Easy to make toys for 1 yr old?

[treehugginhippie]

I have a friend who's baby is turning 1. I'd love to make something for him (and involve my 5 yr old dd too and make more handmade gifts anyways). While I'd love to spend hours and hours making something...I need something easy or it won't get done, lol! I can sew. I thought about making bean bags?

What suggestions or links do you have?

[rabbithorns]

when my kids were small i made all their toys. i used various sized tin cans with duct tape around the sharp top edges as nesting toys. i also made simple dolls waldorf-style. i made cloth balls and one of their favorites which we could take anywhere was a cloth balloon which was colorful twill sewn in wedges (as if you cut an orange up) with an unsewn end. you slide a balloon into it, blow up the balloon, tie it off, and it's a light ball safe for indoor play and safe from popping in baby's mouth (choking hazard).

[ElsieLC]

I had a similar question when DD was 1 (nearly a year ago). Check out this thread:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ferrerid=98452. Everything on the list was quick and easy to make, plus there are links to blogs with additional ideas.

The poker chips (or metal orange juice concentrate lids) in the plastic coffee can was a real favorite around here.

[emelsea]

How about dying some playsilks with Kool-Aid? My son loves doing that.

[tug]

i would also check out the toys section of etsy.com. i often get ideas from seeing what other people make.