First toys - what worked for you?

[Southwestwhippet]

I've been given a £50 mothercare voucher . I thought initially I could spend it on useful things like nursing bras/breast pads etc but I've decided that is far too dull and I might get some nice things for DD instead.

Obviously at 4 weeks she is not going to be interested in any toys but I can see that within a relatively short time she is going to like holding/looking at things and it would be nice to get her some bits and bobs to play with. We've been given lots of second hands clothes etc (her wardrobe is now better than mine!) but have virtually no toys at all at the moment and TBH I'm at a bit of a loss as to what babies like. Don't want to waste my lovely present on a load of tat that is marketed towards the parents rather than the child IYKWIM.

What recomendations do you have (toys or general stuff) that your small babies enjoyed?

Ditto the babybjorn chair

My brother gave DD1 he Tiny Love baby gym for her first Christmas - was terrified at first (at 2 months) but from about 4 months she loved it. All three of ours used it - easy to wash and take with you. And it's now in the spare room for baby visitors. Been used loads over the last 6 years. The lights and music stopped working quite early on but no-one cared!

You should consider a treasure basket for when baby is around 6 months old. Basically it's just a basket full of of bits and pieces for them to explore so they need to be able to sit up with hands free! Try www.earlyyearsplanning for ideas and then go and make your own!

One of these bead framed toys from mothercare. DS is 6 months and loves sitting at the table in his Tripp Trapp chair playing with it.

Another vote for plastic linky-hoops! Great for attaching stuff to other stuff / pram / cot etc. Or extending things to dangle down lower from baby gym so baby can reach and bat them about. Or just on their own to play with and chew, once they can hold onto things.

Baby gym wasn't useful until DS was 3 or 4 months.

However, our best buy was probably a baby mirror with soft fabric around the sides, velcro straps for attaching inside cot and also possible to stand up. Bought us loads of time as he was quite contented and amused lying there staring at himself! He still likes it now at 13 months!

Stacking Cups

Well my practical head says keep it to buy a highchair or next size carseat but then...

We have an activity centre that baby sits in & can spin round to play with the toys - kinda likethis but ours was a dj booth which although we bought from Mothercare, doesnt seem to be on the website anymore.

Great lifesaver when baby is crawling & you need to leave the room/leave baby on own for a second. (DS2 is 8 months & I use it a couple of times a day but DS1 definately liked it much more as we dont use it as much this time round).

Also a rubber ring play gym like this is much more useful IMO. Great when they are learning to sit. DS2 8 months & still plays in there & likes to drink his milk in there during the day. (They are all different though DS1 didnt use it once he could crawl.

Good suggestions here but I would buy something big, ie. blow all the money on one really good thing. I didn't with DD because I neve felt rich enough, but will with the one who is coming in June.

With DD I bought little things which had more or less success but wish I'd bought an all singing all dancing thing.

I've bought this for starters (half price here!). DD loved them at playgroups so I'm hoping this one will too.

Oh by the way I'd like second the Hide & Squeak eggs recommendation. A.mazing. They absolutely love them!

My baby is 6 weeks and he loves his Baby Einstein gym and the black and white mini zebra that we got him. Also the Tiny Love pram mobile, although he didn't take much notice of that at first, now he's a little older he's mesmerised by it.

Stacking cups - got mine from Ikea for less than a pound, also good for playing with water and sand.

mega Bricks very popular with my Ds since he was 1 yrs. Still likes to play with them.

our eggs are on the highest shelf in ds room because I got fed up of searching the house for all the parts (each egg consists of 2 pieces of shell & an egg)

and I would also say to blow it on one big thing too.

The smaller toys are easy to pick up at charity shops, car boots even supermarkets. I find I am always buying little toys for the ds's as it was only £X

This is a really interesting and useful thread. My DS is 6 months old now - generally contented, good sleeper etc, but needs constant attention. We've spent an absolute fortune on toys to amuse him, but apart from Tiny Love gym (which I got for nothing from a friend!) he's not that interested in anything for any length of time. He has other gyms and a Galt playnest - all look good but he's not that keen. His slightly tatty Tiny Love is the favourite overall. When he was about 2-4 months he was soothed by his swing chair - we got one from Ebay as they are expensive and don't last long in terms of child's size.

For a while now, he only wants to chew on things - books, rattles, electronic drums etc - all straight in the mouth! Can anyone tell me if this is common? Bit concerned that he doesn't actually 'play' with anything as such, just tries to devour it!

Titferbrains mentioned about tummy time - my DS is the same and only rolled over yesterday - 6 mths on the dot! We try to get him to spend lots of time on tummy and sitting upright - loves it at first but he gets pretty upset after a few minutes. Has anyone else had the same experience?
Wonder also if anyone had bought the FP 'Jumperoo' - thinking about buying as heard were great and DS at happiest when standing supported.

He does quite like a toy from MC called 'Scout'- a dog that you can programme to play customised songs, say phrases including child's name, favourite colour, food etc. Is under £30 and good value for money. Toys don't always neeed to cost lots as said here already - his favourite thing at the moment is the cap from his beaker! I also sing lots to him and say nursery rhymes - might be worth getting a CD or book with action songs as will keep you both occupied for some time to come!

Lots of nurseries use and swear by the Bumbo chair - if getting one get as soon as ready as again they only take a certain weight, and my DS is already too heavy. We bought a chair from MC called a Tushi Seat the other day - is quite good, but made from polystyrene and not great for money. Again won't be suitable for long as is a bit tight for DS - he is very tall for age.

Have fun spending, and any replies re tummy time/rolling/jumperoo much appreciated.

It's not quite suitable for you yet (but time flies by quickly!) but my ds loved his fisher price jumperoo. He is 4 now so we had the old style one but he loved it and would have stayed in for hours if I had allowed it.

Thanks for the reply

I didn't spot you'd mentioned Jumperoo loueden . It was definately the best value thing we had even though they are expensive. A couple of friends have used it too and the resale value of them isn't bad.

Great! :-)

i think the spider version of this jiggling bug was DS's favourite first toy - because the legs used to jiggle, he used to try and catch hold of them, and later he would try to pull the spider down himself (good for strength). Shame they don't seem to do it any more but I guess the bee version would have the same effect.

I liked it so much I bought it for everyone else I knew who had a baby after me!

My DS2 is 12 months and has no interest in any of his toys.

He likes playing with cables, plugs, remote controls phone chargers.

He also likes emptying things out of the kitchen cupboard!

I would actually spend it on books. But he likes putting things in and out of things.

Most practical things like bumbos etc you can pick up really cheaply second hand and both of mine could backflip out of it fairly soon.

I would buy books - some baby ooks for now (that clip onto the pushchair/highcahir) but also maybe a selection of classics for when she's older.
All the Julia Donaldon
We're going of a bearhunt
Tiger Who Came For Tea
Where the Wild Things Are

You get the picture.