If your wife has recently given birth then you may be thinking about purchasing a selection of toys that your newborn can play with. Getting educational or interactive toys are an excellent idea as they not only offer amusement for the child but can also help when it comes to teaching them new skills.

Because there are many different types of interactive toys available to buy these days getting the right one for you child can be confusing. With this in mind, this guide has been written to assist you during the decision making process.

Due to the success of Hollywood, many film and cartoon characters have become new heroes of our children. Interactive toys based on these characters like Spiderman, Superman, Buzz Lightyear and Optimus Prime has become very popular among young children. One such example is an interactive Sandman, which is a character taken from Spiderman series. It works on batteries and has multiple articulation points. Pressing the button creates Sandman voice and other cool effects.

However, it is not just areas such as film or TV that offer interactive toys that can capture the imagination of your child, in fact there are a number of educational toys, such as electronic learning aids, Meccano, Lego and construction toys which can offer a child as much or even more fun than today’s toys.

Regardless, of the type of item you buy there are a number of things your need to bear in mind when buying children toys.

Age of Child: - One of the very first things you ought to consider when buying toys is the age of the chid. Even if a toy is popular it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be appropriate for your kid. It is therefore important that you check the box of the toy before purchase as it will indicate the suggested age for the toy.

Safety: - Unfortunately true, not all toys are safe. Therefore, it is imperative that you check that the toy has passed all industry safety standards before purchasing. Furthermore, what’s safe for one child might not be safe for another child so it is important that you assess the characteristics of the product before making your final decision.

Batteries: - Not all toys come with batteries included as standard. If this is the case you will need to purchase batteries separately.

Child’s Interest: - Regardless how age-appropriate a toy is or how safe it is, your kid might not enjoy it if it doesn't appeal to their interest. It is therefore important to find out what their interests are before buying the toy. It is suggested that if you are looking to purchase an item for a toddler then you should think about getting a toy that aims to develop their motor skills, whereas toys for children that are younger than a year old should encourage exploration.