Age appropriate toys

I do not claim to know a lot about infants.  I am learning as I go -- reading the books, asking the BFF and ped, searching on-line, and of course, calling Dr. Mom!  But I am, by profession, pretty darn comfortable with the 4 to 12 year old crowd. 
That said, I would like to share something that concerns me: kids and toys.

We all know that toys play an important part in the development of children.  One of the first toys our boy first 'noticed' was a giraffe given to him by his Aunt M.  That was the only toy that he would even try to focus on and for a long time, was the only toy he would try to interact with.  And it was, a developmental appropriate toy.

Leap Frog and Fisher Price (to a name just a couple) have a plethora of wonderful, developmentally appropriate toys.  I am a stickler for those toys that actually havve some educational value tied in too.  However, it is important that the person purchasing toys for a child look at the age appropriateness of the toy.  It's right there on the package.

If you are purchasing something for a child, even during the holidays, it is polite to consult with the parents first.  1. They may already have the toy, 2. the parents may not want that toy in their home for whatever reason, 3. You may think the toy is appropriate but it really isn't.  The child won't know what's going on and it's NOT like you are ruining the 'surprise'.  In fact, I would think it be better to ask if it's okay and be told 'no', than to see the toy taken away from the child and quickly donated or given away.