How many toys do you think a baby / toddler needs?

[ILikeYourSleeves]

Since it's that time of year again when we start thinking about Christmas presents (and birthday presents too as DS is 1 in 3 weeks) I have been thinking about how many toys he already has and what a baby really needs! DS has 3 big 'floor' toys just now in the living room and loads of little ones in several toy boxes. I am now looking at 12 / 18 month + toys for him (got him a push along walker for birthday) but I don't want to start getting into buying him too much either, I know he is only little and as I type this he is happily playing with a packet of pens

So just wondering how often you buy your DC toys, how many they have, or do you toy swap or rotate them etc? Thanks

they dont need any.
quite happy with whatevers about really... pots and pans, dustpan and brush, bit of cardboard...

ds got some bits and pieces for his 1st birthday but he mostly just plays with his sister's stuff - either what she's grown out of or what she's playing with at the moment. He's fascinated by pans and spoons. I'm thinking Father Christmas might bring him his own saucepan this year.

I think my DS (2) 'ought' to have toys spanning a range of activities, but not too many actual toys. So he has outdoor stuff like a doll's buggy to take his animals to the park in, shapes and spade for outdoor sandpit, and a ball. Then indoors he has a little kitchen hob where he can use normal pots and pans and mess around with dry pasta. He has a little table, playdoh and tools, paper, crayons and pencils. Also has a toy piano, xylophone, stuff like that. Quite a few cars (not really interested) and lego (not really interested), and lots of nice books which he loves though I hate reading them again and again.

So the aim is to give him lots of different things to do. He does love electronic things that light up but I am so prejudiced against them that he doesn't have any of those things. little trike is always nice. He has a little wooden house with my old plastic animals in it.

I buy a lot of stuff from good charity shops, he gets a lot as presents from grandparents, and some things I can't resist and just get him...

so this is just our experience... I think it's nice for them to play with everyday stuff and not be bought some horrible shiny thing..

Nice books.

They don't need any. What they need is a rich stimulating environment where they can explore and learn.

Toys can help provide this, but so can almost all other objects around them in their environment.

Books are different though. A child can never have too many books.

For DS 1st b'day we got him one present (about £25). He got tons from relatives and a few of those pressies are in the wardrobe. Same thing happening wth Xmas. Kids get too many toys. IMO, the less toys they have, the more they actually play with the ones they have, IFSWIM. Every now and again, i get a new toy from the wardrobe from him to play with but he's happy with what he has.

And saucepans and wooden spoons make excellent toys (just watch your DS doesn't clobber himself with the colander!). Tescos also did a wee basket of plastic tea cups and jugs etc. might be a bit girly but DS loves banging them together, putting them in and out of the basket, making a tower (not very successfully). Was only a fiver I think.

They don't need to many toys, my DSs had loads and loads but DD is just as happy as they were and has a fraction of the amount.

Her favourite thing to play with at the moment is a 'treasure basket' I made up for her which is filled with everyday objects such as wooden spoons, bath puff, loofah, largish cowrie shell, ribbons, juggling scarves, honey dipper, small collander, wooden egg cups, wooden eggs, bottle brush, whisk, metal spoon, pastry brush and some other wooden utensils in there. As they get older you can add cardboard tubes, dolly pegs, empty cellotape reels and all sorts of stuff!