My mom always says this and has not bought LO a single toy. She buys her things like clothes and accessories but its usually just on special occasions.
I believe toys really help a child learn different skills while they grow and think they are well worth it. If you can buy toys used well then bonus!
papaya / 10473 posts
Not at all! My LO loves the crinkle books with different textures, mirrored toys, and his play gyms, and he's only 10 weeks. I think certain toys absolutely provide stimulation and facilitate learning.
bananas / 9118 posts
Nope, to give me a break, toys are worth their weight in gold! That said, we haven't needed a huge amount, and the simpler ones do the trick just fine 
grapefruit / 4669 posts
I think having every single toy in the store would be a waste of money. But toys are great! Can be educational, plus how else would I be able to pee/shower/do laundry/etc? (Although my 5 month old likes plastic hangers equally as much as sophie la girafe, so there's that...)
bananas / 9227 posts
When your mom was young, was she raised with the help of her grandparents or other family members around? How about when you were born, did she herself get help from family? I'm betting that a lot of the older generation that thinks this is because they had some help. How else were parents able to eat, cook and go to the bathroom if they don't have family helping them?
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
For us, yes. But that's because lo has a million others buying her toys. If nobody else bought her toys, I would.
coconut / 8305 posts
I did when I first had P... then I realized how great they can be for developing certain skills AND they save my sanity! lol
Even as they get older... G LOVES legos & he's been able to grow his imagination & learn skills about executing what he's trying to make (he's made some pretty amazing lego creations!)
pomegranate / 3872 posts
No way! Even simple toys are important for make believe play. If anything having lots of clothes for a baby or small child is more unnecessary.
cantaloupe / 6692 posts
If a child plays with it or gets any enjoyment out of it, I would say its money well spent!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I think the right toys are well worth the money!
I think too many clothes and accessories are a waste of money though--especially since kids grow so fast!
grapefruit / 4120 posts
Depends on the age! I think baby toys can be very hit or miss. My baby played with a candy wrapper the other day for longer than she's played with any or her real toys. But I love toys for my toddler! And if you can get a baby toy that the baby will play with.... Trial and error!
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I love toys and I want to buy them all the time!
honeydew / 7917 posts
I didn't grow up with very many toys, and I knew that I wanted my LO to have the opportunities that I missed out on. I try to find quality toys that can educate and also allow my LO to be creative and use his imagination.
My parents give LO money but will indulge and buy him a toy at the store. My in-law's love to get hand me down toys from their friends and keep them at their house. Oddly enough books are the one thing that neither side have bought for him. We were at the library, and FIL said, "Why are you there? You have plenty of books at home."
papaya / 10560 posts
In some ways yes. We have friends who when you walk into their house it looks like a toy store exploded and all their kids do are sit in front of the tv. If I'm getting a toy for LO, I try and do the research and see if it is going to be a good purchase. At 1 y/o, LO has a small basket of toys, 2 sets of Uncle Goose Blocks, and a Zany Zoo Activity cube and that is all.
pomegranate / 3779 posts
I think there are arguments both ways - I read a really interesting article a few months ago about a child growing up with no toys (http://lauragraceweldon.com/2012/02/20/the-boy-with-no-toys/) and it really got me to thinking about the types of toys I want to give our LO.
pear / 1961 posts
Overall toys and activities are good, and it does seem a little silly to buy clothes instead unless she is buying stuff in larger sizes that you don't have (and its stuff you like!).
Is her thinking that you buy toys and she doesn't think LO should have many? That LO should play with non-toy things (pots and pans, other things around the house)? I mean, kids always find something to play with no matter what, right?
pomegranate / 3759 posts
@Crumbs: yep she throws that in my face sometimes! 'When i was in your position, i appreciated my moms help'
@KayKay: i guess she just thinks that for the amount they play with them, and how much they cost, its not a smart purchase. I see her reasoning but if she gets ANY stimulation from it, then its worth it. Especially since #2 is on the way.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I think toys are great! They develop cognitive skills and touch and put in their mouths and learn with textures and colors and sounds and shapes.....plus they buy us some time. I love handing E a toy and watching her face light up as she figures out what it does. And what it tastes like
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts
Certain toys are great. Less elaborate ones that require creativity and imagination are great for young children. For the baby stage I rotate toys in the living room.. Some are more valuable than others but they save my sanity! However lately dd just wants to cruise around the room.
bananas / 9118 posts
I just thought about our recent family reunion/vacation at the beach. My IL's asked us for a list of toys we needed for C for the week since we were flying in, our list: a ball.
He had fun with my nephews cars and some plastic animals, but mostly all he wants is a ball to chase around!
pomelo / 5093 posts
I think that too many toys are a waste, absolutely. I have a fairly small number of good quality toys, and my daughter gets bored with them pretty quickly. So I rotate them in and out of her reach to keep them fresh. Any more toys I'd likely consider a waste, so I don't buy them. I pick up new puzzles or books or musical toys every so often, and switch them with ones I already have.
pineapple / 12234 posts
No! I think books and toys are great and even better if they are passed down/gently used
ETA: I guess I could do without the overly busy annoying toys though!
bananas / 9973 posts
My parents are very much like that, so I understand that mentality. I grew up able to count all my toys on my hands. I really didn't want a ton of clutter of toys also, but as LO grows and develops, I find myself wanting to buy more and more toys that K is interested in and I find stimulates her and gives her opportunity to grow. Do I guess, I'll be eating my own words! Bring on the toys!
pineapple / 12566 posts
I think it depends on the age. DS is 2.5 and lately hasn't shown much interest in his toys at all, but he LOVES books. When he was a younger toddler/baby he was more interested in the toys.
pear / 1961 posts
@lindsay05 ah, gotcha. well, i agree that they can definitely be useful and, depending on how much your kid(s) use them & how much stress they save you, can be a lifesaver! The only real wastes we've had so far are the stuffed animals, since LO hasn't shown much interest in those yet.
@lemondrop we have several balls for LO (and quite a few smaller ones for the dog...) and they are definitely her favorite, too!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
@stine_ciro: Amen! This article totally resonated with me. I had a room full of toys, but my favorite thing to do was to get lost in my imagination. I would set up my indoor woodland camp in the small hallway out side the guest bedroom because we had a green light bulb, which was perfect for a moody mysterious far away woods. Toys are great, but exploring and imagination and doing something with little to nothing is awesome.
I will try to balance the toys my child plays with keeping in mind that for kids as long as the object is safe to use anything can become a toy.
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