When did you infant start showing an interest in toys?

2 Little A

I bought so many toys that say birth plus. My son will be 7 weeks on Wednesday and he has shown ZERO interest in these birth plus toys, I put them up to him and shake the toys and push the lights on them and he just stares at the ceiling or at the lamps, never at the toys. When did your infant finally enjoy his toys?
I dont mind that he would rather look at ceilings and not his toys I just thought he needed all these toys since it says Birth on them and the packs they came in say that these toys have all these developmental benefits.

Answer
She had a Baby Einstein mat with a star suspended from the top which blinked multiple colors and played various classical songs and she loved that at one month. She would pay attention to it and even kick her legs in rhythm with some of the music. However, she did find the ceiling fan more interesting. The rest of her toys weren't interesting until she learned to work her hands on her own. And, to tell you the truth, most of the time, babies will find real world objects (like Mom's cellphone or keys) more interesting than the toys designed for them. My daughter's thing has been cat toys. We have little balls with bells in them for the cats, and a mouse the squeaks when you shake it. She would always find those more interesting than comparable infant/toddler toys for some reason. If I had known that in the beginning, I would have invested in cheap kitty toys. As it is, we go real simple with toys (mostly received as gifts). She is obsessed with books and balls and largely ignores toys except enjoying dumping them all over the floor, picking them up and putting them back...rinse and repeat.

where can i find a light for my infant car seat?

Q. i cannot seem to find what im looking for, but like some kind of light i can use in the carseat (attachaces) for late nights. anyone know of any?

Answer
There aren't any infant seats that come pre-equipped with lights. If you can find something - like the LED light that mystic suggested that doesn't get hot, the key is securing it to the car/carseat so that it doesn't become a projectile in the event you are involved in an accident. There's a test for carseat toys... If you hit yourself in the head with it... and you say ouch... well then you shouldn't use it. :-)

Evenflo does make a booster seat with built in LED lights in it, but it is just a booster and is not safe for a child less than 4 and 40 lbs. So, keep that in mind for later!

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Moms of infants who celebrate christmas?

mommy of 3

What are some good presents for a 5 months old who will just be turning 6 months on the 18th of dec.?

Also I need more things to do with my son now that it is winter and snowing outside! so what are good things to do inside?

Answer
Gifts for that age depends on how far along your baby is. If he is sitting up then you can get musical toys made by vtech that they can sit at and play with. Clothing works well, and books...lots of books. I have a 5 month old who will be turning 7 months on dec 24th...and I bought books, clothes, stuffed toys, his first hockey stick(lol) and I plan on getting a few toys that have lights and sounds. I think the most entertainment for my son at this age will be looking at the lights on the christmas tree.
As for activities inside, reading, tickling, playing with their toes. Let him watch you make supper, clean around the house. I dance with my son to my favorite music as well, and he really enjoys turning in circles with mommy.(plus it is exercise for me)
Also, consider buying a sled and a warm snowsuit for him and go out for walks on warmer winter days. The fresh air does wonders for them, and they'll enjoy the lights and sounds of winter. Enjoy your baby's first Christmas!

Looking for the best infant toys for development from newborn to 1 year- Any suggestions??

Photogra-m

My baby girl is almost 2 months - i need something to occupy her later on - some kind of activity play center toy - something great with lights and music _ I've been window shopping and dont see much that i like - What do you parents out there recommend -What toys does your baby like??
What about activity mats or something that will promote sitting up and crawling??
And also looking for toys I can attatch to her swing (since her swing does not play music or have lights- a toy with light & music thats attatchble - where can I find one??

Answer
My kids LOVED the peek-a-boo blocks from Fisher Price. It is also good for development for them to learn how to put things in and take things out. They have a shape sorter from peek-a-boo blocks. It has different shapes and each block has something new inside. There are SO many different accessories that you can get with the Peek-a-boo blocks. toysrus.com has a great way to select that type of thing. You select the age, and then you select the type of toys. You want to find cause and effect toys, early development, and sights and sounds. You can look at all those categories there, or just type whatever type of toy into a search engine and it should pull up some options.

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good toys for a 7 month old?

Amber H

my little girl just turned 7 months old and seems to need something to keep her entertained. she gets bored so fast any suggestions? she is way rotten and always wants to be held!
She doesn't like her jumper, her little feet barely reach. And they do not reach when she is in her walker at all!

Answer
Great age! Jolly Jumper, a walker (if it's safe where you are), any toy with lights an music, like an infant radio with big buttons and bright lights. A toy drum to whack at, little Nerf balls to throw. Crinkly toys and very tactile toys are terrific too!

Seven months is a great age for throwing, banging, crinkling, jumping and practicing walking (if you're 'pro walker toys' that is).

I'd go shopping with ya, but I'm probably about 9 zillion miles away - I hope this helps hon!

*Edit - oh yes, the Leapfrog table (with removable legs), great fun on the floor, for practicing pulling up, and also goes along well with the Jolly Jumper too!

What infant toy(s) do you think actually benefits your child developmentally?

Q. My guys are 4 months, and so far I think the activity gym (the mat with toys hanging overhead) is the only thing that really develops them in a way that not having it would not.

The swing, jumper, infant chairs etc. are soothing / fun, but not developmental, but the activity mat allows them to do something they couldn't yet otherwise, which is to grab and bat at toys.

Answer
I feel the same way. I have a jumper and a swing and they simply keep my son distracted (for a short period of time) when I need to be doing something. The activity mat actually engages his mind and helps him to play. It is by far his favorite place to be when I'm not holding him. I have recently tried him in a Jumperoo and he loved that thing so much he got kinda mad at me when I took him out of it because I could tell he was getting exhausted. It has lights and makes noises when he jumps and he loves light and noises. (And belly dancers for some reason, but I won't get in to that here.) (:

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What infant toy(s) do you think actually benefits your child developmentally?

Ivy has Tw

My guys are 4 months, and so far I think the activity gym (the mat with toys hanging overhead) is the only thing that really develops them in a way that not having it would not.

The swing, jumper, infant chairs etc. are soothing / fun, but not developmental, but the activity mat allows them to do something they couldn't yet otherwise, which is to grab and bat at toys.

Answer
I feel the same way. I have a jumper and a swing and they simply keep my son distracted (for a short period of time) when I need to be doing something. The activity mat actually engages his mind and helps him to play. It is by far his favorite place to be when I'm not holding him. I have recently tried him in a Jumperoo and he loved that thing so much he got kinda mad at me when I took him out of it because I could tell he was getting exhausted. It has lights and makes noises when he jumps and he loves light and noises. (And belly dancers for some reason, but I won't get in to that here.) (:

What is the best car seat toy for a forward facing carseat?

julie.cipr

I am going to be getting my son a new car seat because he no longer fits in his old one. The new one is forward facing. In the old car seat, we have a bar that has rattles and a light up musical frog that my son loves to play with. Anyone have any ideas for an awesome car seat toy? I'm looking for the best one out there, one that I haven't seen on my google searches. Thank you!!

Answer
When deciding on any toy to be allowed in the car, think about what's going to happen in an accident and it goes flying. This will sound silly, but its a simple test to decide whether it should be allowed as a toy in the car: smack yourself upside the head with it. did it hurt? If not, go for it, if it hurt you, think about how much more it will hurt a baby, whose skull is softer, and when in an accident it will hit with a lot more force. Ican't at all remember who made them, but check your local kids resale shop (like Once Upon a Child) since they seem to have them often: soft toy steering wheels so child can play-drive while in the car.

However, a bigger issue here, would be how old is your child and what size? Sounds like he's outgrowing an infant carrier car seat? Kids do not go from infant carrier seat straight to forward facing seat. The next step is a rear facing convertible car seat. Most state laws require kids to be rear facing until at least 20lbs and 1 year, but more importantly, the laws of physics say kids should stay rear facing as long as they possibly can. Its THAT much safer. The old 20lbs/1 year rule is just that. OLD. It came about in the 1980's when our seats were only capable of rear facing to 20lbs and we didn't know any better. Now we definitely know better and all current convertible seats rear face to at least 30lbs, but its hard getting people to realize this.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)

It works this way: when you get in an accident and run into something, the car stop suddently, but everything and everyone in the car keeps moving in the direction the car was moving when it stopped, in most accidents, this is forward. So in an accident with a child in a forward facing seat, his head, the heaviest part of the body on babies and toddlers, flies forward very forcefully and easily snaps. If that same child is in a rear facing seat, his head tries to fly forward but is supported by the back of the rear facing seat, so there is no stress put on the child's neck and spine.

Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better. And most kids actually prefer to be rear facing b/c they can rest their feet on the vehicle seat back. When they are forward facing, their legs don't receive enough support and will frequently fall asleep.
WHY REAR FACING:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/633.pdf
In the foreground is a forward facing seat, in the background a rear facing seat. You can see how much trauma the forward facing dummy has to endure. The rear facing child simply rides it out.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg

Here's another video. You can see how there is NO trauma to the baby, it simply sits there waiting for it to end.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view&current=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv

The story of a child who suffered severe injuries from being forward facing when he could've been rear facing:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59783

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Looking for the best infant toys for development from newborn to 1 year- Any suggestions??

Photogra-m

My baby girl is almost 2 months - i need something to occupy her later on - some kind of activity play center toy - something great with lights and music _ I've been window shopping and dont see much that i like - What do you parents out there recommend -What toys does your baby like??
What about activity mats or something that will promote sitting up and crawling??
And also looking for toys I can attatch to her swing (since her swing does not play music or have lights- a toy with light & music thats attatchble - where can I find one??

Answer
My kids LOVED the peek-a-boo blocks from Fisher Price. It is also good for development for them to learn how to put things in and take things out. They have a shape sorter from peek-a-boo blocks. It has different shapes and each block has something new inside. There are SO many different accessories that you can get with the Peek-a-boo blocks. toysrus.com has a great way to select that type of thing. You select the age, and then you select the type of toys. You want to find cause and effect toys, early development, and sights and sounds. You can look at all those categories there, or just type whatever type of toy into a search engine and it should pull up some options.

good toys for a 7 month old?

Amber H

my little girl just turned 7 months old and seems to need something to keep her entertained. she gets bored so fast any suggestions? she is way rotten and always wants to be held!
She doesn't like her jumper, her little feet barely reach. And they do not reach when she is in her walker at all!

Answer
Great age! Jolly Jumper, a walker (if it's safe where you are), any toy with lights an music, like an infant radio with big buttons and bright lights. A toy drum to whack at, little Nerf balls to throw. Crinkly toys and very tactile toys are terrific too!

Seven months is a great age for throwing, banging, crinkling, jumping and practicing walking (if you're 'pro walker toys' that is).

I'd go shopping with ya, but I'm probably about 9 zillion miles away - I hope this helps hon!

*Edit - oh yes, the Leapfrog table (with removable legs), great fun on the floor, for practicing pulling up, and also goes along well with the Jolly Jumper too!

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toys for infants?

leigh_ann_

I went to target today to find a toy for my 5 week old, but I dont know what kind of toy to get her. I know they say to get ones that are black and white and maybe red. I thought about getting her the floor gyms but they are $30-50, would it be good to get it for her now or should I wait until shes a little bit older? I just feel like shes bored.. i know i know dumb feeling....
another weird thing that just came to me-do you think babys are affraid of the dark? I know that they where in the dark for 9 months but now that they are out in the real world could it happen? I have noticed that when she is fussy at night and shes laying on my chest she wines a little bit but when i put on our light on low she falls asleep pretty fast.. so am I crazy or could she be affraid of the dark??

Answer
The floor gyms are actually better now then later. The reasoning for this is that once they start moving around they won't use it as much, I started using one when she was a month old and had her do her "tummy time" on it and what not. Other toys or things to buy that I would recommend is soft books because it is an easy way for you to interact with her but she can also play with it on her own. Anything else like the soft blocks, or soft rattles, etc. Babies at this age don't actually play with too much but if you want to have these things around for when she does its easier than running out and buying it all at once.

As for being scared of the dark, my daughter is just over a year now and still sleeps with a soft light on in the hall outside of her room. she never slept in the complete dark without crying!

Moms of infants who celebrate christmas?

mommy of 3

What are some good presents for a 5 months old who will just be turning 6 months on the 18th of dec.?

Also I need more things to do with my son now that it is winter and snowing outside! so what are good things to do inside?

Answer
Gifts for that age depends on how far along your baby is. If he is sitting up then you can get musical toys made by vtech that they can sit at and play with. Clothing works well, and books...lots of books. I have a 5 month old who will be turning 7 months on dec 24th...and I bought books, clothes, stuffed toys, his first hockey stick(lol) and I plan on getting a few toys that have lights and sounds. I think the most entertainment for my son at this age will be looking at the lights on the christmas tree.
As for activities inside, reading, tickling, playing with their toes. Let him watch you make supper, clean around the house. I dance with my son to my favorite music as well, and he really enjoys turning in circles with mommy.(plus it is exercise for me)
Also, consider buying a sled and a warm snowsuit for him and go out for walks on warmer winter days. The fresh air does wonders for them, and they'll enjoy the lights and sounds of winter. Enjoy your baby's first Christmas!

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What are some good toys/items to buy my 3 month old for xmas?

best infant light up toys image

lysistrata

I know he's too little to really play, but I want to get him something at least. What is something I could get him that he would enjoy? i know infants like the bright lights and music, but i am having trouble finding something besides little handheld cheap toys.

Answer
Books are great, even though they are obviously too advanced for a 3 month old. I read all the time to my daughter (3.5 months) and she really loves it. It's so good for them too, sounds silly but reading at this early age will really help your little one's language skills. Baby gyms/mats are also really good, well worth paying for.

What games or toys should I orgnaize for our baby?

Terence

Our baby is 4 months old. We live overseas, so toys are not so varied. What games are good to play with her and what toys are useful at this age?

Answer
Most toys you can make yourself. You need to make toys that engage your baby's senses, especially touch, sound, and sight. You can make your own shakers by putting beans and ANY other small object in a can or bottle and tapping it shut. It will give your baby a variety of noises to hear and sharpen her sense of hearing. Also, bright colors and lights are easiest for baby to see right now. When you introduce sights, sounds and textures to your baby, you help stimulate the senses and prepare a memory bank of experiences that feed imaginative thinking. You can use anything...try a flashlight on the wall, a laser pointer on the ground (not in your baby's face, of course!) or a prism so your baby can see the different colors. For texture, just use different types of cloth and towels from around your house. Put them near your baby so she can reach for them herself and explore on her own. She will feel them and experience different textures.
Here are some other ideas for encouraging your 4 month old to learn and play:

* During tummy time, place a favorite toy or soft ball in front of the baby to reach for.
* Hide one of your baby's toys - but don't hide it very well - and encourage him or her to find it.
* Let your baby discover that her actions can make things happen. Provide toys that will move or make sounds when your infant manipulates them, such as baby musical instruments, busy boxes, or see-through toys that show motion.
* Sing your favorite nursery rhymes like "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Hey Diddle Diddle".

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What is the best car seat toy for a forward facing carseat?

best infant light up toys image

julie.cipr

I am going to be getting my son a new car seat because he no longer fits in his old one. The new one is forward facing. In the old car seat, we have a bar that has rattles and a light up musical frog that my son loves to play with. Anyone have any ideas for an awesome car seat toy? I'm looking for the best one out there, one that I haven't seen on my google searches. Thank you!!

Answer
When deciding on any toy to be allowed in the car, think about what's going to happen in an accident and it goes flying. This will sound silly, but its a simple test to decide whether it should be allowed as a toy in the car: smack yourself upside the head with it. did it hurt? If not, go for it, if it hurt you, think about how much more it will hurt a baby, whose skull is softer, and when in an accident it will hit with a lot more force. Ican't at all remember who made them, but check your local kids resale shop (like Once Upon a Child) since they seem to have them often: soft toy steering wheels so child can play-drive while in the car.

However, a bigger issue here, would be how old is your child and what size? Sounds like he's outgrowing an infant carrier car seat? Kids do not go from infant carrier seat straight to forward facing seat. The next step is a rear facing convertible car seat. Most state laws require kids to be rear facing until at least 20lbs and 1 year, but more importantly, the laws of physics say kids should stay rear facing as long as they possibly can. Its THAT much safer. The old 20lbs/1 year rule is just that. OLD. It came about in the 1980's when our seats were only capable of rear facing to 20lbs and we didn't know any better. Now we definitely know better and all current convertible seats rear face to at least 30lbs, but its hard getting people to realize this.
Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)

It works this way: when you get in an accident and run into something, the car stop suddently, but everything and everyone in the car keeps moving in the direction the car was moving when it stopped, in most accidents, this is forward. So in an accident with a child in a forward facing seat, his head, the heaviest part of the body on babies and toddlers, flies forward very forcefully and easily snaps. If that same child is in a rear facing seat, his head tries to fly forward but is supported by the back of the rear facing seat, so there is no stress put on the child's neck and spine.

Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better. And most kids actually prefer to be rear facing b/c they can rest their feet on the vehicle seat back. When they are forward facing, their legs don't receive enough support and will frequently fall asleep.
WHY REAR FACING:
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/633.pdf
In the foreground is a forward facing seat, in the background a rear facing seat. You can see how much trauma the forward facing dummy has to endure. The rear facing child simply rides it out.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg

Here's another video. You can see how there is NO trauma to the baby, it simply sits there waiting for it to end.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/?action=view&current=video06A_MGA_213_RearFace-Convertib.flv

The story of a child who suffered severe injuries from being forward facing when he could've been rear facing:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=59783

Where can I buy a stainless steel mirror (18 inches by 12 inches) to hang over a baby crib?

Paulina R

Does anyone know of a toystore or toy manufacturer that sells such a thing? It cannot be made of glass, has to be very highly polished stainless steel or some other metal that cannot break but reflects a face as well as a glass mirror does.

Any ideas?
I had one once. My 3 month old loved looking at herself, she could see herself with this size mirror.
I just want to get another for my grandkids. No danger at all, there were 4 holes in the corners, it strapped on the crib sides, all sharp edges were covered, and I removed it when she turned 5 months old and was able to learn to sit up.

Answer
Look for a mylar mirror with plexiglass. Infant's eyes are not developed as well, and they like the play of light more than seeing themselves.
Try Toys-R-us or Babies-R-Us, or onine @ Amazon.com

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What are some good toys/items to buy my 3 month old for xmas?

best infant light up toys image

lysistrata

I know he's too little to really play, but I want to get him something at least. What is something I could get him that he would enjoy? i know infants like the bright lights and music, but i am having trouble finding something besides little handheld cheap toys.

Answer
Books are great, even though they are obviously too advanced for a 3 month old. I read all the time to my daughter (3.5 months) and she really loves it. It's so good for them too, sounds silly but reading at this early age will really help your little one's language skills. Baby gyms/mats are also really good, well worth paying for.

What games or toys should I orgnaize for our baby?

Terence

Our baby is 4 months old. We live overseas, so toys are not so varied. What games are good to play with her and what toys are useful at this age?

Answer
Most toys you can make yourself. You need to make toys that engage your baby's senses, especially touch, sound, and sight. You can make your own shakers by putting beans and ANY other small object in a can or bottle and tapping it shut. It will give your baby a variety of noises to hear and sharpen her sense of hearing. Also, bright colors and lights are easiest for baby to see right now. When you introduce sights, sounds and textures to your baby, you help stimulate the senses and prepare a memory bank of experiences that feed imaginative thinking. You can use anything...try a flashlight on the wall, a laser pointer on the ground (not in your baby's face, of course!) or a prism so your baby can see the different colors. For texture, just use different types of cloth and towels from around your house. Put them near your baby so she can reach for them herself and explore on her own. She will feel them and experience different textures.
Here are some other ideas for encouraging your 4 month old to learn and play:

* During tummy time, place a favorite toy or soft ball in front of the baby to reach for.
* Hide one of your baby's toys - but don't hide it very well - and encourage him or her to find it.
* Let your baby discover that her actions can make things happen. Provide toys that will move or make sounds when your infant manipulates them, such as baby musical instruments, busy boxes, or see-through toys that show motion.
* Sing your favorite nursery rhymes like "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Hey Diddle Diddle".

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What toys are appropriate for the first year?

best infant light up toys image

weirdiscom

What toys -- if any -- are appropriate for infants? Do infants really play with toys or is it more a matter of peek-a-boo, etc. All the "toys" that I see for babies seem to be either teething items or "clutch" toys (not sure if these do anything more than just give baby something to hold). Seems like you wouldn't need a special toy for that. Any thoughts?

Answer
My son never likeed any of those infant toys. He did use the doorway bouncer, walker, exersaucer quite a bit. Also a baby gym, board books and that lullaby seahorse thing. Also there is this turtle that puts stars on the ceiling... Turtle star night light

When did you infant start showing an interest in toys?

2 Little A

I bought so many toys that say birth plus. My son will be 7 weeks on Wednesday and he has shown ZERO interest in these birth plus toys, I put them up to him and shake the toys and push the lights on them and he just stares at the ceiling or at the lamps, never at the toys. When did your infant finally enjoy his toys?
I dont mind that he would rather look at ceilings and not his toys I just thought he needed all these toys since it says Birth on them and the packs they came in say that these toys have all these developmental benefits.

Answer
She had a Baby Einstein mat with a star suspended from the top which blinked multiple colors and played various classical songs and she loved that at one month. She would pay attention to it and even kick her legs in rhythm with some of the music. However, she did find the ceiling fan more interesting. The rest of her toys weren't interesting until she learned to work her hands on her own. And, to tell you the truth, most of the time, babies will find real world objects (like Mom's cellphone or keys) more interesting than the toys designed for them. My daughter's thing has been cat toys. We have little balls with bells in them for the cats, and a mouse the squeaks when you shake it. She would always find those more interesting than comparable infant/toddler toys for some reason. If I had known that in the beginning, I would have invested in cheap kitty toys. As it is, we go real simple with toys (mostly received as gifts). She is obsessed with books and balls and largely ignores toys except enjoying dumping them all over the floor, picking them up and putting them back...rinse and repeat.

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What are some good toys/items to buy my 3 month old for xmas?

best infant light up toys image

lysistrata

I know he's too little to really play, but I want to get him something at least. What is something I could get him that he would enjoy? i know infants like the bright lights and music, but i am having trouble finding something besides little handheld cheap toys.

Answer
Books are great, even though they are obviously too advanced for a 3 month old. I read all the time to my daughter (3.5 months) and she really loves it. It's so good for them too, sounds silly but reading at this early age will really help your little one's language skills. Baby gyms/mats are also really good, well worth paying for.

What games or toys should I orgnaize for our baby?

Terence

Our baby is 4 months old. We live overseas, so toys are not so varied. What games are good to play with her and what toys are useful at this age?

Answer
Most toys you can make yourself. You need to make toys that engage your baby's senses, especially touch, sound, and sight. You can make your own shakers by putting beans and ANY other small object in a can or bottle and tapping it shut. It will give your baby a variety of noises to hear and sharpen her sense of hearing. Also, bright colors and lights are easiest for baby to see right now. When you introduce sights, sounds and textures to your baby, you help stimulate the senses and prepare a memory bank of experiences that feed imaginative thinking. You can use anything...try a flashlight on the wall, a laser pointer on the ground (not in your baby's face, of course!) or a prism so your baby can see the different colors. For texture, just use different types of cloth and towels from around your house. Put them near your baby so she can reach for them herself and explore on her own. She will feel them and experience different textures.
Here are some other ideas for encouraging your 4 month old to learn and play:

* During tummy time, place a favorite toy or soft ball in front of the baby to reach for.
* Hide one of your baby's toys - but don't hide it very well - and encourage him or her to find it.
* Let your baby discover that her actions can make things happen. Provide toys that will move or make sounds when your infant manipulates them, such as baby musical instruments, busy boxes, or see-through toys that show motion.
* Sing your favorite nursery rhymes like "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Hey Diddle Diddle".

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What infant toy(s) do you think actually benefits your child developmentally?

best infant light up toys image

Ivy has Tw

My guys are 4 months, and so far I think the activity gym (the mat with toys hanging overhead) is the only thing that really develops them in a way that not having it would not.

The swing, jumper, infant chairs etc. are soothing / fun, but not developmental, but the activity mat allows them to do something they couldn't yet otherwise, which is to grab and bat at toys.

Answer
I feel the same way. I have a jumper and a swing and they simply keep my son distracted (for a short period of time) when I need to be doing something. The activity mat actually engages his mind and helps him to play. It is by far his favorite place to be when I'm not holding him. I have recently tried him in a Jumperoo and he loved that thing so much he got kinda mad at me when I took him out of it because I could tell he was getting exhausted. It has lights and makes noises when he jumps and he loves light and noises. (And belly dancers for some reason, but I won't get in to that here.) (:

where can i find a light for my infant car seat?

guesscooki

i cannot seem to find what im looking for, but like some kind of light i can use in the carseat (attachaces) for late nights. anyone know of any?

Answer
There aren't any infant seats that come pre-equipped with lights. If you can find something - like the LED light that mystic suggested that doesn't get hot, the key is securing it to the car/carseat so that it doesn't become a projectile in the event you are involved in an accident. There's a test for carseat toys... If you hit yourself in the head with it... and you say ouch... well then you shouldn't use it. :-)

Evenflo does make a booster seat with built in LED lights in it, but it is just a booster and is not safe for a child less than 4 and 40 lbs. So, keep that in mind for later!

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What is everyone's favorite games to play with their infants?

best infant light up toys image

scarlet_sa

I have a 7 month old son and want to know what beloved games keep a child stimulated and happy. He already has hours of playing, reading, listening to music and other people talk, visual media, and bouncer/swing time. Is there any other jingles or cute little games I can play with him besides peek-a-boo, nursery rhymes, finding dropped items, tickling, and various toys?

Answer
good old blocks is a classic, touch feel and smell things, outside is obviously good with lots of bird noises, and pretty smelling flowers, soft light isnt as intrusive, sounds like botanical gardens is the best bet, also what about pets? Rabbits are cool

What toys are appropriate for the first year?

weirdiscom

What toys -- if any -- are appropriate for infants? Do infants really play with toys or is it more a matter of peek-a-boo, etc. All the "toys" that I see for babies seem to be either teething items or "clutch" toys (not sure if these do anything more than just give baby something to hold). Seems like you wouldn't need a special toy for that. Any thoughts?

Answer
My son never likeed any of those infant toys. He did use the doorway bouncer, walker, exersaucer quite a bit. Also a baby gym, board books and that lullaby seahorse thing. Also there is this turtle that puts stars on the ceiling... Turtle star night light

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How do you keep your infant from crying while shopping?

best infant light up toys image

Tacymevol

I have an 11 month old infant who has a difficult time keeping entertained while I shop. The only way I can doing any shopping is if I know exactly what I want, purchase it, and then leave immediately. Whenever I need some time to browse, my 11 month old begins to fuss and eventually begins to cry. I've always fed and changed her before our outings so those reasons go out the window. Is there anyway that I can keep my daughter entertained better while I'm doing errands? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi
I totally feel your pain..... First remember this don't worry about those childless people (or even parents themselves) who'll give you dirty looks if you baby so much as cries while you are trying to shop.. They'll get over it and ig they donn't eventually they'll go somewhere else. Some people seem to think they were perfect angels when they were young (yeah right!)
Babies are going to cry... even if there is nothing wrong.
Babies cry to relieve stress too. Not just when they are hungry or need to be changed or tired.

Alot of time shopping in the morning not too long after the baby has gotten up and been fed. Not too close to nap time though : )

Sometime I bring cheerios and juice. Or I let them bring a toy... Once they get sick of that I give them my keys...
Also I saw another person mention letting them hold things that you put in your basket.... I do that too!

Have you tried those soft books? some of them have teething toys on them and some have different textures... like crinklly paper in them or something squeaky in them

If a pacifier works for you then go for it! I refused to give my kids a pacifier after 6 months old... it can hinder speech development. I see some mom's with 2 and 3 year olds that still have "binkies" and they think it's cute that the kid can talk even with the paci in their mouth.... Little do they know it's training the kid to talk like that... all garbled and such
But if it's the only thing that will work then it's up to you.

The only other thing I can think of is what I did when my daughter (I have 2 kids) was getting into the "difficult" stage
I just refused to take her with me..... If I ran out of milk.. too bad
We'd just have to wait for daddy to get home.. or I would just call him and have him get some on the way home.
Then when I had real grocery shopping to do... not just milk and eggs, I would have my husband take care of her while I shopped.

oh, I just remembered... do you have any musical toys? (what kinda question is that?) Or ones that have lights and stuff?
That always seemed to work for my 19 month old son.
He would be crying and just suddenly stop when he heard his toy. He would completely forget about WHY he was crying : )

Hope this helps!

What are some good toys/items to buy my 3 month old for xmas?

lysistrata

I know he's too little to really play, but I want to get him something at least. What is something I could get him that he would enjoy? i know infants like the bright lights and music, but i am having trouble finding something besides little handheld cheap toys.

Answer
Books are great, even though they are obviously too advanced for a 3 month old. I read all the time to my daughter (3.5 months) and she really loves it. It's so good for them too, sounds silly but reading at this early age will really help your little one's language skills. Baby gyms/mats are also really good, well worth paying for.

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Where can I buy a stainless steel mirror (18 inches by 12 inches) to hang over a baby crib?

best infant light up toys image

Paulina R

Does anyone know of a toystore or toy manufacturer that sells such a thing? It cannot be made of glass, has to be very highly polished stainless steel or some other metal that cannot break but reflects a face as well as a glass mirror does.

Any ideas?
I had one once. My 3 month old loved looking at herself, she could see herself with this size mirror.
I just want to get another for my grandkids. No danger at all, there were 4 holes in the corners, it strapped on the crib sides, all sharp edges were covered, and I removed it when she turned 5 months old and was able to learn to sit up.

Answer
Look for a mylar mirror with plexiglass. Infant's eyes are not developed as well, and they like the play of light more than seeing themselves.
Try Toys-R-us or Babies-R-Us, or onine @ Amazon.com

What infant toy(s) do you think actually benefits your child developmentally?

Ivy has Tw

My guys are 4 months, and so far I think the activity gym (the mat with toys hanging overhead) is the only thing that really develops them in a way that not having it would not.

The swing, jumper, infant chairs etc. are soothing / fun, but not developmental, but the activity mat allows them to do something they couldn't yet otherwise, which is to grab and bat at toys.

Answer
I feel the same way. I have a jumper and a swing and they simply keep my son distracted (for a short period of time) when I need to be doing something. The activity mat actually engages his mind and helps him to play. It is by far his favorite place to be when I'm not holding him. I have recently tried him in a Jumperoo and he loved that thing so much he got kinda mad at me when I took him out of it because I could tell he was getting exhausted. It has lights and makes noises when he jumps and he loves light and noises. (And belly dancers for some reason, but I won't get in to that here.) (:

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What is everyone's favorite games to play with their infants?

best infant light up toys image

scarlet_sa

I have a 7 month old son and want to know what beloved games keep a child stimulated and happy. He already has hours of playing, reading, listening to music and other people talk, visual media, and bouncer/swing time. Is there any other jingles or cute little games I can play with him besides peek-a-boo, nursery rhymes, finding dropped items, tickling, and various toys?

Answer
good old blocks is a classic, touch feel and smell things, outside is obviously good with lots of bird noises, and pretty smelling flowers, soft light isnt as intrusive, sounds like botanical gardens is the best bet, also what about pets? Rabbits are cool

What toys are appropriate for the first year?

weirdiscom

What toys -- if any -- are appropriate for infants? Do infants really play with toys or is it more a matter of peek-a-boo, etc. All the "toys" that I see for babies seem to be either teething items or "clutch" toys (not sure if these do anything more than just give baby something to hold). Seems like you wouldn't need a special toy for that. Any thoughts?

Answer
My son never likeed any of those infant toys. He did use the doorway bouncer, walker, exersaucer quite a bit. Also a baby gym, board books and that lullaby seahorse thing. Also there is this turtle that puts stars on the ceiling... Turtle star night light

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What is everyone's favorite games to play with their infants?

best infant light up toys image

scarlet_sa

I have a 7 month old son and want to know what beloved games keep a child stimulated and happy. He already has hours of playing, reading, listening to music and other people talk, visual media, and bouncer/swing time. Is there any other jingles or cute little games I can play with him besides peek-a-boo, nursery rhymes, finding dropped items, tickling, and various toys?

Answer
good old blocks is a classic, touch feel and smell things, outside is obviously good with lots of bird noises, and pretty smelling flowers, soft light isnt as intrusive, sounds like botanical gardens is the best bet, also what about pets? Rabbits are cool

What toys are appropriate for the first year?

weirdiscom

What toys -- if any -- are appropriate for infants? Do infants really play with toys or is it more a matter of peek-a-boo, etc. All the "toys" that I see for babies seem to be either teething items or "clutch" toys (not sure if these do anything more than just give baby something to hold). Seems like you wouldn't need a special toy for that. Any thoughts?

Answer
My son never likeed any of those infant toys. He did use the doorway bouncer, walker, exersaucer quite a bit. Also a baby gym, board books and that lullaby seahorse thing. Also there is this turtle that puts stars on the ceiling... Turtle star night light

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What games or toys should I orgnaize for our baby?

Q. Our baby is 4 months old. We live overseas, so toys are not so varied. What games are good to play with her and what toys are useful at this age?

A. Most toys you can make yourself. You need to make toys that engage your baby's senses, especially touch, sound, and sight. You can make your own shakers by putting beans and ANY other small object in a can or bottle and tapping it shut. It will give your baby a variety of noises to hear and sharpen her sense of hearing. Also, bright colors and lights are easiest for baby to see right now. When you introduce sights, sounds and textures to your baby, you help stimulate the senses and prepare a memory bank of experiences that feed imaginative thinking. You can use anything...try a flashlight on the wall, a laser pointer on the ground (not in your baby's face, of course!) or a prism so your baby can see the different colors. For texture, just use different types of cloth and towels from around your house. Put them near your baby so she can reach for them herself and explore on her own. She will feel them and experience different textures.
Here are some other ideas for encouraging your 4 month old to learn and play:

* During tummy time, place a favorite toy or soft ball in front of the baby to reach for.
* Hide one of your baby's toys - but don't hide it very well - and encourage him or her to find it.
* Let your baby discover that her actions can make things happen. Provide toys that will move or make sounds when your infant manipulates them, such as baby musical instruments, busy boxes, or see-through toys that show motion.
* Sing your favorite nursery rhymes like "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" and "Hey Diddle Diddle".

Original Question

What is everyone's favorite games to play with their infants?

Q. I have a 7 month old son and want to know what beloved games keep a child stimulated and happy. He already has hours of playing, reading, listening to music and other people talk, visual media, and bouncer/swing time. Is there any other jingles or cute little games I can play with him besides peek-a-boo, nursery rhymes, finding dropped items, tickling, and various toys?

A. good old blocks is a classic, touch feel and smell things, outside is obviously good with lots of bird noises, and pretty smelling flowers, soft light isnt as intrusive, sounds like botanical gardens is the best bet, also what about pets? Rabbits are cool

Original Question

When did you infant start showing an interest in toys?

Q. I bought so many toys that say birth plus. My son will be 7 weeks on Wednesday and he has shown ZERO interest in these birth plus toys, I put them up to him and shake the toys and push the lights on them and he just stares at the ceiling or at the lamps, never at the toys. When did your infant finally enjoy his toys?
I dont mind that he would rather look at ceilings and not his toys I just thought he needed all these toys since it says Birth on them and the packs they came in say that these toys have all these developmental benefits.

A. She had a Baby Einstein mat with a star suspended from the top which blinked multiple colors and played various classical songs and she loved that at one month. She would pay attention to it and even kick her legs in rhythm with some of the music. However, she did find the ceiling fan more interesting. The rest of her toys weren't interesting until she learned to work her hands on her own. And, to tell you the truth, most of the time, babies will find real world objects (like Mom's cellphone or keys) more interesting than the toys designed for them. My daughter's thing has been cat toys. We have little balls with bells in them for the cats, and a mouse the squeaks when you shake it. She would always find those more interesting than comparable infant/toddler toys for some reason. If I had known that in the beginning, I would have invested in cheap kitty toys. As it is, we go real simple with toys (mostly received as gifts). She is obsessed with books and balls and largely ignores toys except enjoying dumping them all over the floor, picking them up and putting them back...rinse and repeat.

Original Question

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