https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:09:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261642 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:11:05 +0000 Cherrybee 1261642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E isn't interested in her little toys at all and she lost interest in her play mat really quickly. She loves the toys on her jumperoo though, twizzling the bird and rolling the shaky egg thing round and round. I'm hoping this is okay for her development!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261546 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:53:06 +0000 lawbee11 1261546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they're important for practicing grasping, swatting, pulling. But I don't think it's necessary for them to play with them all day long. M used to be pretty indifferent about her activity mat but in the last couple of weeks she's started to really love pulling on the toys. We have the Jacques the peacock Lamaze toy that we hung on it and she is obsessed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261507 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:45:52 +0000 fairy 1261507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally think that the kick n play piano gym and our baby Einstein jumper helped along my DD's development, especially grabbing and manipulating items. But I definitely don't think a bunch of toys are necessary! Other than those two activity centers, my daughter just does tummy time, or I wear her around or put her in the highchair with Sophie to chew on while I clean or make dinner. I think the talking and reading to them is most important, but some this can definitely help things along just by exposing them to the challenge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261464 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:37:10 +0000 MamaMoose 1261464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they are important for the sake of teaching hand/eye coordination and just learning to reach out and grasp the toy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261432 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:31:25 +0000 Adira 1261432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we have a ton of toys for Xander. He used his activity mat for the longest time and that was really all he needed. Around 4/5 months we started putting him in the exersaucer. And his other toys are just blocks, rattles, and those teething rings! We also have a set of toy keys and Sophie that we keep in the diaper bag for him to play with when we're out and about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261424 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:29:44 +0000 Ra 1261424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B still doesn't have much interest in toys aside from his jumparoo and activity mat. His favorite toy is mommy singing and dancing around like an asshole. Although, sometimes I incorporate toys into my routine. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-important-are-infant-toys#post-1261387 Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:21:35 +0000 .twist. 1261387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How important is it for babies to interact with toys? We have a handful of toys for L to "play" with, and I try to play with them, with him. However, a lot of the time we end up just chatting with L and making faces and trying to get him to giggle. Holding his hands or lifting him in the air. </p> <p>What are your thoughts on baby entertainment? What is important? What's unnecessary? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234636 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 20:36:41 +0000 mrsjazz 1234636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: yay! I'm going to have to tell my Mom to buy the food from Amazon soon just in case there's a mad dash for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234611 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 20:30:28 +0000 betsyboop 1234611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! I've been passing up on all the M&amp;D wooden fruits and veggies I've seen at Marshall's because I was expecting to buy the felt ones at Ikea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234492 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:58:23 +0000 pregnantbee 1234492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shinymama: Oooh, thanks for the tip!</p> <p>@mrsjazz: OK, I just splurged and bought the IKEA b-fast, fruit, and vegetables from Amazon. :) I'll still look for other things to supplement, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234486 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:56:40 +0000 shinymama 1234486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: I always see M&amp;D felt food at TJ Maxx. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234482 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:56:00 +0000 pregnantbee 1234482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: YES! I just looked there, too. I am having a little trouble justifying the steep pricetag on the fruit and veggies since I know how much less expensive they are at IKEA....but I may just buy them all anyway!</p> <p>@yin: Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234477 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:54:04 +0000 yin 1234477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like a mix of both. DS loves throwing food on the ground, and he has hurt himself a few times with the wooden food. We have both M&amp;D and Plan Toys wooden food. I prefer Plan Toys for the quality, but it's pricey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234476 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:53:43 +0000 mrsjazz 1234476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: Try Amazon. I have some on LO's wishlist that are sold by other sellers. They don't seem to be sold out but I haven't tried to purchase.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008K1PAZ6/ref=gl_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&#038;colid=3R07JWTVGO5QT&#038;coliid=I1ALGYJ1UX0KLD" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008K1PAZ6/ref=gl_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&#038;colid=3R07JWTVGO5QT&#038;coliid=I1ALGYJ1UX0KLD</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234468 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:50:59 +0000 pregnantbee 1234468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Nope. Just checked the website now.</p> <p>My particular IKEA was totally out of them, but I think they're still in stock at other locations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234467 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:50:41 +0000 pregnantbee 1234467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Thanks for weighing in. Will take another look at M&amp;D.</p> <p>@shinymama: I wish I could....but the IKEA felt ones can't happen right now :(</p> <p>@HabesBabe: I'm kinda feeling the same way. My son throws things all the time...and I really don't want to be nailed with a wooden orange. Hahaha. So do you have a favorite felt food source other than IKEA? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234460 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:49:28 +0000 mrsjazz 1234460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: Wait, you can't buy them online? Drats, IKEA food is on LO's list. I like felt food. I might just get some from Etsy. But I think a combo of both is good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234458 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:48:57 +0000 HabesBabe 1234458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pregnantbee: oh craapppppppppp. I just put those on C's wish list to the ILs :( </p> <p>I prefer felt food at this age (16 months) because she still throws stuff and I'd rather get hit by a felt watermelon than a wooden one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234456 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:48:26 +0000 shinymama 1234456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe a combination of both? I like IKEA felt for foods, but M&amp;D wood for packaged items {condiments, etc.}. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234453 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:47:39 +0000 Bao 1234453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A is being gifted wooden food for Christmas...no preference though. It's the Melissa and Doug ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/felt-or-wood-food#post-1234435 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:43:43 +0000 pregnantbee 1234435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to IKEA last week specifically to buy some of their awesome felt fruits and veggies for my son's new play kitchen (that we still have to assemble). And they were totally out. Can't buy them online either, and they mentioned something about a situation with their manufacturer.</p> <p>Anyway, I've put some of the Plan Toys "cuttable" wooden fruits and veggies on our Amazon wish list, but I'm wondering if you have a strong preference for felt or wood play food. If so, why? Which ones do you like? I read that the Melissa and Doug ones tend to have peeling paint after awhile, so not sure I'd pick them.</p> <p>Thoughts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377354 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:50:43 +0000 pastemoo 377354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: Oh, yes, I LOVE hokey pokey!<br /> @mrsaudi: :)<br /> @LAGS: Cute.<br /> And yeah, I am going to steal the blanket ride--I think we have one blanket that is strong enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377345 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:39:08 +0000 LAGS 377345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is almost 6 months and loves to mouth, smash her toys off trays and the floor and swing them around. She's started throwing them too, but I think it's mostly just her loosing her grip while swinging them. She has a few toys that are more interactive now and she likes to hit them to spin little pieces etc.</p> <p>@caffeinated: Fun idea with the blanket ride, totally doing this when LO wakes up!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377342 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:32:40 +0000 Freckles 377342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: omg, it's so annoying! </p> <p>LO still puts everything in her mouth. Ever since last month, she finally noticed the hanging animals in her jumperoo and would try to grab them and bring it to her mouth. I was afraid she was going to snap the toy off since it was so far away from her. When i put her in the packnplay, she basically goes from toy to toy.</p> <p>I love doing the "hokey pokey" with LO in front of the mirror, and i sometimes give her a "ride" on the blanket. I put her tummy down on the blanket, and drag the blanket across the room while playing music. She loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377326 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:05:22 +0000 Springtime 377326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha my LO totally bangs stuff too. He picks everything up and will try to eat it first then bangs it against other stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377297 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 08:08:45 +0000 pastemoo 377297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sammyfab: That is really cute.<br /> @Crumbs: Hahha. My mom calls that the "highchair magician stage" -- it's gone--hey mommy made it reappear!<br /> @winniebee: Hitting. Fun. It totally cracks me up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377285 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:42:57 +0000 winniebee 377285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He's 5.5 months and just gnaws on them mostly....though lately he has been banging everythiung. His new favorite thing to do is hit hit hit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377283 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:41:30 +0000 SugarplumsMom 377283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh gawd, I almost forgot her new fave thing: dropping things on the floor and having me pick them up :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377281 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:40:55 +0000 Sammyfab 377281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He puts just about every toy in his mouth. He also picks them up, inspects them, passes them from hand to hand, drops them then picks them back up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-does-your-lo-play-with-toys#post-377282 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:40:55 +0000 SugarplumsMom 377282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 4 mons and basically puts everything in her mouth. It always starts with staring at it, then grabbing it, then into her mouth. Right now she's playing with her baby gym. She likes to pull on the hanging toys and try to get them into her mouth. They rattle and chime, but mainly it'be because she likes tugging on them.</p> <p>Oh and one of her fave things has been spinning a ball with little things inside them (attached to a baby chair and another on the jumperoo).</p> <p>My fave part of playing with her is actually without the toys. Just standing her up and talking to her. </p>