I really want to teach my son all about the world around him and really stimulate his mind...who doesn't, right? Wanted to know what are some good (fairly inexpensive) toys for children under 1 yr? Any good websites for learning materials for young ones?

By Feonad on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 10:05 am:

Amazon.com has a search where you can sort by age
and bestselling.

They say you should sing to children under one year old. It stimulates their brains.

Also talk in full sentences and explain what you are doing as often as possible.

I heard this over the radio.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-8403498-8997501

By Emily7 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 12:16 pm:

First years & leap frog are what I buy my children

By Nicosmom on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 12:47 pm:

How about Baby Einstein toys? I think there is a website where you can purchase them online. Not sure how expensive though.

By Boxzgrl on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 01:21 pm:

Definitely Leap Frog and Baby Einstein. I also like the toys sold by Discovery Toys ( discoverytoysinc.com ).

By Pamt on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 01:45 pm:

I honestly don't think you need to be as sophisticated as all that. Rattles, teethers, and board books for a 3 month old would be would I suggest. Also a few of those toys that make noises and/or have different textures in the infant section. Mostly talk, sing, read, and let you child explore the world. 3 m/os don't really need many toys.

By Melana on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 03:14 pm:

ya know, I've bought my dd, now a year, all kinds of toys, things with lights, music, tons of stuff, and she usually plays with them for a couple of days and never wants to play with them again. I've found that as Pamt said, rattles, teethers and board books seem to hold her attention longer. At three months she just wanted to play with me, and hear my voice. At one year old, she still just wants to play with me most of the time!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 05:56 pm:

My kids liked reaching for rattles and stuff like that at 3 months. Also, talking and singing, too!

Also, I had a Sesame Street Gym thing that stood on the floor and I would lay the kids underneath it and there was stuff hanging down that they could hit. On Amazon, they have many different things like this. Also, a play mat that has different things to do, might be entertaining. I never had one of those, though.

By Mrsheidi on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 07:01 pm:

Thanks so much for your ideas! I am reading to him every day which, as a teacher, I think is very important. And, he is LOVING it when I play with him all the time. I find any reason to hold him and sing to him. I will look on all those websites when I have time tomorrow!! Thanks so much y'all!

By Marcia on Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

It sounds like what you are doing is wonderful!
I think that babies have become too stimulated in the past few years. I really think that the basics are all they really need - reading, singing, pat-a-cake type things, etc. Part of me wonders if all of the over stimulation is why so many more kids are being diagnosed with ADHD.
Just my random thoughts after working with kids for many years, and being a mom to so many.

By Theresa_Momma on Monday, September 6, 2004 - 12:08 am:

My son also has a Sesame Street Gym, he is only two months old but I lay on the floor with him and tell him about what it does and sometimes he reaches up and hits the haning elmo by himself. It lights up and makes noise, he loves that. I spend a lot of time reading to him too. Although what I read is not always baby books. They say it is just good to talk so sometimes when I am reading my novels I just read them out loud. I skip the racy parts though (LOL)!

By Coopaveryben on Monday, September 6, 2004 - 10:27 am:

The best thing you can do for that age IMHO is give them lots of floor play and lay colorful stimulating things around them. They learn so much by being in the floor, they stretch, work on rolling, work on reaching, etc. I hate electronic toys, I think babies/toddlers need toys that they can see the cause and effect relationship. I like Rattles where you can see the contents (you can make your own from a clear 20 oz coke bottle) put anything inside...MAKE SURE YOU GLUE THE LID SHUT.

Read to your baby.
Talk to your baby.
Sing to your baby.
These are the cheapest and best things you could ever do.

By Tink on Monday, September 6, 2004 - 07:48 pm:

All three of my dks had a cause and effect type toy where you would turn this knob and Elmo popped up, flipped this switch and Big Bird popped up, etc. They figured that toy out long before I would have expected and it was always one of their favorites. Mine also had the hanging Disney (for us) Gym that stretched over them and they enjoyed that also. My ds was a tummy baby and he had a blanket with activities on it that he would play with for hours.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 02:43 pm:

We still have that sesame street toy where you do 5 different things to get the characters to pop up. I think I will keep it around for grandkids.