How to Choose an Award-Winning Baby Toy: A Parent's Guide
/Editor's Note:
This article originally celebrated the 2019 Mother & Baby Awards winners. As part of our commitment to providing evergreen, valuable advice, it has been updated to be a general guide on what makes a baby toy "award-winning." The specific brands mentioned are for illustrative purposes of the product types that win, not as an endorsement of brands we may no longer carry.
What Makes a Baby Toy "Award-Winning"? A Look at the Industry's Best
For over 25 years, the Mother & Baby Awards have been one of the most rigorous and respected awards in the parenting industry. What makes them so special? They are judged by the real experts—an army of over a thousand real parents who live with these products for a month and give their honest, unfiltered opinions.
When a product earns this seal of approval, you can trust it's been thoroughly put through its paces for reliability, quality, and value for money.
Instead of just looking at a list of past winners, let's analyze the types of products that win and the key features that make them stand out. This will empower you to choose the best possible toys for your baby.
The Qualities of a Gold-Standard Baby Toy
Here are the categories of toys that consistently win awards and the features that make them shine.
Category 1: The Innovative Teether
Teethers are a must-have, but an award-winning one goes beyond a simple plastic ring.
What to look for: A winning teether is often made from 100% food-grade silicone, making it soft, flexible, and completely safe. The design is ergonomic, with handles or shapes that are perfectly sized for tiny hands to grip. The most innovative feature is often a dual purpose, such as having textured bumps that not only soothe sore gums but also double as a teething gel applicator, helping parents apply medication right where it hurts.
Category 2: The Versatile Activity Center
The best activity centers are investments that grow with your child, providing value for many months.
What to look for: Look for a product that converts and adapts. A winning model might transition from a seated entertainer for a younger baby into a walk-around or stand-and-play activity table for a toddler. It should offer 360 degrees of play, with a variety of engaging toys, lights, sounds, and textures to stimulate all of your baby's senses.
Category 3: The Developmental Play Gym
A simple mat on the floor is good, but an award-winning play gym is a hub of development.
What to look for: The key is interactivity and adjustability. Look for play gyms with adjustable arches that can be moved to suit your baby's developmental stage. They should be rich with sensory experiences: dangling toys to encourage reaching and batting, baby-safe mirrors for self-discovery, and a variety of crinkly fabrics and soft textures on the mat itself.
How to Choose Your Own "Award Winner"
When you're shopping for your baby, you can act like your own judge. Don't just look at the brand name; look for the features that provide real value, support development, and make life easier and more fun for you and your baby.
