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Homemade Infant Toys
Homemade infant toys are just as much fun for your baby as any toy you can buy at the store. Homemade toys cost less--or nothing--and are usually more environmentally friendly, because they allow you to recycle items you already have.
Be sure that any item you make for your baby is safe. Make sure there are no loose parts or sharp edges. You will have fun watching your baby learn from, and love the toys you make. You will feel creative and thrifty!
If you do want to purchase toys for an infant, you will find our best recommendations for infant toys for all seasons at on the Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Infants page.
Purchase a long dowel rod to use as a support for the mobile's crosspiece. Attach the dowel rod to the side of the crib in view of the baby. Or you can hang the mobile from a hook above your baby's crib.
Use a piece of plastic tube as the crosspiece. Tie a heavy duty string to the middle of the plastic tube. Hang the tube by tying the other end of the string to the dowel rod that is already attached to the crib. Tie smaller pieces of string to the each end of the plastic tube. Tie small objects to these strings. Tie other small objects the length of the plastic tube. Be sure that the tube maintains its balance.
You can hang brightly colored small toys from the strings or cut out shapes from colored felt. Use simple outlines from coloring books as patterns or
use the patterns here to create shapes and colors.
More Ideas for Homemade Infant Toys
Make homemade infant toys from plastic containers, tubs and bottles. Save and wash the containers from yogurt, cottage cheese and other foods. You can make a variety of toys from these. Fill a small container with marbles, or other small items that rattle. Be sure to tape the cover firmly on the container and watch baby shake and rattle!
A slightly older baby can stack the containers, fill them with sand (in the sandbox) or water (in the bathtub). Babies delight in dumping things from one container to another.
Another great homemade infant toy is a "jingle bell roller.
All you need to make it is an empty coffee can with lid and some jingle bells that you may already have among your Christmas decorations.
Put the bells inside the empty coffee can. Securely glue or tape the plastic lid onto the coffee can. Decorate the outside of the coffee can with leftover contact paper or glued-on pieces of felt or fabric. Your child will have fun shaking the jingle bell can or rolling it across the floor.
Here are a few more ideas for simple and cheap (or free) homemade infant toys:
- Crinkle Ball: Stuff the foot area of an old, clean, sock with tissue paper. Tie or sew the "ankle part" of the sock shut. Tying a knot in the upper part of the sock will give your baby a textured handle. She will love the crinkly sound as she plays with it.
- Aqua Bottles: Fill small clear plastic jars or bottles about half full with water. Add small items like clean pebbles, glittery bits of plastic, small pieces of colored foam, small balls of crumpled aluminum foil or tiny plastic animals or figures. TIGHTLY glue on the lid. Watch baby enjoy the combination of sounds and sights!
- Foot Rattles: Babies love to kick their feet! Add to the fun by stitching small rattles you already have onto a pair of baby's socks.
- Infant Blocks: Make soft blocks using foam and fabric. Wrap the fabric around a square or rectangle of foam just like you would wrap a gift. Sew the ends shut. Use different textures of cloth for added sensory fun.
- Baby Ball: In a similar manner, stitch circles of fabric together and stuff with fabric scraps to create a soft infant ball.
- Baby Books: A first book for baby can be made in a simple folded fashion. Fold a sheet of lightweight cardboard into three or four equal sections. Decorate each section with pictures cut from magazines or catalogs. Glue pictures on cardboard and cover with clear plastic.
- Baby Gym: Place a smooth dowel (something like a broom handle)securely between two chairs or hung safely in a place low enough for baby to lie under it. Attach small toys, short pieces of ribbon, plastic lids or other items that baby can touch and make move. BE SURE that there are no long strings or ribbons that baby can get tangled in.
- Photo Box: Cover a small, square box with plain paper. Glue on photos or pictures from magazines of people's faces, flowers and animals. Cover with clear plastic.
- Play Mat: Use a baby blanket you already have as a base. Sew on bright pieces of fabric or felt in different textures and shapes. Attach short ribbons to one corner and tie in a bow. You can also stich on small toys, a teething toy, a rattle or other items that will entertain you baby as he lies on the mat.
Related Links:
Making Homemade Toys
Homemade Play Dough Recipe
Homemade Edible Play Dough
Homemade Gifts in a Jar
Homemade Gifts to Make
Holiday Gift Idea
Top 10 Christmas Gifts for Infants
Family Gift Idea
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