Introducing Spanish to Babies - New Product Makes Toy Fair Debut

This is the second in my series on innovative products I found while attending Toy Fair 2026 at Jacob Javitz.  - Risa Hoag, Editor

Ashley Rivera, a New York–based entrepreneur and mother, recently introduced Birdsong — a line of bilingual baby toys designed to support English-Spanish language learning — at the 2026 Toy Fair in New York.

The toys were created to help families raising bilingual children naturally speak, sing, and interact with their babies in both languages.

“I wanted my daughter to grow up bilingual so she could connect with her Colombian family,” Rivera said. “But I was surprised by how few toys actually supported the way babies learn language.”

Most toys marketed as bilingual rely on recorded phrases or electronic buttons. Birdsong takes a different approach by encouraging parent-led interaction, which researchers say is critical for early language development.

Each Birdsong toy combines sensory play, bilingual prompts, and traditional Spanish songs, helping caregivers turn everyday moments into opportunities for language learning.

The toys are designed especially for babies around 6 to 12 months old, when infants are highly receptive to learning language sounds. During this stage, babies’ brains begin tuning into the languages they hear most often.

Rivera says the goal is to make bilingual parenting feel easier and more natural, particularly for families who want to introduce Spanish at home.

“Many parents want to raise bilingual children but aren’t sure where to start,” Rivera said. “Language learning at this age happens through play, conversation, and connection.”

Birdsong’s first collection includes plush toys that introduce early concepts like counting, verbs, and storytelling in both English and Spanish, helping babies build early language familiarity through interactive play.

Birdsong bilingual baby toys are available online and in select retailers. Learn more at www.birdsongtoys.com