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Image: MomJunction Design Team
Toys are a significant part of childhood, and they keep the children engaged while teaching them new things. If you plan to buy the best toys for babies with Down syndrome, here are some tried-and-tested toys to help them develop and learn while playing. It is essential to pick playthings that intrigue their interests and encourage them to learn new things. We have curated a list of best-selling toys ideal for children with Down syndrome to help you pick the right one.
Top Picks
Benefits Of Toys For Babies With Down Syndrome
Here are some benefits of playing with toys for babies with Down syndrome.
- Colorful educational toys with music and lights can promote interest and engagement in babies
- Toys with easy-grasp, reach, different textures and sounds can help improve fine motor skills and encourage your child to reach and grasp.
- Some toys help enhance social interactions and language learning in children.
10 Best Toys For Babies With Down Syndrome
1. Best Touch-Sensitive: LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
Suitable for children above 18 months, the book has colorful pages and touch-sensitive pictures and words, which play the words, sound effects, and facts for your child to learn. The brain development toy introduces your child to different animals (tigers, monkeys, and turtles). With English and Spanish audio, your child can switch between languages by flipping a switch. Powered by two AA batteries, this book has a star-shaped light-up button that plays two songs and teaches cause-and-effect concepts. You can check out this YouTuber’s review of this visual stimulation toy for more information.
Pros
- Comes with a carry handle
- Introduces early vocabulary
- Aids in color recognition
- Can help with cognitive development
- Promotes interactive playtime
Cons
- Sound after each word may be slightly distracting for some
- Sound may be louder than expected
Point to consider2. Best For Six Months To Three Years: VTech Musical Rhymes Book
Image: Vtechkids The vibrant rhymes book with six easy-to-turn pages features nursery rhymes and colorful pictures. It contains slide-and-twist fun play pieces on each page and five colorful piano keys that play sounds of different instruments. The language development toy has two modes; the learning mode introduces age-appropriate vocabulary, whereas the music mode plays fun sounds and nursery rhymes. It also includes a light-up star that your child can press to see flashing lights in sync with the sounds. Recommended for children aged six months to three years, this book requires two AAA batteries to work. If you want to find out more about this parent-recommended developmental toy and its usage, make sure to check out this testing cum review video on YouTube.
Pros
- Boosts fine motor skills
- Easy operable button
- Made of BPA-free material
- Encourages color recognition
Cons
- May not have a handle for easy carrying
- May be slightly heavy for some
3. Best For Fine Motor Skills: Lamaze Peek-A-Boo Forest Baby Book
Lamaze peek-a-boo interactive book features inspiring rhymes and stories to help your child learn about different forest animals. Opening and closing the soft peek-a-boo flaps can help improve your child’s fine motor skills. It has bright colors, various textures, and crinkles. The crinkly owl plushie on the cover and the durable cloth pages encourage the child to flip through the book, making it an ideal hand-eye coordination toy.
Pros
- Clip-on model
- Improves auditory and visual development
- Encourages language development
- Serves as a great gift idea
Cons
- Air-drying may be time consuming
- May be slightly heavy for tiny hands
Quick tip4. Best For Visual Learning: Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror
Sassy Tummy Time Floor Mirror works for you if you want something to engage your infant and familiarize them with human faces and other pictures. It has a large reflection mirror that will help build self-awareness in your child. The ladybug and butterfly attached to the visual tracking toy facilitate tactile exploration.
Pros
- Curved corners
- Material of the frame is soft
- Easy to clean and wipe
- Aids visual learning
Cons
- Might not be stable
- Mirror may not be clear enough
5. Best Interactive: Ayeboovi Talking Hamster
The Ayeboovi talking hamster repeats everything you say in its cute voice. It is an interactive, soft, fluffy plush toy that your child may enjoy hugging and playing with. The expert-approved toy hamster shakes its body while answering and responds to your touch. It also moves its head up and down automatically, making it the ideal communication toy. This social and emotional development toy requires three AAA batteries and weighs 0.3lb and measures 3.5×5.9×3.9in.
Pros
- Serves as a companion for babies
- Boosts confidence in your little one
- Encourages communication
- Stimulates curiosity
- Ideal birthday gift for boys and girls
- Easy to hold
Cons
- Sound may be a bit loud
- May not have an adjustable volume controller
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has garnered more than 5,397 positive reviews on Amazon.
6. Best Anti-Slip: Joyjoz Baby Musical Mat
Image: Joyjoz Including 25 built-in sounds with two modes, the musical mat’s random mode plays nine melodies, and the one-click mode has nine music keys and seven animal sounds. The tried-and-tested mat responds to stepping and touching with different music and sounds, making it the ideal cause-and-effect toy. It is made of soft, anti-slip fabric and is easy to clean, safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Suitable for children aged one to five, this tactile toy needs three AA batteries, measures 14.96×1.77×9.4in, and weighs 0.67lb.
Pros
- Adjustable volume controller
- Ten pre-recorded songs
- Stimulates creative thinking
- Boosts self-confidence
- Non-slip bottom
- Foldable design
Cons
- May be slightly smaller than expected
- Battery may exhaust quickly
7. Best Colorful: Timy First Bead Maze
If you’re looking for a fun, colorful, and entertaining toy for toddlers, the Timy First Bead Maze might be an apt choice. This gross motor skill toy comes in attractive colors that can help you teach your child about different colors and keep them engaged. Built with a unique and cute design, it can promote visual and sensory stimulation and development in your child. An ideal motor skills development toy, its beads feature printed marine animals, which creates curiosity in children to learn more about life in water.
Pros
- Helps in the development of hand-eye coordination
- Beads are easy to move across the maze
- Can help teach counting
- Vibrant colors
Cons
- May lack suction power
- May be smaller than expected
"I'm impressed by this bead maze's ability to withstand my kids' rough play on a daily basis. The size is perfect for him and helps develop his fine motor skills. I'm satisfied with its educational benefits."
8. Best Sensory: Step2 Car Wash Splash Center
The car Wash Splash Center by the trusted brand Step2 can be the ideal toy set if your children love water and cars. It comes with plenty of car washing accessories to let your children’s imaginations come alive. Additionally, the social interaction toy encourages team play and has sound effects, enhancing children’s sensory development. Finally, its top tray lets your children pour water and watch it fall into the basins attached below, which strengthens their grip, making it an ideal fine motor skill toy.
So, if you are looking for a toy that can keep your children engaged for hours, this one will not disappoint you.
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Has multiple accessories to keep children engaged
- Gets your children’s creative juices flowing
- Builds vocabulary as they learn to use new water-related words
- Enhances social interaction skills
- Can be a good birthday gift
Cons
- May not be great for younger babies
- Assembly may be cumbersome
9. Best For Ages Two and Above: Skoolzy Peg Board
Image: Skoolzy Including 30 pegs in nine colors, a large foam pegboard, and one double-sided pattern card with eight patterns, this problem-solving toy is easy to grasp and stack on the board to build towers through color coordination and creativity. It helps develop motor skills of your child as they sort colors and make different patterns by stacking.
The shape recognition toy is made of quality-tested, non-toxic, BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free materials. Suitable for children aged two and above, it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Washable
- Promotes problem-solving skills
- Helps in color and pattern recognition
- Introduces basic math skills
- Helps develop hand-eye coordination
Cons
- Board may be slightly flimsy
- May lead to choking hazard
"Seeing my kids regularly using this peg set, I can attest to its skill-building features and versatility. They enjoy its range of activities, including stacking and sorting. I just wish it had a storage case to avoid the post-play clutter."
10. Best For Auditory Perception: Looikoos Toddler Musical Instruments
The Looikoos 22-piece musical instrument set is suitable for babies with Down Syndrome as it helps develop auditory perception. Exposing them to multiple musical instruments will encourage them to identify the difference in rhythm and also help them develop hand-eye coordination. This expert-approved auditory stimulation toy set includes a xylophone, a harmonica, two maracas, four shaker eggs, two castanets, a tambourine, two leigh, a wood sounder, a speaker, a rainbow column, a jingle stick, and a white triangle striker. The sensory toy set also includes an attractive, transparent backpack for easy storage.
Pros
- BPA-free material
- Non-toxic wood
- Safety certified
- Promotes parent-child interaction
Cons
- Some small pieces may fall off over time
- Sound quality of a few instruments could have been better
How To Choose The Right Toy For Babies With Down Syndrome?
Consider a few things before buying a toy for babies with Down syndrome.
- Ease of grasping: Consider the toy’s grip and weight to ensure the baby can play with it comfortably.
- Interest: Consider buying toys that stimulate your child’s interests and engage them for a long time. Ensure the toy suits their learning abilities and develops necessary life skills.
- Learning outcome: Toys with multiple sensory inputs may work well for babies with Down Syndrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kind of toys do children with Down syndrome like?
Children with Down syndrome need the same type of toys as normal children. Most infant development specialists agree that music is the ideal way to work on language, social, and motor skills. So, you can opt for musical toys that help create music, have preloaded rhymes, or encourage them to dance (1).
2. How do toys help babies with Down syndrome?
Toys help develop gross motor skills, communication skills, and balancing. Puzzles, putty, playmats, and face mirrors are some toys helpful for your little one (1).
3. Are toys safe for babies with Down syndrome?
Yes, they are, because toys help them stay engaged, build social interaction, and strengthen motor skills (1). However, ensure that the toys are free of sharp edges and BPA.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Finding the right toy for a baby with Down Syndrome is essential to support their proper development. Hence, our team of experienced kids’ toys reviewers and writers bring you a well-sorted list of the best toys for babies with Down syndrome. The list mentions different toys that encourage learning and motor development in babies. These toys have been picked after analyzing several reviews and recommendations on different websites. You will also find a buying guide section to help you select the right product for your little one.
The Bottom Line
Babies with Down syndrome can benefit greatly from toys designed specifically for the condition. These tried-and-tested toys help engage their visual and auditory senses while developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. When picking a toy for your child, ensure it features different textures, sounds, or lights and is made of BPA-free and toxin-free materials. Furthermore, toys for children with Down syndrome should not have sharp edges and small parts that may pose a choking hazard. Our top recommendations are the VTech Musical Rhymes Book with engaging light-up features and the Lamaze Peek-A-Boo Forest Baby Book with varied textured elements for stimulation. You may also consider the Looikoos Toddler Musical Instruments, which help with auditory development.
Infographic: How To Streamline Playtime For Children With Down Syndrome?
Children with Down syndrome benefit significantly from engaging in playtime with appropriate toys, as it promotes their overall development and enhances their cognitive, physical, and social skills. Check out the infographic below to explore ways to create a supportive and inclusive playtime environment for them, fostering their growth and enjoyment.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Our Favorite Toys For Kids Who Have Down Syndrome
https://napacenter.org/down-syndrome-toys/
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