As a new mom, it doesn’t take long before your living room starts to look like a daycare exploded. There are flashing toys, beeping things, singing bears, and a mysterious “developmental” play gym that sounds like a game show. All in the name of baby stimulation.
But here’s a little secret, mom to mom: babies don’t actually need all that.
In fact, when it comes to stimulating your baby’s senses and encouraging brain development, less is more - a lot more.
Nature is the original toy box
Before batteries and Bluetooth, babies thrived with the simplest, most organic forms of stimulation.
One of the best sensory experiences for your baby? Looking up at the leaves dancing in the wind. The way sunlight filters through the branches, the contrast between shadow and light, the gentle movement - it’s basically a baby’s version of a calming lava lamp.
And it’s free.
If you’ve ever held your baby under a tree and noticed them go absolutely still, totally entranced, you’ve seen this magic in action. That’s not boredom. That’s deep concentration.
Sounds that don’t require an off switch
Sure, there are toys that play Mozart.
But have you ever opened a squeaky cabinet while loading the dishwasher? That sound is just as fascinating to your baby - and it doesn’t come with flashing red lights or an “on/off” button that makes you question your sanity.
Babies are surrounded by sounds: the hum of the fridge, the whoosh of the washing machine, the creak of a floorboard, your voice as you hum to yourself while folding laundry. All of these everyday noises help your baby learn about rhythm, tone, and cause and effect.
You don’t need to buy a singing octopus to give your baby a rich auditory experience - you just need to live your life (maybe with a bit less whispering and tiptoeing).
One toy at a time!
Too many toys can overwhelm your baby.
When you plop your little one down in front of a pile of primary-colored plastic, they don’t know where to look. Their tiny brains, still under construction, can’t process that much input at once.
Instead, offer one simple toy at a time - a wooden rattle, a soft cloth book, a silicone ring - and let your baby explore it slowly. You’ll notice longer play sessions, more focus, and fewer moments where you both wonder, “Now what?”
You’re the best stimulation there is
Your face, your voice, your scent - you are the ultimate toy (sorry, “multi-sensory” giraffe.)
When your baby stares at you while you chat to them about your grocery list or narrate what you’re doing with the laundry, that’s stimulation. That’s learning.
So if you’re feeling guilty for not owning the latest high-tech play gym, don’t. Your baby doesn’t need it. They just need you, a window with a view of a tree, and maybe a wooden spoon or two.
Trust yourself.
Keep it simple.
And save the batteries for the TV remote.