Just a thought.....

Cleaning toys on a regular basis is part of helping to keep your baby happy and healthy. You can use products like Clorox or Lysol wipes, but if you want a more natural, eco-friendly method try using vinegar and water. Mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar with 1 cup of water; pour the mixture into a spray bottle and give hard surfaced toys a good squirt. Another way of cleaning hard surfaced toys is putting them in a pillowcase or mesh bag and running them through the gentle cycle of your dishwasher (no soap is needed). Soft or stuffed toys can be effectively cleaned in the washing machine by putting them in a pillow case and washing them on the gentle cycle with just a bit of baking soda and vinegar added to the water. Keep them in the pillow case and dry them on a gentle setting in your dryer. If manufacturers suggest that you simply spot clean toys, use the vinegar and water solution.

Silly Sounds Piano by Tomy

This brightly coloured "piano" is great fun for both older infants and toddlers of all ages. When one of the globe-like face buttons is pushed it lights up and produces, depending upon what mode the toy is in, either a silly sound (sneezing, boinging, giggling, etc) or a musical note. The combination of sounds and lights keeps children focused for a long period of time. Strengths: The buttons on the toy are easy to push so children can operate the toy without much frustration. Weaknesses: The toy can be operated in four different modes: funny, piano, game, and guide. The game and guide modes are not that interesting to young children.

Baby & Toddler Bistro Boxes by Baby Bistro Brands

I know this isn't a book or toy, but it's a great resource for all expecting, new, and not so new parents. These recipes boxes contain up-to-date and excellent nutritional information for infants and toddlers. The Baby Bistro Box (prenatal to 12 months) provides information about prenatal nutrition as well as tips on how and when to introduce foods to your baby. The Toddler Bistro Box (1-3 years) offers great suggestions on how to make food fun and interesting for finicky toddlers. The toddler box also provides vegan friendly recipes and ideas. You can order these resources, as well as many others, from http://www.babybistrobrands.com/.

Parents Counting Pals by Battat

Blocks are another toy that should be a staple in the toy collection of any young child. This set of 10 durable blocks is a wonderful introduction for young children to the world of block play. They are made out of a soft pvc and bpa free rubber/plastic and are just the perfect size for children who like to mouth, throw, or knock things over. Strengths: They stack easily and because they are made of a relatively soft material babies and toddlers won't get hurt if the blocks fall over. Weaknesses: Not any that the children I work with have discovered.

Amazing Animals Press & Go Animal Parade by Fisher Price

This musical train seems to be a hit with both infants and toddlers alike. The four animals are cute and the zebra, rhino, and giraffe have pose-able heads that make fun clicking sounds when turned. Because the toy is motorized it travels for about 10 seconds when the bird sitting on the elephant's back is pushed down. As the "parade" moves across the floor the toy plays music and makes realistic animal sounds. Strengths: Infants seem to enjoy watching the train as it scoots across the floor while the more mobile toddler will chase the toy until it stops. Weaknesses: The animals are difficult to link together and snap apart. Sometimes you have to push/pull them so hard it feels like the toy is about to break.

Musical Spin & Stack Rings by Lamaze

A good stacking toy should be a staple of any child's toy collection and this charming one is popular with toddlers. Some of the more interesting elements of the toy include a straight stacking cone that has some flexibility to move from side to side to help make stacking easier and a musical spinner that can be turned on so the rings move around in a circle. Additionally, each ring has a different textured material on it so it's easily identifiable by touch. Strengths: Because of the many sensory elements of the toy (music, movement, and touch) it is one that can be enjoyed by children with visual impairments as well as those who do not have issues in this area. Weaknesses: The rings are made of a hard plastic and can be difficult for little hands to manipulate.

Just a thought....

Tummy time is an important activity for young infants. It is so important because it allows babies to strengthen and gain control of their head, shoulders, and abdomen. Building strength and control early in life is the basis for learning later motor skills such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, and eventually walking. If your baby resists tummy time, try several brief (1-2 minutes) sessions a day and gradually work up to longer periods of time. Babies should spend approximately 15-20 minutes a day in tummy time.

Ready, Set, Go Cars by Parents

These four colourful and happy cars will be a favourite for your child for many months. Each vehicle has a "rev-up" action that allows a child to pull the car backwards, let it go, and have it zoom forward for several feet. Each vehicle makes a fun clicking sound as it zips along. Strengths: The cars are made of a firm but malleable plastic that is just the right firmness for little hands to manipulate. They are large enough to not pose a choking hazard but small enough for a child to easily hold on to. Weaknesses: The cars don't move all that well on carpet, but do wonderfully on play mats or hard surfaced floors.

Mirror Pound-a-Ball by Parents

This is one of the most popular pound-a-ball toys for children at a wide range of ages. Because of the three ramps the balls must roll down before they reach the bottom little ones have more time to visually track and appreciate the cause-effect nature of the toy. The hammer makes a fun squeaky sound when hit against the balls and the mirrored background provides an added sensory element. Strengths: Younger babies and toddlers enjoy watching the balls roll down the ramps and the mirror lets them watch their own reflection during play. Older toddlers have fun whacking or pushing the balls through the holes. Weaknesses: The balls fit very snugly into the holes on top of the toy, so making them fall through can be difficult for younger toddlers or for children who do not have good upper body muscle strength.

Quack Along Ducks by Tomy

This is a cause-effect toy that is fun for for both children who are walking and those who have a more limited range of motion. The ducks move easily with even the slightest tug on the string and waddle after the child quacking merrily! Strengths: Because the toy is so easily activated it is a great option for a child with limited gross motor abilities. Fine motor skills may also be challenged because the child needs to pick-up, grasp, and pull the string to make the toy work. Weaknesses: If a child has sound sensitivities the quacking can be a little scary and since there isn't an on/off switch on the toy every time the string is pulled the quacking starts.