Baby toys- what has your baby's best toy been?

[whizzyrocket]

Hey there,

I'm due my first baby (a boy) in 8 weeks time but have yet to buy him a single toy. I've had a bit of a look at mothercare's website just now and have come away feeling rather uninspired. I know he'll probably be given plenty but if you were going to recommend a particular type of baby toy what would you choose? What does your baby enjoy?

Thanks

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[allotmentshirker]

Freddie the Firefly, no contest! It has crunchy and squeaky bits on, mirrors, black and white bits, and makes a lovely tinkly noise when you shake it. My son laughed heartily every time you made it fly towards him. It has a pram clip so it was with him every time we went out for his first year. Best value thing we got him.

[Cheeseandcrackers86]

As baby gets a little older a simple set of stacking cups is a must. Dirt cheap and great for so many areas of development (problem solving/spacial awareness/learning about object permanence (hiding stuff in them)/pretend play (pretending they're a drink) Sometimes it's the simplest toys that are classics for a reason. Xx

[johnol]

Your children must play games

[myraliza8]

Did you ever try the baby toy walker? you need to see the list of toy baby walkers and reviews at babywalksguide.com/ for buying at affordable prices.

[Littleonemag]

Kids love to play with toys, and coloring helps them to express their creativity. This is one of the best hands-on experience that your kid will most likely love.
www.littleonemag.com/best-kids-play-kitchen-sets/

[Littleonemag]

People have different opinions on how babies should play and what items to play with. If there is one thing that everyone agrees on is for the little ones to play with toys. These toys come in a variety of forms including cars, balls, and dolls.
Best Cheap Baby Toys to Buy 2020

[Littleonemag]

People have different opinions on how babies should play and what items to play with. If there is one thing that everyone agrees on is for the little ones to play with toys.
Best Baby toys to Buy 2020

[Littleonemag]

Kids love to play with toys, and coloring helps them to express their creativity. This is one of the best hands-on experience that your kid will most likely love.
Best Cheap Toys to Buy 2020Best Cheap Toys to Buy 2020
(littleonemag.com)

[jacksmamx]

My boy is 7 months now and has loved his playmat pretty much from 1 month and still loves it now. jumperoo is an absolute god send. Also we found bouncy chairs with dangly toys were amazing too and really keep them occupied :)

[slinty]

I would definitely recommend you buy him/her a kids kitchen set. I have seen some great changes in niece who used to play with a kitchen set when she was just an year old (now she has turned 5).

I think that it gives a real picture of the kitchen to your kids at a very young stage.

You can search online or on amazon for some great options.

Here is one which I find good -> www.thetechswag.com/best-kids-play-kitchen-sets/

You can check the detailed reviews though, I really recommend you check customers reviews on Amazon also before buying one.

[Stenri]

First at that age, there's absolutely no difference in the toys that boys and girls tend to gravitate towards.

You are getting to the age where they want toys that they can do things with and they are probably crawling and cruising if not actually just starting to walk.

Push along wagons or similiar - especially if they can put things in them (toy pushchairs and shopping trolleys are also very popular at playgroups I notice and I'd put them in this category)
Peg puzzles and shape sorters
Balls of all types
Stacking cups
Fire Trucks
toyboxadvisor.com/best-toy-fire-trucks
Stacking toys e.g. stacking cones like these Amazon.com: Rocky Color Cone: Baby There are lots of other nice stacking toys around. I might get our baby a stacking rainbow for his first birthday.
Lots of containers and things to put in them (e.g. play food and shopping basket if you want something that will still be of interest in a year's time)
Duplo or Megablocks (personally I'd go for Duplo from a longevity and resale value perspective even though it's more expensive they'll grow out of Megablocks before Duplo and you can add to a Duplo collection gradually over time - it's one of the main things my 3 year old plays with)
Simple ride-on toys - if you've got space indoors, a WheelyBug is a nice first birthday present: Official website for the Original Wheely Bug
Building blocks - not too small or too big for that age.
Simple vehicles
A doll and accessories
A play kitchen - they are probably still a bit on the young side for this (I think of it more as a two year old's toy), but will still play with it, and play kitchens seem to be one of the pretend toys that children don't get bored of too quickly
Some sort of letterbox/piggy bank toy - again still a little bit too young, but they will grow into it soon.
Some musical instruments perhaps - I find these don't get played with too much, but I still think it is nice to have them for the occasions when they are interested.
Books - they are beginning to get more interested in books at this age and generally during the second year, so definitely good to have some nice books which you enjoy too! Ones with lots of pictures of objects are especially good in the 12-18 month phase I found.

[lorilobs]

with every list of what do do/get, i feel theres an equally vital not to do ist that need to be aired...

my faves:
the 'knot' by lamaze,probably the fave, most versitile too, so no need to pack a million other toys incase of boredom. used until about a year old.
tiny love spin ball(the one with coloured segments)very very good toy.
(both of these i always buy for baby gifts)
jumparoo, pricey, but i feel it was worth every bean. good resale value also(sold mine for £50)
fisher price rainforest cot mobile, lovely, very tolerable music.

sainsbury's shopping trolley last xmas,less than £10, now a very well used toy. def helped his confidence when he finally found his feet too.

a baby walker. any baby walker, so longs it has something to touch, make sounds with as well as lets them walk. very good toy for mums that want to get showered/eat/talk to fiends...only kidding....

upsy daisy with a moving singing bed. i bought mine on ebay. ADORED. very expensive new, but would consider paying it now,due to its popularity.

gund teddy comfoter blanket. my sons no 1 addiction, always has been.

the worst:
wheely bug(hate to admit it, my own gift to my son for his 1st birthday)just doesnt seem to do it yet for him or his frends(20months and under)pretty expensive.
shape sorter cookie jar(very terrible music),
bop+rock fisher price lion. they very quickly get bored. very few phrases, very annoying for the grown ups.
oh and that nursery rhymes book, i think by vtech. a killer.a theme i have found is that we adults want to buy the electrical noisy toys, but i think almost all of them are abandoned very quickly, they get bored of them. its the classics that really work(ok, some classics with modern spin-aka jumparoo)



thanks, i feel quite unburdoned now!

[minicooper1982]

Did you manage to find any toys for your new baby? You could visit the nursery and baby products section of my site, there are loads of great, ethical products for newborns.
www.amoruk.co.uk

Best Wishes with your new baby x

[thesurgeonsmate]

Links, yes, are essential. They can make other toys work for a tiny baby - "Can't reach the dangling bits of your baby gym? Here let me add some links." "Swingin bouncy chair bits a bit big for your tiny hands? Here, linky link." "You're finding it tricky to keep your toys in your pram, you say? Since you mention it, I've got some links right here." They also make the most satisfactory first rattle - grabbable and with a good noise - just link a couple in a bunch and rattle away. I still carry mine in my handbag for sorting and stashing games when we're out, and I'm sure the fun only increases when the baby actually learns to link them!

[TeddyBare]

I've thought of another thing mine loved. We have a very large unbreakable mirror which I put next to them. They love looking at themselves. At about 3 months dd also became obsessed with a cat toy which was a ball with a bell in it. She loved having it rolled around near her.

[TeddyBare]

Dig out the Christmas lights and set them on that annoying twinkly settling. It kept both my dc amused for ages. I also made mobiles out of baubles and bells and stuff which they both enjoyed. I don't think I had any baby toys for them until they were about 6 months. I know this probably makes me a terrible mother, but actually I think it's a good idea to save the money and get something which they will get more enjoyment from later.

[saintcatling]

Another vote for Lamaze Firefly and also Sophie the Giraffe now that baby has teeth coming. But her most favourite toy is my iPhone which has been licked and shoved in her mouth, she did manage to phone my local beautician too. Think that was a hint...

[Iamjustthemilkmachine]

Water bottles
Cardboard
Cat bowls
oh, and plastic bags, but we do try and keep them out of reach.

[Athrawes]

Lamaze Firefly
Stacking cups
Peg basket
Pebbles
Mud
Leaves
Poo
Tiny wee bits of gravel in the gutter

Started so well...

[SaffronCake]

I expect this one has come up, so I wont bang on about it, I'll just say...

Freddy The Firefly by Lamaze.

I don't think you'll regret it.

[mmmerangue]

I got a fairly simple gym for half price making it only £20 it was a BARGAIN. Especially good in the first few weeks before they lift their head although DS is a roller and therefore got bored with the edges stopping him, pretty quickly!

His favourite things are textures he loves cellophane inside toys, anything crackly, shiny, or soft. Big fan of crisp packets & mummy's dressing gown...
The favourite thing we've bought him is probably his Loopy Loops from ELC (teething/rattle toy combined), a cheap plastic noisemaker from the garden centre that sort of 'whoops' when you shake it hard enough, and a hungry caterpillar cot toy. A friend had another ELC starter toy, just bright plastic chain links, that DS was dying to take away from his wee friend at the end of the playdate!

[Flowerista]

Stacking cups for Christmas.

Try a mother & baby group sale for playmats, you'll pick up great bargains and they can all be washed.