The Happy Start

As a parent, you might wonder, "How often should I introduce new toys to my baby?" The idea of toy rotation can seem appealing, but how do you start? At The Happy Start, we believe in keeping things simple and intuitive—let your baby guide you!

Babies communicate their preferences through their actions. Pay attention to when your little one seems to lose interest in a toy—that's a sign it may be time to bring in something new. A “long” play session for a baby could last just a few minutes, and they may engage more when you’re playing along.

Signs that your infant or baby is interested in a toy:

They explore it with their hands, mouth, or eyes.
They return to it repeatedly during playtime.
They smile, coo, or babble while playing.
They fuss if you take it away.

Introducing new toys may take time. Your baby’s preferences evolve quickly, so if a toy doesn’t capture their attention right away, give it another shot later. Do not just give up on the toy, especially if you spent money on it. A great way to encourage interest is to pair the new toy with one they already enjoy. For example, our high-contrast vision cards can be combined with another sensory toy for a new experience. Show your baby how both can be played with together to spark curiosity.

Offering too many toys can often overwhelm your little one. Research shows that babies and toddlers engage in deeper, more focused play when given just a few toys at a time. Store the extras and rotate them when your baby’s interest wanes. Reintroduce toys after a break to see if they rediscover their excitement. Sometimes, simply moving a toy to a different spot or introducing it in a new way can reignite your child’s interest. Try placing their favorite toy in a different room, or rotating it in and out of their play area.

Little changes can go a long way in keeping playtime exciting. We encourage you to mix toys from different stages of your baby’s development. Don’t feel like you need to put away toys just because your child is a few months older. Your baby may still enjoy and learn from toys they’ve already played with, discovering new ways to interact with them over time.