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Best infant toys?

BettyttebBettytteb member
in November 2015 Moms
Looking for a little advice from the STM+'s out there. What would you consider the most essential toys for babies? I'm a pretty minimalistic person in terms of acquiring "stuff" and don't want to amass tons of unnecessary baby toys, so before I just start shopping I'd love a little a little guidance as to what the LOs have actually loved/used in your experience.Thanks!
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Re: Best infant toys?

  • Lynnbirds4Lynnbirds4 member
    My son was absolutely obsessed with Sophie th Giraffe...I see a lot of other kids have it too! It is a great toy to keep in the diaper bag!
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  • thefithuntressthefithuntress member
    I'm a FTM too but definitely going minimalistic. We have Sophie on our registry since everyone we know loves it. Also, see if your play gym has pieces that can be taken apart. The Skip Hop Activity Gym has loops where you can attach and reattach little toys that come with it so there's 5 extra toys right there. :)
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  • BettyttebBettytteb member
    edited August 2015
    VexedMommy said:
    Personally, I'm going to wait until Christmas to do toy shopping.  I've registered for an activity mat for tummy time and will probably get something like the toys below, that are tactile and chewable to start off with but I'm going to leave the serious toy shopping for later. 

    image
    Waiting until xmas for most of it is a great idea! Thanks! It's much less daunting to think about just needing a few things for the first 6 weeks or so knowing xmas is right around the corner and family will more than likely be too excited not to get LO toys. :)
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  • BettyttebBettytteb member
    thefithuntress said:
    I'm a FTM too but definitely going minimalistic. We have Sophie on our registry since everyone we know loves it. Also, see if your play gym has pieces that can be taken apart. The Skip Hop Activity Gym has loops where you can attach and reattach little toys that come with it so there's 5 extra toys right there. :)
    Sophie & and activity gym are actually the only two play things we've already gotten! :)
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  • queenwogqueenwog member
    I'm with @VexedMommy, I'm waiting until Christmas. Not like he's going to be playing with a lot of toys between birth and Christmas anyway and I'm sure the family will love being able to shop for little toys and things for him.

    That said, my sister swears by the little plastic links. Not terribly complicated but they're pretty versatile for what they are.
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  • rachswirachswi member
    VexedMommy said:


    Bettytteb said:


    VexedMommy said:

    Personally, I'm going to wait until Christmas to do toy shopping.  I've registered for an activity mat for tummy time and will probably get something like the toys below, that are tactile and chewable to start off with but I'm going to leave the serious toy shopping for later. 

    image

    Waiting until xmas for most of it is a great idea! Thanks! It's much less daunting to think about just needing a few things for the first 6 weeks or so knowing xmas is right around the corner and family will more than likely be too excited not to get LO toys. :)

    Another Stingy Mommy hint - Your baby doesn't know if you buy the toys at the super discounted after Christmas price.  There will be no disappointment on Christmas morning if there aren't presents for him/her to open.  Lol.


    I honestly don't intend on buying anything for my LO for Christmas. He's grand baby #2 for my parents (first Christmas for either, though) and DH's mom always goes overkill for Christmas because she thinks everyone has to have a TON to open (his whole family is like that... Makes things stressful when we are strapped for cash yet expected to give elaborate gifts for every gift-giving occasion). If there's something I really want LO to have, I'll get it on post-holiday sales.
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  • VexedMommyVexedMommy member
    rachswi said:
    I honestly don't intend on buying anything for my LO for Christmas. He's grand baby #2 for my parents (first Christmas for either, though) and DH's mom always goes overkill for Christmas because she thinks everyone has to have a TON to open (his whole family is like that... Makes things stressful when we are strapped for cash yet expected to give elaborate gifts for every gift-giving occasion). If there's something I really want LO to have, I'll get it on post-holiday sales.
    Everyone in the family gets a Christmas ornament each year so we'll do a first Christmas ornament.  Everyone in our family also gets a new set of pajama's on Christmas Eve (makes for better pictures on Christmas morning.)  I'm not sure how much more we'll do for this baby at Christmas since we have two older girls who will know and care if there's not something under the tree for them. 
    If there's something strange underneath the hood.  Who you gonna call?  Your Doctor.  If there's something weird and it don't look good.  Who you gonna call?  Your Doctor.  Immediately.  If it's new, painful, and possibly pregnancy related get your ass off the internet and call your doctor.  It's for your health and your child's. 




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  • BettyttebBettytteb member
    rachswi said:
    Bettytteb said:
    VexedMommy said:
    Personally, I'm going to wait until Christmas to do toy shopping.  I've registered for an activity mat for tummy time and will probably get something like the toys below, that are tactile and chewable to start off with but I'm going to leave the serious toy shopping for later. 

    image
    Waiting until xmas for most of it is a great idea! Thanks! It's much less daunting to think about just needing a few things for the first 6 weeks or so knowing xmas is right around the corner and family will more than likely be too excited not to get LO toys. :)
    Another Stingy Mommy hint - Your baby doesn't know if you buy the toys at the super discounted after Christmas price.  There will be no disappointment on Christmas morning if there aren't presents for him/her to open.  Lol.
    I honestly don't intend on buying anything for my LO for Christmas. He's grand baby #2 for my parents (first Christmas for either, though) and DH's mom always goes overkill for Christmas because she thinks everyone has to have a TON to open (his whole family is like that... Makes things stressful when we are strapped for cash yet expected to give elaborate gifts for every gift-giving occasion). If there's something I really want LO to have, I'll get it on post-holiday sales.
    We'll probably just get a couple little, symbolic things for LO's first xmas. But I know our very excited family will not be able to hold themselves back. :)
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  • Gapeach83Gapeach83 member
    We will do a couple of things for Christmas maybe a toy and some clothes. My oldest will want to get him something not getting a lot. My mom always does the Christmas eve pj's so he will get a sleeper then to wear.
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  • trampledbykiddostrampledbykiddos member
    Definitely an activity gym, DD LOVED hers and its great for tummy time. That's probably the only thing that was really a must-have at my house besides something for teething (I ended up using frozen washcloths for a lot of that though). Also second PPs recommendation for those plastic link things, they are really handy. DD really liked these soft blocks too, or really anything that has that crinkly material in it:



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  • ks24119ks24119 member
    Lynnbirds4 said:

    My son was absolutely obsessed with Sophie th Giraffe...I see a lot of other kids have it too! It is a great toy to keep in the diaper bag!

    FTM here, why is sofie so great? Honestly just have no idea. It's on registry :)
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  • apritch88apritch88 member
    ks24119 said:
    My son was absolutely obsessed with Sophie th Giraffe...I see a lot of other kids have it too! It is a great toy to keep in the diaper bag!
    FTM here, why is sofie so great? Honestly just have no idea. It's on registry :)


    The shape is very easy for little hands to hold onto and there are lots of different shapes/textures to chow down on. I thought it was crazy too, but my DD LOVED her Sophie. 
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  • ks24119ks24119 member
    apritch88 said:


    ks24119 said:

    Lynnbirds4 said:

    My son was absolutely obsessed with Sophie th Giraffe...I see a lot of other kids have it too! It is a great toy to keep in the diaper bag!

    FTM here, why is sofie so great? Honestly just have no idea. It's on registry :)



    The shape is very easy for little hands to hold onto and there are lots of different shapes/textures to chow down on. I thought it was crazy too, but my DD LOVED her Sophie. 


    Ok thanks :)
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  • nbpa3027nbpa3027 member
    My son loved his Sophie, my daughter not so much.

    Truthfully, those plastic rings, mirrors, and Tupperware were the favorites in our house. We didn't have a playmat with my son and didn't really miss it. We had one for my daughter, but she also ended up needed to be put down a lot more. They were always way more interested in the things that weren't actually toys!

    As for Christmas, my kids were summer babies, but since we wanted pictures with lots of presents under the tree but they didn't really need much, we used the opportunity to buy bowls, spoons, sippy cups, etc. to wrap and put under the tree.
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  • dramaphiledramaphile member
    ks24119 said:

    Lynnbirds4 said:

    My son was absolutely obsessed with Sophie th Giraffe...I see a lot of other kids have it too! It is a great toy to keep in the diaper bag!

    FTM here, why is sofie so great? Honestly just have no idea. It's on registry :)
    Sophie is also made of natural rubber with natural dyes that don't come off if the baby chews on it. From a safety standpoint, that's the appeal. My nephew was obsessed with his. We got three of them at my baby shower. Probably going to keep two and return the other, those things are pricey!

    One thing to consider, find a way to label it if you bring it to daycare since everyone has them!
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  • nmwheel1nmwheel1 member
    My daughter hated Sophie! She was a November baby almost 2 years ago. For her first Christmas she got an activity mat and she loved that! She also got a sun rattle that was soft for newborns and that was a favorite! We were in a condo until she was almost 1 so she didn't get many toys due to space. As she got bigger the jolly jumper and exersaucer were favorites!
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  • katiedhunterkatiedhunter member
    Both my boys hated Sophie. They loved the rings. Actually my 3yo still uses his to build things and tow cars around! I always found with my boys that the simpler the toy the more they liked it and would actually play with it.
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  • Bootsie81Bootsie81 member
    edited August 2015

    These were my kid's favorites. 

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7TN2E/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1M6T73SWG1W9NEZX62Y3&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

    https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Toy-Sensory-Teether-Activity/dp/B000BNCA4K/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1440436090&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=winklw

    ETA: and this: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Along-Tunes-Musical/dp/B000YDDF6O/ref=pd_sim_21_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0YHCM6DZK1AE74H2FDA0



    photo 2c2eea5b-cb3d-4ba5-8e22-39fd2841956b_zps4ux1rnnr.jpg

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers

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  • mamavbsmamavbs member
    A packet of baby wipes!! Hahaha I got tons of toys for my DD and DS and they were always impressed with the most basic things. Wrapping paper tubes, tennis balls, boxes...

    (They do have actual toys hahaha)
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  • rox7777rox7777 member
    My son loved his playmat, links, and crib mirror for the first few months. His favorite hanging toys were the ones that crinkled and had the teething textures on them. My only real advice is avoid the heavier/hard toys at first. Someone gave him a heavier rattle/teether and he hit himself in the face fairly hard trying to hold it. It was slightly tramautizing as a FTM.
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  • CarrieOct15CarrieOct15 member
    I didn't register for a Sophie because it's just so expensive, but I'm kind of hoping we get one anyway! They are so popular, though, that I might buy it if nobody else does. 
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    mamavbs said:

    A packet of baby wipes!! Hahaha I got tons of toys for my DD and DS and they were always impressed with the most basic things. Wrapping paper tubes, tennis balls, boxes...

    (They do have actual toys hahaha)

    My son loves to play in the big boxes his diapers come in! Come Christmas the newbies will be more into the wrapping paper than anything else!
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  • kmd91kmd91 member
    I already told my husband I plan on wrapping up some packages of diapers and wipes for under the tree to make things look more impressive.

    However, we will probably get a few little toys for him for Christmas as well, maybe a play mat if I haven't gotten around to it yet by then. But honestly, anything can become a toy. I'm going to try not to over complicate things on the baby toy front, because I know he will have a lot more and more expensive toy desires as he gets older. I'll save as much as I can now before he starts with big toy demands.
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  • grapesoda1111grapesoda1111 member
    I've seen other toys made by the same company as sophia, like a cow and a pig, it is in the same packaging as sophia. I've seen them at places like tj maxx and marshalls. They are only like $8-$12, are these the same things? They seem like it, just at a much better price.

    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • grapesoda1111grapesoda1111 member
    Also, has anyone tried those amber baby necklaces? They are supposed to help with teething or drooling? Wondering if those are any good.

    Pregnancy Ticker
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  • brianna91chavezbrianna91chavez member
    grapesoda1111 said:

    I've seen other toys made by the same company as sophia, like a cow and a pig, it is in the same packaging as sophia. I've seen them at places like tj maxx and marshalls. They are only like $8-$12, are these the same things? They seem like it, just at a much better price.

    I think I've seen these too but I would look at the packaging carefully to make sure because I have actually seen knock off Sophie's on Amazon. People have said in the reviews not to order from certain sellers because when they received the package it was not the real Sophie lol. Crazy.
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  • MadBloomMadBloom member
    Everyone else already said Sophie and I agree! She is a must have.
    My daughter loved her baby swing because it had a mirror to look into and the mobile rotated.

    She also loved her kick and play piano mat. We've actually never put it away because she still likes the piano part at 16 months old!!

    Oball rattles or balls are good because they are easy to grasp and BPA free. They are soft if they wack themselves in the face too.

    We also had a little einsteins activity gym and some stuffies. That was all she needed until she was sitting up. Then we moved onto other toys.
    YCSWU
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  • SquirtgunSquirtgun member
    grapesoda1111 said:

    I've seen other toys made by the same company as sophia, like a cow and a pig, it is in the same packaging as sophia. I've seen them at places like tj maxx and marshalls. They are only like $8-$12, are these the same things? They seem like it, just at a much better price.

    I don't know if it's the same as Sophie, because we never had the Sophie. But, daughter has the cow and LOVES it. She still chews on it now when she has teeth coming in (at 19 months now).

    I'd also agree with everyone that the play mat with overhanging toys is the best toy! Especially the ones that you can change out the little toys hooked to it.
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  • BettyttebBettytteb member
    Thanks so much for all the great ideas!
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  • AshleeM7784AshleeM7784 member
    It's amazing how quickly babies go from stage to stage! Since our babies won't have a birthday until November, I'm planning to get LO some of the things she might need/enjoy throughout her first year as Christmas gifts,even if she can't use them right away. Some of my ideas and favorite toys for their first year:
    -o-ball
    -Sophie
    -link-a-doos
    -crinkly/mirror toys
    -activity mat
    -soft blocks
    -textured balls
    Board books (llama llama, chicka chicka boom boom, baby faces, touch & feel books, good night gorilla are a few of my faves)
    -instruments
    -baby music that doesn't make you want to gouge your ears out - I love the puntamayo albums, curious George by Jack Johnson, some of the rockabye! Baby CDs are ok
    -activity cube
    -riding/push wooden car

    These were some of my son's favorite things that really grew with him so I'm planning to get at least a few of them for our little girl.
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  • grapesoda1111grapesoda1111 member
    thefithuntress said:


    grapesoda1111 said:

    Also, has anyone tried those amber baby necklaces? They are supposed to help with teething or drooling? Wondering if those are any good.


    The Baltic amber is BS and super dangerous. The beads are a choking hazard and there is zero scientific evidence they work. I might get a silicone or wood teething necklace for myself to wear but babies shouldn't wear jewelry.


    Okay thanks! My friend has one her 6th month old and swears by it, she wraps it around his wrist though as a bracelet. He's a chunk and it looks like it cuts off his circulation. She said she took it off one day and said he was a crying mess all day. Kinda spendy IMO and would rather spend it on something I know is legit!

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  • violetigerlilyvioletigerlily member
    edited August 2015
    Has anyone tried this activity gym?  It turns into a mini ball pit when the baby gets older which seems like it would be the coolest thing ever.  I'm a FTM and we have it on our registry.  Not sure if it really is as fun as it sounds, but the reviews are good and it seems like you'd get more mileage out of this than the other baby gyms. 

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  • MadBloomMadBloom member
    grapesoda1111 said:

    Also, has anyone tried those amber baby necklaces? They are supposed to help with teething or drooling? Wondering if those are any good.

    I got one for my daughter as soon as I noticed her start to drool and we got through teething up until molars just fine. She discovered it and started playing with it at around 10 months so I removed it.
    I found that it really helped decrease drooling and she generally seemed to be happier while wearing it.
    The amber is warmed by the skin and helps reduce inflammation.

    I live in a super crunchy area though so we have a huge CDing, BFing, babywearing and natural remedies community. I'm probably biased since these things are so common. I see them on babies all the time. Hazel wood necklaces are also very popular here.
    YCSWU
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  • Tracyjean22PTracyjean22P member
    I got the smaller Sophie. A friend recommended it because the rings on it make it easier for baby to hold. AND it's cheaper.
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  • VexedMommyVexedMommy member
    violetigerlily said:
    Has anyone tried this activity gym?  It turns into a mini ball pit when the baby gets older which seems like it would be the coolest thing ever.  I'm a FTM and we have it on our registry.  Not sure if it really is as fun as it sounds, but the reviews are good and it seems like you'd get more mileage out of this than the other baby gyms. 

    That's adorable.  As long as you're good with those balls being all over the house and hardly ever in the "ball pit." I'd say go for it.  It looks like tons of fun.  The graphic black/white print at the top is also great for their development when they're very tiny. 

    In regards to the teething necklaces, I'm not a big fan.  It's hard enough to get a baby to learn not to chew on necklaces/grab earrings when you're not actively giving it to them to chew on.  I used teething toys that she could hold and grasp instead of anything my dd could wrap around herself accidentally.
    If there's something strange underneath the hood.  Who you gonna call?  Your Doctor.  If there's something weird and it don't look good.  Who you gonna call?  Your Doctor.  Immediately.  If it's new, painful, and possibly pregnancy related get your ass off the internet and call your doctor.  It's for your health and your child's. 




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  • SquirtgunSquirtgun member
    @VexedMommy the amber teething necklaces are not actually for the kid to chew. It's supposed to be that just having the amber on the skin calms/soothes them somehow. I have a friend who swore by them for her two (now older) kids. I have no personal experience with them, though.

    They do also sell the teething necklaces that are rubber or something for mom to wear for baby to chew on. Those are the ones that I think are crazy if you are trying to teach little one not to pull jewelry off of everyone who holds him or her!!

    I'd agree, teething things they can hold on their own are the way to go. I like the ones that go in the freezer a lot as well! (Good for bumps and bruises as well as teething.)
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  • kesmeredithkesmeredith member
    Thanks for all the ideas ladies, very helpful!
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