Twelve to eighteen months babies

Babies of this age may start to put bits of objects together or take them apart and will find pleasure in knocking things down. Their fingers are dextrous enough to put shapes into holes, their limbs are much more coordinated and they will be 'getting into everything'. They can point at objects when asked.

Toys to consider:

• shape sorters
• stacking towerssimple sit-on riding toys
• wooden puzzles with shaped pieces to match with shapes on the board
• stiff board books, the pages of which your baby can turn by him - or herself.

Books: It's never too early to start looking at books with your baby. Even when to young to understand what you are saying, he or she will enjoy hearing your voice. The best first books to show your baby are those with simple pictures of familiar objects in bold, bright colours, and no or minimal text. Once your baby is seven to nine months, he or she may start to appreciate your reading very simple stories. Research has shown that babies who are encouraged to play with books from about nine months of age go on to do better at school.

"Books are the main thing that my two have shown an interest in right from early on. Stiff board books rather then fabric books are the best, especially ones with photographs. Books you can attach to the pushchair are useful too - Stella still looks at hers even though ot's now very tatty." - Theo, mother of Stella, 2 and Leonie 4