$Unique_ID{PAR00216} $Pretitle{} $Title{6 Months to 1 Year: Selecting Toys and Equipment} $Subtitle{} $Author{ Editors of Consumer Guide Mendelson, Robert A Mendelson, Lottie M Meyerhoff, Michael K Ames, Louise Bates} $Subject{6 Months to 1 Year Toys Equipment exploring entertainment educational store-bought book books hinges Hinged mechanism mechanisms household safety nontoxic swallow manipulate sharp durable safety tube tubes high chair chairs stroller strollers car seat seats balloon balloons busy box activity center surprise boxes jack-in-the-box kitchen Pots pans plastic bowls cups spoons spatulas can cans basters squeeze bottles picnic baskets bath tub physical skills crawl crawls crawling climb climbs climbing stairs steps games peek-a-boo hiding hide-and-seek outdoors wading pool transitional object security independence musical instrument instruments drum keyboard xylophone finger paints creativity PRESENT PRESENTS gift gifts ADULT PERSPECTIVE} $Log{} The New Parents' Question & Answer Book 6 Months to 1 Year: Selecting Toys and Equipment Now that my baby has become an active explorer and investigator, won't he need a lot of toys to keep him occupied? At this point, your baby will need an abundance of items to feed his ever-growing curiosity, but he really will need very few "toys." As long as you've made your home as safe and accessible as possible for him, your baby will find a wealth of material to occupy himself in the course of his daily activities. It probably is a good idea to have several special items around when he has to be in a playpen or otherwise restricted for a short time. In general, however, making a lot of purchases won't be necessary. As far as your baby is concerned, few if any commercial toys will be able to compete with the common contents of a typical household in terms of entertainment and "educational" value. Substituting store-bought products for these everyday items is likely to result in disappointment for everyone involved in most cases. Lately, my baby has started picking up books and turning the pages. Should I buy special books to encourage his "prereading" skills? The first active interest that babies display toward books, typically at about one year of age, has nothing to do with reading. At this point, babies are fascinated by simple mechanisms. Hinged objects receive special attention--and the binding of a book is a perfect hinge. If you watch closely, you'll probably notice that your baby is not concerned with what's on the pages; rather, he's merely inclined to turn the pages back and forth. Therefore, the best "first books" for babies are those with stiff cardboard pages that their little fingers can manipulate easily. You really don't have to worry about content at all during this period. If you want to supplement his "book experience" at this point, it is suggested that you introduce him to cabinet doors, lunchbox lids, and various other devices that operate on a hinge, as this, as opposed to reading, is what your baby is focusing on for the time being. Of course, while your baby is not interested in reading, he will enjoy listening to your voice as you read to him, regardless of the content or subject of the reading material. What other common household items make particularly appropriate playthings? The list is endless. As long as an item is nontoxic, too large to be swallowed, small enough to be manipulated easily, free from sharp edges or protrusions, and durable, your baby probably will have a lot of fun with it. Empty egg-shaped panty-hose containers, metal bandage boxes, and large thread spools should never be discarded, as they are among the favorite toys of babies at this point. Newspaper and even old slippers get a lot of playtime. Empty shoe boxes or large cardboard cartons, laundry baskets, and wastepaper baskets are a big thrill for babies once they start crawling and climbing. In addition, if you don't mind and if you take proper precautions, things like light switches, television and radio buttons, and telephone dials are totally fascinating to curious little ones. With regard to my baby's toys, are the safety considerations pretty much the same as before? To a large extent, they are. You still want to be sure that no removable piece of any item is less than an inch-and-a-quarter in any dimension, that there are no sharp edges or points, that only nontoxic paints and materials were used, etc. However, you have to keep in mind that your baby's play will be a lot more active at this point, and he will be doing a lot more with his toys than he did previously. Consequently, it is a good idea to check the durability of all products very carefully and to see to it that they can withstand all the hard banging, throwing, and dropping to which they now will be subjected. Also, remember that a toy that is reasonably harmless while being handled may very well become hazardous when it is thrown. In addition, it is suggested that you increase your schedule of periodic inspections to be sure that properly selected toys remain clean, unbroken, and in good working order. How can I tell if a toy (or its removable parts) or household item is too small to be safe for my baby? The general rule of thumb is that no item should be less than an inch-and-a-quarter in any dimension so that it cannot be swallowed or choked upon by your child. Of course, it is not easy for everyone to estimate an inch-and-a-quarter easily, and a ruler or tape measure is not always readily available. Several mail order catalogs and children's specialty shops now offer "safety tubes"--plastic cylinders that can be used to test for appropriate size. It is recommended that you obtain one of these, but in the meantime--or even instead--you can use the cardboard cylinder from a roll of toilet paper or paper towels. If an object can pass through the tube, it is too small for your baby to play with. Of course, even the commercial tubes can't guarantee complete accuracy, so if it is a close call under any circumstances, it is better to play it conservatively and keep the item away from your baby. Why is "toy storage" now a safety issue? At this point, your baby will no longer be completely dependent upon you to procure playthings. He will become increasingly capable of getting things for himself. Consequently, it is a good idea to keep as many items as possible easily accessible to your baby during play times. However, when it is time to put toys away, be sure that they are not placed in areas that could cause problems for your curious baby. For example, if toys are placed on shelves, make sure that they are not only out of reach, but out of sight as well. When your baby sees a favorite toy, he will make every attempt to get to it, and he may end up taking a fall or perhaps causing an avalanche of items to come tumbling down. Another way to handle this is to store toys on low shelves that he can reach easily, with heavier items on the ground level and lighter toys on the shelves above; this way, if he does go for a toy, he won't put himself in serious danger. If you put his toys in a toy chest or box, see to it that it is latched securely; or, if you make the box or chest accessible, see to it that the lid stays up when open and won't close unexpectedly, thereby crushing little fingers or possibly even trapping your baby inside. What about larger pieces of equipment, such as high chairs, strollers, and baby seats? You have to remember that your baby is no longer likely to remain passive in a sitting or reclining position for long periods of time. At this point, when he is placed in one of these devices, he probably will attempt to stand up, climb out, etc. Consequently, it is a good idea to double-check the design and construction, making sure that the piece of equipment has a low center of gravity and strong joints and latches so that it won't tip over or collapse easily. Furthermore, it is suggested that you take extra time to be sure that your baby is harnessed in very securely. In general, plan on not keeping your baby restricted in such devices anywhere near as long as you did previously, and never leave him unattended in one. My baby loves to chase balloons and soap bubbles. Are these things safe if he catches them? Chasing soap bubbles and balloons is a lot of fun for babies once they can get around quite well. However, it probably is not a good idea to let your baby play unsupervised with balloons. If one should happen to break, your baby will likely need a little comforting as the sound will no doubt frighten him. Also, the pieces of rubber from the broken balloon (as well as balloons that have not been inflated) present a serious swallowing and choking hazard. It also is important to remember that when chasing either balloons or soap bubbles, your baby may be prone to accidents because his limited attention will he focused totally on the floating object. Therefore, make sure that there is plenty of room for him to crawl around without having to worry about bumping into something, falling down somewhere, etc. Are all commercial toys for children in this age range a waste of money? Certainly not, but you can end up wasting a lot of money if you are not careful with your selections and expenditures. Because babies now are a lot more active and can do so much more than they could just a few months ago, toy manufacturers tend to make products for them that are increasingly elaborate and expensive. However, a commercial toy has only a slim chance of breaking into a baby's consciousness to begin with. Even if it is a good one that manages to capture his attention, his interests and abilities are continuing to change very rapidly. In other words, even a great toy probably won't be good for very long at this point, so investing a lot of money in any one item is not likely to make sense. Shouldn't I buy a "busy box" or "activity center" to keep my baby entertained when he's in his crib or car seat? These products, which typically contain a button to push, a dial to spin, a lever to pull, etc., and which can be attached to the sides of various pieces of furniture and equipment, are very popular items--millions are purchased every year. However, it is apparent that their popularity is based upon the fact that they look like they provide hours of entertainment, so parents are inclined to purchase them. In fact, the more elaborate (and thus, more expensive) a busy box or activity center is, the more likely that mothers and fathers will find it appealing. Once these products are presented to babies, they do get a lot of attention--but only for about ten or 15 minutes, until the novelty wears off. As soon as babies run through the various mechanisms a few times, they become bored and rarely return to these toys thereafter. Therefore, busy boxes and activity centers, despite their at-first-glance appeal, usually are a poor investment for children during this period. Are "surprise boxes" any better than "busy boxes"? They usually are. Surprise boxes typically contain a small row of jack-in-the-box type sections, with the trigger mechanisms being simple levers, dials, switches, and push buttons. In addition to being less expensive than busy boxes in most cases, these toys have two major advantages. First, the surprise aspect is far more motivating for babies than the simple ring, rattle, or whatever that is provided with standard busy box mechanisms. Second, each little section provides babies with an easily opened and closed door, and they love to simply move the hinge back and forth for long periods of time. Therefore, surprise boxes do constitute one of the better investments in the world of commercial toys. By the way, babies at this age are generally too young for the standard jack-in-the-box. They have a great deal of difficulty operating the winding mechanism, and they find it impossible to reset the pop-up part without a lot of adult assistance. What kinds of kitchen items serve as especially enjoyable toys? Your baby probably will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, and fortunately, there are many items in a typical kitchen that make wonderful playthings at this point. In general, anything with soft, rounded edges, particularly if it is made of plastic, will be suitable for such purposes. Pots and pans, mixing bowls, measuring cups and measuring spoons, wooden spoons, spatulas, and plastic storage containers are perennial favorites. Paper products and canned goods also provide a lot of enjoyment--chasing a rolling can of tuna fish or a roll of paper towels can be a lot of fun. As your baby becomes more and more adept with his small muscle skills, you can even introduce items such as turkey basters and empty squeeze bottles (if the bottles formerly contained liquid soap or some other such substance, make sure they have been thoroughly rinsed out). Although empty cans constitute a hazard, empty plastic soda pop bottles will be a special treat for your baby (be sure to remove or firmly secure the plastic lid, however, since it may cause choking if swallowed). Why are things like little picnic baskets and bandage boxes so popular with children in this age group? During this period, babies become fascinated with simple mechanisms, especially devices that operate on hinges. Therefore, anything with a lid that they can open and close easily is likely to be a favorite plaything. Items such as little picnic baskets and bandage boxes have additional appeal because they allow babies to collect things and carry them around. Perhaps because of their growing ability to retain mental images, babies at this age seem to enjoy "hiding" various objects for short periods of time. Consequently, anything that provides them with opportunities to pick things up, put them in a closed container, and then take them out a while later will be very much appreciated. Unfortunately, indulging your baby's interest in such items may be a bit tricky. The "container" must be small enough for your baby to handle comfortably, but the "things" that go inside must be too large for him to swallow, so making the appropriate match may take some extra effort. My baby is becoming a real little tiger in the tub. What can I give him to keep him busy while I'm bathing him? During this period, babies typically become quite active in the tub. Fortunately, they usually enjoy a variety of bath toys, ranging from many of the elaborate commercial models to the traditional rubber ducky and all the boats, sponge puppets, and floating soap bars in between. If you are purchasing bath toys for your baby, note that those which give him an opportunity to pour, splash, and squirt probably will be big favorites, and water wheels are a special added attraction. These toys will be appropriate and appreciated for many months, so they constitute one of the better investments in this area. On the other hand, your baby is likely to have just as much fun with a set of plastic measuring cups, a couple of sponges, and a turkey baster. In other words, there are probably many objects and devices already in your kitchen that will allow your baby to do just as much if not more pouring, splashing, and squirting as any commercial product. Is there any special equipment. I should purchase to enhance the development of my baby's physical skills? Although there are several excellent indoor gyms available commercially, your baby probably won't be able to make maximum use of these relatively elaborate devices for much of this period, so they probably are not a good investment at this point. Moreover, they really aren't necessary at all. Your baby will have plenty of opportunities to practice the physical skills he has acquired and attempt new challenges as long as he has access to a large portion of your home. Carpeted stairs (see next question), sofas, beds, and various other pieces of furniture will be more than adequate in this regard. You can make activities involving large muscle skills even easier to pursue by placing pillows, cushions, large cardboard cartons, and even yourself on the floor for him to crawl over. I'm scared to death to let my baby climb stairs unsupervised. Is there a more risk-free activity I can substitute? If allowing your baby to climb up to just the third step by placing a gate there instead of at the bottom (see illustration in "Safety And Health" in the 6 Months To 1 Year section) is still more than you can stand, don't worry. Climbing babies are fascinated with "essence of step," and they really don't care too much about how many steps there are or how high the steps are. Therefore, as a substitute, you can use sturdy, stable boxes or padded boards to create a small set of steps in your living room, bedroom, or some other carpeted area. The steps need only be a couple of inches high, and there need not be more than three or four increments. Also, the platforms can be as long and wide as you want. Although you should make an effort to provide your baby with supervised "real stair" experiences as often as possible, and you eventually will have to let him tackle them on his own, at this point, he will get ample practice and a lot of pleasure from these "substitute steps." My local community center is offering a baby gymnastics program. Should I enroll my baby? Most of these programs, particularly those operated by national franchises, are excellent. As babies develop new physical skills, they enjoy opportunities to practice and expand their capabilities. These programs typically offer safe equipment and appropriate activities for these purposes. Moreover, they generally are well supervised and fairly inexpensive. An added attraction is that they provide parents with a chance to get out of the house and mingle with other parents who have children at approximately the same age. However, you should know that no program of this kind has ever been able to prove that it provides lasting advantages for babies when it comes to large or small muscle skill development, coordination, self-confidence, or anything else--despite the fact that such benefits often are claimed in the promotional literature. If you and your baby are looking for some good fun outside the house, fine; but keep in mind that any special functions performed by the program can be easily duplicated in your own home with the furniture and fixtures already on hand. Are push and pull toys appropriate for children in this age range? Push and pull toys are not particularly appropriate at this point for two major reasons. First, since babies are just starting to get around on their own and are focusing intensely on the basic skills involved, they ordinarily do not seem interested in bogging themselves down with such items. Second, even if they do show a little interest in these toys, using them can pose some serious hazards. If string is used for push-pull purposes, there is a chance that a baby could become entangled; the possibility of strangulation cannot be ruled out either. Even if the push-pull is based upon a pole or rod, there are potential problems. Remember, babies are still relatively clumsy during this period, and should they fall while pushing such a toy rapidly across the floor, they may become injured as a result of a poke. Therefore, it probably is a good idea to avoid push and pull toys, at least for the time being. In addition to toys, are there any "games" that my baby will be able to play? Not in the true sense of playing games. Your baby is still much too young to grasp such concepts as rules, taking turns, etc. However, he will greatly enjoy "reactive" games--activities that are initiated by you in which you really do all the work and he is simply required to respond enthusiastically. For example, once he has achieved object permanence and can retain a mental image in his mind for a short period of time, your baby will love to play "peek-a-boo." As he gets a little older, he will appreciate similar "hiding" games--such as "Where's Daddy?" or "Where's the toy?" Once your baby starts developing a receptive vocabulary and some imitative ability, simple pointing-and-naming games will be a lot of fun for him, too. He'll especially enjoy those centered around his own body parts, such as "Where's your nose?" and "Are those your feet?" My baby is spending more and more time outdoors. Should I have anything special for him in the yard? Not really. Your baby is still too young to enjoy an outdoor gym, swing set, or any other such major piece of equipment to its full extent. He will be endlessly fascinated by all the new things he is encountering during his explorations, so he probably won't need to be "entertained" by toys too often. When he does, simply transferring his usual playthings to a blanket laid out in the yard will most likely suffice. Perhaps the only special item that you might consider introducing is a small wading pool. There are documented cases of babies drowning in as little as two inches of water, so keep the level low and make sure you supervise at all times. However, as long as the proper precautions are taken, your baby will enjoy splashing around with a few cups, spoons, and other suitable items--especially on a hot summer's day. Is it true that all babies develop a strong attachment to a stuffed animal, blanket, or some other "transitional object"? A lot of babies do this, but certainly not all of them. The concept of a "transitional object"--something that provides security as a baby makes the transition from complete helplessness to early independence--fits nicely into various theories of development. In addition, many parents report that their baby will strongly resist going to sleep, taking a nap, or leaving the house unless he is given his special "fuzzy" or whatever. However, research has shown that although this phenomenon is certainly common, it is by no means universal. Quite a few babies never display an inclination toward such items; and furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that there are any long-term differences in personality or emotional development between those who do and those who don't. Consequently, if your baby hasn't attached himself to something of this sort, don't worry. And definitely don't feel you need to go out and buy one of the "security toys" being marketed with claims based on erroneous and inappropriate assumptions. Is it too soon to provide my baby with simple musical instruments? It certainly is too soon to expect that your baby will have any real sense of music appreciation. It also is too soon to expect his increasing yet still rudimentary small muscle skills to be able to handle most musical instruments in the way they are designed to be used. However, that does not mean that musical toys are completely inappropriate at this point. Because your baby is very interested in both sounds and the concept of "cause and effect"--especially if he is the "cause" in some way--introducing him to a to a drum, keyboard, or xylophone may not be a bad idea. Avoid anything with strings or anything that requires your baby to blow in order to make a sound. Make sure that any such item you provide is very durable, as your baby will be doing a lot more "pounding" than "playing." In addition, be prepared for a lot of "noise" as opposed to "music" emanating from his efforts. Is my baby ready for finger paints? Not really. Your baby still does not have the mental capacity for true "creativity," nor does he have sufficient small muscle control to use these materials in anything more than a fairly crude manner. In addition, he probably will end up putting this stuff into his mouth. However, your baby will be very interested in colors and textures, and he may very well find things like clay or play dough to be fascinating and fun. Be very careful in checking to see that anything of this sort that you provide is nontoxic. Since your baby will do a lot more mushing, squishing, pounding, and throwing than "molding," be prepared for considerably more "mess" than "art." THE PROBLEM WITH PRESENTS A child's first birthday is a major occasion, and many parents put in a lot of time and effort preparing a special celebration. Unfortunately, as part of the celebration, a lot of toys tend to be presented to the baby as gifts. Consequently, many parents suffer severe disappointment when their baby plays with these items for only a few minutes but spends several hours fooling around with the boxes, ribbons, and paper in which they were wrapped. The fact of the matter is that it is a rare toy that will hold a baby's attention for any length of time at this point. Therefore, spending large amounts of money to provide an abundance of elaborate playthings simply doesn't make much sense at this point. Moreover, although a baby will get an impression that he is the center of attention and probably will enjoy that immensely, he will not comprehend and thus not care about the concept of gifts. Therefore, when planning for your baby's first birthday, first Christmas, first Hanukkah, or whatever, try to avoid the temptation to show your love by showering him with toys. Alert friends and relatives that making expenditures for such items is not necessary as well. A few years from now you may incur your child's anger by giving him something as mundane as socks and underwear on these occasions, but for the time being, it will make little difference to your baby and may make a big difference in your budget. BEWARE OF ADULT PERSPECTIVE Babies do not buy toys for themselves. In fact, because of their limited communication skills, they can't even make their preferences clearly known. At this point, they are completely dependent upon their parents not only for the purchase of their playthings, but for the selection of their playthings as well. As a result, many manufacturers tend to design and market their products in ways that will appeal primarily to the adults who will purchase the toys, rather than to the babies who will eventually play with them. If you are not careful about avoiding adult perspective when shopping, you may encounter some problems. For instance, as noted earlier, busy boxes and activity centers are among the best selling toys year after year, even though babies hardly spend much time at all interacting with them. That's because many adults think they look interesting, and they often have a lot of fun fiddling with the little gadgets themselves in the toy store. Consequently, a good deal of money is wasted because parents erroneously assume that something which fascinates them will fascinate their baby as well. Another example involves the use of well known cartoon or television characters to decorate toys for babies--a practice that is quite common. Manufacturers spend a lot of money to procure the rights to use these characters, and their cost is passed along in the price of the toys. However, the pleasant associations we have with some of these characters are built up during later childhood; babies at this age don't know--or care about--the difference between these "stars" and generic animals, people, etc. Consequently, if you look at these toys through your own eyes rather than through the eyes of your baby, it is likely you will shell out extra dollars and get a little "status" but absolutely no additional enjoyment for your baby.