The Truth About This Trending Baby Toy Advice...

Many articles and social media posts have recently recommended against the use of a certain type of toy because it's said to delay development. This is quite concerning if true! So I took a deeper look into this claim to really understand what's going on.
In this video you'll learn where this all came from, and whether or not there's any truth to the claim that battery operated toys are bad for a baby's development.
As always, there's nuance to a conversation like this, so hopefully this helps clarify things for you.
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Study Referred:
Sosa AV. Association of the Type of Toy Used During Play With the Quantity and Quality of Parent-Infant Communication. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;170(2):132-137. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.3753
#emmahubbard #babydevelopment #babytoys
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[@courtneyperry7659]

I would also add to this conversation that it's unrealistic to assume that you are going to have quality, educational playtime with your child every moment they are awake. Quality time with your child and doing things to help their development is important, but it's also fine for them to work on a new non-language skills and even to just have parts of your day where you don't worry about how much your child is learning or developing in that moment. Parents have to take time for themselves and worry about other household responsibilities (dishes, cooking, shopping, bills, laundry, etc.) and that's normal and ok and realistic. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@EmmaHubbard]

So true!

[@AnnaliseTull]

Yes! ❤️

[@csengegall2595]

And other family members and their own mental health!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for watching! Which battery-operated toy does your baby love? My 11-month-old loves the musical inset puzzles this week - watching her bop to the music is the best😂

[@sabine46]

My boy used to love this loud plastic cookie jar toy. I can still sing the entire tune from memory! 😂 He went from learning to grab them out the top, banging them together and against the jar, putting them in at the top and eventually finding the right shape on the side to push the right shape in! 👍 We will see if his sister loves it too when she's old enough!

[@wasanaranaweeraarachchige]

Piano gym from 2-6 months Activity cube buttons around 8 months The removable piano in the walker after 1 year (He actually learned to press small buttons from these 2) (He developed fine motor and understood cause and effect from them) Loved his soundbooks from 4 months (no lights, only sounds)

[@lindi792]

My 7 month old loves a doggy steering wheel toy. He sometimes has to wrestle it away from his 3 year old brother.

[@karlrovey]

Both of my kids liked (and still do) sound puzzles and toy keyboards.

[@pauls4523]

Thanks for making a video about this, Emma. Your channel has been one of my go to sources for parenting advice over the past year. I also read the same study and can agree that allowing your children to play with battery operated toys doesn't necessarily mean there will be lower quality interaction/communication between parent/child. However, my concern with these toys and other electronics (TVs, Ipads, etc.) are about overstimulation and the impact on attention long-term. While not exactly the same, the relationship between screen time and attention/focus has been well established. I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether these types of toys should be considered as potentially being able to have that same negative impact, perhaps in a broader discussion about screen time etc.

[@bunnysm]

True that! My boy got such a toy at 7 months and he started crawling almost immediately because he wanted to reach it. However, he would stare at it completely transfixed, I remember feeling scared about it. I would still let him play with it because I was getting 0 me time, having no family around, and an absentee husband who couldn't bother changing a single diaper, let alone play with the baby. In the end, my boy did have speech delays, which, even for a bilingual family were a bit too great, but he would use a lot of sounds and made-up words to express himself in a very complicated manner, so I am not sure to what degree I can blame the robot. Now he is almost 6 and can speak satisfactory 2 languages and it is obvious that he will never be a chatty person, much like his father.

[@sabine46]

I always think of it like this. Everything in moderation! They can learn from singing, talking, sensory play, colourful loud plastic toys, wooden montessori toys, safe household items, everything safe in nature, etc. (Even screen time later on) Just make sure it's all in moderation and age appropriate and they will grow and learn and be happy and content! 😊 My 2y8m boy had access to all and talks like a 3/3,5 year old! And is very clever, knows his numbers and letters and all such things. Happy and doing great. Now his baby sister will get the same! ❤

[@kellychapeskie2915]

I thought the issue with battery operated toys was more about the over-stimulation from the sounds and lights, being similar to the reasons why we shouldn’t allow screen time before age 2. I’m not aware of the studies at all, just going from what I’ve heard through the grapevine, but should we not be worried the battery operated toys could impact attention and focus in our children long-term?

[@c.2538]

Same here that’s why I avoid them

[@winghavenfloralfarm637]

I agree, I feel like they lead to babies and children becoming uninterested in less stimulating toys that encourage more imaginative and creative play.

[@irenaw2504]

Screen time should be allowed at age 2?! More like 12! It will soon officially be a crime to let young children watch screens, it's terrible for their emotional development and their general health (especially the eyes!)

[@hellyeah_ellajane]

We didn’t have many battery operated toys for my baby except for a little bumble bee that rode around the floor on a cloud. This toy helped catalyze my baby learning to crawl by 6 months old. There’s a time and place for all sorts of toys, variety is what’s important.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Variety is key! A mixture of toys is always great.

[@SettieSpaghetti]

We didn’t really do battery toys in the early stages for my daughter, which resulted in her being fearful of dancing and singing toys. I decided to incorporate them as high value toys, so they’re great when I’m busy or when kids are sick and they need some good distraction. We still mostly lean on puzzles and imagination toys, but the talking toys and a tablet has a place too!

[@papabear5506]

I actually avoid battery operated toys for one simple reason: batteries die. It always feels like I'm paying for the same toy over and over. We have adopted the idea of mostly acquiring what we're calling "heirloom toys" which are toys that will hopefully be passed down generationally.

[@UdreamWeprint]

There's this thing called rechargeable batteries.

[@papabear5506]

Yeah, which require recharging... Still more money and effort than something that works perpetually on its own. However minimal that may be it's still more and just adds one more thing onto the neverending list of things to do to keep a household running, happy, and healthy. But whatever works for you is great!

[@Calvin.rx1l]

Batteries cost less than a fraction of the price of children's toys..

[@papabear5506]

@Calvin-rxb not when you thrift shop ✌

[@cagatota]

A lot of people referring to studies but few of them actually read them.

[@Amari37-x1o]

Yes!!

[@bendakstarkiller3407]

Thats why we watch videos like this. So someone else can read the study and we get to listen to the summary. 😂

[@smitasharma7169]

Your videos are so informative and practical! 😊Please do a video on screentime for kids!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Great suggestion!

[@wasanaranaweeraarachchige]

Please do a video on how to reduce screentime for toddlers (tv, phone - strategies)

[@davidskytte]

The leading charity for children's welfare in Denmark has recently put forward the recommendation that children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any screen time at all.

[@sketchur]

​@@davidskytte And how can a parent, who relies on screentime for daily living, put this recommendation into practice, please? We use screentime for news, light control (smart lights and smart plugs), music control, photography, calculator, calendar, grocery shopping, and note-taking, just to name a few.

[@davidskytte]

@@sketchur I suppose that children under 2 don't have any interest in any of those things you mention anyway 😄. You can still do all those things without having your child taking part. They are referring to having your child using mobiles, tablets, or Tv, not adults using them. Having said that, I'm still trying to be mindful of how much screen time I have in front of my daughter. Being present with her is a priority for me. If I need my phone, I try to do it when she's not there or being as brief as possible. (Message written while she's sleeping, haha)

[@bethanyballinger3995]

I don't use battery operated toys because they're bad for development of my sanity 😂 nannied for 7 years and the turn and learn cube gave me an eye twitch. My 1 YO has much more fun doing his "chores" anyway

[@emptysoul5057]

I think they are addictive and all the lights and things get the kids bored of regular play. It's like if one specific toy runs out of battery then it's tantrum time. I hide the toys and let my boy play with battery toys now and then but mostly I have him playing outside with sticks and rocks and cars like I did as a child. Plus outside play is so much less nerve racking because indoors my son is always trying to defeat child locks and climb everything including the fridge.... I think it just brings you as a parent more peace to get toddlers playing physically so that they get too tired for clever exploration once they come back inside.

[@faychen4059]

I give battery operated toys to my daughter all the time. Yet, she gets over it in less than a minute. She would much rather have me read her the same book 5 times back to back or forage through the floor 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@emptysoul5057]

@@faychen4059 oh man the same book over and over is so relatable I have to make sure the book is hidden if I want him to eat or do anything else other than ask for that book 😂

[@magdalenaos8215]

In battery toys I really liked that our daughter showed for the first time her preferences. She skipped melodies she found "meh" and repeated her favorite ones.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks so much for sharing

[@kia.kikiii]

I see the benefit of both battery operated and open ended toys. My son is hearing impaired and almost all of his battery operated toys are to encourage speech-language development. He hears letters, phonics sounds, animal sounds, first words, and colors daily which has encouraged him to actually say a few of these words. My son also loves music and dancing which a lot of these toys feature. The lights and sounds has helped him with cause/effect, visual tracking, fine/gross motor, and other very important developmental skills. All the things Emma mentioned. On the other hand, his favorite toy of all time has been a simple sorting and stacking cup set that he’s been playing with since 8 months old. He’s 1-1/2 :) My advice is pay attention to your child and don’t over-stimulate them. Rotate toys often and introduce them to new ones according to their stage of development.

[@dorissdaughter]

Have all battery toys is of course not the way to go, but my granddaughter loves the busy boxes that have progressed with her age encouraging her fine motor skills to turn on and off small switches and plugs. I so enjoy your informative, common sense videos!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@frightranker]

Hi. Our LO doesn't really enjoy toys at 8mo, she's more interested in cardboard, tape and anything her parents have XD. On another topic, any chance of getting a video on alternatives to sleep training, especially when existing sleep associations (such as nursing or stroller) are in place.

[@eleanorflett266]

I feel like a lot of the benefits you have stated can be found in toys that dont have batteries. Ball runs, lock boxes, object permanence boxes, musical instruments. These toys are also far better for the environment and don't add to the mountains of plastic already thrown out. Traditional toys last longer, have different temperatures and textures, eg: wood, metal, ceramic, and dont use batteries, which are wasteful. Children also get stuck on pressing a button over and over again instead of using their imagination. Children can also play for longer and more deeply and creatively with traditional toys.

[@anabutyrski4778]

Exactly!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Yep a lot of traditional toys can provide this. But the point of this video was to say that if you want to give your baby battery-operated toys then it's not going to be detrimental to their development. Parents shouldn't be made to feel guilty or that they are doing something wrong if they give them these toys. It's just about personal preference. If you only want to give your little one traditional toys then that's great. If you want to give them traditional toys and battery-operated toys then that is also great.

[@katiejoyce9219]

This. Pushing a button isn’t teaching my child anything, Not a useful skill

[@eleanorflett266]

@EmmaHubbard Even a child in an empty room will find development in picking lint off the floor. This is what Maria Montessori saw at the homes for Rome's most poorest children. I think the fact you called it a trend to reject plastic is what I take issue with. I know the point you are trying to make. I get it. There is enough pressure on parents to parent this way or that. Mum guilt is real. But new battery-operated plastic toys should be considered the trend. Rejection of this environmentally damaging and wasteful mass marketed consumerism shouldn't be considered trendy. We should all hope to treat this world better because one day, it will be our children's world. Only one type of toy has been around for hundreds of years, thousands even, and it's not the one you have linked to as a 'Trend'.

[@kristinesharp6286]

A lot of toys that never had batteries now do like little people playsets. This honestly reminds me of the coffee studies where one week there was an article on them being bad and the next an article with them being good for health. Was this study placed in a publication to sell non battery toys for a number of articles? Good toy, bad toy. It’s just marketing. A toy is not going to make or break getting into college. A magazine begins with ads. Then the editors put in articles based around the audience who would be the targeted consumer of the ads. Magazines are on the decline but it would apply to other places you see ads. Then I recall all the advice to not let your kids around screens for more than a few hours a day depending on age. Then all school became remote for 6 hours a day parents had to have their kids in front of a chrome book.

[@bendakstarkiller3407]

At the end of the day if your baby is happy and playing he is learning, dont stress the small stuff too much. If he getting bored of or outgrowing a toy he will let you know about it 😂

[@EmmaHubbard]

Very true😂

[@kerstinr8940]

So true. Just let the children be, play and - yes - get bored!! Children come up with the BEST ideas! We have no battery-operated toys nor have we screens for all our children. They are thriving in every way, daycare, Kindergarten and school.

[@bendakstarkiller3407]

@@kerstinr8940 I just have 1 and he is 4 months so I'm still learning. But I try not to get to stressed about what he wants to play with. The only thing I wont let him on too early is computer games and social media, they are way too addictive for toddlers. e-toys they grow out of, computers and social media they dont.

[@lauraharman6475]

Many battery operated toys also have multisensory feedback, which is beneficial in and of itself but especially for children with sensory disabilities.

[@kia.kikiii]

Thank you! Just wrote about this

[@DOOMbyach]

We have a mixture of toys but its the loud musical piano that determined my boy to roll at just before 4 months and encouraged his tummy time from day 1! I think when he sitting up unaided he will love his wooden shape sorters but there is no pressure for him to prefer plastic over classic, he will like what he likes!

[@DOOMbyach]

Also a lot of plastic interactive toys have multilingual options which helps greatly as we are a multilingual household

[@pinkpotatoes9849]

Would be even more interesting if the study added a category- ipad play!

[@MSEAD123]

After trying to have a baby for 10 years and 7 losses, we have a beautiful baby boy. We have tons of all kinds of toys and so many have gifted us with every electronic toy under the sun as well. So we use them all in limited ways. He gets bored easily anyway and then we recirculate toys with a few at a time since he is only one.

[@kasban8672]

My 13m twins just got a handful of battery operated toys from an auntie and it's been great for their fine motor skills!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing! They can be a great toy for fine motor development!

[@hektortheturtle]

All what you said can be achived without any battery operated toys. What all this music and buttons do is that baby really get attention to them, maybe even in to much stimulating way. I choose no battery toys, we have spirallas, blocks, instruments. If he want music need to make it by himself, and he do it, with a toys that make sounds when moving. We read books and I show im a pictures and describe it for him, i sing for him. If I want a mashine do it for me, then i will have more free time :D but I just want baby that have attention span longer then click a button and baby that will not have ADHD in the future. Im sure that all babies will achived their milestones when parents just naturally spend time with the baby, no toys are needed.

[@teganmartin8751]

That isn’t how ADHD works…people don’t have it because they used battery operated toys as children. Also, I don’t think the point of the video is to say that you should definitely use those types of toys, but to say that they have perhaps been unfairly demonised and they can offer developmental value. I personally prefer more open-ended toys but we still have a few noisy plastic toys and my son has enjoyed playing with them.

[@katiemurphy3601]

I've tried battery toys for my 9 month old buddy to entertain him, but he is BUSY & won't stay interested for more than 2 minutes. Opening all the cabinets, pulling out garbage, going up and down the stairs, knocking all of the books of the shelf, or chewing spice bottles? Yes please .

[@rachelle2227]

Musical/battery operated toys are such a life saver for little babies when they can’t do much yet! You are just making your life harder if you’re so adamantly against them. Great to hear that they can be good for development too.

[@EmmaHubbard]

So many developmental benefits!

[@PennyAfNorberg]

Our daughter learned to sit in month 9 at the same time she learn to sit up ( from tummy time) and to crawl the week after, it was just as she didn't find sitting interesting. She did sit in her high chair servals months before.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing!

[@joslindacruz89]

Thanks for another good video, do have anything on crawling and development??

[@Jdoublel7]

We only have a few including the vetch sit to stand walker I saw in another video! He loves the gears and has recently become obsessed with his bright stars dino. Specifically he likes to tip it over and study the wheels 😂

[@honeydewgurlfriend]

I meticulously worry about all this and then my husband will watch ponyo with my 4 mo old when i go out with my friends so i kinda feel like it goes out the window

[@adriennkarsai]

Dear Emma! Please dont get me wrong for this personal question.. but for month we struggle with a head movement with my little 11 month old daughter, the doctors have no idea what it might be.. watching your video at 2:33 this sweet little girl has the same movement. Can you please please tell me, if you know what it is or what can cause such movements? Thank you so much!!

[@Vickimer21]

My baby is 10 months and does that movement when is hearing music and clap at the same time. I see the baby girl is clapping too.

[@whalesong4401]

I don't have battery toys at my house because I can't stand the sounds they make. My kids play with battery toy at nanna's house. I just personally hate the sounds, I wish I knew why.

[@saramations]

Auditory sensory issues.... maybe Misophonia.

[@Mamamommommy]

I think its good to remember, if you are playing with your child and you start getting overstimulated by the noise, maybe its time to take a break. But its all about variety... and those little piano toys are a lifesaver when your little one gets upset on car rides!

[@princessateh]

What I find irritating about battery-operated toys are their aesthetic qualities. I cannot help myself but I am not willing to suffer the plastic flickering toys playing annoying melodies. My kids listen to quality music (well, until they reach school age, apparently :)).

[@EmmaHubbard]

The melodies can be a lot!😂

[@tahrimamiddya6532]

Can you please make a video on weaning. My 14 months old boy wakes at night cries for feed. I am still breastfeeding. He has sleep issues and once woke is unable to sleep so I have to quickly breastfeed him to settle him again back to sleep. Please guide.

[@thebreakdownartist9260]

My bub likes playing with the front of a baby walker with his feet and playing with rings and cups at the same time, he also plays with hands and feet and hands. He was trying to sing along with it the other day 😂

[@MewiesPawpad]

This is interesting since I watched a channel about Montessori parenting, which seemed discouraged using battery-operated toys and only use wooden toys. Which to me I find a bit silly since kids enjoy whatever catches their attention at the moment.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Kids are very in the moment and enjoy playing with toys and non-toys (like Tupperware). What's important is variety and interaction with others.

[@MewiesPawpad]

@mollymalone2838 Yeah, I thought that was kinda weird and silly to not let kids play with plastic toys in Montessori. Don't get me wrong wooden toys are nice to have, but I find having a balance with both is nice :)

[@giselepierre2814]

You are the best! I love that you always have good background when needed

[@EmmaHubbard]

Oh thank you!

[@whitemageFFXI]

Not to be nitpicky, but it seems like you criticized that one study for making assumptions based on observation, but it seems like that's what you're doing too. Is there a study that backs up the argument that electronic toys are fine actually, or are we just assuming innocent until proven guilty?

[@dorab2402]

It’s not the toy it’s the parent-child interaction. I take it you don’t know much about how studies work? Peer reviewing is meant to be critical. It’s not making “an assumption”. These type of studies are not quantifiable.

[@Zora3y]

I was under impression battery operating toys are bad because of tiny batteries. I seen some articles in daily mail about banning small batteries in soft toys.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Battery safety is definitely important. But it's a separate issue from what I am referring to in this video. Most of the toys I am referring to in this video use standard batteries, not button batteries. But it is definitely important to ensure your little one can't access the batteries.

[@anabutyrski4778]

I love your content, huge fan of your videos, however, I feel conflicted about this video. While you mentioned that many of these toys can serve as a motivation for movement, like lifting their heads, tilting their bodies and learning to grasp small objects, and lastly cause and effect, babies can practice all these movement with non electronic toys as well, so I don’t see the benefit of them. Playing with non electronic toys can promote delay gratification, and other more lasting benefits.

[@carolynserra3195]

Brilliant as usual! My little one is loving the sounds on his 'ninky nonk' and hearing me say 'nom nom nom' when he offers me his toast! 😂

[@EmmaHubbard]

Love that!

[@ellenfoster9764]

I felt so lost as a parent 30 years ago. I was part of the generation of women who were raising babies away from family or a community to teach us these things. We were reading everything, but there just wasn’t as much information. I only heard about swaddling once and it was never demonstrated to me. I so wish you had been around then!

[@strixt]

Probably 90% of things that can be considered a "trend" should be ignored entirely

[@michelle_belle89cc23]

I’d rather them play than have too much screen time. But there’s A time for everything

[@joyfulreflections]

Hi Emma, thank you for clarifying this.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Any time!

[@JRamen12]

The first research is hardly credible, the sample size is abysmal 😂😂

[@nebe7016]

Thank you!

[@EmmaHubbard]

You're welcome!

[@Shimmeringaphrodite]

The door 😂 creek! little bub is obsessed!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Same here!

[@shabnamrajani6172]

My baby is 20 months old he cant walk only 2 or 3sept he take

[@EmmaHubbard]

It's great that your little one is taking some steps. At this age, we would generally be hoping that they are walking. So given that you are concerned and based on your little one's age, it might be good to check in with a paediatric physiotherapist (AKA physical therapist) or your local doctor for specific advice. In the meantime you might find this video helpful:kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6XHY41nrbBkgrs

[@theimprobableone8635]

And it's not like we parents are going to be constantly talking with our baby even if we don't give them battery operated toys. A little bit of indepentent play time is healthy for babies.... and for the mental health of the parents imo lol

[@EmmaHubbard]

Exactly!

[@lauren8627]

I don't see why a keyboard is that different to piano...

[@shabnamrajani6172]

Please ans

[@muminab9701]

👍👍👍

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks!

[@Thegelstudioedit]

A voice of reason! ❤😂

[@EmmaHubbard]

😂

[@laurabiancadragomir7354]

❤❤❤

[@EmmaHubbard]

❤️

[@LeadingWish]

Nice nice nice❤

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks!

[@kiirakunn]

wait until the mother mafia realizes that babies and toddlers sleep a good chunk of the day, and how they are losing precious language learning development skills because they just laid there and napped silently! waaah! im so sick of these entitled little snowflakes in the mom circles.

[@SugiSugeera]

Mam my baby 7month.but poor eye contact.poor eye contact mean autisum?