When you find out your baby has little to no vision you have to rethink the way you do everything! Babies take in their environment 80% through sight. This means we have to strengthen and develop the other senses to fill the 80% void. Best way to do that is through the use of TOYS. Every toy we have serves a purpose and a lot of thought is put into each toy before purchase. If your child is visually impaired you don't have the luxury of picking a toy because it's cute it MUST make noise or have texture to keep the engaged!!!!
0-3 Months
Strap on Bells - These we bought with his visual impairment in mind. He fell in love right away and still plays with them. The best part is that no matter the mobility level they can use them. For really littles you can lay them on their back and strap them to their ankles. The great thing about the bells is that they require minimal effort for great sound return. Downside - there are only so many times I can sing Jingle Bells in a day.
Kick to sit Fisher Price Piano - This was and still is a fan favorite! It grows with them and has several different sound settings to keep them entertained. The buttons can be harder to push for the real little ones but I found the 2-3 month mark this was the perfect kicking toy. It also has a setting where is just plays music continuously.
You can also put a sitting device up against it and they can kick it that way.
Lovey with Rattle - This can be any stuffed animal so long as it has a little rattle inside. Our lovey is a little dino blanket with a rattle in the stuffed head. Be sure and find a small lovey that they can wrap their arms around. If you have skills with sewing you can buy the rattles and sew them into any stuffed animal or blanket.
- Side not sleep with lovey before you give to baby so it has your scent and is even more comforting to them
Crinkle Books - The crinkle books are great for when they first start exploring toys. They feel different and sound different. Some come with a rattle inside too which Will would highly recommend. They are machine washable on gentle cycle always a bonus!
Baby Bootie Rattles - These are good for itty bitties. They are a sock that has a soft rattle attached. They can literally wear it all the time, diaper changes, feeding time, and play. It helps them get the constant sensory needs that they would be getting from sight if they had it.
Rattle Cube - This was given to us as a gift. We didn't play with it until the 3 month mark but looking back I think we could have pulled it out sooner. It has an easy to grip silicone outside and a rattle cube inside. The inside rattle cube has black and white figures and mirrors on it which is good for those with some sight.
Bright star easy grip rattle – Not all rattles are equal! It is hard for little hand to grab larger rattles. This rattle has smaller handles to grip. It also has reflective panels in the rattle part for those kids with some vision
Hape Penguin Wabbler – Another great thing about this is that you can hit it anywhere and get sound. If you knock it over it comes back upright so it’s easier for them to find again. We just recently purchased this and play with it while sitting and practicing crawling however it would be a great toy for littles too.
3-6 Months
Assorted Rattles - Will got this as a Christmas present and it has been great. There are enough rattles you can rotate them whenever he gets bored. There are a few he doesn't like but several he loves. In particular the rattle with the single red and yellow ball in picture makes a very different sound than typical rattles.
Noisy touch and feel books - Often the normal touch and feel books wouldn't hold Will's attention long. We started investing in the noisy touch and feel books which he loves! I help guide his hand to find the button and I've noticed he's started trying to find the buttons himself now.
Splash Pad - Tummy time is the worst. No one likes tummy time it's literally just an ab workout with a fun name. The plash mat gives a great different texture to keep them happy in tummy time. Will likes to bounce his mouth off of it and if he has a pacifier in at the time all the better. I wish I could put bells in this!
Quack Stick - These were recommended by the local blind school and have been one of our best purchases. When shook they make bird like sounds. They are also extremely light weight and easy to hold. The colorful end is hollow silicone perfect for TEETHING. It makes sound when Will beats on it so it is for sure a crowd pleaser.
Peanut Ball - This was given to us by Will's occupational therapist. It's great for rocking back and forth in tummy time. You can even place a drum or piano on the one side so when he rolls hit hands hit the music. He loved to hit it like a drum and feel the vibration with his whole body. You can also sit them on it and bounce up and down although that wasn't our favorite. Rocking side to side while sitting really helps with them finding their balance.
Einstein Guitar -This is another one that we were not a huge fan of at first. This is another example of why you don’t give up on a toy and keep trying. He liked it a lot more once he was able to sit on his own and play with it in his lap. The black and white handle makes it easier for them to grip. He also likes to kick at it. Just because a toy is designs for hand often feet work too! The buttons and rattle offer multiple sounds in one toy which is always a bonus.
Piano Mat – This was another gift. It’s great because it can be used so many different ways. I will say he wasn’t a fan of it at first so I had to think outside the box. I would put it on his high chair tray or on a little stool for him to sit at and play. Once he got used to it that way he would play it during tummy time. You can also prop it up against a wall for them to kick, or use on peanut ball. Only con is you cannot wash it easily so if they spit up or a dog steps on it with a muddy paw it takes a minute to clean.
OBall with Rattles – O balls are easy to grip for little baby hands. This has rattles throughout it for sound affect and can easily be attached to activity centers as well. You can put things in the center too that crinkle for even more sound affect.
6-9 Months
Mozart cube - This is best once they are working on sitting. Will was able to use the cube in his lap and push off of it to sit. Before he was able to use it that way I would put it at his feet in his bassinet and he would kick it. It plays the sound of multiple instruments so before he could use it himself I would push one and describe the instrument to him while the music played.
Hape drum – Best part about this drum is the sensitivity. It requires very little touch for it to play music. It makes different drum noises if you hit the top and plays a little tune if you hit the side. It basically makes sound no matter where you hit it! Also another great one to help them practice siting and wrapping their arms and legs around for support.
Hape Rain Stick - This is definitely a hands play toy! I like to keep this toy in our rotation so its like it’s brand new when we pull it out every few weeks/days. It’s fairly easy to grip for sitters and makes a different sound than most rattles. No matter how it’s held or moved it makes noise!
Egg Shaker – We’ve had these for a while but just recently started utilizing. He like to bring them to his mouth and bounce them off of his pacifier for more sound. The ones we have float in water too so we use them as bath toys as well!
9-12 Months
Braille Dimple Toy - We haven't used this toy much yet. It doesn't make noise so it doesn't hold his interest long. It has the outline of shapes with their spelling in braille. It also has the name of different colors in braille as well. The best part by far is that the the 6 dimples make up a braille cell. So while for now it's just something different to feel eventually it can be used to teach them individual letters in braille.
Mozart Cube in displayed in Video
Bottom line you can't go wrong with toys that make noise! The amount of silly songs and tunes I have memorized from all our musical toys are too many to count.
~ All toys tested and approve by William AKA SmushFace ~