9 Months and Counting: Best Toys for Bub

One thing I tell parents time and time again is that you absolutely do not have to spend a lot of money to ensure your child has developmentally appropriate toys to play with. As discussed in past blogs, you will find most items in your household will do and they generally prefer them. How many times has your bub been obsessed with your keys or your watch? Just look around the house for items that are safe. They should not prevent a choking, suffocation or strangling hazard. Some items, like a beaded necklace, you could allow your bub to play with, but over constant supervision.

Our little Lachlan turned 9 months on Monday. I know, he is getting so big! Where has the time gone? This is generally the age where parents and friends tell me that their children are getting board of their toys or they are out growing them and ask what should they buy. Well, before you go whipping out the credit card, look around your house. Cartons and bottles filled with beans and rice are a must. Make some of various sizes; ones he can shake and others he can roll and chase. Measuring spoons are also a favourite and small pans. Don't forget about pastry brushes and mini rolling pins; these are lots of fun for baby too.

If you want to spend money: nesting cups, ring stackers and a hammer and peg board have to be my three favourite items that are worth buying. They all require the use of problem-solving which is important to cognitive development and later on will aid in the social-emotional area. Try to find nesting cups that have holes at the bottoms of them for draining water. They can then be used to experiment with in the bathtub or sandbox. Green Sprouts has a nice set which are BPA-free. Nesting cups will also carry their value for a long time as your toddler and then preschooler will still find functions for them- perhaps for a tea party or to mould mudpies?...mmmmm, mudpies... Regarding the stacking rings and hammer and peg board, I love wooden ones- but I'm a wooden toy fanatic. Plastic ones will be just as beneficial. You can also use these toys to teach colour recognition and opposites; such as big and small.

By this age, you should also have a low cupboard that your baby is allowed to access. Even if he can't crawl to it yet, he can sit there and practice opening and shutting the door and taking things out. If he puts things back in then be amazed because that is a good baby! :-) All the items mentioned earlier would be great to go into the cupboard. A helpful hint: put all the soft and smaller items on the top shelf and toys with are made of wood or are heavier on the bottom. This way when bub pulls them down, it will be easier and not hurt if they land on his head. I got a smashing deal on a wooden kitchenette set I found on sale for 10 bucks, originally 70! I was excited- you gotta look over those sale racks! I just took the legs off of it so it is low to the ground and the perfect height for Lachlan. We secured it the side of a bookshelf so it can't topple over. He is loving exploring the doors and cranking the knobs.

Now is also a great time to introduce some social play items to your baby. Have an unused mobile (cell) or old telephone? Your bub will love to try to imitate you. Lachlan actually just started holding his play phone up to his ear today....so cute! If it is an old phone with a chord, please remove the chord for safety reasons. A baby doll (one which can get wet) is also a wonderful item to introduce now. I could name off a million activities for this one, but those will have to be in another blog! The doll is SOOOO important to developing social skills. If you have a son and have a complex about him playing with dolls, then please get over it. Don't make that his complex, too! You'll be grateful you gave your son a doll to play with when he grows up to be a nurturing man! Plus, it is a most helpful learning tool. Bub can learn about body parts, feelings, how to put the baby to bed, etc. Introducing the doll to bath time will also help your child learn how to bath himself one day. Give the doll a wash first singing..."This is the way we wash our hair" song. Continue with each body part and then wash your bub. Before long he'll be grabbing the wash cloth wanting to have a turn. Let him have a go. At this stage he will probably just flap it around the tub and on his body, which is fine. When he is finished go back and wash the millions of spots he missed.

If your bub is already crawling, you will need to create a cozy, private place where he can now go to escape and have quiet time to himself. Look out for my next blog on how to make a ribbon house! I'll be making this cozy, fascinating place for Lachlan once he begins to become more mobile and will post pictures and instructions.Won't be long....