All infants need a pal to coo with during their first year. Baby buddies
come in all colors, shapes and sizes with personalities to keep newborns
company and cozy.
Cosy Pals
Characters to Go
Available in four bright animal personalities, Cosy Pals,
by Tiny Love (ToyShow Preview)
($17.95), are lightly scented floppy toys. Each soft animal giggles when
hugged and develops babies’ sense of sound, sight, smell and touch. Noni
the elephant, Lolli the hippopotamus, Mimi the bear and Maxi the lion
all shape-shift or mold to a baby’s body when held in different positions.
Baby Gund’s Spinkles Comfy Cozy Cow
Baby Gund’s Spinkles Comfy Cozy Cow ($27.95) brings
cuddling comfort with satin paws and an extra soft body. This barnyard
friend is a great listener and makes a wonderful security blanket for
your little one when out of his or her natural habitat.
In the Jungle (on the changing table)
Lamaze Brand Jungle Friends Changing Table Mobile
A movable monkey, lion and giraffe dangle from the festive Lamaze
Brand Jungle Friends Changing Table Mobile by Learning
Curve (ToyDirectory)
($29.99). These stimulating buddies make specials sounds, move up and
down to music and enthrall a baby at changing time. Every colorful creature
can be adjusted as the baby grows. The mobile clips onto a changing table
or crib rails.
Hoopla’s Take & Shake Snake
Manhattan Baby's Take & Shake Snake ($25.00) also
attaches to a crib, changing table or stroller. For infants 6-24 months
on up, this 22-inch-long silly snake has five colorful sections that make
clicking sounds when turned.
At the gym
Whoozit’s 3D Gym to Go
Babies up to 9 months old can get a solid workout in Whoozit’s
3D Gym to Go (ToyDirectory)
($50.00). The bold patterns and colors in the play gym stimulate a baby’s
vision, and scrunchy playmates, attached at various heights, encourage
tactile exploration. After the exercise is over, the gym folds flat for
travel and has an outside pocket for bottles, diapers and other necessities.
Chuckle Baby Rattle
Whether at the gym, on the beach or in the crib, the Chuckle
Baby Rattle ($6.00), also by Whoozit, keeps newborns entertained.
Bright stars turn and move, bold colors brighten baby’s view and giggling
sounds from rattle make infants feel less alone. Soft tubing promotes
teething and the small rattle handle is easy to grip.
Writer's Bio: Tamara Halbritter has been teaching
creative movement and dance to children for over 15 years. As a professional
dancer and freelance writer, she puts plenty of playtime into her schedule.
Currently, she is writing a book about a gifted pair who see other people’s
dreams.
