I have been out of the loop for awhile. My twins are 5 years old. We just had another and I'm wondering what is new and exciting out there for babies? I'm looking for ideas for Christmas. Thanks!
Do you have a baby sled so you can go for walks in the snow? Robeez shoes and boots are great.
At that age my child loved those infant toys you clip to the car seat carrier handle so he could see them when we drove in the car.
A second favorite was the blanket you lay them down on on the floor. It had 2 arcs attached to it so the he could play with/see with while he laid down on the blanket.
Rattles or nay hand held toy that has buttons for music,sounds etc. easy to hold,push button toys they sit n the floor,Fisher Price Little Peoples
Once my kids could sit up, they really loved the music tables. The legs are removable, so they can sit at it when they are smaller and stand at it once they're ready: http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Learn-Groove-Musical-Table...
I am also a Discovery Toys consultant, and we have a few things that are really wonderful for babies.
My favorite is Try-Angle. It lays flat or folds into a triangle, and it has all kinds of different things to touch, push, hear, see and move. It is two sided, so when they are bored of one side, just flip it around.
http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao... It develops their motor dexterity, stimulates visual skills, teaches cause and effect, and is great for self entertainment. If you buy linking rings, you can even attach it to a car seat, stroller, or high chair to keep them busy when they are strapped in somewhere. If you need good linking rings, our Boomerings are fantastic! They are super sturdy and can be used for much more than just attaching things to the stroller (one customer recently used them as a belt in a shopping cart). http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao...
My other favorite is Go Go Caterpillar. When your baby is starting to think about crawling, this will be all the incentive he needs to start moving! Just push it down and it will zoom across the floor and can travel quite a distance. It teaches ABC and 123, cause and effect, engages several senses at once (touch, sight and sound) and develops both fine and gross motor skills. http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao...
A couple of great stocking stuffers:
Super Yummy Teether - it is soft, easy to hold, and has five different textures to soothe aching gums and stimulate the senses. It is lightly vanilla scented and has a loop on one end so it can also be attached to the stroller, etc, so you're not constantly picking it up off the dirty floor. http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao...
Trix is a small, wooden toy on an elastic band that babies can twist around into different shapes. It's pretty small, so it's easy for them to hold and manipulate. It helps them build fine motor skills, learn colors and shapes, and figure out how objects can transform from one shape to another. It will easily fit into most stockings. http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao...
Finally, I'd like to recommend Keyboard Kylie. It is a soft keyboard (eight notes) that can play single notes or is programmed with eight different common tunes (happy birthday, twinkle twinkle, etc). It can be attached to the stroller or car seat as well, so it will keep him entertained when you're on the go. The older kids will like it too because it comes with six song cards that show which notes to push to play common songs. My five year old has a lot of fun with it. http://www.discoverytoys.com/PUBLICSTORE/stores/karenchao...
If you have any questions or want more information, please send me a private message. All of our toys are educational and fun, plus they come with a lifetime warranty, so they will last forever! Your grandkids can even play with them. : ) We have great stuff for the twins too... let me know!
At this age, teethers are really nice. I can't think of anything more exciting for a 5 month old at that age. :) My kids always enjoyed the round teethers with beads. Also since your child will be pulling up soon, an activity table is always nice... one with lots of buttons and toys on it.
I love this blog that lists "Toys That Get Played With" by age based off a member poll each year. Lots of great ideas there.
Sophie the giraffe is pretty cool. It's a rubber teether, and every baby I've ever seen has loved it. It's the "in" baby toy in my area. And the Kathy Kruse babydolls are adorable and a good size for a baby's lovey. Both available online at Amazon or probably a million other places. Those are my go-to presents for new babies... and for what it's worth, my twins are 5 years old too!
