Babies and children learn through play, so choosing age-appropriate toys is one way you can encourage their development. You'll love watching them explore the world around them and expand their imagination using their toys as props to act out whatever is on their mind. It’s also a great opportunity to bond with your little one, giving you a glimpse into what their busy brain is thinking about. So whether you're after baby toys, toys for young children, or toys you can enjoy with your newborn, You'll love the massive range at Baby Bunting.
Bring your play area to life by choosing toys that will surprise and delight your baby or toddler. The colours, textures, shapes and sounds stimulate their senses, allowing your child to develop key skills, like tracking objects with their eyes, identifying sounds, holding objects and passing them from hand to hand, stacking, sorting and throwing. You'll love watching your little ones develop their imagination – learning to create through their toys is a great way for them to learn and mature.
Our massive range of newborn toys, play equipment and kids toys includes:
- Rockers and Bouncers: Baby rockers and bouncers are useful for keeping your newborn calm while offering interesting shapes that hang down at just the right distance for their developing eyesight.
- Play Mats and Play Gyms: Baby play mats and play gyms are perfect for tummy time and help to keep your baby secure and safe while moving about.
- Interactive Toys: Interactive toys allow babies to build motor skills through pushing colourful buttons, push and grab different surfaces and shapes.
- Walkers and Jolly Jumpers: Baby walkers and jolly jumpers offer a range of positions and movement patterns for your baby, helping them build strength and motor skills for walking.
- Books: Picture and storybooks for babies and toddlers assist with neurological development, as well as helping to form bonds between baby and mum and dad when being read.
There are lots of reasons why you would want to choose your toy collection carefully. Physical space available for toy storage, values and your child’s interests all play a part, so whether you're shopping for your little one or buying a gift for someone else, here are some ideas to consider when shopping for baby toys.
If your baby is old enough to communicate their interests, be led by them! Play schemas might help you figure out what type of toys your child would enjoy and benefit from – for example, if they enjoy throwing things, soft toys they can safely throw around might be a good idea (just make sure they're not filled with soft beads or anything that could be dangerous should the toy tear). If they enjoy connecting things, blocks are great to have around. By watching and listening to your child and how they play, choosing the right toys becomes a lot easier.
For newborns, toys that support their rapidly growing body and brain are excellent. Look for newborn toys that engage each of your baby's senses. For example, bright colours or high contrasting black and white are great for eye tracking, musical toys for their hearing or toys with different textures help send messages from their little hands and feet to their brain.
Ensure any toys you purchase for a newborn or young baby are safe for them to put in their mouth because mouthing objects is a key way many babies learn about the world around them!
Putting items in their mouths isn't limited to newborns and young babies, so ensure any baby or toddler toys you purchase are made from quality materials and are safe and suitable for your child.
Some things to watch out for include toys that have small, detachable parts, strings or filling that could spill out. Be cautious with toys that have hazardous magnets or button batteries, as children with inquisitive minds can open toys with batteries and potentially put them in their mouths. Make sure to read any safety instructions, labels and directions before use and throw out any packaging straight away. Close supervision during playtime is also important for safe play.
Every family is different when it comes to buying toys. Some people have dedicated playrooms with extensive storage available, while others have limited space or wish to keep the toy collection small. Some families don't mind what the toys are, and others are particular about the materials, size, or types of toys they keep at home. No matter what your position is, thinking ahead about where to store the toys and what matters to you will help guide your choices when shopping for baby toys.
At Baby Bunting, Australia's largest online baby store, we stock a wide selection of baby and toddler toys from leading industry brands, like Bright Starts, Dreambaby, 4Baby and many others. You can shop with us online, in person at your local store or by using our free contactless click and collect option. Regardless of how you choose to shop, our friendly staff are here to help you make the right decision for your little one, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Browse our full selection of baby and toddler toys, like play gyms, mats, soft toys, interactive toys and much more now. Discover our Price Promise, where if you find a lower price at a competitor on an identical in-stock product (including delivery), we’ll beat it by 5%.