Age Approriate Toys for 5-Month Old

Do you know about the Just Between Friends sale in FW this weekend at the Will Rogers Collisium? They sell everything and he could use a floor gym or an exersaucer, etc. Prices are very low and everything is 50% off Sat. He could sit up in a boppy or bumba and play for awhile. He needs different things to occupy his time, but his attention span will be short. So offer more than one thing a day.

We did a lot of every-day objects around the house that were baby safe. The videos may be interesting to him, but I think there was a recall because they can't be marketed as educational. The best education at this time is interaction with other people including lots of back and forth "conversations". Another thing you can do is put him in a baby backpack and have him watch what you're doing and at the same time he's snuggling with you. (I really miss those days)

Two books you may find interesting are "Dr. Sears Baby Book" and "Your Child's Growing Mind".

My almost six month old is not yet crawling. He can sit supported but loves to stand so I found his favorite toys are still ones that hang from a 'gym' and he really loves his excersaucer and johnny jumper. I got some toys from amazon that are hanging toys (or not- depends on how you want to use them) brand Lamaze. They are insects and animals that can hang or be put on the carseat. I have the giraffe, dragonfly, and peacock. Mine likes to stretch out and reach over his head (to the point of almost rolling over) to grab them and then chew like crazy. Check them out!

As for TV....well, I know your not SUPPOSED to...but.....I have a three and seven year old at home who occasionally watch tv while I make dinner...so...if he's interested he watches what they are...but mostly he just chews on toys.

He also LOVES it when his big brothers 'pop up' from behind the couch in a game of peek a boo.

Try some blocks. They can't stack them yet, obviously but they will be really fun to chew and bang around. Parents line has a set that are rubbery and squeak, they are super fun. I also made a key ring out of real keys that were old or "lost" and my kids love them! They seem to know the difference between the real and the toys and my kids always went for mine. Each of my kids has a set of "real" keys and my almost 3 year old still plays with hers! I also added a bunch of fun key chains that are safe to be chewed on and played with.

I also think a play gym or exersaucer is a great idea! Other good things are books and tupperware. I would wait on the TV if you can. He will be plenty into TV is just a few short years, and trust me you do not want to speed up the love of the TV and tantrums that are sure to come over that! ;)

Baby Einstein is well worth it and sooo educational, even for infants! You might even check Ebay. That's where we got several! Your baby will love them! He should be getting big enough now to sit in different type excercise products, like jumpers, saucers, etc, so try those with the toys attached! I have a 3 month old grandson that is loving that stuff.They love any sounds and colors~ Congrats on your precious little one!

LOL on the TV thing, skip spending the money on the DVD's borrow them from your library or maybe a friend or family member or if you have Netflix you can get them through there. Does he have a floor gym (also great for increasing tummy time!) or an exersaucer or jumper? They're great for curing the boredom factor and once he goes mobile the exersaucer is great while you're trying to get things done like cooking.

I know my 5 month old goes crazy for our bubble machine, their like $10-$15. And when he feels like hanging out in his swing I usually put the sprout network on, they only play educational programs. Which I know he's a bit young for, but hey good habits start early.

Guess it depends on if he's sitting up on his own, crawling, what he's doing.

Our daughter at that age was not doing these things yet.......and was still liking things that she could shake and that would make noise. We also got her one of those spindles w/rings that were soft and each ring either had some sound that it made when shaken or squeaked if you squeezed it. Also - there's that dog that fisher price soft dog that has blue ears and sounds when you squeeze it's hands and feet and ears and belly. She also LOVED and still does the soft picture book that we filled with pictures of us, and other people in the family - grandma/pa, cousins, etc.

Also, just good old songs sung from you - patty cake, itsy bitsy spider, etc. At this age, he is still very interested in faces - yours in particular!

these are some of the things she loved then...and actually, at 11 months still does!

as for the TV - obviously, a personal choice, but i'd stay away from the TV at this age....but again - totally up to you to decide.

I do know that the AAP suggests no TV until 2 yrs old.....

Good luck! And have fun!

Check ou the TRUCE website they have great suggestions for children's toys in general, media use and how to maximize the learning and brain development for cildren. PLay really is childrens "work."
My two cents. Skip the DVDs, and spend your $$ by stocking up on a bunch of books he can eat, play with, turn pages in and you can read to him. Also music is a lot of fun. Plastic coffee "cans" like foldgers brand for drumming and tupperware are all a lot of fun for his age.
If he is mobile (crawling, etc) use blankets and pillows to make little obsacle courses for him and once this crazy rain dries up, should be cool enough and grass soft enough for outside play with leaf exploration. You can also play "hide and seek" with radios/things that make noise have him find where you hid it (helps with object permanence and problem solving).
Have fun and best of luck!

My son is 5 1/2 months and is the same way. At 4 months old he started getting really fussy with me during the day. I started feeling like he was getting bored with me and tired of seeing my face all day (my husband works 12-14 hr days so its basically just me during the work week). I decided to try out The Little Gym and he loves it! He does so much better when we get out. I don't know if your a SAHM as well but getting out of the house to see the world does wonders. Now that the weather is nicer we go for walks he loves being in the stroller. When we were having the 100 degree days I would take him to Sam's and stroll him down every isle, just something to get him out and about. Now we have an exersaucer, walker, jumper, gym, swing....basically everything....tons of toys. And yes we get 5-10 mins. with each. Try different rooms, we go through every room in the house playing with different toys. Get toys that make noise. I just got the Crawl Along Snail to hopefully help get him crawling soon. Oh and try to keep him on his tummy. It's a game with my son now, he immediate rolls over everytime and I pretend I'm mad and tell him to get back on that tummy then roll him back, he laughs everytime. We have two of the Baby Enstein: Baby Noah and Baby's First Moves. He watches them in his swing. I really like the videos...now my son loves anything thats on the tv. If the tv is on his head automatically turns to watch it.
We're both in Fort Worth maybe we can get our two boys playing together. Message me if you want.

Please check out Discovery Toys. Everything we sell is fun and educational, with lots of great things available for a 5 month old (or any child from birth through school age!). You can view all of my toys at http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

Here are a few of my absolute favorites for a 5 month old:

Try-Angle (perfect for tummy time and for when he learns to sit up, if he hasn't already): http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Go Go Caterpillar (this one is good in the next 1-3 months as he starts to want to crawl): http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

Wiggle Jingle & Roll (great at home, or attach it to the car seat, stroller, high chair, etc): http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?P...

I hope you find something you and your son love!
K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao