Five Smart High-Contrast Toys for a Newborn Baby

My favorite toys for newborns promote early development through play. Also, they are free of toxic plastics and aren't made in China, a country with questionable quality control over toys.

Here are five inexpensive toys for newborns. Each was designed with early development in mind.

1. Newborn Rattles

The Lamaze toy brand makes developmentally-appropriate toys for babies. For newborns, Lamaze wrist rattles and ankle rattles are a great choice. Parents attach these to the baby to help promote body awareness.

The high-contrast rattle designs shown here feature a bug and a flower. Too cute!

Every baby needs a teether. Sophie the Giraffe is supercute! This teether is made of natural rubber and food paint; it's free of phthalates and BPA plastics.

Why do babies adore this teether? The dotted giraffe pattern catches their attention. There are lots of nubby surfaces. Also, it squeaks!

The best mobile will capture your baby's ears and eyes. Remember that your baby can't see clearly beyond a foot or so. Therefore, it's a good idea to get a very high-contrast mobile.

The Wimmer-Ferguson brand specializes in this type of baby mobile; they're award-winners in Baby Genius toy contests. Some Wimmer-Ferguson mobiles have interchangeable parts. These let parents first use black and white attachments and then switch to color.

Your baby will spend lots of time on the floor. They might as well learn while down there.

Treat your baby to a stimulating floor mat. A good floor mat is not only soft, it's also interactive. Look for baby-safe mirrors, varied textures and fun squeaky spots. The best floor mats also have high-contrast colors and patterns.

Like deluxe cat toys, some baby floor mats also have enticing attachments that dangle from above.

It's never too early to foster a love of book time. For newborns, start out with high-contrast black and white books if possible. Then move to books with primary colors.

Babies explore with their hands, so get books with plenty of interesting textures.

Most of all, use reading time to help your baby feel snug and secure. It's a first step to becoming a smart little scholar!