For those that exclusively buy non-battery toys

[nappyaddict]

Does that mean you would not buy a rocker like this (When you press the funnel it plays the tune of row, row, row your boat)

Or one of those musical play mats for newborns? If not what's a good alternative?

Imagine that tune over and over and over, all day until the battery ran out. Would set my teeth on edge , which is why I avoid battery operated things. DS does have a few bits that PIL have bought for him, batteries have only just started running down after 3.5yrs, not sure I'll replace them.

I bought this activity mat skip hop treetop friends for DS2. It has crinkle bits, squeaky bits, and the hanging toys.

you can just get something v similar without the batteries aspect? eg the rockers from mamas and papas
www.mamasandpapas.com/product-luxury-rocking-animal-zeddy-zebra/644988700/type-i/
and can get mats that crinkle and dont have any batteries

i am not battery-free, however i never felt a burning desire for a musical rocking boat or a musical play mat!

we had a regular little wooden rocking horse thingy, and a soft squidgy playmat...

contrary to popular belief children do not need to be bombarded with little ditties in order to enjoy a toy

I ahte things like that as the songs drive me bananas. I'm not totally against batteries though and the dcs do of course have battery operated toys especially now they are older. For babies though I like things that dangle, things that crinkle, mirrors and so on. As for a rocker type thing, doubt a baby cares, with a baby you'd have to push the funnel so why not sing row row yourself? We jsut have a rocking horse and dd rocks away on it singing "horsey horsey don't you stop" at the top of her voice, way better than a battery!

Just don't put batteries in.

I have a lovely wooden baby gym (www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk/heimess/wooden-baby-gym-self-assembly.html). dd4 loves it!

Never had a rocker

I buy free range eggs but am happy to have battery children. I do think batteries only really come into their own when children are a bit older though. My 18 month old doesn't really love anything with batteries yet- she's into pushing/ride on toys, dolls, books, chalkboard, cars, trains etc, none of which are dependent on batteries, though some of them have minor features that are battery operated. Her brothers, aged 12, would cry and cry if I tried to make them go battery free! They love their mobiles, ipod nanos, etc. Mind you, nerf guns and books are very popular in this house too, so batteries do not always rule. They were about 3 when they had the 1st battery powered toys they absolutely loved, iirc- Thunderbird island and that funny plastic Thomas thing that shunted plastic balls from one place to another. They used to be mesmerised by that for hours! [can't believe it but feel nostalgic for a Thomas toy!]