Ideas for toys.......?!

[lourobert]

my son has so many toys..many of which is cannot use yet (so they are in a box ready for when he can)but Ive been racking my brains trying to find a toy suitable for my son and wondered if anyone has any suggestions.

He cannot sit unaided but sits beautifully in his tumble form. I want to get him some king of toy/activity station with lights and music for when hes in his tumble form. He has a baby gym which he loves rolling round on so I tend to let him do that rather than encouraging him to sit up as much as I should. I thought that rewarding his sitting with something he enjoys wont make it such of a chore for him.

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas

TIA

We have quite a selection of Vtech toys which have been successful with DD - she's playing with one as I type. It was ages before she sat unaided but even when her fingers were really tiny and she didn't have much strength at all she worked out how to use her hand to press the buttons/keys to operate the lights and music.
We then had one of those static "walkers" think they're called entertainers which she could sit in but be more upright.

If you ant something for him to watch, I'd suggest a fish tank- Ds has one, we stocked it today, all in all it cost about £24 froms pets at home (including fish)

For sitting up.... how about the basic sort of sriving toys, where he can turn the wheel etc- vtech do one, and they don't really work lying down so that would motivate sitting. They tend to be popular as they're so interactive. Ditto xylophones. The other toy i've seen several small kids with is a torch (from Asda / woolies) which us an animal, and when you press a button the mouth opens, an animal sound is amde and the torch shines. they're excellent for mummy-and-me time with younger / less able kids. They're 7.99 I think

sorry DRIVING toys

Have you got a table for your tumbleform? Your therapist or Portage worker might be able to get a frame that sits on or attaches to the table that you can hang toys on, like a baby gym. You can get them for a lot of standing frame trays too.

Our Ot says that they dont provide tables for the tumble form which is a PITA as Ive often thought that it would be useful. THey are really expensive to buy arnt they!!

Can you access a grant? either from SS, or we searched for benevolent funds on the internet, applied for the one linked to DH's job and got what we asked for (BIBIC for 2 years)- AND extra cash for the other boys [gratefulemoticon]. A few people here have also mentioned the Beckhams charity?

Hmmmm- youve got me thinking now I remember the brainwave charity giving me some info on funds and my MIl has been supporting Cerebra for years and they have funds available for one-off purchases...!!

Think I'll start looking into that now....THANKS

Ah brainwave.... know them well , come from bridgwater myself (we use BIBIC, they started as the same thing)

I chose Brainwave, not sure why that one and not BIBIC- actually think its becuase it was cheaper...!

Good enough reason LOL!

There's not a lot to choose, when I was student I did placements at both. I chose BIBIC because when I worked for homestart in bridgwater I was trying to set up a link between the two charities, so I knew the people there (although we go to the Wales one atm, though hope next appt will be in bridgwater as they have more facillities).

OTs dont provide tables with seating?

Duh!!

Ask your OT why your son is sitting - it aint so the blood can rush to his feet, is it? If he cant play or be entertained in his chair there is little point in him sitting. OK theres physiological benefits, but as the old saying goes, dont stand if you can sit, dont sit if you can lie down.....

Sorry, thats pretty useless advice isnt it, but Im sitting here watching the NHS and SS fall apart, and it upsets me that professionals who (I hope) would agree with me on why a table is important, are having to follow petty protocols about what can be provisded and what cant.

Totally agree with you Fusby. Ive actually got an appointment at the CDC tomorrow. The OT is completey and utterly useless but the physio, however, is fab and I think that maybe if I mention it again whilst we are all together then the physio might put a bit of pressure on the OT....!

Another thing Im being let down by at the moment is the benfits system but dont get me started on that......!!

Hello
Our CDC would not provide 'proper' table with the tumbleform but they have some other fold up tables which they loan out instead. Just like a camping table. TBH I prefer it as its more compact - easy to wedge behing sofa when not in use.

RE toys, my DD really likes the fisher price keyboard that has adjustable legs and can be used in sitting & standing mode. Also has dangly things that can be attached underneath and used as baby gym type thing, activating the keyboard.

Buttons are big and sensitive to lightest of touch and it all lights up as played. Plays whole melodies, sounds and single notes. Gets a bit annoying though but hey ho

Well.....appointment at the CDc today and they saif that they will not supply s table for the tumble form however they will supply us with an alternative chair with a table. My dp saw the chair today and said it is far bulkier than the tumble form, my first thought is how will it suit for taking to nursey etc. SO im going to look at the chair with the OT next week and make a decision as to what would work best for us.....!!

EJB- Louis has a keyboard like you describe at his nans and it drives me nuts but it captivates him. My aunt bought my son the vtech baby walker for xmas( I was so angry at the time as she knows weve been told that Louis may never walk!) but he loves the activities and tunes on it -its great.

Lourobert, you might be better with a different chair, it might give better support, and could take up less room, depending on the make.

Re the folding tables - they are fine, the ones made by Tumbleform are pretty big and bulky TBH.

Im needing a bigger house already TBH what with everything were needing for him. Even looking into a loft converstion for more space...!