Product Spotlight: Toys

m6agua · January 2020

Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product. Feel free to comment on threads like these throughout your time at the board, not just when they're in their week in the spotlight, if you discover something new OR are new to the board. This week it's.... Toys!

FTMs are encouraged to ask questions & STM/+s encouraged to share their knowledge based on experience. You can use any or all the prompts relevant to you below to share info in an easy-to-read format. Pictures/screen grabs, if put in spoilers, are welcome!

For STMs:
What toys did you love?

For FTMs:
Any toys you're considering?

To view the upcoming PSS schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XX4aUSPsDbdyEEK5HIzMzwH2ztOVOnNCehSgMAc5w6U/edit?usp=sharing
Next up: Blankets

m6agua · January 2020

You don't need a ton of toys really when they are small. We used the play mat that has the toys dangling a lot. I also like the little plastic links that you can chain together. I really liked this particular rattle since DD could grab it better than most other ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Bright-Starts-Grab-Spin-Rattle/dp/B000FMQWS2/ref=sr_1_53?keywords=baby+toys&qid=1578067806&sr=8-53
I also recommend a "who loves baby" soft book that you can put photos in. It is a great first book sort of thing and it is great for identifying family members as the kiddo gets older.
https://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Look-Photo-Book-Colors/dp/B002J4U8L6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+loves+baby&qid=1578067870&sr=8-1

As she got older I liked a play kitchen set, she still plays with it at 3. I like the little activity table, and the ride on toys that they just use their feet to move around with.

soprano19 · January 2020

Agree with @m6agua that you don’t need a ton of toys for a newborn. DD loved laying on her activity mat, and when she got a little older (3-4 months) we had a bouncy seat that she loved as well. We also had several stuffed animals and a few teething toys.

As a 2 year old, her favorite toys include Lego Duplos, Brio train, play kitchen, and her baby dolls. She also likes to color/draw and LOVES books.

catem07 · January 2020

My daughter LOVED the lamaze moose: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/lamaze-reg-mortimer-the-moose-plush-toy/1015006005?skuId=15006005&&enginename=google&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_electronicstoys_online&product_id=15006005&adtype=pla&product_channel=online&adpos=1o2&creative=224333587577&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&mrkgadid=558430265&mrkgcl=609&rkg_id=0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI06b2lv3n5gIVCG6GCh3IqQksEAQYAiABEgK57fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

and these maraca rattles
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBW7CNA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

mokay19 · January 2020

Mirrors.

Babies are so vain lol. But seriously, the main way to get my DD to look up during tummy time was mirrors.

Also, if you have hardwood or tile floors, I recommend some rug/mat/pad for them to lay on/do tummy time on. Once they start practicing sitting you’ll want some cushioning for those XL noggins on their XS bodies.

adventuresawait2 · January 2020

Definitely recommend Skip Hop foam tiles per @mokay19 rec. Some baby walls/gates can be helpful if you want to make a baby-safe zone for play. But we only did that later on - initially they don’t move too much. Recommend the kick piano as one fun toy for the littlest ones: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Discover-Piano-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B004V8VQC8

soprano19 · January 2020

@adventuresawait2 we have the kick piano one and it’s fun!

I agree with @mokay19’s suggestion about the floor mat. We have one like this and DD liked helping me put it together: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D7SS1X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Yk5dEbPZ3NFJZ

bananapanda · January 2020

Another vote for the fisher price kick piano! DD loved that thing. One of her other early favorites was the lamaze freddie the firefly https://www.amazon.com/LAMAZE-L27024A-Lamaze-Freddie-Firefly/dp/B000I2Q0F4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GIB31CP00JAO&keywords=freddie+the+firefly&qid=1578081325&s=baby-products&sprefix=freddie+the+fire%2Cbaby-products%2C203&sr=1-1

Unfortunately my dog was also a fan of Freddie so we went through a few of them. I have it on my list for the new baby too.

queenklau · January 2020

Just a side note. Toys multiply. Before you know it they will take over your living room..house. I haven’t had to buy DD1 many, they have mostly been gifted. Remember that the baby will get gifts starting with the baby shower (I didn’t put any toy items in my registry, but still got them), birth, birthdays, holidays. Now with our next LO we can repurpose lots. Also, kids end up playing with boxes, kitchen stuff, dog toys.. the laundry hamper... you name it. They will suck on anything too.

Having said that, my DD1 liked Sophie the giraffe and her hanging toys in her little gym/mat.

mamaj1220 · January 2020

When small I loved the baby gym we had. It was black, white and red with mirrors. But really that and the swing was all he needed for the first few months. Also he still carries his taggie everywhere with him at 6 so I do love those. I am a big Melissa and Doug fan, I love wooden toys and feel you get much more use out of them because they don't break as easily as the the plastic ones. And B toys from target, they are better quality. And as far as books, when they are small I go with the ones that they can chew on, DS ruined a few board books before this thought entered my mind.

Finally, toys get out of hand before you know it, so I suggest not buying much if any to start, you will get stuff at the shower and just randomly as friends and family stop by.

sunshinesea22 · January 2020

STMs+: Are there any toys/baby accessories that you would NOT recommend? I really want to avoid useless stuff that will just take up space until it gets donated. I am looking for the list of things that I shouldn’t even bother with!
Example: those cute wee-wee teepees they advertise for putting on baby boys during diaper changes to prevent a pee shower. I’ve heard they are useless and don’t stay put. A friend said she would just throw a wash cloth over her son during changes for the same effect.

m6agua · January 2020

@sunshinesea22 The ball popper toys are pretty useless, they don't really work great. My MIL likes to buy the electronic dancing things that are fairly large (doll or stuffed animal size) and I found those annoying and useless too. Stuffed animals too, they get so many.

pourmeanothermocktail · January 2020

Foam mats to soften hard floors, a munch mitt, and some teethers with skinny handles for super tiny fists.

Otherwise, our chaos house pretty much amused our kids. Granted, short age gaps, so I make sure our older kids have toys that generally aren't choking hazards, we keep messy stuff or tiny pieces safely up and out of reach, so that younger siblings mostly just grab older siblings toys. Our play kitchen, mini bouncy house, hot wheels, dolls, and wooden trains are pretty age friendly. The train tracks make GREAT toddler teething toys, lol.

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