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| Chances are, if you have a baby, are going to have a baby, know a baby, or know someone who is going to have a baby, you're going to need to purchase a toy or two. Step one: don't panic. Step two: stop panicking. Yes, there are tons of toys available, and yes, some are not age appropriate until they stop putting things in their mouths, and yes, some claim to make babies smarter. However, there are few toys that will make them dumber, so you've got that going in your favour. So, just for safety, age propriety, etc. check with the parents (unless you are the parent, in which case you should know--not saying you do, just saying you should) how old the child is. Next, finding a very helpful and hopefully pleasant salesperson at a toy store can help you (they might not be helpful or pleasant, but it's worth a shot). Third, is it a boy or girl? Will the parents get mad at gender-specific toys (yes, that is a very real possibility)? Do the parents generally have Waldorf,  Montessori, or other specific teaching, learning, and schooling methods in place? Are you all for being eco-friendly at a young age? How much do you want to spend? These are a few things to consider. If all else fails, just go with a stuffed animal --really hard to go wrong there. | 
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