companies are trying to sell as many of their products as possible, it would
be financially self-defeating for them to list meaningful but very limited age
ranges.  Therefore, they typically exaggerate the recommended age range in
order to entice as many purchasers as possible.  While these recommendations
may make sense from a business standpoint, they are almost totally useless as
reliable indications of play value.  For example, notations such as "for
children from birth to age two" are common; however, the interests and
abilities of a newborn are likely to be much different from those of a two
year old.


     Since my baby's interests and abilities will be relatively limited during
this period, do I need to buy her a lot of toys or just a few well-chosen
items?

     While it's true that your baby's interests and abilities will remain
somewhat limited, they will advance fairly rapidly during the first six
months.  As a result, you may need a large number of different items to keep
her entertained and challenged as time goes by.  However, this does not mean
that you have to make a lot of purchases.  Babies at this stage are entranced
by and can learn from a wide variety of simple objects, and thus do not need
to have a lot of "toys" per se.  Moreover, since their interests and abilities
change so quickly, it is unnecessary and unwise to invest too heavily in any
single plaything during this period.  It is helpful to note that there is no
toy in any store that your baby must have in order to develop any important
concept or skill.  Likewise, there is no commercial product with a play value
that cannot be easily equalled or even surpassed by collections and
combinations of ordinary things you can find lying around your house.


     What would be an appropriate first toy for my baby?

     Remember that it will be at least two or three weeks before your baby is
interested in anything except her own comfort, so, until then, she really
won't have much use for toys.  Toward the middle to end of the first month,
she probably will be awake and alert a little more often, and she will begin
to look around at her immediate surroundings.  Thus, a well designed mobile
makes an excellent first toy.  But be careful.  Many commercial mobiles are
designed to look most attractive to an adult walking into the nursery rather
than to a very young baby lying in the crib.  Make sure that the mobile you
purchase (or make) has visual targets tilted toward your baby so she can get a
good view.  Also, keep in mind that during the early months she will he able
to focus clearly only on objects that are approximately eight to 12 inches
away from her eyes, and she will be in the "fencer pose" (looking off to the
side) some of the time, so be sure that the mobile is placed in a proper
position and at an appropriate distance.  Babies at this stage find it easier
to focus on bold colors and contrasts, and human faces are their favorite
things to see, so choose (or make) targets accordingly.  Don't worry about
buying some expensive item that claims to present an especially effective
color scheme or geometric pattern.  Boldly colored shapes or pictures or even
a simple drawing of a human face will do just as well.  And finally, make a
note to remove all mobiles in a couple of months when your baby will be able
to reach for and grab them.


     What can I put in and around my baby's crib for her to look at?

     In addition to mobiles, babies are fascinated by mirrors.  If you attach
an unbreakable stainless-steel mirror to the side of her crib, your baby will
have hours of enjoyment watching the constantly changing images.  Keep in mind
that reflected images appear to be twice as far away as the mirror itself, so
affix the mirror closer to your baby than you would a mobile while her
focusing ability is still limited.  As her vision improves over the course of
the next few months, you can start introducing colorful pictures on the walls
of her room, changing them periodically to avoid boredom.  A prism hanging in
the window produces an artificial rainbow in the room that your baby may find
intriguing.  And don't forget to provide items for her other senses.  A music
box will bring pleasure to her ears, a variety of textured blankets will
interest her sense of touch, and a vase with different flowers or a container
for assorted perfumes and scents will be pleasing to her sense of smell.  Just
remember to keep all of this "stimulation" fairly gentle, and take note that
it is all nice, but none of it above and beyond what you would ordinarily find
in the room should be considered absolutely necessary.


     When she was born, my baby received a lot of rattles and stuffed animals
as gifts, but she doesn't play with them.  Is this unusual?

     Not at all.  Although these items typically are among the first
playthings presented to babies, they constitute very poor choices for
newborns.  In the first place, newborns tend to keep their hands in a fisted
position, so it is necessary for an adult to pry open their fingers before
giving them an object to hold.  Once the object is placed in their open hands,
they will grasp it reflexively.  However, they will have no idea that they are
grasping it, so they won't even look at it--much less shake it or hug it.
And, after a few seconds, they will simply drop it, and will show no interest
in retrieving it or even any awareness that it is gone.  It will be several
weeks before your baby can interact with these items effectively.


     Once my baby starts using her hands and eyes together, what can I do to
enhance her visual/motor activities?

     At first, your baby's ability to coordinate her hands and eyes will be
rather crude, and she will still be keeping her fingers clenched most of the
time.  Therefore, her visual/motor activities will consist largely of simply
batting and swiping with a closed fist.  At approximately two months of age,
you can introduce a sturdy crib gym comprised of a strong bar with large
target objects suspended well within the range of her arms.  Starting at about
three months of age, as her fingers unfold and her reaching ability begins to
become refined, you can replace this basic crib gym with a more complex device
consisting of rings and knobs for your baby to grab or hit; this
cause-and-effect feature will provide added enjoyment for your baby.  However,
do not invest a lot of money in any such item, because as soon as your baby
can sit up by herself at approximately five and a half or six months, crib
gyms become a safety hazard and should be removed.


     Are most of the crib gyms sold in toy stores appropriately designed for
babies?

     A lot of them are, but many of them are not.  The primary design problem
found in commercial crib gyms is the use of a single piece of string to
suspend the target objects.  Remember, your baby is learning to use her hands
under the guidance of her eyes for the first time, and getting the hang of it
isn't easy.  If she reaches out and is lucky enough to grab the target object
on her initial attempt, fine.  But if she misses and just grazes the target,
it will start swinging back and forth wildly, and she is likely to become
extremely frustrated as she makes further attempts.  Therefore, any crib gym
you choose (or make) should be designed so that the target objects are
suspended by plastic or some other semirigid material that allows them to
return relatively quickly to their original position; this will give your
baby a fair chance to try again.  Another common problem is that the
recommended age range printed on the box is exaggerated, and the purchase
price is high.  As enjoyable as these toys are for babies, they will be
appropriate only for a brief and specific period of time, so it is suggested
that you invest your money accordingly.


     What can I provide to keep my baby entertained when she's not in her
crib?

     Whenever your baby is not in her crib, she will be entertained to a
considerable extent simply by the new sights and sounds to which she is
exposed, as well as by the people who pick her up, hold her, and play with
her.  For those times when she is by herself for a while on a blanket on the
floor, for instance, you can provide her with a collection of safe, suitable
objects for her to explore with her senses.  As she becomes more adept at
using her fingers to pick up and manipulate things around her, she will enjoy
various store-bought items, like rattles and teething rings, along with a
wide variety of ordinary household items, such as coasters and key rings.
Make sure all items are nontoxic and too large to be swallowed, and try to
introduce new textures, colors, and sounds on a regular basis.  Also, remember
that when she drops, throws, or otherwise loses an object, she won't be able
to retrieve it herself.  So in order to avoid doing a lot of fetching, it is
wise to supply her with a few items within easy reach; using suction cups or
string to hold or tether items will limit her opportunities to investigate
them and may constitute a safety hazard.


     Are there any items that are especially effective in keeping a baby
entertained during diapering or bathing?

     Your baby's entertainment requirements will not change during such
episodes, but your need to keep her entertained may increase substantially.
Therefore, if you discover that some particular item seems to hold a special
fascination for your baby (a shiny ring with a colorful collection of keys,
for example), you may want to hold it "in reserve" and bring it out only when
she's especially fussy and/or you're especially busy.  Keeping a mirror
suspended beside the changing table or bath area will help keep your baby
distracted as well.  In addition, don't forget that during this period you are
easily your baby's favorite toy.  Talking to, making faces at, singing to, and
stroking your baby will give her a lot of pleasure and occupy a lot of her
attention while you get things done.


     Is there any toy that is particularly appropriate for a ride in the car?

     Keeping your baby entertained while she's in the car may seem problematic
on the surface.  After all, it is difficult to provide a lot of safe, suitable
objects for her to explore with her hands and mouth, and you certainly won't
be able to retrieve any that she loses.  You can affix a couple of items to
her car seat, but she's likely to become bored with them in a hurry.
Moreover, your ability to entertain her yourself will be severely limited.
However, during this period, babies rarely require any toys at all when
they're in a car.  The new and constantly changing sights and sounds usually
keep them entranced.  What's more, the motion of the car often induces sleep
within a short period of time.


     Are there any items that my baby and I can play with together?

     Not really.  For the first two or three months, your baby won't even have
a clear sense that you and she are separate entities.  For the balance of this
period, even though she may have developed interpersonal awareness (awareness
of herself as a separate person), her capacity for purposeful, intentional
activity will remain limited.  Therefore, truly "interactive" items and
activities are largely inappropriate at this point.  However, once your baby
has developed interpersonal awareness, she certainly will be a "reactive"
creature and will greatly enjoy simple games that place her at the center of
your attention.  Making faces, gently bicycling her legs and clapping her
hands, and other such activities will entertain her endlessly.  They will also
set the stage for future games in which she will be able to initiate the
action.


     How can I make sure that my baby's crib is safe?

     Your crib is a reasonably safe place for your baby as long as you've
taken appropriate precautions in procuring it and setting it up.  You should
look for a crib that has a seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission.  The slats of the crib should be less than two-and-three-eighths
inches apart so your baby's head cannot get caught between them; you might
consider using a set of soft bumpers as well.  Naturally, all finishes should
be smooth; all paints used should be nontoxic.  All hinges and screws should
be well set and out of reach, and there should be secure safety latches on
the drop side that cannot be tripped, either by your baby or by any curious
older children who may have access to the nursery.  Also, check to see that
the mattress fits snugly--if you can fit two fingers between the mattress and
the side of the crib your baby's head could become wedged there.  Make sure
the mattress is firm, and don't use any soft pillows or blankets that can
become easily bunched; until your baby can lift her head up high for long
periods of time by herself, suffocation when lying facedown in materials that
are too soft or easily bunched is a real possibility.


     There seem to be several different types of car seats.  What should I
look for when purchasing one?

     For babies who cannot sit upright for long periods of time, or in
general, for babies who are less than nine months old or weigh less than 17 to
20 pounds, you should use an infant seat that props the child in a rearward
direction and is secured into the front seat of the car.  For older and larger
children, a seat that holds them upright in a forward-facing position and can
be secured into the back seat is appropriate.  The latter sort of car seat
comes in two types.  One is the child model, which has a protector that is
lowered in front of the child and is padded to protect her in case of a crash.
Since it is locked in place with only the standard seat belt, this model is
very convenient, although it limits a curious child's visibility.  The other
type is the harness model that holds the child in place with shoulder, lap,
and crotch straps.  In recent years, the manufacturers of these devices have
developed many excellent models that can be used in several different ways.
In any case, make sure that whatever seat you buy has a label indicating that
it meets all federal requirements, that it is comfortable for your baby, that
it isn't overly complicated to use, that it fits your car, and that it isn't
difficult to attach in case you want to use it in more than one car.


     Are there any special hazards associated with larger pieces of equipment,
such as infant seats, high chairs, and strollers?

     There are several hazards, so again, when making purchases, look for the
seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Key things to
keep in mind are stability and security.  Any such device should have a wide
base that keeps the device steady and decreases the chance of tipping.  It
should also have a good harness that fastens firmly and prevents your baby
from falling or climbing out.  Good support also is important.  Particularly
during the early months when your baby's back, shoulder, and neck muscles are
relatively weak, it is critical that such devices provide sufficient propping.
Any minor shortcomings in this regard should be compensated for by folding and
fitting in blankets or towels accordingly.  Finally, make sure that all
surfaces are smooth and nontoxic, and that all hinges, latches, and other such
features are in good working order and inaccessible to your baby's hands and
fingers.


     I've noticed that babies seem to enjoy mechanical swings and jump seats,
but I've heard that these products are dangerous.  Is that true?

     Possibly.  It depends on how well-designed they are.  Babies, especially
during the first few months, need considerable support for the head, neck, and
back whenever they are in an upright position.  So you need to find a swing or
jump seat that provides enough support.  With jump seats, you also have to be
careful about placing too much stress on delicate bones and joints.  If you
can find such a well-designed device, your baby probably will enjoy being
strapped firmly into it--but only for brief periods of time.  As is the case
whenever she is kept in one place, with limited options for exploration and
investigation, your baby is likely to become bored eventually.  Also, as this
period draws to a close, overusing any type of restrictive device may limit
the number of chances she has to start learning how to get around by herself.
Finally, using these devices more than occasionally is dangerous to the extent
that they become substitutes for human contact.  In other words, your baby may
not object to being in her swing or jump seat from time to time, but she will
always prefer to be rocked or bounced by you.


     What about walkers?  I've heard that they interfere with proper
development of motor skills.

     The jury is still out on this one.  A well-designed walker (one that
provides adequate support and cannot be tipped over easily) will allow a baby
to get around on her own before she learns to crawl and walk.  For this
reason, some child development experts feel that such devices can help to ease
a lot of the boredom and frustration that inevitably occurs during the end of
this period.  While conceding that this may be true, other experts are
convinced that using a walker deprives a baby of opportunities and reasons to
begin learning how to get around on her own.  In addition, the American
Academy of Pediatrics points out that walkers are both unnecessary and
potentially dangerous.  Therefore, if you do decide to use a walker, it is
wise to use it sparingly.  Also, remember that although your baby may have a
fair amount of fun while she's in her walker, the device will enable her to
get into a lot of trouble as well, so constant supervision will be required
whenever she's in it.


     What do I do if, despite all my efforts to keep my baby entertained and
happy, she still seems to get bored or frustrated every once in a while?

     Be patient.  Particularly as babies approach the end of this period, it
is inevitable that they will become bored or frustrated from time to time.
After all, they've had several months to soak up everything in their immediate
environment, and although they now can see, hear, and otherwise sense all
sorts of interesting and exciting things going on "out there," they are as yet
unable to get to those things on their own.  You can double and triple your
efforts to bring your baby new and different items and carry her to different
areas of your home in order to expose her to new and different scenes.
However, no matter how hard you try, it's not likely to be enough.  But just
wait.  Within a few weeks, your baby will achieve the capacity for getting
around on her own.  When she does, a whole new world of opportunities and
experiences will open up for her, and educating and entertaining her will
become a piece of cake.


A SAMPLING OF SUPERB HOMEMADE TOYS

     Particularly during this period, it is never necessary to buy toys for
your baby.  While stores contain many commercial items that are safe and
suitable, none of these products have play value that cannot be duplicated
through the application of a little time and talent in your own home.  For
example, instead of purchasing a mobile, you can simply get a piece of
cardboard or white poster board, draw a basic sketch of a human face on it,
and attach it securely with adhesive tape to the side of your baby's crib.
It may not look like much to you, but as long as it is placed at the proper
distance from her eyes, she will enjoy gazing at it just as much as something
more complicated and expensive.  Using a wooden dowel rod strung across the
top of her crib and lashed securely with string on either side, you can
provide your baby with a more than adequate crib gym.  Simply use two or three
pieces of string (to provide stability) to suspend some lightweight, brightly
colored pie plates from the rod, and your baby will have a ball swiping and
batting at them.  By taking an egg-shaped candy or panty-hose container,
filling it with discarded buttons or dried beans, gluing it together well, and
then gluing on a wooden tongue depressor, you can make a rather ugly but
completely effective rattle that your baby will appreciate just as much as any
store-bought one.  In fact, if you check out what is being offered in the
stores, think about what makes them entertaining, then come up with just a bit
of ingenuity and creativity, you'll be amazed at how many toys you can make
yourself.  Just be sure to abide by all the safety standards, such as using
nontoxic materials and seeing to it that what you make is durable and can't be
broken apart into small pieces by your baby.


MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES

     As already noted throughout the answers in this section, there are
important safety factors to consider when selecting equipment for your baby.
However, you also need to consider practicality.  Certain items, such as a
crib, a high chair, and a car seat, should be regarded as virtual necessities.
But what about all those other items that are for sale?  If you're not
careful, you can spend a lot of money in a hurry.  Therefore, before making a
purchase, it is a good idea to review your reasons for obtaining a particular
product and see if you can come up with an alternative that will do just as
well.  For instance, a carriage provides a comfortable ride for a newborn, but
once she can sit up by herself, it becomes hazardous.  Consequently, you might
consider getting a stroller that can be adjusted into a reclining position for
the younger baby and into an upright position as she gets older.  Similarly, a
bassinet and a cradle quickly lose their suitability, whereas many infant
seats are designed to convert into either a reclining or upright position and
will serve a similar purpose in the early months.  A special changing table
complete with storage shelves and drawers can make diapering more convenient,
but any waterproof surface of sufficient size, placed at a comfortable height
and within easy reach of needed supplies, will do the trick.  Items such as
rocking chairs and slings or backpacks (or frontpacks) can be very nice, but
only if they are going to be used.  Think about whether you're likely to
really use them, and if you are, make sure that they are comfortable before
you buy.  In general, with a little sound judgment, you often can avoid
putting a real strain on your budget in order to provide proper and sufficient
equipment for your baby.