As a parent, you are your baby’s first teacher. There are thousands of toys on the market to help your child learn and grow, but there aren’t many toys that you’ll need for your baby’s first year. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to provide your child with a stimulating and nurturing environment. Below are some toys that will help stimulate baby’s brain without breaking the bank.

YOU!
You are the best toy your child will ever have! You can sing, dance, scoop baby up and swing him around, play with him, tickle him, feed him… You alone can engage all of his senses while simultaneously giving him love and affection. What toy can do that?

Rattles and Teething Toys
These bright toys will engage baby’s sight and stimulate his interest. Rattles will also stimulate his sense of sound, while teething toys can provide much-needed relief when those teeth start coming in.

Shape Sorter
Not only will this help your child learn shapes, it will also help him learn about categorization and become a great problem solver.

A Tummy Time Toy
Baby activity centers, mirrors, or other tummy time toys will help keep baby engaged while he is working on some much-needed motor skill development.

Mobiles
A mobile over baby’s head will engage both his sense of sight and sound. While newborns can really only distinguish mostly black and white colors, a bright, soothing mobile will delight baby as he gets older.

Blocks
You probably already knew that blocks are one of the best toys for toddlers; they help build motor, problem-solving, creativity, and even counting skills. But did you know that they make extra soft blocks—both cloth and plastic varieties—for younger babies?

Nesting Cups or Stacking Rings
Teaching baby about size, shape, math, eye-hand coordination, and many other skills can be as simple as using these very basic but effective and engaging toys.

Balls
What baby doesn’t love a ball? Babies love balls that are plush or textured and easy to handle. Balls are great for motor skill development, eye-hand coordination, and even developing social skills in taking turns later on.