Tip #39: Safe kitchen toys for endless entertainment

On the same vein as Tip #38, introducing new objects is important developmentally and it also ensures ample entertainment for baby. I've been introducing my 6-month old to safe kitchen toys while I cook and he hangs out in his exersaucer. It's amazing how interesting a plastic measuring cup, a funnel and a wooden spoon can be! As always, make sound judgement as to safety.

Source: I apologize, I can't remember where I heard this.

Tip #38: Rotate your baby's toys

Our pediatrician recommended that we put away some toys occasionally for a couple of weeks and reintroduce them, and keep a rotating cycle. This way they never get bored. I can confirm they are quite excited again to see a toy that a few weeks ago they played with all the time.

P.S. Sorry for the long absence. Life has gotten busy, but I'll continue to try and post as much as I can.

Local Resource: Library calendars for free literary fun!

The Arlington library (main branch and Fox branch) are fantastic resources for free children groups; ranging from reading, to music, to play. Here are links to the events calendar of local libraries, make sure to check them weekly for the schedule (I've highlighted fun infant groups that appear to occur weekly at each, there are programs for older kids as well).

Arlington
Events Calendar Here
Robbins Library, 700 Mass Ave
Fox Branch, 175 Mass Ave
Tuesdays, Robbins, 10:00-10:30, Sing-a-long (get there early to sign up)
Thursdays, Fox, 10:00-10:30, Sing-a-long

Cambridge
Event Calendar Here
Boudreau Branch, 245 Concord Ave.
O'Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave
Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St.
See addresses for other three branches through link to library above.
Mondays, O'Neill Branch, 10:30am, Toddler Time (Stories and Songs for 0-3 years old)
Tuesdays, Valente Branch, 10:30am, Toddler Time
Wednesday, Boudreau Branch, 10:30am, Toddler Sing-Along (all ages)

Lexington
Events Calendar Here
Main, 735 Mass. Ave
Thursdays, 9:30am-9:50am, Baby Laptime (0-15mo)
Thursdays, 10:30am, Toddler Time (16-24 mo)

Medford
Events Calendar Here
Main, 111 High St.
Fridays, 10am (Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4), Sing Alongs

Somerville
Event Calendar Here
Central Library, 79 Highland Avenue
West Branch Library, 40 College Avenue
Tuesdays, Central, 10:30-11:00, Sing-a-long
Thursdays, West, 11:00-11:45, 'Babygarten'

Tip #28: A stroller toy bar can be used for more than a stroller

There are toy bars (for example check out Tiny Love's, the one we use is Sunny Stroll) that are meant for strollers but can be used for much more. Dress up and make your baby's highchair, stroller, or bouncy seat more fun!

Source: When I was complaining how expensive (and kind of boring) the Bjorn Baby Bouncer Activity Bar was, a friend pointed out that I could buy a stroller bar for much less and it has worked great!

Tip #25: Alternate activities to tummy time for neck strengthening

A lot of babies hate tummy time when they are still developing the strength to hold up their heads (they get very frustrated when they can't do what they want yet!). Here are a couple of alternate activities to help them develop neck strength that you can do with them (also check Tip #12 for how to make tummy time itself less frustrating):

• Up-up-up Game: With baby lying down, hold their hands and pull them up into a sitting position. Sing "Up up up up!" and then help them to return to the ground singing "Back Dooown". When they are really young, you'll need to support their head with one hand and pull them up/set them down with the other. I've seen most need less support going up at the beginning then back down. This is also the thing pediatricians sometimes do to check upper body development.
• Assisted Airplane: It's so much more fun for baby to do tummy time when they can see mom/dad or another loved one. With you laying down, put your legs up, with your shins parallel to the floor to create a surface for baby to lay. Place baby on your lower legs and have fun! You can sing them a song, you can bring your legs towards and away from your face (stick the boppy under your head to support your neck). This is also a good way to work out the postpartum tummy. My little guy takes tours of cities around the world ("here we are flying over Tokyo, and here comes Moscow...")
• Tick Tock Cuckoo Clock: This helps development of side to side motion. With them sitting on your knee, rock them back and forth singing: "Tick tock, tick tock, I'm a little cuckoo clock. Tick tock, tick tock. Now it's striking one 'o clock. Cuckoo!" When you hit the last Cuckoo (one for one o'clock, two cuckoos for two o'clock etc.) pick them up into the air with every cuckoo.
  
• I'm a little teapot: You know this song, you can do this with them on your knee and when you get to 'tip me over and pour me out', you tip them to one side.
• Trot-trot To London: With them on your knee, bounce your knee singing "Trot trot to London, Trot trot to Dover, don't go across the bridge you might fall ooover", when you get to the over, you tip them to the side.

Sources: Various moms groups, mommy baby yoga, and experimentation.

Tip #12: Improve your chance of tummy time success

If your little one is like my little one then you are also struggling with tummy time. You can improve their enjoyment (or at least minimize their frustration) by bolstering them up. If you aren't using a boppy or towel then start, and if you already are then add more material to make their tummy time surface higher and firmer. As our little guy has gotten stronger, the amount of bolstering material we've needed has gone from boppy+folded blanket down to just a boppy and now finally on the floor.

Also, if you aren't already, find a favorite toy to put in front of them to distract them, that could be you, a cat, a black and white card, a mirror, etc.

Source: Combination of mommy and me classes and friends.

Tip #5: Balloons (mylar) make excellent toys

This is being reposted since I was alerted by a friend that balloons can actually be a safety hazard. So make sure you buy a balloon that is unlikely to pop and create lots of small pieces that can be grabbed or inhaled by an infant, i.e. mylar. As always, play comes with adult supervision.

Infants love watching balloons bounce in the wind. You can tie it to the top of their play mat or to their bouncy chair. Added bonus if you can tie it to a four-legged pet, then it's fun for the whole family!

Source: Baby Play, 100 fun-filled activities to maximize your baby's potential. Dr. Wendy S. Masi and Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman, Creative Publishing International, 2001. (Pet idea contributed from personal experience).