Literature research
Here are summary of articles and Why it is relevant to our project .
More details about research, you could find Appendix 2.
THEME
Sleep regression refers to temporary disruptions in an infant’s sleep patterns, often occurring around 4, 8, and 12 months. During these phases, babies wake up more frequently, have trouble falling asleep, or take shorter naps. This is linked to cognitive and physical development, such as rolling over, crawling, and increased awareness of surroundings. Based on these features, we can find ways to help babies adjust more easily, providing better comfort and self-soothing support.
Baby's ability to perceive and distinguish colors develops over time. At birth, they mainly see in black and white due to the underdeveloped cone cells in their eyes. By 2-3 months, they start recognizing primary colors like red and blue, and by 6 months, they can distinguish more colors. This research helps guide our selection of the best colors for baby toys, ensuring they are visually engaging at different developmental stages without overly stimulating their eyes.
(What kinds of toys are appropriate for different ages of children and what kinds of products are on the market?)
There are many toys on the market designed for infants at different stages of development. However, some age ranges, like 0-3 years, are quite broad, and babies grow quickly with different developmental needs. Not all toys are suitable for the entire age range. Also, some products don’t clearly show the recommended age, and different websites may list different ages, making it hard for consumers to know which information is correct.
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0-6 months: High-contrast visual toys, soft textures, and sound-based toys help stimulate early senses.
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6-12 months: Interactive toys, objects that encourage grasping, and toys with movement support developing motor skills.
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12+ months: Cause-and-effect toys, stacking objects, and early problem-solving toys aid cognitive growth.
Research on age-appropriate toys helps ensure that toy designs match the needs of infants at different growth stages. If a toy is not age-appropriate, it may not capture their interest or support development effectively. Age-appropriate toys should fit each stage, for example, newborn toys should avoid complex interactions. And many parents choose toys based on age recommendations, so providing clear age guidelines can increase the product's credibility.
Infants undergo rapid physical, emotional, and cognitive development in their first year, influencing their play and sleep behaviors.
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4-6 months: Babies start grasping, responding to stimuli, and rolling over.
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6-9 months: They explore through touch and sound, enjoy repetitive actions, and recognize familiar faces.
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9-12 months: Increased independence, more movement (crawling, standing), and social play.
Incorporating these features ensures that our toys support key developmental needs.
In addition, to baby toys per age phase of the baby, some products adapt to the different phases of the baby or integrate sleep aid functionalities. Both are popular in the field of baby toys and fit well with our case person. She struggles to find good toys for her baby and sometimes feels overwhelmed by the amounts available. In addition, sleep remains a point that often comes back in her story and she would like to improve this to get more rest and time herself. In the field of integrating phases of a baby and the subject of sleep, examples of existing products on the market can be seen.
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Soothing toys: Soft plush toys, weighted sleep aids, and white noise devices dominate sleep-related products.
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Sensory toys: Multi-textured toys, calming light projections, and interactive elements enhance engagement.
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Technology integration: Smart sleep aids with adaptive lighting and soundscapes are gaining popularity.
Market research helps ensure that our product meets case owner’s needs. By analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of existing products, we can identify unmet needs and develop more innovative and attractive toys.
Safety Research
EN71-1 – European Safety Standard
EN 1273 – Baby Walking Frames
EN 716 – Furniture: Cots and Folding Cots for Domestic Use
General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) – 2001/95/EC
EN 71-3 – paints, finishes, and wood
To ensure the GrowGym baby roller adheres to European safety standards and promotes secure use for infants, a range of key regulations and insights from existing research were incorporated into the design process.
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The design complies with EN 71-1, which ensures mechanical and physical safety by eliminating sharp edges, pinch points, and choking hazards.
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Given its wheeled functionality, EN 1273 for baby walking frames was considered, focusing on stability and preventing tipping or unintentional movement. To address this, the GrowGym integrates rubberized wheels to increase ground friction and prevent slipping, especially on smooth indoor surfaces.
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Structural considerations were informed by EN 716, guiding the safe dimensions and construction techniques used in infant furniture to avoid entrapment zones or collapse risks.
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The selection of plywood as the primary material aligns with EN 71-3, which regulates the chemical safety of paints, finishes, and wood to ensure all surfaces are non-toxic and safe for mouthing.
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The overarching General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) further shaped our risk assessment and safety validation process.
Additionally, the findings from Yahya et al. (2021) emphasize the importance of ergonomics, material selection, and user-centered testing in infant product development, reinforcing the GrowGym’s modular and sensory-focused design as both safe and developmentally supportive. Together, these standards and research insights ensure the GrowGym is a robust, child-friendly product that prioritizes both safety and engagement.
Material Research
Birch plywood was selected as the primary construction material due to its optimal balance of durability, lightweight properties, and cost-effectiveness. It offers a smooth, splinter-free surface ideal for child interaction and complies with EN 71-3 standards when paired with a water-based, non-toxic finish. Additionally, the plywood's layered structure provides excellent resistance to cracking or warping over time, making it a reliable and safe choice for early childhood furniture (Xihamontessori, n.d.). For the rubberized wheels, natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree can be used, as it is highly recommended for children's products due to its inherent safety and durability (Hevea Planet, n.d.). Other existing products on the market already use this material—for example, Rubbabu’s natural rubber toys are made from 100% pure natural rubber and are free from harmful substances such as lead, phthalates, and nitrosamines.
Material Selection
To balance functionality, safety, and sustainability, we chose to construct the GrowGym's wheels primarily out of birch plywood, with a rubber strip added around the outer edge for grip. This design choice was made for several reasons. First, using wood as the core material keeps the wheel lightweight yet structurally strong, reducing the overall weight of the product and making it easier for babies to interact with. Full rubber wheels, while offering excellent grip, tend to be heavier and more flexible, which can negatively affect stability and control in lightweight children's products. By adding only a thin rubber strip, we were able to provide the necessary traction and floor protection without compromising the rigidity or increasing the cost significantly. Lastly, this hybrid construction is more eco-friendly, using less rubber while maximizing the use of FSC-certified, non-toxic birch plywood, aligning with our list of requirements for child safety.
The wood can be bought from suppliers in the Netherlands like International Plywood BVl where it can be cut into the specifications needed. The natural rubber can be bought through Stellana; a global manufacturer offering natural rubber tires where an order could be placed with our specific dimensions.
Note: Alternative materials such as plastic were not considered for the main structure, as our target user, Sophie, expressed a clear preference for wood. This was evident both in our conversations with her and in her moodboard, where most of the selected toys were made from natural materials. She specifically mentioned choosing wooden toys for their aesthetic appeal, tactile quality, and sustainability. Therefore, birch plywood was selected to align with her values and ensures the GrowGym fits her lifestyle and home environment.
Montessori
Montessori education is developed by Maria Montessori (1870-1952). At a Montessori school, children learn to work independently and are in a class with children at different ages. Montessori focusses on the developmental potential of the individual child. The basic principle of Montessori education is the fact that a child has a natural urge for self-development. A teacher follows this development and responds to it by offering materials and the right environment. Because of this, a child learns at its own pace. According to the vision of Montessori a child is motivated by itself to learn and develop. This comes from a spontaneous interest, which differences per child.
Tummy time
Tummy time is, defined as an infant being placed on their stomach whilst they are awake and supervised. (Hewitt, L et al., 2020). The key findings include numerous health benefits including an improvement in motor development primarily having a positively associated impact on improvement of gross motor skills and thus influencing the abilities to crawl and roll (Hewitt, L et al., 2020). In addition, engaging in tummy time helps prevent brachycephaly (flattening of one side of the head). BMI index also had a relation to tummy time, linked to a reduction in BMI z-score, suggesting positive health benefits during infancy. Other factors that were also observed is the association between tummy time and outcomes in social, cognitive, fine motor development, communication, and the ability to sit, stand, or walk (Hewitt, L et al., 2020).