what to stuff little "bean" bags with

[notAClue]

I have all these little maybe 3inch square pieces of fabric (left over from a quilt) and I want to sew two together and stuff them with different things to make different sounds and textures. but what are some safe things to stuff them with. I thought of rice or beans but they will most likely be drooled on, so I don't think that would work.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[LaughingHyena]

I've used plastic pellets for most of the "beanbags" I've made, I didn't want to worry about them getting wet.

If I were making them for a very young child I think I'd sew the filling into a pouch then put that inside the beanbag. It should be pretty hard for them to chew through and get at the filling that way. Alternatively put some beans/rice/sand/bell into a plastic container then stuffing the rest of the bag with polyfill. I used to use film cansisters but plastic easter eggs would work.

Well washed chip packets make for nice crinkly toys

[notAClue]

those are good ideas. I have one with a crinkly bag and one with a small container of beads, but I haven't been able to come up with much else.

so... I'm still pregnant and I don't think my mind is working properly on this. I keep coming up with "great" ideas, and then realizing that broken glass is NOT a good toy for babies.

so other than "what the Hell is wrong with you!?!?" Any other suggestions?

[zh97]

One thing I used once was pebble type stones found in Michaels that are normally put in clear vases. Not the glass ones, but the ones that look more like rocks. This made for a very heavy bean bag and my kids loved them for their weight. How about buckwheat hulls if you can get a hold of some? FWIW I have been experimenting with washing a waldorf type doll filled with wool and millet. I just put the whole thing through the washing machine and dried it out in the (105 degree) sun for a day. I took the doll apart and the millet was completely dry and wool barely felted. So millet might be an option and it has a nice texture. Pony beads maybe?

Another fun thing to do, although your bean bags may be a little small, is leave an opening just large enough to put a unblown balloon in. When you blow the balloon up, it will conform to the shape. Once the knot is tucked in, it is fun to throw around and you don't have to worry about the balloon popping.

[littlemizflava]

i made bean bags with beans. as for sounds i have done toys filled with polyfill and had the film tube filled with beans, rice, a small wodden bobbin i glued these so they will stay one and be water proof. i would place them in the tube and then put in toy and shake to see how it sounds since it will be softer due to the polyfill. also you could sew a bell on the fabric on the inside. the plastic for crincle works well.
also for that size your can make small cubes.