87

No joke. This is an estimate of the number of pieces that came with the first round of birthday / Christmas toys. Accordingly, it is also the number of pieces of plastic that are strewn across our floor every single day.

No one tells you that. When you have a baby, you think your house fills up with baby gear quickly. Swing, pack and play, bouncy seat, exersaucer ... the list goes on. The toys; however, are kept to a minimum. They are containable. They come in one piece.

I actually found a "lull" in the baby-takeover of our house around 6-9 months ... our Girl wasn't old enough to strew things about, but she had outgrown a lot of the big gear. Nice.

At 12 months, though, an explosion!

Mind you, these toys are well-loved and played with every day. (Multiple times a day). I just wish we could fast forward to the part where she picks up all of the pieces (with regularity).

I have always bought books for gifts - good on so many levels. I recognize now, though, that one of the best reasons is because they are flat and come in one piece! (A basket of books, though, is just as easy to spread across the floor. At times, part of our living room looks as if the floor was tiled with books).

So ... in no particular order ... these are the most popular toys at our house with a 1-year-old.
Buyer beware! :)

 

Melissa and Doug Bird House Shape Sorter

Put & Peek Doghouse by Manhattan Toy

*This has been a favorite for a LONG time - was shared by family. She would shake and chew on the dogs long before she could put them in and out of the house.

Alex Jr. First Snaps Building Toy

*This was the sleeper hit of the Santa gifts. It may be because she sucks on them as they were pacifiers, but she loves these little things. And, she spontaneously emptied the bucket, spread them all over the room, and then picked them all up. There is hope!

Educo Shake'n Match Shape Sorter

Rub a Dub Big Scoop by Alex

These are extra-popular for chewing on and are now an outside-the-bath toy.

Rub a Dub Dirty Dogs by Alex

Our Girl is obsessed with dogs. These are excellent for chewing and squirting water in the tub!

Discovery Toys Measure Up! Cups

LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set
* Girly loves this, but I have a love-hate relationship with the singing farmer.

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Counting Friends Phone
(similar)

Hasbro Playskool Lullaby Gloworm
(similar)

I wasn't sure if our Girl would want a "baby" yet, but she does hug and love on this one. And stomp its belly to play music.

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn My Pretty Learning Purse

We've had this one for a long time, but it is still a favorite.









There you have it. We'll see how long these remain favorites.

Also, our Parents as Teachers gal came on Friday for our 14 month visit. She said that the amount of block play that toddlers participate in is directly correlated with a child's success in middle school and high school. (Something about math and science and the words parents use to describe the things you build with blocks - sounds good to me. ) We do have some bigger soft blocks, but no small wooden blocks ... seems those are in order, too.

So, what's that? 24 more pieces or something?

Awesome.