Crib Toys

Is the summer heat disrupting your baby's sleep cycle? Tossing, turning, and crying is fun and relaxing for no one, so do your family a BIG favor, and bring some calm to the crib with the Cloud B Sleep Sheep. With four soothing sounds - Mother's Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Surf, and Whale Songs, baby will feel  comfortable, night after night. The Sleep Sheep is a low maintenance companion, fastening to the outside of baby's crib and shutting down after 23 minutes. No counting necessary. MSRP: $28.00Smarter Price: $19.99 ... more

When we set up our baby's crib, we were extra cautious. We bought the firmest mattress we could find (tested in store by my husband) so she couldn't suffocate in any fluffiness. We got the flattest mattress pad under her sheets so she wouldn't get her face buried in any poofiness. We didn't put any blankets in, pillows down, or stuffed animals around. We always put her to sleep on her back. Every time she wiggled, we jumped up to make sure her little nose was clear and that she could breathe with ease.New parents....what can I say?Once she learned how to roll over, we started tucking her under a warm blanket. Then we added some plush toys to keep her entertained when she would wake up so she could play in her crib. Now I'm looking over some other fun crib toys to see what sorts of things she might enjoy for those times that she's ready to be awake and play in her crib.I wish I known about this Mamma Lullaby Night Light Soother when our brave bumpkin was learning to sleep through the night. It would have been attached to her crib-side instantly.  The first thing that caught my attention is that it can record the parent's voice, so when it hears the baby cry, it can offer their favorite soothing sound: mom and dad. It has lots of little things that baby's like soft lights and all kinds of gizmo's for a growing baby to fiddle with. The reviews on it are good, and at less than $33, it looks like something that could make being a tiny, growing, sleeping baby easier.Kids love to pull on things that stretch. (My generation will remember Stretch Armstrong, which my brother quickly learned just how far he really could stretch...) Lamaze by Learning Curve must have some great kid-testers, because they always come out with toys that kids really love. Stretch the Giraffe is no exception. With not only all of the bright colors and fun noises (crinkles and squeeks), it is stretchable and chewable. There are lots of textures, rings, and knots for little fingers to explore. This toy looks like it won't stay in the crib long, as I'm sure my curious kiddo will want to take it with her everywhere she goes. At around only $10, I may get one for her crib and one to travel!The Whoozit is back: this time with lights and music!  I am an admitted fan of the original Whoozit (which I see a tiny version of on the bottom!). Now a Whoozit with lights and music! Since our girl is at such an impressionable age, anything that encourages her to develop skills, like pull on this to get this response or do this for this reaction, gets my attention. Of course, just the silly appearance of the Whoozit line gets attention, but this is a Whoozit plus. Along with the musical fun, and around $20 (the same price as the original Whoozit), this fun toy is going into the crib for sure.This Rhymes-Go-Round Musical Mirror by Fisher-Price grows with the Tiny Tot. With lots of activities for each stage of development, this toy is great for a new baby. I think our baby may be past the stages where she can get the most use out of this, but I think it will make a great gift for some friends who are new parents. It has mirrors and lights. Our baby looooooves the mirror. (As a side note, I read recently that a baby recognizes their own image in a mirror when a toy is held up behind them and they turn from the mirror to get the toy! Clever!) This toy has plenty for a baby to do, from when they stare at it in the crib they see the black and white patterns and as they grow they can interact with the handle-pulls and reflections. For $20, this will be a great gift.I think the next thing I will look up will be Activity Toys to give hr plenty to do when she is outside of her wood-slatted walls. Of course, with a couple of new toys, she may prefer to stay and play just a little bit longer!If you want to learn more about good toys for child development, check out this guide.Image Source: babyearth.com, amazon.com, buy.com ... more