“How often should I give my baby new toys to play with?”

Parents ask:

“How often should I introduce new toys to my baby? I have heard about toy rotation but don’t know how to do it.” 

Lovevery experts answer:

It’s great that you’re thinking about toy rotation—it can help keep your child stimulated, engaged, and focused while also minimizing clutter. There’s no one-size-fits-all schedule or guideline for rotating toys. Following your baby’s cues is your best move. 

Here’s what experts want parents to know about when and how to offer new playthings:

1. Follow your child’s lead

Watch for signs that your baby’s interest in a toy is starting to fade—it may be time to switch things up. Keep in mind that a “long” play session for a baby may be just a couple of minutes and they may play longer when you participate.

Your baby may be showing interest in a toy if they: 

• Investigate it with their eyes, mouth, or hands.
• Return to it often during playtime.
• Smile, babble, or coo when they play with it.
• Fuss or cry if it is taken from them.

Your toddler may be showing interest in a toy if they: 

• Play with it longer or more often than other toys.
• Try new ways of playing with it or combine it with other toys.
• Want to share it with you or show you how it works. 
• Carry it around with them.
• Re-engage when you introduce the toy in a new way.

2. Introduce new playthings alongside familiar favorites

You may have to introduce a new plaything several times before your baby shows interest. Their preferences can change quickly, so try the toy again in a few days or weeks—they may have learned a new skill or concept that makes it more exciting. You may be able to spark your baby’s curiosity by offering a new plaything along with a familiar one. Model how your baby can play with both toys together. For example, try placing something different, like the Wooden Pegs, into the Ball Drop Box for a change of pace.   

3. Offer just a few toys at a time

For a baby—or even a toddler—too many choices can be overwhelming. Research shows children engage in deeper, more focused play when offered just a few toys at once. Keep any extra playthings stored away for another time. You can give your child the same toy until they show signs of losing interest, then put it away for a few days or weeks. Try reintroducing the toy after a break and see how your child responds.

4. Re-introduce familiar playthings in a new way

A simple location change may renew your child’s excitement about a plaything. Even a subtle switch like moving a toy from one shelf to another can spark their desire to explore. The Montessori Playshelf makes it easy to present toys on different shelves while offering storage for toys that are out of rotation. As your child becomes more mobile, they may like to rediscover familiar toys in new places. 

5. Combine playthings from past and current kits

There’s no right or wrong way to combine the Lovevery Play Kits—they’re designed to be explored in new and increasingly complex ways as your child grows. Some toys will match where your child is now and others will be appropriate for their developmental skills in a few weeks or months. If your child is still attracted to a toy from an earlier kit, feel free to keep it out. 

Try mixing and matching elements from different Play Kits as another form of toy rotation. Here are a few examples:  

• Pull the Bright & Light Play Scarf through the hole of the Ball Drop Box. 
• Offer the Organic Cotton Rainbow Ball and Felt and Wooden Balls together in the Treasure Basket.  
• Lay some Magic Tissues over a few “Things I See” Texture Cards. Pull a tissue off for a reveal, while saying something like, “Hello, dog!” Then, replace the tissue as you say, “Goodbye, dog!” 

6. Focus on open-ended play

When you bring out a new toy, try to strike a balance between modeling how to use it and allowing your child to explore it freely. Babies and young children are wired to learn through open-ended discovery. Remember, even if your child isn’t playing with the toy the “right” way, they’re still learning. For example, they may be more interested in mouthing the coins than placing them in the Wooden Coin Bank. They’ll eventually discover a different way of engaging with the plaything.

Meet the Lovevery experts who answered this question

Sarah Piel, MSEd

Sarah Piel is a certified special education teacher and child development expert. For over 15 years she has worked with children from birth to age 5 to support social, emotional, cognitive, and language learning.

Gabrielle Felman, MSED, LCSW

Gabrielle Felman, founder of Felman Early Childhood Consulting, works with children from birth to age 7 to support social, emotional, and cognitive learning.

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Learn more about the research

Gopnik, A. (2020). Childhood as a solution to explore–exploit tensions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 375(1803), 20190502.