On toys...

Thanks, Ann, for your recent question:

I have a 9 month old daughter and she is starting to play with toys. What toys are hits with kids? For instance, my daughter loved stacking cups. I hate buying toys that I think look cool but are huge flops.

Any tips for good toy investments for the pre-toddler age set?

Comments

[Betsy]

We loved our Sqwish toy from Manhattan toy - Tommy doesn't really play with it anymore, but it was good for teething and it makes a good sound when you shake it. Plus there's lots of color, etc. Generally toys from that company are good in my mind.

[Rebecca]

My 9 month old daughter loves one of those stacking rings toys (with the center pole to thread them on). She is starting to like a hammering toy also.

[Julie]

My best toy tip is really a process, not a specific toy. We took all of Anna's small toys (teethers, balls, rattles, etc) and put them in a medium-sized plastic tub (the kind with handles built in and open on top). She sits in front of it and, one-by-ne takes everything out and explores it. Some things go in the mouth, some get tossed aside, some get played with for a while. This has continued to entertain her from the time she started sitting til now (she's 10.5 months).

She also likes shape sorter blocks a lot. Mostly she loves board books. We also put them in baskets and she sorts through, chooses what she wants (to read or chew on!), etc. Favorties are little books that fit in her hands well.

[Nancy]

We chose one drawer in our kitchen just for our son to play in (since he's going to get into the cupboards anyway). We put all the non-dangerous kitchen gadgets and utensils in there, things like wooden spoons and measuring cups and pastry brushes. This has kept him occupied longer than any other "toy" we've purchased. We switch out the goods every now and then to keep him surprised.

[Laura]

The stacking rings are great for that age, as are the stacking cups (my son is two and half and still loves them as bath toys). I always give those as gifts. The shape sorters are perfect for that age as well. Sometimes it's the simple, tried and true toys that get the most use...hence why they're "tried and true." There's also this new-ish ball that they sell at Seagal's For Children and Thinker Toys that is advertised as the "easiest ball to catch." It looks like the frame of a ball...almost webbed. My son loved that thing. Carried it everywhere. Also, those soft books that have the crinkly material in them are huge hits with kids - cause and affect stuff.

[Eli & Maia's Momma]

Play silks are a great toy investment - they provide play possibilities from infancy on up. My daughter is 11 mos and loves to play peek-a-boo by placing silks on top of her head & then pulling them off. My 4 year old son loves to dress up in silks and use them as props for play. Silks are also reasonably priced - from $6.00-$12.00 - they are durable, machine washable & feel good to little people...a toy with longevity.

[Eli & Maia's Momma]

www.sunshinesilks.com