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Choosing the Best Toys for Your Blind Baby
It is possible to find toys designed specifically for blind children. American Printing House for the Blind (APH), for example, has some really cool things you can buy for your blind child. However, most of these are for older children, so when it comes to baby toys, you're probably going to find yourself purchasing toys originally designed for sighted children.
How do you know which toys will work best for your kid? Here are some of our favorite toys as well as some tips on how to choose the best toys for your child.
Ivan's Favorite Toys
These are Ivan's top picks for toys. Most of them are available through amazon.com. For more toy ideas check out our articles on Toys for Toddlers or making your own Scented Rattle and Toy Basket. If you have a great toy you want to add to the list, contact us and let us know!
First Years Stack Up Cups ($3.99) Buy at Babies R' Us.
These cups are simple, safe, and sturdy. They're great for enhancing fine motor skills. Use them to introduce the concepts of "big" and "little," "in" and "out," etc.
Fisher Price Baby's First Blocks ($9.99) Buy at Toys R' Us
These blocks are great for encouraging your child to pick things up. The bucket has a sorting top and is a wonderful way to introduce putting things in and taking things out.
Casio SA-75 Keyboard ($46.49) Buy at Amazon
Ivan loves to play with instruments, especially his keyboard. The Casio SA-75 is a good size and a good price for a baby's first piano. And it works very well.
Lamaze Octotunes ($25.99) Buy at Amazon
Each leg on this octopus plays a note when squeezed, but my favorite thing about the Octotunes is that it smells like vanilla!
Gund Tinkle Crinkle Rattle & Squeak ($11.35) Buy at Amazon
Each section on this caterpillar provides some sort of feedback, whether it's a rattling bell, a squeeze sound, or a crunchy texture. Ivan loves this toy.
Leapfrog Discovery Ball ($29.99) Buy at Amazon
The discovery ball makes music when you tap or spin it. It also plays the ABC song and will play a different tune for each letter of the alphabet. It's a great way to learn about cause and effect.
Leapfrog Learning Table ($39.88) Buy at Amazon
The learning table does a lot of things - too many, maybe, for a young baby. But Ivan likes to sit on one end and smack the table to make it sing the ABC song or tell him about shapes. He's learned about object permanence with this table because he knows which parts of the table will provide what feedback. It'll also be a great toy to play with when he learns how to stand!
Tips to Help You Choose the Best Toys
- Safety First: Blind babies tend to mouth their toys longer than sighted babies so take this into consideration when choosing toys for your child. Sometimes the age restrictions on a toy may not apply to your baby, so be careful.
- Simple is Best: Sometimes the best toys are ones that are very simple. Ivan's favorite toys are his ring, his stacking cups, and his wooden pegs. These are easy for him to manipulate and they are great educational toys. Of course, the simple toys are also the hardest to find!
Think Beyond the Visual: Naturally you'll want to look for toys that make sound, offer interesting textures, or even produce soothing smells. Try to find toys that will entice your child's other senses. If your child does have limited vision, choose high-contrast toys or toys with lights. As far as sounds go, instruments are always a winner!- Beware of Representations: Dolls, stuffed animals, trucks, and other toys that represent other real-life objects can be confusing to a blind child. Be sure to explain that the toy is not a truck, but a toy truck. Don't expect your blind child to play with these toys right away. For example, a little blind girl may take awhile (if ever) to cuddle her plastic "baby" doll because she can't see that it's supposed to represent a baby.
- Is it Too Loud? Maybe it's just me, but most toys are way too loud these days. It's as if toy manufacturers want our kids to grow up hearing impaired! Besides looking for quieter toys when shopping, you can also mute loud toys by placing scotch tape or even duct tape over the toy's speaker. If the tape mutes the toy too much, try poking a hole or two through the tape until you find the perfect volume.
- Enhance Motor Skills: Many blind children are delayed in gross and fine motor skills. When choosing a toy for your child, try to find something that will encourage them to move in new ways. Do they have to twist or roll to get to the toy? Does it require fine motor hand manipulation? Find toys that can increase your child's skills but aren't too advanced. You don't want to frustrate your little one!
- Price: Don't pay too much for a toy. For one thing, you never know how long your child is really going to be interested in it. Also, if the toy seems really beneficial (but really expensive) you may be able to get a charity, like your local Lion's Club, to cover part or all of the cost. Finally, ask your Early Intervention Program if they have the toy on hand. You may be able to borrow the same toy or something similar through their program.