Where have all the simple baby items gone? - Page 3

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Oliver's Mama

Then "too bad", it goes to goodwill!! My mom did that, but I think she's realized that the tons of plastic crap she's brought over here is NOT HERE ANYMORE! It just disappears... So, she stopped bringing it, and her compromise is if she buys anything noisy/obnoxious, it stays at her house. I'm an adult now and she can't dictate what's in my home. Unfortunately, ds has realized this, and now begs grandma to bring HER toys over whenever she visits. We live in a townhome too- a tiny one, so I also use that as an excuse when she gets something huge and crazy- sorry, no room, keep it at your house.

My big issue is that I get guilt ridden over giving away stuff people give me. I have to find away past that or I'm not going to be able to see the ground in my house once this baby is here.

I just remember what my room looked like as a kid... broken toy pieces everywhere, couldn't see the floor, didn't play with a tenth of it, didn't even know what some of the pieces went to, etc. I do NOT want that for my kids.

[Peace+Hope]

great discussion on this thread!

just want to join in to say that my mom and i have been having a wonderful, ongoing conversation about STUFF, and the many reasons we want to continue to make similar choices we've made for ourselves going forward w/ kids. she totally gets it, in fact it's been a great topic for us to connect on.

i worry a little about my husband's parents, but i think it's going to sink in as we talk respectfully about it with them. they have seen first hand w/ my SIL's kids, how a house can become overrun with crap, and i THINK they will understand where we are coming from. after all, they've had years to get used to us and our different ways anyway.

so, making a very concerted effort to bring them alongside us in a positive way, talking about the good things they can contribute, and getting us and them excited about those things... they live near us, so it shouldn't really be too hard. and, their house is already full of all the toys grandkids could ever possibly need when visiting!

i'm more concerned with them letting our kid(s) watch a lot of TV, but we'll cross that bridge...

i DO have at least one friend who's made the, oh, i can't wait to give you loud plastic crap statement. however, he will have to decide which he'd rather - use his money for toys we'll immediately donate, or play along

[ArtsyMomma]

Originally Posted by aylaanne

I happen to not mind some plastic, flashy toys, to be honest. DS has a LeapFrog table that he loves to play with, and he gets a real kick out of toys that have buttons he can push to get a reaction. I got him a calculator, and a toy laptop for his birthday. He also has unfinished wooden cars, a play kitchen from 1980 that doesn't need batteries, a bead rollercoaster, and giant legos.

Little babies don't need all that crap, though. I've told people not to get us ANYTHING that we don't specifically request, because we have all our stuff from DS still. I did put this bouncer on my amazon wish list because I like the low-tech toy bar. I also have one of these that I used with DS to much success. We also have a wind-up swing that we got from a tag sale or freecycle or somewhere, and a battery-operated one that creeps me out a bit. The swings and seats I think will come in handy during toddler diaper changes when DH has the kids alone. I also just got an ERGO for $80 on sale that I think DH will find handy (he has a hard time with other carriers).

Now if I can just find a bell-and-whistle free potty chair, I'll be golden.

I have a potty chair I got at IKEA for $2.50. It's so simple, and it's black to match my bathroom! It's just like this one http://www.amazon.com/BABYBJ%C3%96RN...8510434&sr=1-3

I like this one also
http://www.amazon.com/BabyBj%C3%B6rn...8510434&sr=1-1

[jsh7809]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

My husband, also a musician (though not professionally) has recently started teaching himself to play drums. We live in a town house! Luckily our neighbors don't seem to mind, and he doesn't play often or overly loudly (not that you can play a regular drum set quietly). But, yeah, we have those "teaching himself to play" noises and my DH is an adult!

I told my mom I didn't want a ton of loud flashy plastic toys and she basically told me, "too bad."

Ha ha ha! My DH was about 13 and his "learning to play" music was pretty over the top (not only have I heard recordings, but I've known him since he was 14!) - noise, chaos, teenagery yelling, obnoxiousness. I guess once you have a teenager it's a whole different ballgame anyway.

My mom has been doing the "too bad" thing with a lot of stuff, ugh. Oh well.

[jsh7809]

oh and even though we have not yet gotten any baby presents, the hand me downs are already pouring in, and I didn't realize what a very mixed bag (literally) they would be. So now I have a huge trash bag of the most hideous girly baby clothes to donate somewhere... I feel bad because I can't imagine anyone wanting them, but the mother who gave them to me obviously was happy enough to submit her daughter to them so I guess it will be the start of a beautiful friendship between me and the thrift store!

[dogretro]

Ooh, ooh, also check to see if there is a kids' re-sale shop near your house! DD got a TON of new clothes when she was born & other people gave us their old stuff, too. If you cannot return clothing or a new toy that you do not want, DO NOT remove the tags! We have a Once Upon a Child store near us & they actually pay pretty well for clothing. I also found that they bought *every* clothing item that still had tags, even if it was out of season. They can sell brand-new clothes for more, so it's better for them.

Obviously, taking stuff to the thrift store is a great way to get rid of it, too, but I save that for the stuff OUaC won't buy

[arabellalysette]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I have noticed the same thing about baby items! My DD has always gotten over stimulated easily...she doesn't like loud toys at all. She only has one battery operated toy. It's that big house toy that plays music and has a giant light switch and a door bell and things. She loves the song radio on it. Otherwise none of our toys require batteries!

The exersaucers are the worst, in my opinion. There are so many toys attached to the tray! As a baby my DD would have freaked out at not being able to pull them off. I found an exersaucer with an empty tray for $3 at Goodwill once and she loved it for short periods of time before she learned to walk.

This is the bouncy seat we got as a gift for DD, and we will get it out again for this baby.
http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-O...8148862&sr=8-2

You can turn the bubbles on in the little aquarium, or the music on, or the vibrating on the seat. Or you can just not put the toy bar on the chair, the chair still functions fine without it! Without the toy bar it's just a plain bouncy seat.

I had this one and loved it.It was not too loud and my DD loved it.We got the other FP bouncwer witht he feet on it that made noise if baby kickied the feet.That oo was not too loud.

I am not opposed to battery toys at all.But the exersaucers man they have so many dang things on them that I am afraid the babies would get too over whelmed.So I took some off the tray.

As far as the swing as long as it had a good swing to it and some light and music I was happy with it.My kids sleep better when there is noise such as music or the fan going.Im the same way.I cannot sleep without a small fan going.
I know when I go to the hospital I am going to haev to ask if they have one if not then I will havew to find a small fan to bring with me.

[sprouthead]

Originally Posted by aylaanne

Now if I can just find a bell-and-whistle free potty chair, I'll be golden.

What, you don't want one that can potty train your child by itself?? (sarcasm..)

Originally Posted by ivymae

We make our preferences clear to those who ask, but most people either do not ask, do not understand, or will buy whatever they want to regardless.

Does anyone else feel like other people think their doing us favors or something by buying these overstimulating toys and gadgets for our kids? like our children are deprived or going to grow up stupid if they don't learn at a very early age that pressing buttons makes things light up and make obnoxious noises.. because i'm convinced that that is *all* children learn from the vast majority of these "educational" toys

[dogretro]

Originally Posted by sprouthead

Does anyone else feel like other people think their doing us favors or something by buying these overstimulating toys and gadgets for our kids? like our children are deprived or going to grow up stupid if they don't learn at a very early age that pressing buttons makes things light up and make obnoxious noises.. because i'm convinced that that is *all* children learn from the vast majority of these "educational" toys

My aunt, who I do love dearly and get along with v well, has gotten nothing but musical flashy toys for her granddaughter. The baby and her mother do still live w/ my aunt & uncle, so they have to listen to the toys all day, lol. Anyway, she once said to my mom, "Doesn't dogretro want any electronic toys for dd?" and my mom said, "Dogretro prefers that dd make the music herself." So, yeah, I guess my aunt did feel that dd was being "deprived", but she has still, thankfully, always asked what to get for dd and not gotten annoying toys.

[Tizzy]

DDC crashing
We have a FP Aquarium bouncy seat thing, it's my one concession to batteries. DS1 wasn't nearly as "into" the lights and sounds and vibration as DS2. With him, we'd set him in the seat mostly when we were eating meals and use our foot to gently bounce him. Or it was a great place to put him (shhhhh!) up on the table out of reach of our obnoxious dog.

Then with DS2, well he LOVED the vibration. I could set him in the seat, he'd pass out for a nap outside and I would be able to leave him to sleep outside the door (we live in the middle of nowhere) while DS1 and I went inside to make supper. He also found the lights and sounds to be entertaining sometimes, other times we'd just take the bar off and voila! It's just a regular old bouncy seat.

Most things you can remove batteries and all the toys to make them much less stimulating. Especially swings - if you want your child to relax, they definitely won't want all these bright patterned toys 6" from their face!