recommended age for toys

MrsMillerTime

How "strict" are you about adhering to the age recommendation on toys? 

A got a push toy for Christmas and we kept it in the box until the recommended age of 9 months (my DH thought that was a bit much on my part).  A lot of the M&D toys are for 2+ years but we've played with them at GTGs at stuff and it doesn't make sense to me why they're not appropriate for younger kiddos (excluding any obvious safety issues).

Thoughts?

libbyann

As long as there are no obvious safety issues like choking hazards, we're not too strict on the recommended age. A lot of the time he can't use the toy properly (ex: ball popper) and needs our help to play with it, but he usually loves them. There's also toys that he's started using early and then figured out how to use well before the recommended age. For his birthday he's getting several 18 mos+ and 2 yr+ toys that I know he'll play with now.

Duckie07

Just think of it this way--would your child have been able to play with and enjoy the push toy earlier than 9 months?  Some babies might and others not so much.  DD wasn't even crawling until she was 10 months, so a push toy wouldn't have been the best thing to give her even at 9 months (the age on the box).  Now, that she's really trying to walk, she has a blast with it.  I think it really depends on your child. 

Angie&Doc

I agree that it depends on each child. My ds didn't like some toys until he was much older than the recommended age. It all depends, as long as there is no real hazard I don't think it matters as long as they like the toy!

bobcatsteph

libbyann:

As long as there are no obvious safety issues like choking hazards, we're not too strict on the recommended age. A lot of the time he can't use the toy properly (ex: ball popper) and needs our help to play with it, but he usually loves them. There's also toys that he's started using early and then figured out how to use well before the recommended age. For his birthday he's getting several 18 mos+ and 2 yr+ toys that I know he'll play with now.

This.

My parents are getting DD a kitchen for her birthday and the recommended age is 2-7. I'm going to pack away any small parts. I know she's going to love it!