A baby gym is a fun and engaging activity toy for children, suitable for the newborn and toddler stages. They can be extremely beneficial for a child’s development, from encouraging independent play to refining gross motor skills.
Read on to find out more about baby gyms and how they contribute to important skills.
A baby gym is a fun and engaging activity toy for children, suitable for the newborn and toddler stages. They can be extremely beneficial for a child’s development, from encouraging independent play to refining gross motor skills. Read on to find out more about baby gyms and how they contribute to important skills
What are baby gyms?
A baby gym is an interactive toy, often involving a playmat and suspended toys. These toys can be made from different colours and materials, including wood or felt. These products are often customisable, meaning you can swap out the toys as your baby grows and develops.
How do baby gyms support your child’s development?
Baby gyms have many benefits – one being their contribution to the development of motor skills.
They provide your child with a safe environment to enjoy supervised tummy time. This is vital, allowing children’s muscles to strengthen, particularly in the neck, shoulders, arms, back and tummy. It also helps babies’ movement and maintain symmetry in the face and body.
Fine motor skills can also improve thanks to a baby gym. Grasping small suspended objects using their hands helps to develop their control and hand-eye coordination.
Children can also practice kicking and reaching for their toys. This greatly benefits gross motor skills, which is the strengthening and controlled use of their arm, leg and core muscles.
Cognitive development
Cognitive development is crucial, as it allows independent and critical thinking while strengthening memory and attention span.
Baby gyms can help refine these skills by linking connections between cause and effect while playing, as well as colour and shape recognition.
They can also provide an early introduction to problem-solving while enjoying fun.
Sensory development and stimulation
Sensory development and stimulation encourage emotional regulation and awareness, as well as brain development. They build an important foundation for further growth and stand your baby or toddler in good stead before they start school in a few short years.
Activity toys often include bright colours and a range of textures, initiating sensory simulation. The suspended colourful toys often make rustling or crinkling noises, triggering auditory simulation too.
Where should I buy a baby gym?
Given the vast range of retailers out there, you need to buy from a trusted and reputable seller whose products you can trust.
Retailers like KiddyMoon offer a comprehensive range of activity toys including a bespoke selection of baby gyms, designed for amusement with your child’s development and sensory integration in mind.
Their hanging toys vary in texture, material, sound and colour, and can be removed or changed making them customisable.
