A newborn doesn’t need many toys, especially the candy-colored stuffed animals they are likely to accumulate as gifts. In fact, it’s safer to keep an infant’s crib and play area free of toys. But when you do buy toys for your baby girl, look them over carefully. All toys should have smooth edges and be nontoxic, nonbreakable, and washable. Never give a baby a toy smaller than 15 ⁄8 inches across that can be swallowed (check all parts that may fall off and become a choking hazard). Cut off any ribbons and strings, and check all toys occasionally to be sure they are in good repair. 32 Baby Girls IT’S ALL IN THE BRAIN Even before birth, there are differences between the male and female brain. The brain is 10 percent smaller in mass in girls than in boys, but the girl’s corpus callosum (which connects the two hemispheres of the brain and helps coordinate the activities of the left and right hemisphere) is larger. The female brain produces more serotonin—a quieting agent, which may explain why the female fetus does not seem to be as active as the male. Here is a list of toys that are worth considering for your baby girl: • Mobile: A wind-up or electric mobile visible from the crib can give your daughter something interesting to look at while she’s lying on her back. Many mobiles also play music. Be sure the mobile is securely fastened, out of her reach, and not hanging directly over the crib (just in case it falls). Crib mobiles should be removed by the time your daughter is able to get on her hands and knees, usually when she is about five or six months old. A mobile visible from the changing table can also help keep her amused during diaper changes. • Rattle: Once your daughter can grasp something, she’ll love rattles, especially if they have parts that spin or otherwise move. But buy your rattles with caution: Avoid those with ball-shaped ends. Check for small ends that could extend into the back of her mouth. Take rattles and other small objects out of the crib or playpen when she sleeps. And remember that, like pacifiers, rattles should never be fastened to a cord around your daughter’s neck. • Padded play mats placed on the floor, often with segments that crinkle or squeak, are fun for babies who cannot yet crawl. • Floor gyms provide things for girls to grab and bat while they lie on their backs on the floor.Colleen loved her indoor swing. It was the one place I could put her down knowing I would have at least ten minutes of peace to wash some dishes (or my face!) and throw in a load of laundry while she happily swung back and forth, lulled by the rhythmic motion. I tell all my friends that this is a “must-have” piece of baby equipment. Baby swings are semi-reclining seats that hang on rigid arms from a four-legged frame. Both electric and wind-up versions are available. Babies differ widely in their reaction to swings, so it’s best to try them out before buying one, especially because they take up a lot of floor space. If you do decide to buy a swing, check it carefully for safety. The base should have non-skid, sturdy legs. It must also have a seat belt and crotch restraint to hold your daughter’s squirmy body in place. I prefer the battery-operated over the wind-up version because it can be reset without making a noise that might wake the baby. An adjustable seat is also a plus so you can recline it for your newborn and raise it as her neck gets stronger
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