When did you put away the baby toys?

[s_gosney]

Kylee's toy collection is starting to grow. She has a lot of stuff that's really better suited to the 3-9 mo crowd, but she'll still play with some of it occasionally. The things I'm thinking about are rattles (all different styles/shapes), toys that you push a button and then it plays music, and those rings that link together. I'm sure there's other stuff I'm forgetting. Also, when you do get rid of it, what do you do with it? I'm thinking of donating it to our local crisis pregnancy place, but I'm not sure if they need small items like these. And (last question, honest!) what do you do with toys that you know have been slobbered on but say not to machine wash? Thanks!

[tigalig]

I started putting away one toy at a time as we introduced new toys. For example, I would exchange a rattle for a FP little people person. It seemed to work well because in no time, the baby toys were gone and the new toys were in full swing. I kept most of ours for our second child so I can't help you with the final disposition question. You may want to run them through the dishwasher (top rack), put them in a ziploc and mark them, "washed," before you give them away so that they know that they are used, but clean. I give most of our stuff now to a refuge house for women.

As for the toys that say not to wash, put it in a stocking (knee high), make a knot, and wash away. I will warn you that several musical toys have not survived the wash, but I'd rather have them silent and clean than dingy and singing away.

HTH.

[Raidra]

We put away a few at a time, especially when he gets new toys. I try to pick the things he plays with least each time. Pupsqueak and Celeste just got put away, but Freddie is still in the car. We still have the linking rings out because Colwyn likes to put them in bowls and then dump them out.

All of his toys are in the attic because we will be having more children. If you want to donate, you can also give to group homes - most of their toys are old and crappy. My mothers' group is doing a toy drive for a local group home this winter.

[NEVE and TRISTAN]

I hve one rather large basket of baby toys in Tristan's playroom...I have to say now at 21 months he is more interested in those little hand held toys then he ever was. He'll pick up the simplest of item and play with it...

The basket is a nice size...and his play room is large enough to accomodate it so I am just leaving it put...if they were not contained in such a way they would have been packed up a long time ago though...

I just found it amusing that he likes to play with the items now :)
Neve and Tristan born Feb 25, 2003
* EDD 3/19/05 Baby girl BRONWYN
* Adopting siblings in Ukraine 12-10-04
http://home.nc.rr.com/ourbabytristan

[TaChapm]

Jackson is the same way. He still loves his baby toys. I am amazed at how interested he still is in his Discovery toys Crab rattle (his favorite as a baby). He has tons of Big Boy toys but still goes to his baby toys several times throughout the day and loves them. With #2 on the way they will just stay put in the play room. :)
Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
and Surprise! #2 EDD 6-28-05

http://lilypie.com/baby3/021110/2/8/1/-6/.png

http://lilypie.com/days/050629/3/0/1/-6/.png