Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

Archive for the ‘Toys’ Category

Neither eighteen month olds nor two year olds are very good at sharing toys. This, too, is part of the normal development and should be accepted as such.  From your baby’s perspective her toys are an extension of herself.  For someone to take a toy from her is a direct affront to her integrity.  It’s as if part of her has been taken away.  Parents are probably unrealistic to request a child of this age to share with other children.  You can start to work toward that goal, but it may be too soon to reasonably expect to achieve it.

One helpful hint is to have a special set of toys designated for the play group.  This way the toys don’t seem to belong to any one person. Aggression and fighting over toys can also be reduced with planned activities.  The activities should be ones that are creative, messy, and fun, such as painting, or playing with blocks, sand, and molding material.

Difficulties with Changes in the Routine

Eighteen month olds are very ritualistic.  Often routines must be carried out in exactly the same way or the toddler is upset.  Recognizing this, you can help your toddler by trying to maintain as consistent a routine as possible.  By doing this, your toddler doesn’t have to try to figure out what’s going to happen next.  Transitions are also eased by letting children know what to expect.

Toddler’s typical ritualistic behavior may be due to their limited understanding of language.  Sometimes we are fooled into thinking that eighteen month olds know more than they do.  On occasion, parents should stand back and evaluate why the child acted the way he did.  Perhaps he did not understand what was said or asked.  While toddlers understand a great deal, not all ideas hold the same meaning for eighteen month olds as they do for adults.

Because of this, your child’s reactions to disruptions in his routine are likely to be more intense than they were earlier in his life.  The toddler’s distress and obstinacy are said to be, in part, related to the beginning development of his sense of self.  To the toddler, parent and child are becoming two separate people, which may be a stressful adjustment.

The emotions of fear and worry may seem more apparent with toddlers than with young babies.  Some two year olds seem quite wary when confronted with new situations.  In particular, such things as firecrackers, loud noises and vacuum cleaners can be pretty frightening.  Toddlers don’t understand the relationship between cause and effect yet and may attribute magical or lifelike properties to noises and machines.  The toddler may even think that these strange occurrences happened because of something he did.

Some children hold onto their parents until they are comfortable and secure in a new setting.  Yet at home, if all is going well, your child should be able to leave your side to play by himself in another room. Your child’s caution and his checking in on you represent a beginning sense of reality.  It is part of the normal developmental process, without which your child would not develop into a healthy, independent person.

Although at times your toddler will be difficult to manage, this is the age when it is even more important to be firm in setting limits, consistent in your demands, nurturing during the bad as well as the good moments.  Your role is to balance the toddler’s desired independence with his continued need for reassurance, love and affection. 

Going to a baby shower or giving a congratulatory gift to the new parents? Toys are a great gift option, but make sure that the toy you select will actually be used by baby and not tucked in a corner never to be seen again. Choosing that perfect toy can be difficult without some guidance so here is a list of some sure fire winners. All of these fantastic finds can be purchased at Amazon.com. And one of the best things about Amazon.com is that you can see customer reviews from Mom & Dad’s who have received the product.

1)      Gymini Super Deluxe Light and Music by Tiny Love ~$55

This colorful 32” square activity mat features a soft cushioned where baby can lay on their back to play with the items hanging from the two overhead curved arches. The animal and bird hanging items that make unique sounds such as a parrot whose wings crinkle and a monkey that rattles. Music and lights complete this fun package for baby. And best of all, this durable activity mat is super-portable, folding nearly flat for travel.

2)      Ocean Wonders Aquarium by Fisher Price ~$60

Designed to help baby fall asleep, the Ocean Wonders Aquarium attaches directly to baby’s crib. Calming music, the sound of bubbles and swimming fish will have baby snoozing in no time. And when naptime or nighttime is over, baby will have a great time playing with this toy as they spin the starfish or open up the clams. You can choose the music setting for either playtime or naptime.

3)      Baby Einstein Caterpillar Discover & Play Entertainer ~$80

Designed to entertain and stimulate baby, this stand-up activity center features nine different interactive toys all within reach of baby’s hands as the seat swivels a full 360 degrees. The intriguing colors, shapes, textures and sounds will keep baby engaged for long periods of time and help them learn to distinguish between them. The push button animals make realistic sounds. Other learning items are a shape tower, hand puppet, spinning toys and books. They’ll be entertained for hours at a time.

4)      Multi-Sensory Clutch Cube by Learning Curve ~$15

An affordable toy gift option, this brightly colored soft cube is ideal for young babies (from 1 month and up). The bright colors, various textures, peek-a-boo flaps, clinking rings and jingling chimes will hold their attention for hours and improve the child’s hand-eye coordination. The cube is scented like apple for some reason.

5)      Tiny Love Trio ~$23

Another affordable gift option for younger babies, this unique set of 3 colorful toys stimulates baby’s motor skills as they learn to rattle, pull, grasp and more. The super-portable size makes this toy trio great for Moms on-the-go.

Does your newborn baby have a favorite toy? Share your toy information with other parents on the Toy Discussion Forum at Baby Gifts & Gift Baskets.