My baby plays roughly, throws toys, or only likes certain toys instead of playing 'nicely.' Is this normal?

The community strongly reassures that throwing, pulling, banging, repeating actions, and ignoring 'developmental' toys is exactly how babies and toddlers play and learn at this stage, and that the perfectly-stacking babies in reels are not the norm.

Community Answers from Moms(5)

Here's what moms in our community shared based on their own experience.

1. 1

   This is absolutely normal - the reels of kids stacking neatly at 7 months are mostly lies. One mom's 19-month-old still resists being read to and breaks block towers but likes sorting and pouring water between bowls.

2. 2

   Holding, throwing, pulling, picking up and putting things behind them is exactly what babies do at this stage; there are even toys designed to mimic this.

3. 3

   Some babies at this age only want to climb the sofa and jump onto a mattress all day in loops - they repeat the same thing many times and laugh like it's the first time. Repetition is how they learn.

4. 4

   Throwing is developmental - a baby may play with a toy (fidget spinner, fridge magnets, rattle, stacking rings) for a minute, throw it, fetch it, and repeat.

5. 5

   Babies often prefer household items - cardboard boxes, plastic boxes, pen stands, spoons, plates, wallets - over bought toys.