Baby Discussions

My nephew loved anything that helped him walk around.  He started walking just around his first bday and liked his firetruck the most b/c he could use it to stand up, and then push it around to walk.

My nephew doesn't get overwhelmed - he gets bored :-D  If we only put out one or two toys, he plays with each for a few minutes then goes looking for more.  So we rotate him between half a dozen toys throughout his visits to keep him occupied.

I'm listing a few things off the top of my head that might be fun for the 8-year-old to help with as well. These are the low cost varieties! I think out of all the toys that have been bought for my children, they seemed to liked/use the following the most (probably in order of best being at the top):

• The toilet (it's fascinating and kids learn what floats and what doesn't--I don't particularly like this one though!)
• Together time (especially outside but inside can be a lot of fun too if you take some time for that one-on-one)
• Empty boxes (You can check with a local furniture store to see if they would give you a refrigerator box if you want to go with the big guns and turn one into a playhouse. The diaper boxes we have can double as a train or you can cover with cloth and use as a toybox. My kids usually get more playing time out of the box then they do with an expensive toy I thought they would just love)
• Turkey baster, big spoons, pots--anything in the cabinets seems to be what my youngest would love to have.
• Books from the library (free is always good and you can also find music CDs for car rides or for playing around the house) 
• Bubbles (I recommend getting fairly small sized bottles because they often lose their ability to make good bubbles if they sit around the house for long and they are easier to travel with)
• Balls (any safe size or type with or without a game)
• Toy Library (Our county's Smart Start offers themed kits where any parent of a preschool aged child can check out kits filled with books, puzzles, games, or other hands-on activities. You may wish to see if your county does the same thing. Then you'll be able to find out what really interests your child before you go out and buy something that he/she will play with once and then toss to the side--been there and done that many times. Also, if the toy is really annoying to you but the child loves it, you only have to listen to it for a few weeks!)

Hope that may help a little bit. I've found that simple is often the best way to go. I try to purge the toybox every once in a while and either rotate them around to the basement (look, Mom--a new toy! is actually just an old one that's been stored for a while) or donate them. Each child is unique and tends to gravitate toward different things. For example, if the child loves to climb on everything, then active toys that allow for some type of climbing are excellent.

Top things I would suggest...

- If baby does seem to get a lot of things.. rotate them in and out of use.  When you bring it back out it's like a new toy.
- As for "must haves" - here are a few that I feel babes really like and or should have (no order of importance)
 1. some sort of shape sorter
 2. You can start getting simple puzzles
 3. Books... Books... Books
 4. Walking toys, ride ons
 5. Anything that encouraes imagination.
 6. Books
 7. Music instruments
 8. Blocks, construction stuff, mega blocks
Something that's going to challenge baby a little... buying an 18 month toy for a 1 year old.

Good luck... we're in a similar boat.  My family has been asking what our little one wants for his birthday and I told them the same types of stuff listed above... cause we really don't "need" anything as he has a 3 year od brother and all his toys too.

thanks guys! My little one does like boxes and bags(gift bags). I have been putting things in them and letting her pull them out and put back in. I bought her some soft blocks today, so we will see what she does with those. Shape sorter is a great idea! I also like rotating idea, We have so much stuff as a lot of people have spoiled our oldest. I hope that no one gets us any more stuffed animals, seriously we could open a store with what we have. I tried to donate some to a shelter but they didn't want anything that they couln't just spray with bleach.  

On the shape sorter, my boys really liked the Tupperware one. It cleans up very nice even after multiple kids. You can usually find one on Ebay for a lower price too.

Another favorite were the bathtub blocks. They are soft. When they are wet they float and will stick to the walls. That makes bath time more fun. They come in a plastic container, but I bought a little net with those press on suction cups, so they could just be left at the end of the bathtub.

At that age, mine also liked bubbles. I put the bubble stuff in a bigger flat pan and gave them the old fashioned fly swatters. Those make millions of mini bubbles. The little one does not have to blow, although some can at that age. With the flyswater, they just dip and then wave the flyswatter and have loads of little bubbles.

Also - happy birthday to your 1 yr old!

 

I could go on and on and on. My daughter just turned one a few months ago (okay, 6 months ago, but it feels like yesterday!), and here are a few things we love:

1) Books - not an "exciting" gift, yes. Never ending fun for the birthday girl? YES! Just be sure to avoid the pop-ups. Oh gosh. Those rip out easily!

2) Inexpensive ride ones - this one is our favorite: http://www.littletikes.com/toys/push-ride-doll-walker.aspx

3) If you have more money to spend, try this V-tech - http://www.littletikes.com/toys/push-ride-doll-walker.aspx  - My daugter LOVES this thing! It's never ending fun. Serious fun.

4) Little Tikes Doll House: Old Skool toy like http://cgi.ebay.com/Little-Tikes-Pink-Roof-Grandmas-House-Dollhouse-More_W0QQitemZ110359795344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110359795344&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50- it's amazingly fun, especially as she grows older. I'm sure you could find a cheaper one, but this is just the first one I found.

5) Building blocks - nothing is more exciting than building things. We made our own, but there are plenty you can buy too.

I'll try to think of more - my own kids are screaming for attention. Literally! My 5-minute break is up!

thanks everyone, great ideas!

My son just turned one last month.  There are several toys he likes, but these are his absolute favorites:

1) Vtech Pull n Play Phone - This phone sings songs, rings like a real phone, teaches numbers and it can be pulled around the house.

2) My Big Animal Book - This is my son's favorite book!  The pictures are real photographs of animals and the pictures are large and easy to see.  He grabs this book first everytime!

3) Parents Bee Bop Band - This set is a whole musical instrument assortment.  It includes a drum, clacker, xylophone, tamborine and drum sticks.  Everything is an "insect".

 I have reviewed all of these items if you would like more information.  I hope this helps.

Alright now that my son is officially 1... here are some of the things that are his all time favorites.

1. Anything he can pick up and move around... usually best if they are bigger than him too.  Baskets and boxes are working great.
2. BALLS... he got one of those big balls from Target that were like $2 and he loves it.  Since it's as big as him (ok so he''s a little short too) he picks it up, throws it then chases after it.

He likes other stuff but these are the things that make his day.

I think all these things are great. My son is now 16 months (a year already seems so long ago!) and a walking toy really came in handy when he was starting to move around. He also really loved his shape sorter, anything having to do with drums/music but my son is musically inclined so it depends on your baby as to what they're interested in. He also loves balls & books. Bead maze, blocks, & these really cool magnet blocks he got for his birthday.

thanks everyone! Seems my little one likes books best! And she really likes the shape sorter we got her. SHe likes books with real pictures and likes when we read sandra boynton books to her. One thing she is really interested in is games, like hide and seek, head shoulders knees and toes, this little piggy, hokey pokey. So far she is more interested in moving and getting around than any one toy. And boxes, baskets, yes, she loves getting in and out and pushing them, putting things in and out. Isn't this a great age!!! I just am so tired at night after following her around and keeping her busy and trying to keep up with the house and my 8 yr old. I am truly grateful for my girls, even if they do tucker me out. 

If she likes books, check to see if your county offers the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program. If they offer the program, your child can get one free hardcover book each month until her fifth birthday (regardless of your income). My daughters have really enjoyed checking to see if they have their book in the mailbox each month, and these books tend to be very nice ones to add to a collection at home.

You might also want to check to see what types of music your local library has. Putting in a new CD every couple of weeks can add lots of fun. If we find one the kids especially like, then we consider purchasing one by that title.

I can certainly relate to being tired out...but it's a great thing to get to see the little ones learn and grow.

Katrena, i will check that out. And that is a great idea to check out music first at the library. I am going to start going to the tots and tales at the library as soon as my little one gives up her morning nap. 

My 19 month old toddler likes playing with balls the best. I bought my 2 dogs some racketballs and my toddler loves these balls especially. I can have his toys in the middle of the floor and if he sees the dogs playing with the racketballs he drops everything and wants their balls.

doug and mellissa