Baby Products: Playtime
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 5:29AM
Sailor is just about three months and although we had playtime in the beginning, we're having more of it as she gets older. Here are some of the things that we use to play (read: take up time until the next nap / take up time until the next feeding / take up time while mommy writes a blog post or takes a shower or washes bottles or washes pee-soaked clothes.)
I'll also include WHEN she found each one interesting as she wasn't a big fan of everything right away.
Prices are listed at the places where I bought the item. There may be lower prices at other places. And, I know Amazon always offers prices for used items.
Oh, and you might be thinking that I have entirely too many rockers/bouncers/playthings. You would be right. I'm kind of addicted to them and the anticipation of watching Sailor play on each one.
MOMS, FEEL FREE TO AGREE, DISAGREE OR ADD YOUR OWN FAVORITE PLAYTIME PRODUCTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!
1. Baby Einstein Around the World Collection Play Gym $59.99 at Babies R Us
STARTED ENJOYING AT: age 2 weeks, still LOVES it
BUT: We would hold the bird and the panda in front of her from week one and she liked to stare at them.
WHY I LIKE IT: It's got tons of fun, brightly-colored objects to hang on various spots not only on the overhead bars, but around the edge of the mat as well. Also, there are REAL pictures of each of the animals on the mat so that your child gets to see what they really look like and not just cartoon versions.
WHAT SAILOR LIKES: At 2 weeks she'd lie there and stare at the panda, the rattle and the bird for up to 30 minutes at a time. The first time she started to figure out hand/eye coordination was on this mat when she started to hit the rattle. I had hung it low for her near her right hand.
It's got a mirror, too, with a lion head on it. She was WAY more fascinated with the lion head for a while. It's only been the past few weeks that she's started to enjoy the mirror.
SOMETHING ANNOYING: There's also a globe that plays music with two volumes. Although it's great and she loves looking at it, the speaker in it blew out a few weeks ago and it will only very randomly play anymore. I read the same thing on many of the reviews.
FINAL WORDS: Even though she doesn't get the music anymore, she loves her playmat more than ever. She can now grab objects and will often stare at the one in front of her while simultaneously grabbing each little animal to her right and left. Once she's more comfortable on her tummy, I'll turn her over and attach some of the animals - and even a teething igloo - to the mat portion.
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2. Fisher Price Deluxe Infant to Toddler Comfort Rocker $44.99 at Babies R Us
STARTED ENJOYING AT: 2 months (but that's when I got it), still loves it
The photo is from Sailor's first time sitting in it. She's so happy!
WHY I LIKE IT: In the photo on the left, you can see a kickstand underneath. It pulls under and out to recline the rocker, keep it from rocking and turning it into a sleeper. The bar of toys pops out easily, too. We bring this over to my parent's every time we go. It also vibrates, but we don't use that feature much. No reason, really.
I also like this because as she gets bigger (this is the "Infant to Toddler" part) it becomes a little rocking chair where she can sit and play, look at books or watch some television. Actually, she's started to sit in it and watch Sesame Street.
SOMETHING ANNOYING: The only thing I DON'T like is that the base where her feet are is hard and every time she kicks in delight you can hear her heels go THUMP. But she doesn't seem to care and you could always put some padding in it.
USEFUL NOTE: When we first got it, the dangly toys were a little hard for her to reach. My husband took some toys from her playmat, hooked some playmat rings together and hung toys lower for her. She loves the toys that she can reach and easily grab.
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3. Lamaze Jacques the Peacock $10.50 Amazon.com
Lamaze Buzz the Bug $15.00 Amazon.com
STARTED ENJOYING AT: Right when we got them (about 6 weeks old), still loves them
WHY I LIKE THEM: The reviewers on Amazon went CRAZY over Jacques. I got Buzz mainly because someone had given me a gift certificate for Amazon for Sailor and I was looking for toys that she would enjoy at 2 months old.
Both toys are brightly colored, which keep her interest for a while. Also, they both have parts that squeak, rattle and crinkle. Jacques has a mirror and Buzz has rings. I often put Jacques on the handle of her car seat and she'll stare at him.
WHAT SAILOR LIKES: When she first saw Jacques, he got a HUGE smile. I'd have to say, though, that Buzz is now her favorite. The photo above shows her on her Pack n' Play at my parent's house. My dad hung Buzz over the changing table and she LOVES it. Before she could grab anything, she'd stare at him and laugh and bat him around and laugh. Also, two weeks ago on August 7th was the FIRST time she grabbed onto an object BY HERSELF and held it for a while. It was one of Buzz's rings!
FINAL WORDS: I think both these toys are great for newborns on up to toddlers, and think she'll enjoy them more and more as she's able to grab and squeeze with both hands. Lamaze has A TON of toys, too, so if you like the looks of another one, I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
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4. Noisy Peekaboo: Roar! Roar! $11.04 Amazon.com
Noisy Peekaboo: Choo! Choo! $11.04 Amazon.com
STARTED ENJOYING AT: age 1 month, still loves them
I actually got these at Costco, but Amazon has a better price. (But you'll have to pay for shipping, obviously.)
WHY I LIKE THEM: As you can see in the photo, on the left of each page there is a "real" picture with a baby, which Sailor (and most babies) really like to look at. On the right is a series of flaps that you have to look under to find whatever the question on the right wants you to find. Once you find it and lift the flap, you hear the noise that the object makes!
I first bought the Roar! one and she loved it so I went back and bought a second one.
OTHER BOOKS: It would be a little ridiculous to list all the books we have, but I'll let you know what she likes. We've got a "Five Silly Monkeys" book (you know the song that goes, "Five silly monkeys jumping on the bed / One fell off and bumped his head..."). She likes it when her father and I sing it. Also, books that have little hand puppets attached are good. Basically, anything that's simple and has a lot in terms of visuals are all good.
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5. Infantino Surfboard Tummy Time Mat $19.99 at Target (I got mine at Marshall's for $12.00)
STARTED ENJOYING AT: Well, I'm not so sure she's enjoying it yet.
HERE'S THE DEAL: When I saw this I thought, "Oh, SUPER! Something fun to do the dreaded Tummy Time on!" I say 'dreaded' because, when placed on her tummy, Sailor would either instantly fall asleep or get very frustrated by her face being planted in the ground. I thought this would be great because there were swimmy things to look at, a crab and a potato to play with (there's a crab with something on it and my husband and I can't figure out what it is and it looks like a potato so we call it the potato), and a pillow to help keep her propped up.
However, at 3 months, she's still not the biggest fan of this. Doesn't mean your baby won't be. I think she's more of a thinker at the moment and gets bored if she's not intellectually stimulated. :) Tummy Time seems to be only physically frustrating. For now, she either sucks on the pillow and looks around, leaving behind a nice pool of drool OR she turns her head to the side, sucks her fingers and thanks me for the great place to relax.
WE HAVE HIGH HOPES: BUT, she may like it as she gets stronger. Her favorite Tummy Time right now is when she's on my chest. She has the whole HOUSE to look at that way!
CHECK BACK: (I'll update this as she gets older to let you know if she starts to enjoy this mat.)
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6. Bright Stars Rattle & Shake Barbell - Pink $2.99 at Babies R Us
STARTED ENJOYING AT: Week 1, has always liked the noise and colors
I have found this rattle over all her other toys has been great to do those eye excersises that all the books talk about. It's bright, simple and it makes noise. A great combination to keep the attention of a baby. She'd follow it up, down, left and right.
SOMETHING I SUGGEST YOU NOT DO: I also put it in her hand one day shortly before turning 2 months - when she could hold things, but only if you put them in her hand. And she promptly SMACKED HERSELF IN THE FACE AND YELLED AT ME FOR MAKING HER DO SUCH A HORRIBLE THING.
MORAL: When amusing yourself by giving your baby things to hold, use simple things like the rings from your playmat, okay? Or wait until she's got better hand coordination.
YAY FOR EATING THINGS: Once she stars putting anything containing matter in her mouth, this will be good because it's too big for her to choke on, but it's easy to hold and has no sharp edges.
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7. Fisher-Price Papasan Cradle Swing - My Little Lamb $149.99 at Babies R Us
STARTED ENJOYING AT: age 2 or 3 weeks
While this isn't 100% in the PLAY category, per se, it is in the KEEPS BABY OCCUPIED category.
WHY I LIKE IT: It's SO COZY. I want my own. It's also makes various nature sounds and plays music, the little animals spin in a circle if you choose, and the area just above baby's head is a mirror. Although, it's a convex mirror so baby will look like she's looking through a peephole at herself. BUT, Sailor is really starting to enjoy that mirror. You've got to wait until your baby has some semblance of next muscles because she has to tilt her head to look straight up, but it's great once she can.
I also like this swing because it swings left to right AND you can swivel the swing in either direction to have it go forward and backward. Sometimes Sailor is NOT in the mood for left to right, but will calm right down when I switch it to back and forth.
The toy bar is removable and the seat has a sitting up position and a reclining position. So far I've almost exclusively used the reclining position.
THE BEST PART: Plus, it has lamb ears. LAMB EARS. Can you get any cuter?
DON'T REPORT ME: (Oh, and as you can see in the photo, I don't strap her in. I know I'm not supposed to do that, but seriously, look how teeny she is in there. I'll strap her in when she gets more mobile.)
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(I know I should have put in a photo of her actually PLAYING with the bouncer, but this was just so cute...ok, fine, here's a photo where she's playing with it. And, I know, shameless cuteness with the hat.)
8. Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncer $64.99 at Babies R Us
STARTED ENJOYING AT: age 2 months, likes it more at 3 months and liking it more all the time
WHY IT'S NOT SO GREAT AT FIRST: Initially she would smack her knees against the monkey and parrot that hang down. While her knees are still around the same spot, she can slide down a little now and grab onto the toys. It's been the past few weeks that she's REALLY been enjoying this bouncer, playing on it up to 45-minutes at a time - occasionally stopping to giggle at me or the ceiling lamp.
WHAT SAILOR LIKES: It's got lights, music and a little monkey and tree frog that move for her to watch. It's simple and great. The more excited she gets, the more she moves around and the more the bouncer bounces! Plus, she can now spin the parrot around his perch. So exciting. Oh, and there's a vibrate option on this, too, but again, we don't use it much.
SEE, BABIES LOVE IT: Before Sailor was born a friend came over with her then 5-month old nephew and we put him on the bouncer. Apparently, he had never been on a bouncer. He loved it.
Hope this list has been helpful! I'll update it as she gets older, letting you know if/when she enjoys things more and when she starts to grow out of something. Again, feel free to add your own in comments!
Copyright; 2011, Blahggy. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments (6)
I cannot get over how different Sailor and Nate are. Nate wants nothing to do with looking at books. All he would do is gnaw on them (much to his English professor mommy's chagrin). And it took him much longer than Sailor to be interested in and able to grab toys, either freely or hanging in front of him. But he's always done really well with tummy time and has never once decided to nap during it. He used to love the swing but now when I put him in it, he starts to cry - I think b/c he realizes I'm trying to get him to take a nap (which he hates). He also smacked himself in the head with a rattle, but he just looked at me like, "Oops, was that supposed to happen?"
I so don't want to stereotype, but it really seems to me to be the differences between boys and girls, right?? She's far more detail oriented and has the fine motor skills and he's already kind of rough and tumble and has the gross motor skills (kid doesn't even want to sit - he just wants to STAND all the time). I hate gender stereotypes but I was really struck by this here!
This is so funny! I love that our babies are so close in age so we can compare. Sailor definitely seems to enjoy observing things over doing physical things. I mean, she'll lock her knees and try to stand when you hold her, but she's perfectly content just sitting upright (with help!) and checking out the walls instead of the ceiling. She scoots ALL OVER her crib, but, like I said, Tummy Time equals chill time. Basically, anything that she does physically seems to be geared toward being able to check things out. Does he really hate naps? I think Sailor loves hers. About every hour and 45 minutes she'll put her fingers in her mouth, twirl her hair (she totally got that from her dad) and we'll pick her up, put her in her crib and she'll suck her fingers until she's out for 1 to 3 hours. Apparently, I used to POINT to my crib when I was tired, so I'm hoping for that!
I can't wait until they get a little older and we can start to see the differences even more! My old boss' sister tried to raise her boy as gender neutrally as possible. It was when the kid took a slice of American cheese and bit around it in the shape of a gun that she gave up.
Okay, this was helpful helpful helpful.
Awesome. Getting closer, huh? Wow!!
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