S.N.U.G ~ Toys to stimulate your child

Premature babies are smaller, and do not have the same strength as term babies, they need very lightweight rattles to hold and play with. If the rattle is too heavy the baby cannot shake it and will quickly get frustrated. These babies are often awake and alert for longer; they sleep less and often need entertaining.

Rattles
Try and find lightweight rattles perhaps that are reflective which encourages visual stimulation.

Tommie Tippee reflective rattle (Superdrug)
Chicco visual shiny rattle (John Lewis)
Mamas and Pappas reflective hand rattle
Mammas and Pappas circus clown rattle
Tiny Love rings, chain links where more links can be added
Shake rattle and roll - moon and stars (Mothercare)

Babies who find it hard to hold a rattle will enjoy Wrist wraps (Mothercare) which can be fastened around the wrist or ankle with a velcro strap. Rattles, which made of different textures, provide added interest for te baby who gets bored easily. Try Mothercare teething coolers, hard and water filled teether rattles.

Mobiles
Visually interesting toys are fun for babies to watch. When they are little they focus better on black and white images. Ladybird produce produce several books with black and white images in. They are easy enough to produce on a computer and once printed off can be laminated and hung above a baby's play area.
Early Learning - Animal mobile - the animals face downwards so that the baby can see the whole animal not just its feet.

Pram rattles
Good to look at but also encourages a child to reach out and explore.
Mothercare fun shapes pram rattle. Ladybird and bugs with faces, this is also lightweight.
The above toys with the exception of the mobile cost between £1 and £5, an inexpensive mobile can be made by covering small boxes with shiny or hologram wrapping paper, or old shiny CD's securely fastened to a coat hanger and hung where the baby can see them but not reach to pull it down.

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