'Homemade' toys

[lovebeingamum!]

Was wondering if there are any suggestions out there on homemade toys... you know: the rice in the bottle, the pegs in the container, the celophane in the net bag...
My 6mo (who has just become VERY mobile) does love his toys that we buy, but nothing attracts his attention more than the non-toys. :rolleyes: My mobile, the remote controls, the cordless phone, the wipes packet, the brush, the dogs toy :eek: etc, etc.
I'm finding myself looking at everything with new eyes... can I turn that into a (safe) toy?? :D Would love to hear any suggestions!!

[bigglet]

I know how you feel! I spent lot of money on those fancy baby toys with all its bells and whistles and the only one who feels that it has to be used is me!
My bub prefers to play with whatever I'm holding or other people's toys!!

I've put stuff (plastic wrappers that have that nice crunchy noise) in socks and also let bub's play with plastic containers - that sort of thing... for some odd reason they like that... even though it doesn't whistle, rattle, have a sound and light show or even have bright colors on it. Go figure!! :D

[kirstenriley]

seriously...nothing beats some potatoes and a saucepan....in...out.....in......out......in...... .lol

[Grizabella]

I found plastic cooking utensils are a huge hit. Like potato mashers, spatulas etc etc. Brion loves em! Oh and the tupperware cupboard. I have a cupboard that he is allowed to go into. It stops him from going to the other ones because he knows he doesn't get in trouble for emptying the contents of this one and throwing them around. :)

[Oscar's mum]

A favourite play thing in our house is the lids off of jars. I just put them into a big ice cream container for storage and the lid has a hole cut in the top and Ozzy can post the lids into the container.

[veve]

some beautiful person on the hub (sorry I can not remember your name) suggested a tape measure with the metal ends cut off... (choking hazard if left on ..)

Jack LOOOOVES this!!!! I have no idea why ... but he loves the tape measure!!! lol

[supamumma]

I made up a sensory board - lots of textures, materials etc, photos of myself and DH hidden so she could play peekaboo. She loved it from around the time she could sit up. Also a tiny photo album ( for her hands to hold with all the pictures of family and pets is great.
Now that DD is 18mths I am finding that a square bucket of water ( an inch deep is still safe) and lots of bath toys in it in the backyard keeps her amused for 30 mins so i can have a cup of tea while watching her. Also two other bowls so she can tranfser water from one container to the next has been a hit. I know it is too old for your bub but just thought I'd add it for future reference!:)

[Funkychicken]

I make nearly all my bubba's toys-mainly felted animals and the like. I also bought recently a great big bell (ball style) and tied it to a piece of wool which now hangs on the side of his high-chair. The other popular thing I made was a long necklace with big wooden beads and small pieces of coloured felt inbetween each bead. I hang it around his neck and he can play with it without dropping it.:D

[maddysmama]

My DD loves my sock drawer:D ...I just open the drawer and she pulls the socks out one by one and tosses them in the air. And pulling apart cupboards...so I have a couple she's allowed to get into like tupperware.

[QueensMum]

Hi there!

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Bigglet for the scrunchy paper in the sock idea. I tried it out yesterday and came out to see both girls totally disgarding all their super duper toys in favour of their new socks!!! I love it :smiliedance: The socks are great to hold but also apparently great as a teething aid!!

Sheridan