Playdoh - awful or great?

[peaches35]

My 17 month old is suddenly really into Playdoh and I hate it! The little bits gets everywhere and it makes such a mess. He’s also constantly trying to eat it. I dread to think what will happen if any gets in his hair and am seriously worried it could actually be a potential choking hazard. It’s horrid when it’s wet as well. I can’t take my eye off him for a second when he’s playing with it. All that said, he seems to really love it and I know it’s a hugely popular toy.

Do you love Playdoh or hate it?

[ReeseWitherfork]

I avoid it! My LO is 26 months and he's only ever played with it once or twice etc. simply because I hide it out of sight. I'm generally really calm with sensory stuff but for some reason I hate playdoh!

[TheWayTheLightFalls]

You need to embrace the fact that the colours will get mixed up and you will get a few blobs in your socks. But if kids are into it it’s really great for fine motor skills.

[Smurf123]

It's great for developing hand strength and fine motor skills. Also developing imagination and concentration. (It's an everyday essential in my early years classroom - currently on maternity leave)
You can make your own pretty easily too so you know what's in it if your worried about them eating it. There's a good amount of salt in it so wouldn't really want them eating it but it's not going to do a huge amount of harm unless they eat a lot (would still discourage eating it of course!!)
I wouldn't want it near water as it goes slimy when wet but other than that I don't mind it!
I make my own, as ds likes to make something with lots of colours and I can't handle the branded playdoh getting ruined. The imagination tree has a good no cool play dough recipe if you ever need one. I make a batch of plain then separate it into balls and add food colouring at the end and just knead it in until you have coloured dough

[idontlikealdi]

My kids have always loved it, I hate it. Make your own if he's eating it. Good news is that all he ground in bits do eventually lift off the carpet...

[LakeShoreD]

Embrace the fact it will all end up sludge coloured. It is great for creativity, developing fine motor skills and it’s not massively messy compared to say painting. I love it! My 4YO has a few of the play doh creations cooking sets and will play with it unsupervised for like an hour. 17 months is really quite young for it though, it’s not really suitable if they’re still at the everything goes in mouth phase. Your choice obviously but I personally wouldn’t give it to an under 2.

[MoreAloneTime]

This is partly why I miss stay and play and messy play. I like play dough when it's not in my own house.

[peaches35]

Okay thanks everyone, you’re selling it to me!

Though he did have a blob on his finger then tried to put his finger in his ear

[peaches35]

Your choice obviously but I personally wouldn’t give it to an under 2.

Hmmm, maybe I’ll shelve it until he gets a bit older? I think it does say suitable for aged 2 plus to be fair.

[NannyR]

It's a fantastic toy, so many ways to play and learn with it, but I agree that 17 months might be a bit too young. You could try some other sensory, messy play ideas instead - jelly, cooked spaghetti coloured with food colouring, foam made by whipping the liquid from a can of chickpeas with a pinch of cream of tartar (it's very similar to shaving foam, but safer for babies who put things in their mouths).
Pinterest has lots of ideas.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

I'd save it for a little while. Make your own it's really easy and tastes super salty so unlikely to eat as much as the perfumed shop bought stuff. You won't mind that it gets colour mixed either as you came easily make more. It's very good for them to play with it and so much fun

[Toddlerteaplease]

I'm nearly 40 and had to resist playing with a patients play doh the other day!

[BertieBotts]

Try magic sand instead. It's less messy apparently. Although maybe when he's older.

[idontlikealdi]

@BertieBotts

Try magic sand instead. It's less messy apparently. Although maybe when he's older.

Never near a caret though, that doesn't come out, ever!!

[InnPain]

I loved it - when my daughter was 3/4 years old and was able to actually sit on the table and play with it. She loved mixing the colours though but it is what it is.

It kept her entertained for a long while and that suited me. I remember getting all the different sets for her, she especially loved the tools that came with the cake making play doh such as rolling pin and cookie cutters etc.

Saying that, I didn’t have carpet at the time and it would be a whole different story if I did as it’s impossible to get out once it sticks into the carpet fibres!

[Elisemum]

My 2,5 year old son is obsessed with it, I mean actually obsessed. My husband hates it and used to tell me not to give it to DS but now he made his peace with it. On the positive side - play doh once left on floor etc goes rock hard so it’s very easy to Hoover up. It doesn’t really get stuck on things. My son can play with it for 20-30 mins at the time which is super long for a toddler. He mixes the colours constantly and licks it - nothing we can do buy keep buying more :)