High Contrast Images:
Need for Visual Stimulation in babies:
Bold black-and-white images stimulate the development of the optic nerves. Focusing on such visual stimuli trains newborns’ vision, teaching the eye muscles and brain to coordinate and function properly. In the first 3 months, babies can focus on objects that are 8-11 inches away. You can print these images on thick card stock paper and place it near baby’s eyes ( care should be taken to make sure paper does not fall on baby face ) or can be stuck in wall (a4 sheets can also be used for printing purpose)
Choice of Raw Materials while designing Children’s Toys :
When toys are designed from scratch it gives a freedom for creators to look for best and safe raw materials which keeps kids’ physical health safe. When my team & myself design toys, we think about the adverse accidents or worst-case scenario and then include a raw material into cloth toys.
- Yes, everything is enclosed but there are extreme cases on ripping when babies & kids learn to apply their sensory skills, which they are learning as they grow.
- These ripped craft materials / magnets / coin batteries etc. have chances of getting swallowed by babies and kids.
- Cloth toys / activities help during quiet play, travel and to calm downs babies and kids.
- Every loose felt / cotton fabric is large size to avoid swallowing.
- We don’t use goggle eyes – in books or finger puppets. These cannot be stitched and can be stuck on cloth with hot glue, can be ripped easily. ( saves time but not safe )
- Usage of magnets / coin batteries / paper clips has its own safety standards of being enclosed in plastic / tiles which are well sealed in factories. This is not possible in cloth medium.
- Exploring sequin fabric is fun until the embellishments/ microplastics gets detached.
- Marble inside mesh fabric : mesh is nothing but thick net fabric which gets torn when used for a while. Constant pressure may cause fabric to rip, and marble may come out which is danger for kids & babies.
- Hot glue saves time for designing activities but these felt toys/ cloth toys – books / activities looses its quality nor its sustainable. Velcro or craft materials enclosures may rip/ tear faster than a well stitched cloth toy.
Over the years our learning and unlearning helped us to select the right raw materials needed to design and manufacture safe children’s toys and are in constant learning during this journey. Read here to know more
Dangers about coin battery toys: