When Your Baby is Afraid of a Toy - What to Do

Like most parents in the world, giving babies toys is something we look forward to. We imagine them laughing and smiling as they see their new toy and having much fun with it. Some babies however, do not react the way we had imagined and instead become scared of their new toy. Here are some tips to help parents who are dealing with babies who act scared of their toy.

First off, if your baby acts scared of a new toy you have just given them, take the toy to an opposite end of the room and act as if you are playing with it. Remain calm, relaxed and smile as you handle the toy. Your baby will not only take notice of your actions as you play with the toy but also of your emotions. Babies are usually in tune with how their parents feel and take notice of how they act. If you remain calm and look as if you are enjoying yourself your baby will take notice and show more interest in the toy. Allow your baby to crawl over or toddle over to you. Let them watch you play for a while.

Next do not ever try and force the toy on the child. This never yields good results. If you notice your child has calmed down and looks interested try introducing them to the toy again. Lay it next to them and allow them to look at it or touch it. Most of the time this is all your baby needs to get reacquainted with the toy and get excited about it. Smile at your baby encouragingly and talk to him or her and reassure them that it is okay to play with toy. Do not rush your child. Let them go at their own pace.

For those parents who are dealing with a case where their child shows extreme fear and resorts to crying and truly acting afraid, then put the toy up for a while. How long you keep the toy up depends on a few different factors. Some babies will be okay after a day or two whereas some parents may need to put the toy away for a few weeks. When you bring the toy back out, just put it where your baby can see it. Allow your baby to become interested in it on his or her own time frame. You may have to do this whole process several times over but it will be worth it in the end once you see your baby enjoying themselves with their new toy. Always remember to purchase age appropriate toys. While there are some really neat toys out there for babies and toddlers be sure to stick with a toy that is in the right age group for your baby. This will help the whole process go smoother.