Added: 09/12/2006 |
Baby Toys Aren't Child's PlayBaby toys are supposed to be fun, not infuriating. But sometimes it's a pain-in-the-neck to choose just the right one when you're faced with a sea of colorful and noisy options in the toy aisle. How do you know which toys for baby are best? Even if you can choose one, you get it home and it joins a gang of other toys that are always cluttering up the carpet and making a bunch of noise. How do you control the madness that is baby toys? Read on for some tips.
Problem: Too many toys to choose from in the toy aisle.
Solution: Narrow it down by reading online reviews of similar baby toys. Even if you don’t plan on shopping there, visit the Babies ’r Us Web site at www.babiesrus.com to read the reviews of baby toys written by actual parents. You will be able to take a lot of the guesswork out of selecting quality baby toys because these helpful parents have taken the time to share their opinions and experiences. You can learn whether or not the toy actually works the way the packaging says it will and how long to expect it to last. Sometimes parent reviews can alert you to possible safety concerns with baby toys.
Problem: Big-ticket baby toys are straining your wallet.
Solution: Pick up baby toys at garage sales or resale shops. Second-hand is fine for many types of baby toys, although I wouldn’t recommend it for some, including stuffed animal, due to hygiene concerns. But purchasing plastic toys that can be cleaned and sprayed with disinfectant can sometimes be smart, especially if the toys are expensive when purchased brand-new. And as fickle as children are, you might even find baby toys that have never been played with.
Problem: Noisy toys are making you crazy.
Solution: Tape it, my friend. I’ve toned down the obnoxiousness of several baby toys simply by covering the speaker area with a piece of clear tape. Just be sure that the tape is securely fastened so that your baby can’t remove it and choke on it.
Problem: Friends’ and relatives’ generosity has your house overflowing with too many baby toys.
Solution: Put them in a play cycle or chuck them. Just box up some of the toys and store them for a couple of months. Then, swap them out with the toys your child is playing with now, and he’ll think he’s got all new toys. Repeat the cycle in a couple of months. The toys fit inside the house, and your child thinks you are the greatest for giving him all new toys. Another option is to sort through the toys and select the ones your child has outgrown or just doesn’t ever play with. Donate those to charity, sell them in a garage sale or glue them onto your Ford Fiesta.
Problem: Despite reducing quantity, you still have baby toys scattered all over your house.
Solution: If you have a child, you’re simply not going to have a house that looks like it should be featured in House Beautiful. No matter what, kids are going to actually want to play with their toys (imagine that), and not necessarily just in one room, and certainly not one at a time, neatly returning one to its proper place before getting out another. The way I maintain my sanity in a storm of plastic cars, board books and puzzle pieces is just to have plastic bins or baskets in rooms where the toys are. During naps or at bedtime, just scoop them up and throw them into the bin in that room. When your baby gets a little bigger, make it a game or part of a bedtime ritual for him to help you pick up the toys.
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