Comments on: Baby toy alternatives

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:27:55 +0000

PLEASE NOTE that brass keys and brass key rings (those big circles) could contain poisonous levels of LEAD and shouldn’t serve as chew toys.

By: Jean

Jean — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:55:35 +0000

Do watch out with keys– many of them have illegal and unacceptable levels of lead in them. I never let my kid play with them.

Other easy stuff– shells, a mixing bowl with a little dish soap and water and whisk to make bubbles, empty shampoo bottles with holes punched in them, dry macaroni or rice in pie tins… my son loves to play with anything “real”.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:45:50 +0000

I found a fairly large inexpensive bucket then filled it with bowls, cups, measuring spoons, funnels, etc. from a dollar store. Many of the items nest together and the whole lot fits nicely into the bucket. Easy, cheap, portable play that’s great to take outside to her little pool.

By: Andamom

Andamom — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:57:22 +0000

Matt, I have a 15-month-old as well and he loves everything we have — and finds new uses for his toys. Of course, he loves exploring nature and our surroundings– and so I thought I’d add to your list:

a) rocks - always different, easy to pick up, covered in dirt (a plus for a toddler), and free
b) zippers - they are on everything, a generally free, and easy to find
c) Kleenex or wipes - not my favorite option but a great distractor
d) chairs - did you know you can push them around?
e) drawers and cabinets - they open and shut
f) pots and pans with a spoon - an old favorite

By: marie

marie — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:36:36 +0000

Love them all. Great ideas.

I’d nix the keys, though. Think of how dirty they are — held in your hands after shopping, touching doors, floating at the bottom of purses, inside locks. Plus they are metal and perfect eye poking material (my daughter has been there, done that).

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:22:48 +0000

my son’s first holiday present was an empty oatmeal container… he thought it was the bomb!

By: Miriam

Miriam — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:19:45 +0000

I >loved the little JetDry cages in my gramma’s dishwasher.

By: lee2706

lee2706 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:34:50 +0000

One of our nephew’s favorite toys was an empty Gatorade bottle with some crumpled paper inside. Awesome.

By: jcat

jcat — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:01:50 +0000

I was actually just about to comment on the question Caren raised.
A lead specialist once came and spoke to a playgroup I attended, and told us that brass-colored keys have lead in them. Unfortunately, I’ve managed to misplace the handout she gave us…sorry I can’t give any more details. I personally would definitely wash infant/toddler hands after any key play, and definitely avoid letting the brass keys be used for chewing.
Otherwise though great suggestions; all tried & true at our house (my son is now 2.5), & I definitely second Amy & debbie’s suggestions.
Matt - love the pirate ideas!

By: Caren

Caren — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:59:38 +0000

Our little toddler granddaughter loves to grab keys and cell phones and has old ones to play with. The thing this worrier grandma wonders about though is whether metal keys or the old silvery cell phone or other things she loves to play with and at times chew on might have toxic metals in them. Anyone know about this?

By: Michael Davis

Michael Davis — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:54:19 +0000

So true! Our baby’s favorite toys were a keychain with old keys, an obsolete cell phone and half full water bottles. Thanks for reminding us that “toys” are everywhere.

By: debbie

debbie — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:38:05 +0000

Don’t forget “real jobs” like sorting laundry and washing dishes and dusting. When he was little my son liked his own plastic salad spinner for whirling around all kinds of little toys or papers or toy food. And a wooden accordian-style wine rack was a favorite that he used as a scissors truck, or a building for his fire trucks to save people from, or a gate between doors, or to display things, and who knows what other imaginative ideas he had with it. In the bathtub, hands down the favorite toy was my plastic hand breast pump — lots of parts to take apart and put back together and when done right it squirted out a good stream of water. He’s a teen now and I don’t think he ever really knew what that thing was!

By: Kris

Kris — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:14:52 +0000

my boys use cardboard tubes as ramps for the matchbox cars …. they LOVE those things!

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:39:36 +0000

I let my girls have a drawer in the kitchen with old containers from butter, sour cream, etc. that I used for leftovers in a pinch. I also threw in a few other kid safe kitchen stuff. They loved it!!! Eventually it was the drawer for their cups so that they could get water on their own.

My youngest loved playing with old salad dressing containers.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 01:24:41 +0000

Another good one is cardboard tubes. They can be used as instruments, telescopes, or just to roll around.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:19:00 +0000

Not if you take the battery out!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:51:43 +0000

Old cell phones can still dial 911—be careful!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:49:23 +0000

Don’t forget old remote controls. They can be used as a remote or as a telephone. Also, pots, pans, spoons, and the ever popular strainer.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:22:50 +0000

Matt,

Some good suggestions! Cardboard boxes are great. I covered a shoebox with a brown paper bag and a little bit of gold foil to make a pirate treasure chest. We also have a larger cardboard carton that doubles as a pirate ship.

Scarves are great too for dressup–they can be dresses or bandanas, or lately, baby carriers.

I’ve also ended up using old coins and paper money from my grandmother’s travels (much of it is pre-Euro, or pre-pre-Euro currency) for pirate coins and for playing store.

The other thing I’ve done that’s been very successful is taking an old checkbook wallet, and filling the slots with stickers and old business cards, and tucking some 3×5 cards inside. We bring it with us to restaurants and on plane trips, and pull it out whenever we need to kill a few minutes. It’s been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:14:41 +0000

Great site! Be careful with the keys and electrical sockets, though.