to want my DC to only have wooden toys? (Or is this a case of PFB Syndrome?)

[LovestoLove]

I don't think I'm generally PFB - I want my child to respect adults, eat with no fussing/faddiness (or at least no reaction on my part), have no quibbles about the step, won't give copious amounts of juice/biscuits, won't give into tantrums, etc.

But I really have a thing about the bucket loads of plastic toys that I fall over when at friends' homes.

I love wooden toys/puzzles, books, cloth dolls, make-believe things, fancy dress, etc.

Is it totally unreasonable of me to ask parents, in-laws, and anyone else who's expressed interest in getting a baby gift to get something wooden/natural? I know wooden toys are generally seen as more expensive but I've found some on Ebay and other sites that aren't bad.

Or am I going to be seen as crazy? I'm 30 weeks pregnant by the way with DC1.

But, but, but .....Lego doesn't come in wood!
You do realise that a child with no Duplo is officially deprived don't you? And that goes for Playmobil too.
But YANBU on the noisy talking stuff with batteries. Not educational like it claims, and drives you insane. You can probably keep that to a minimum. And my TripTrapp is still looking very nice after 7 years - the hideous plastic high chairs often have evil nooks and crannies which are hell to clean.

It's a nice idea but honestly, would you have liked to play with only wooden toys when you were little? They may look lovely to us adults but the range of wooden toys tends to be limited, IMO.

I tend to buy DD toys that I know I would have loved playing with when I was a little girl.

The worse thing about people buying things for DD, is the amount of pink crap we seem to accumulate. People seem to think that because she's a girl things need to be pink. A pink baby piano and a pink shape sorter comes to mind, that someone bought her once. To be fair, she got a lot of use out of them but why did they have to be pink? Why not yellow or green or God forbid even blue?

No, mani - it's not a joke!!!

I do agree that wooden train sets are an absolute must. we don't have any Brio (far too expensive!) but loads of other companies do 'starter packs' with tracks, trains and accessories - and they all fit with each other, so you get a really good range :) I actually bought some before DD was even born when it was on sale, never looked back :o

Slaughtered Yes - that is one of my prime fears, particularly if DC is a girl. I don't want a pink house. Really I don't!

Life without Lego, Animal Rescue and Playmobil would be so dull! And no plastic duck to play with in the bath???

Oh no, don't stipulate wooden and non-noise-making, someone is bound to be annoyed by that and present your child (directly, at age 2, so there'll be no subtly spiriting it away) with something so plasticky, tacky, ghastly and noisy it will counteract all the preceding years of organic wood.

Asking for 'this lovely thing' or 'from this range' which just happens to be wooden is a bit more subtle ...

And you know, plenty of plastic stuff ISN'T boy/girl colour coded, especially for younger children.

I have absolutely nothing against the construction plastic that has been previously mentioned by the way!! So Lego, Playmobil, Stacking cups, a toy pram, and Stickle bricks.

I honestly don't think there are any other plastic things that don't have an alternative I prefer. Or plastic things with no wooden/natural alternative that I just don't like full stop.

LOvestolove - I was only asking as you put a at the end of your OP.

Hocus plastic duck also fine, as it's a staple of childhood.

Although I should point out rubber duck better

Sorry Mani - probably to avoid even higher flaming as I am still a bit breathless and scared.

doomecleaning I have an angelic MIL, however, yes, I am aware of that! hence the "in theory" part!

I type this looking at the garish, large plastic dolls' house that DD was given by FIL last Christmas. And that she, true to form, loves. I console myself that the wooden ones are played with too, from time to time....

YANBU
I have 2 DC and the same ideals re toys - partly from a taste point of view and partly environmental consideration.

It is impossible to make the GP's conform though. They even buy duplicate toys in plastic, that the DC already have in wood!!

I only buy plastic toys second hand (recycled!) from nearly new sales - and - ahem - recycle a lot of DCs presents there too.

We have some exceptions where plastic is better though - lego and marble run spring to mind.

Good for you - although you may have to compromise the sentiment is good.

Realistically, when you have your DC you will want whatever toy they enjoy playing with the most. Because you will want your child to stay quiet and occupied for as long as possible learn and develop by interacting with toys as much as possible.

If that's wooden toys, great. Lucky you. But in all likelihood it will be the noisy, brightly coloured, plastic toys.

Don't forget that plastic toys are much better to chew on. And can be dishwashed/sterilised if they get dropped somewhere truly disgusting.

runninggrach....no I don't give into the every whim of my children. That is a bizarre leap. I do allow them to express preferences though and many children prefer brightly coloured noisy plastic tat. I would not make them choose a tasteful wooden toy instead because it looked nicer in my house. I have children of 7, 5 and 2.5 and they have their own opinions about what they like...just as the OP's will.

I would still be interested to hear in the lovely plastic toy suggestions you have Makemine. Or anyone else? So I can have some backup things to ask for just in case.

wqhat about this ?
it's metal, though.

It was one of my favourite toys when I was a child.

oh, and we all had Shufflies - plastic, yes, but soooo brilliant.
I can't wait to haveababy so I can have my turn with the Shufflies.

Lovestolove I think I will retain the upper hand on gifts by having just emigrated so relatives are now restricted on what they can send/bring for baby. I don't recommend moving just as a solution for avoiding a houseful of toys though!

Having seen a few other posts I'm now exempting a few more posters from my 'good humour' category. Why do so many MN-ers feel the need to belittle other people's ideas and aspirations?

Have to say there are some great suggestions on here too though - I like the toy box and the mother who gave away toys when there were too many. Love anything involving reusing and/or recycling!

and i leave a load of plastic tat toys at the GP's for when we visit so it doesn't clutter my home

My dds liked their cloth dolls to cuddle but not to play with as they got older and into imaginative play. There's not a lot you can do with something that just lolls.

ingrid, not a bizarre leap - you asked what would happen when the OP's child pointed into the window of ELC and demanded something, as though that would mean she had to buy it.

I would say no, or possibly 'put it on your christmas wish list and we'll see what Santa might bring...' (hoping it's June and therefore forgotten by Halloween).

very littel that was truly fun for DS under 2 could be found in wood. None of his plastic crap was colour coded - colour coding is only just beginning to make an appearance and he's nearly five. Just tell people you'd prefer not to have everything in pink.

Slobber cleans off plastic so much more easily.

A world without lego is a sad place.

What have I missed?

Oh yes - you will have so many other things to truly stress about soon than the material content of toys.

PS it is possible to ignore tantrums if you are very tough and you have a child who is not terribly prone to them.

I was exactly the same as you - it starts off with great intentions but really there are some plastic toys which are more suitable than wooden ones.

E has a mixture and does play with both.

ingrid, not a bizarre leap - you asked what would happen when the OP's child pointed into the window of ELC and demanded something, as though that would mean she had to buy it.

I would say no, or possibly 'put it on your christmas wish list and we'll see what Santa might bring...' (hoping it's June and therefore forgotten by Halloween).