Thursday, March 29, 2018

Baby #3's Crazy Birth Story!


            Hey folks! Baby #3 has FINALLY arrived! If you're more of a Cliff's notes type person...

-Baby #3 is a GIRL!
-Her name is Gillian Elise
-She arrived at 11:03am on Sunday, March 4th
-She weighed a whopping 10lbs even and was 20.5 inches long

             If you're really into reading birth stories like I am, continue on!

             Baby #3 has thrown us for so many loops and her birth was no different! Saturday night, while trying to go to sleep, I laid in bed with my mind racing. (That's the main reason I have such a hard time falling asleep and taking naps. It has a nasty habit of not wanting to shut up!) I was 40+3 weeks that day, the same length of time I had been pregnant with my last baby, Ripley, before she arrived.
             Other than just being irritated that this baby was taking longer to cook, I started really worrying about baby coming on his/her own. She was already measuring large at my 39 week growth scan. I'd felt her hiccuping for weeks. I knew her lungs were developed. What if there was something causing her to not drop or come on her own? And so on and so forth it went. Needless to say, I got overwhelmed and ended up having a cryfest like I did the day before I had Ripley. I kept my poor husband up and he stayed up with me for awhile and watched a movie.
             I eventually went back to sleep at midnight something or other. As per usual, I woke up around 4:30 to use the bathroom. Right before 5, I woke up to a strange stabbing-type feeling low in my uterus followed by what first felt like my bladder leaking...Then I rolled over to get up and check in the bathroom and more gushed out. I said “Oh no” out loud and waddled my way to the bathroom. Ha ha


             I was trying not to panic as I'd never had my water break on its own. My previous two labors went pretty fast and even more so once my water was broken. It takes us about an hour, give or take depending on traffic, to get to our hospital, so that's the main reason I was trying not to freak out. I did NOT want to have a baby in the car!
             Our bathroom is right next to our bedroom, so I kept calling for my husband until he woke up. Ha ha We started gathering the rest of what we needed to take with us and he called our in-laws to come over and watch the kids. We left around 6am and arrived at the hospital just before 7. I was leaking so much water it just completely soaked through my underwear and pad as I tried to use the restroom again before they got me checked in at triage, so that was, um, pleasant.
             If you've never had a baby, sitting in triage is the worst. Sitting and waiting around in that bed is so uncomfortable! I was glad that they didn't check me yet, though.
             We probably got to my room around 8. I absolutely loved the first nurse I had while I was in labor. She was great. Not surprisingly, my contractions were growing stronger pretty quickly. I stood and walked and leaned around the room as we finished going through more b.s. questions. After awhile, the contractions were getting bad enough that I made John put pressure and rub the crap out of my lower back, which made a world of difference!
             It wasn't long before they got bad enough that I decided to try sitting up in bed. My deep breaths started turning into moans because it made me feel a little better. However, the contractions quickly escalated to where I wasn't getting a break between them AT ALL. When the nurse had checked me earlier she said I was probably around 6-7cm dilated. I felt like baby still wasn't dropping despite having no break between contractions and didn't figure I was going to be giving birth any time soon, so I decided to get the epidural. I had planned on having a natural VBAC like my last baby, of course, but I just couldn't handle not having a break at all. It was intense!


             So I got the epidural and was feeling MUCH better! When they let John back in the room, I told him I was no longer a feral animal. Ha ha The baby's heart rate had been dropping a little during contractions beforehand, but not alarmingly so. I asked the nurse if they were getting any better now that the epidural had set in. She said they were about the same, but I swear it wasn't 5 minutes later shit started hitting the fan. No one was really telling me what was going on until the doctor came in, which the nurse did apologize for later and explained that they just all get “stuck in the moment” and forget to let the patient know what's going on sometimes, which is understandable, but still scary when you're the patient!
             Anyways, she started trying to move the baby's heart rate monitor around. Then she called in more nurses to help flip me from side to side to see if that would help. The doctor came in a short time later and evidently the baby's heart rate was REALLY dropping now and he mentioned they may have to do a c-section. They kept trying things for a few more minutes to see if that would help it level out, but nothing was working, so they started whisking me back to the OR.
             On top of all that, I started panicking, my blood pressure was dropping, and epidurals just make me nauseous in general, so I ended up puking on myself on the way back to and in the operating room. I tried to get it in the bag, but it's kind of difficult to turn your head when all that is going on and you're laying on your back. :/
             Luckily, baby's heart rate stabilized enough once we got to the OR that things calmed down a bit. They later referred to it as an “urgent c-section” rather than an emergency one. Everyone was still working quickly, but it didn't feel quite as scary as before. 


             So they begin the surgery and at one point I hear something about a cheek laceration. I'm thinking, “What? Cheek laceration? Like butt cheek? Facial cheek? What in the hell is going on down there?” Then, once they go to get her out, we find out the reason her heart rate was dropping: Not only was her cord wrapped around her neck, it was also wrapped around her stomach, one of her legs, a few more places I don't remember, AND, to top it all off, it had a KNOT in it. Crazy kid was lucky to be alive! She was so tangled up in it, I guess they had a hard time getting her out and untangled.
             As for the cheek laceration, they somehow managed to cut her cheek when they were cutting into me because of the way she was facing. They said she was facing sideways and almost “sunnyside up”. At the time (and still, don't get me wrong) I was just happy to have a healthy baby. In hindsight, though, I still wonder how the hell they could manage that. I hate to think of worse spots they could have cut her on the face! Even today at our appointment to get her stitches out, the pediatrician seemed surprised something like that could happen.
             So yah! I feel like I've ran the gambit of births now! Ha ha From induction leading to c-section with my first, natural VBAC with my second, and water breaking on my own leading to an almost emergency c-section with my third!
             In case you are wondering...No, we weren't disappointed to not have a boy. We are still definitely DONE having babies! I will say we were surprised...And I may have cried a little. ;) I think it was more of a “What the hell am I going to do with THREE girls” cry, though. Ha ha We are just happy she's here finally and made it safely! :)
This Is How We Roll Thursday Party
ethannevelyn.com

Monday, March 26, 2018

Sunshine Blogger Award (A "Getting to Know You" Post)


            Hey folks! I was recently nominated by Su from Ethan & Evelyn for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Basically, it's just a fun way to get to know your favorite bloggers a little better on a personal level!


Q1. Your blog’s name – why have you given this name to your blog?
I actually started out as Getting Green With Baby my first year of blogging. I talked a lot about cloth diapering, making your own bath and household items, etc. It wasn't that I became disinterested in those things, but I wanted a blog title to encompass ALL the things I like sharing...Which is a lot...Hence Mixed Bag Mama. ;)

Q2. When did you start blogging?
January of 2013! :O

Q3. What prompted you to start a blog?
I was still staying home after I had my first daughter and needed a creative outlet of some sort. I enjoyed entering giveaways on other people's blogs at the time, so I figured, why not start my own!

Q4. Name one favourite blogger that you are a big fan of right now.
I have to admit that I do not read other blogs as often as I used to or would like, but lately I have really enjoyed reading Our Unschooling Journey Through Life.

Q5. Why is she/ he/ they are your favourite blogger at this moment in time?
It's very inspiring and entertaining to read as we are starting out with homeschooling...And she has three kids too! They do lots of hands-on things, don't really plan too much, and follow their own interests a lot, which I love!

Q6. What one place on earth would you go if you received an invitation to go traveling without money being the limit? & Why?
That's a really tough one, but I would probably choose the U.K. Mostly so I could visit my friend who lives in England and go on an epic road/camping trip with her and her fiancee!

Q7. What is your one favourite cheer up food when you are feeling down in the dumps?
Hmm...Pasta or brownies...Or both. :D

Q8. What’s your one favourite thing to do with your family?
Visiting state parks/going camping.

Q9. What was your dream job when you were young?
I remember when I was like 6 I wanted to be a doctor. (What kid doesn't at some point, right?)

Q10. What is your dream job now?
Well, if I knew that, I probably wouldn't have quit college because I couldn't make up my mind! Lol In all seriousness, though, working with the elderly in some way would be my dream job. I'm thinking once the kids are out of the house, I would like to do non-medical in-home care. I think it would also be fun to be a realtor. I love seeing inside other houses!

Q11. If you could give back to the world – what would that one thing be?
I would like to volunteer at a nursing home. Again, one of these days when the kids are out of the house or older and more self-reliant. ;)

I don't feel like I follow enough other bloggers to nominate anyone, but if you happen to have a blog and come across this post and would like to participate, here are the “rules” below!

Once nominated, if you choose to accept, write a post where you:
  • Thank the person who nominated you for the Sunshine Award and link back to their blog
  • Answer the questions set by the person who nominated you
  • Nominate other bloggers and give them 11 questions to answer
  • Notify your nominees through social media or commenting on their blog
  • List the “rules” and display a Sunshine Award logo in your post


Questions:
*Why did you start blogging?
*Tell us about your family: How many kids? Are you married? Etc.
*What is your favorite past-time?
*If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
*What is your favorite place to vacation or favorite thing to do for vacation?
*Books: Good ole physical copy you can actually hold or digital?
*What is your favorite movie?
*If you have children, how did you come up with their names?
*What is your favorite season and why?
*Pop or soda?
*Rent or own?
This Is How We Roll Thursday Party
ethannevelyn

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Kids Powpro Digital Video Camera Giveaway



Sponsored By: Top9Rated

Hosted By: Love, Mrs. Mommy


The prize is a Kids Digital Video Camera with the ability to record video and take images!

Huge, old digital cameras are a thing of the past. The PowPro is designed especially for kids, with it’s rough and ready design, it can withstand the heavy hand of any child. Enable your kids to create a new chapter of their lives by recording vacations or events from their eyes. Download the video onto your computer for amusement in 10 years time!

Winner Will Receive:

Powpro Pro DVC-7CAM Kids Digital Video Camera with Ergonomic Design! ($36.99 RV)

 

Additional Digital Video Camera Information:
Powpro kids digital camera comes with three replaceable batteries, and it will automatically turn off without any operation to preserve battery life. Comes with built-in photo frames, an ergonomic design (making it easy to carry and portable to use), and can support an external SD card up 32G (not included). Intended for ages 3 to 9 years. 
Open To US & Canada entries and must be 18+ to enter
Giveaway Dates ~ 3/22 9:00 AM EST through 4/14 11:59PM EST
Disclosure: Love, Mrs. Mommy and all participating bloggers are not held responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Facebook or any other social media site. The winner will be randomly drawn by Giveaway Tools and will be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to reply before a replacement winner will be drawn. If you would like to participate in an event like this please contact LoveMrsMommy (at) gmail (dot) com.

Our Favorite Books to Teach Kids About Kindness (Guest Post)


"You never know what light you might spark in others just through your kindness and your example" Jennifer Rockwood.

As a parent of 5 children and founder of a program that teaches kids about giving to others through crafting, one of my parenting/teaching goals is to help build a foundation for kids to be kind, respectful, and show compassion for others. Like other things you want to teach your children, it takes time, patience, and understanding. Books have become so important because they help explain the concepts and also ignite our kids desires to take action. Through the years of running our program, we have found a great collection of books that teach children about being kind, showing compassion and being empathetic. These books have been excellent in starting the conversation about why it is essential to be kind. Here is a list of some of our favorite books.


A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead, is a story about Amos, a zookeeper who spends his day caring for the animals at the zoo. However, when he gets sick, he gets a pleasant surprise and is visited by his zoo friends. This book is a warm and sweet story that shows kindness comes in all different shapes and forms.
Age Range 2-6


Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud and David Messing
A great book that helps children understand the effects of being kind to one another. Everyone has a bucket. Positive affirmations and actions fill the bucket. However, negative behavior and words can empty the bucket. Everyone has the opportunity to be a bucket filler and bucket receiver. Using this concept provides an excellent opportunity for children to understand how their kind and thoughtful actions (bucket filler) makes other people feel (bucket receiver).
Ages 4-9


How Kind!
by Mary Murphy is a wonderful book for young children to help understand the impact of being kind. It starts with Hen giving Pig a present. Pig is touched by Hen's actions that Pig decides to continue the kind act. In this story, young children can see how one kind act can lead to another and another and eventually returned back to the Hen who started it all!
Ages 3-5


Miles of Smiles by Karen Kaufman Orloff and Luciano Lozano
How far can a smile travel? This book shares the journey of a smile that begins with a baby smiling at her mother. The mother then passes on the smile to someone else, and it continues a chain reaction, brightening each person's day that receives the smile.
Ages 3-7


What Does it Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio is a wonderfully illustrated book that shows what it means to be kind. From complimenting someone to forgiving someone who has hurt you, this book gives several examples that children can understand about acts of kindness. The last page best summarizes this book "And spread the word - if we can all be kind to each other, our world will be more loving, caring, and harmonious.
Ages 4-8


The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen and Greenstein Elaine is a sweet intergenerational story about an elderly woman, Sara, who notices a little boy at a bus stop who doesn't have mittens. One night, she knits a pair of mittens and hangs them on a tree for the little boy to find. It soon becomes a game where children are finding mittens on this tree and Sara knitting a new pair of mittens each evening.
Ages 3-6


If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson is a simple and beautifully illustrated book that shows children the benefits of being kind. The story begins with a rabbit and mouse planting vegetable seeds. Then birds appear, and the question is asked ~ "what happens if you plant a seed of selfishness?". However, how does the situation change if you plant a seed of kindness? Kadir Nelson does a beautiful job differentiating the two scenarios so children can see the impact of being kind.


Sitinee Sheffert is a wife, mom of five, and a social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Giving Artfully Kids, a curriculum teaching children the importance of kindness and giving through crafting and Giving Artfully, a platform connecting crafters and organizations needing handcrafted items.

ethannevelyn.com

Monday, March 19, 2018

Babywearing and Its Benefits (Guest Post)

Babies … to wear or not to wear? I remember seeing old pictures in magazines or books as a child of either European, African, and indigenous women carrying their babies in large cloths worn like a sling.  I never saw it in real life though. I guess somehow it became unpopular in America.  I often wondered why my grandmother who had many children didn’t practice that nor instill it in any of her daughters.  I don’t know about your family, but in my mom’s family baby wearing wasn’t done by The Silent Generation, nor did The Baby Boomers, nope, not even The Gen Xers! What gives?  I’m going to go ahead and proudly say that we Xennials, you know, the ones born between 1977-1983 gave the baby wearing a comeback, a revival of some sort.  Perhaps we all read Dr. Sears’ books about attachment parenting & its benefits, or perhaps we did it out of convenience as busy moms.  Either way, I’m proud to say, I’m a baby wearer!

I still remember the first time my grandmother saw me wearing my first son in my Moby Wrap, she said “I hope you’re not wearing him too long you’re going to spoil him!”  I don’t know how many times I heard that from other people.  My mom on the other hand thought it would hurt my back. I had to look up all the benefits to prove to grandma that there were many good reasons to do so.  It gives you a closer bond, it supports breast feeding, they help avoid little misshaped heads, and babies are more able to regulate their hear rate & breathing; which are the 2 major worries when you have preemies.  I’ve had 2!

There’s also the convenience of being able to do other things while “holding” your baby.  For me they came in handy because at one point I had 3 boys under 3 years of age! Sounds crazy, I know but my 1st two were born 13 months apart, so I needed my Moby Wrap in front for the newborn AND my Ergo Baby Carrier on the back for my 1 year old toddler.  Of course on weekend outings my hubs would wear one kid & I would wear the other.  We’ve tried every carrier you can think of.  I loved my Moby for my infants, then the Ergo for my 1st two.  Ergo was perfect because it put my babies in an upright sitting type of position around me.  They had some cool designs also, but since we spend a lot of time either at Disneyland, Legoland, or San Diego Zoo & Safari Park, more padding on the straps would have been perfect.

For the 3rd & 4th (last) babies I discovered the Tula Baby Carrier. Not only did I love the fact that the founder was a momma from Poland, the prints are adorable & fashionable.  The comfort for both baby & mom is just superb.  My hubs had to stop my Tula collecting, but even he has loved wearing our babies even more with these comfortable carriers.  We no longer had to trade off on the carrying every so often. I actually went hours carrying our daughter & didn’t feel it on my back nor shoulders. The fabrics used are softer, easier to fold & carry, more breathable, I can’t say enough!
Did you/do you babywear? What is your favorite carrier? 
 About the Author
Hi there! I’m Jewels! Just a small town California girl. I have a Master's in Biomedical Engineering and am a wife to my blue-eyed hunk from the same small town. I am also a homeschooling momma of 4. My day consists of being everything I am needed to be … teacher, nurse, referee, caregiver, chef (not so extraordinaire), chauffer, and so on. So please, join me on this roller coaster some people call crazy, that I call Beautiful Chaos.
ethannevelyn.com

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Bundle of Joy Giveaway

Sponsored By: Stroller SpotterRonicaLucky Baby WorldCoconut Essentials, Handpainting - Fine Art PrintsLettering On The CheapAmara, Lil' Johns, and Drawing Board Shop

Hosted By: Love, Mrs. Mommy

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive: 

$350 worth of goodies from 9 Sponsors! 

** Prize List Includes:**

Stroller Spotter

$25 Gift Certificate to Stroller Spotter! Stroller Spotter is an 18" illuminated antenna for strollers that allows parents to find theirs quickly in a crowd, as well as display a favorite topper. $25.00 RV!

Ronica

Lucky Baby World

Sukkiri Baby Ring Sling! This mesh ring sling is light, breathable, adjustable and one-size-fits-all! $35.99 RV!

Coconut Essentials

Handpainting - Fine Art Prints

Winner's choice of any four, 8x10 prints! Pick out a set of 4 prints, or mix and match! $54 RV!
  

Lettering On The Cheap

$50 Gift Certificate to LetteringOnTheCheap.com! Design lettering or pictures for the walls of your baby's nursery. Check out Love, Mrs. Mommy's contributing writer's review of Lettering On The Cheap right here! $50.00 RV!

Amara

$25 Gift Certificate to purchase yummy, organic baby food for your little sweetie! $25 RV!

Lil' Johns

Winner's choice of size and style (Lil' Original or On The Go Camo) Lil' Johns! Great way to keep your baby warm during the colder months of the year! Check out Love, Mrs. Mommy's video review here! Up to a $29.95 RV!

Drawing Board Shop

Receive this 3 card set of childhood firsts + 1 additional teddy bear note card from the Drawing Board Shop! All hand-painted cards! $21 RV!

Open To US and must be 18+ to enter
Giveaway Dates ~ 3/15 9:00 AM EST through 4/15 11:59PM EST
Disclosure: Love, Mrs. Mommy and all participating bloggers are not held responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. This giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Facebook or any other social media site. The winner will be randomly drawn by Giveaway Tools and will be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to reply before a replacement winner will be drawn. If you would like to participate in an event like this please contact LoveMrsMommy (at) gmail (dot) com.

Importance of a Nighttime Routine for Children (Guest Post)

             Hey folks! Last week we had a guest post on ways to make transitioning a child from a crib to a toddler bed easier. This week I have another bedtime-related post: The importance of a bedtime routine for children and tips on making it less stressful and more pleasant for everyone!


            No matter how tired they might be, children seem to never want to go to bed. As parents, we're sure you've heard every possible excuse as to why they should get to stay up just that little bit later, but with an efficient bedtime routine putting your child to bed will no longer feel like a battle every single night.
            Childhood is the most important time in a person's life for mental and physical development, and ensuring your child gets enough rest at night is vital for their health (both short and long term). Children need more sleep than adults, and the younger they are the more they will require.
            Introducing a bedtime routine means a sense of structure will be added to your evenings, and parents will find they have much more control over how many hours of sleep their child will receive.
            Well-rested children are also known to function much more efficiently, and sleep deprivation can have damaging effects. Just as adults often find it hard to concentrate after a bad night's sleep, children will struggle too.

Instilling good behaviour

Bedtime routines are a great way to improve your bond with your child, teaching respect and trust at an early age. This basic form of self-discipline can do wonders in later life, and it's a ritual that can continue long into their teens.

If your children are irritable or hyperactive, they may be showing signs of sleep deprivation. A strict bedtime routine may be the key to preventing this bad behaviour.

With enough rest, it's more likely that your child will wake up happy and refreshed. This means you'll be left facing an alert and (hopefully) cheery child in the morning, rather than a grumpy kid who probably wishes they'd gone to bed a lot earlier (even though they'll never admit it!)

Set a time, and stick to it

Choose an appropriate bedtime for your child, and don't stray from it. This creates a solid foundation for the rest of the routine, and once your child learns that you're unlikely to budge on their bedtime, their pleas for 'five more minutes' will begin to decrease.

As we've mentioned, a bedtime routine ensures your child gets enough sleep every night. Make sure you send them to bed early enough - once children become overtired the stress hormone (cortisol) is released into the body, causing restlessness and making it difficult for them to sleep.

Bathroom basics

After dinner, begin settling your child down for the night. While bath time can be great fun, try to keep the splashing and squealing to a minimum. Keep the water warm, try adding a soothing, child-friendly bubble bath and make sure their towel and pyjamas are nice and toasty.

Follow up by asking your child to take two more steps: wash their face and brush their teeth. Each step will quickly become a signal that will subconsciously remind your child that it's almost time for sleep.

Provide a warning

If you choose not to send your child straight to bed after their bath, don't forget to give them a bedtime warning. This can be 30, 20 or even 10 minutes before it's time for your child to go to sleep - whatever you think works best.

Giving them notice helps to instill the routine and lets your child know you haven't forgotten that bedtime is looming!

Time to wind down

Whether you're in the lounge or the bedroom, dim the lights and silence any loud noises - replace the TV with relaxing music and speak quietly. Over-stimulation can prevent children from feeling tired and make sleeping difficult.

Say no to technology

Depending on their age, you might be finding it difficult to tear your kids away from their tech too. Put boundaries into place, and make sure your children know when it's time to put their tablet or phone away. Give them a separate warning for this, and repeat every night.

Make things comfortable

Help your child feel at ease, and comfort them with a bedtime story or a lullaby. If they have a favourite toy, or some other kind of security blanket, keep this on hand too.
Most importantly, never forget that repetition is key. Carry out your bedtime routine in the same order, at the same time, every evening!


Be sure to check out Maria's blog at Life of Mum and follow her parenting adventures on Instagram.

This Is How We Roll Thursday Party
ethannevelyn.com

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Feel the Fun Texture Game Giveaway

Welcome to the Feel The Fun Texture Game Scarves

1 winner

This giveaway is part of our Spring and Easter Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.
This contest is hosted by the Social Media Gurus Network!
Host that put together this giveaway is Michigan Saving and More
Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide giveaways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This giveaway's Sponsor is:
 

Texture Game

$39.00 RV
More information HERE.

~~~~~~

THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site.You are not eligible if you have won a prize from the sponsor in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 4/1/18. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them!

Enter below and Good Luck!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Developmental Toy Suggestions from Birth to Age 12! (Guest Post)

             Hey folks! I have an excellent guest post to share with you today! If you're like me, while you let your kids have "just for fun" toys as well, you try to focus on getting them items that will be both fun AND developmentally helpful and educational. Rajalakshmi from One Stop Destination blog has an extensive list of great toys to choose from for all ages!
I was clearing the children's toy cupboard yesterday evening. It was like going down the memory lane. Most of the toys had been bought since the time my elder child was born (she is now about to turn eight!). And yes, these are coming in handy for my younger one as well (though further additions have definitely been made!).

That's when I realized toys have had a big role to play in enhancing developments in my children. I had learned as a student of Psychology that play is one of the finest approach with regards to assured development in children. But sometimes, parents do end up either giving too little toys or going overboard. 

So, here are my general guidelines, that I keep in mind, while buying age specific toys for my kids. I have included the general abilities you can notice in that particular age as well as their appropriate toys. Of course, it goes without saying that you need not buy all specified toys. You can choose according to your budget and most important, your child's likes and dislikes.

BIRTH TO 6 MONTHS

Abilities
1. Visual focus develops and infant follows objects with eyes.
2. Learns to turn to see where sounds come from.
3. Tries to grasp objects.
4. Discovers feet by bringing feet to mouth.
5. Begins to sit with support.
6. Rolls, rocks and loves to be bounced.
7. Begins to recognize familiar people and objects.
8. Imitates simple movements.
9. Begins to smile at faces.
10. Listens to voices and may imitate sounds.

Appropriate Toys

1. Hanging toys or mobiles

2. Soft Blocks
3. Simple Rattles
4. Light Cloth toys that can be squeezed.
5. Plastic disks, keys on ring
6. Gym Mat
7. Interlocking Plastic rings
8. Clutch balls
9. Texture balls
10. Squeeze balls
11. Soft dolls, rag dolls
12. Soft stuffed toys animals
13. Grab-on soft toys
14. Musical box 
15. Soft hand held puppets
16. Adult operated music and songs
17. Story-telling or reading out story books by adults.

7 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS

Abilities
1. Begins to sit alone.
2. Begins to creep and crawl.
3. Begins to pull, walk holding furniture and walk alone.
4. Interested in moving about.
5. Develops thumb-finger grasp and begins to hold things with one hand.
6. Wants to bang, insert, poke, twist, squeeze, drop, shake, bite, throw, open/ shut, push/ pull, empty/ fill and drag along objects.
7. Enjoys bath play- kicking and splashing.
8. Interested in appearing and disappearing people.
9. Begins interest in picture books.
10. May fear strangers.
11. Babbles and plays with sounds.

Appropriate Toys

1. Push and Pull toys

2. Soft blocks
3. Rubber Blocks
4. Rounded wooden blocks
5. Brightly coloured 2-3 pieces puzzle
6. Light sturdy cloth toys
7. Squeeze squeak toys
8. Activity boxes and cubes
9. Pop up boxes
10. Containers with objects to fill and empty
11. Transparent balls
12. Chime balls
13. Action balls
14. Stacking rings
15. Nesting cups
16. Floating toys 
17. Activity boxes for bath
18. Soft baby dolls
19. Rag dolls
20. Small stuffed animals
21. Big soft toys for hugging
22. Grabbing soft toys
23. Soft hand puppets
24. Push cars
25. Rubber or wooden blocks that rattle or tinkle
26. Music boxes
27. Adult operated music and songs
28. Cloth and plastic books
29. Gym mat
30. Cardboard or board books
1 YEAR OLD TODDLER

Abilities

1. Likes to dump, push, pull, pile, knock down, empty and fill.
2. Likes to climb.
3. Tries to kick and catch a large ball.
4. Tries to string large beads, turn knobs, use screw motion.
5. Makes simple block structures, does simple puzzles.
6. Tries to group/ match similar objects.
7. Identifies pictures in book.
8. Enjoys water play, sand play.
9. Makes marks on paper.
10. Imitates adult tasks.
11. Likes being read to, looking at picture books, nursery rhymes.

Appropriate Toys

1. Push toys with large handles

2. Simple sturdy toys to push on floor
3. Special noise and effect
4. Doll’s carriage or wagons
5. Small rocking horse
6. Ride on toys with no pedals, make noise and have storage bins
7. Small light weight stacking blocks
8. Large hollow building blocks
9. Simple puzzles
10. Peg boards
11. Activity boxes
12. Pop-up toys
13. Nesting cups
14. Stacking toys
15. Shape sorters
16. Tunnels for crawling
17. Swings
18. Large balls
19. Small balls with visual effects and noises
20. Fit-together toys
21. Activity boxes with more complex mechanism
22. Pounding/ Hammering toys
23. Nesting toys
24. Stacking toys
25. Matching toys
26. Simple number/ counting boards with large pegs
27. Jack-in-the-box toys
28. Toys with screwing action
29. Large coloured beads (lesser than 10)
30. Large cubes or board
31. Simple floating toys
32. Sponges, plastic shovel and pail
33. Small sandbox tools
34. Soft bodied or rubber dolls
35. Simple dolls with movable parts
36. Simple accessories for caretaking like bottle, blanket, doll’s clothes
37. Soft stuffed toys
38. Soft hand puppets
39. Toy telephone
40. Simple housekeeping toys
41. Simple Doll equipment
42. Enclosed bells rattles
43. Cymbals, drums, xylophones
44. Large jumbo crayons
45. Large thick paper
46. Simple dress up hats, scarves, shoes, jewellery
47. Child size tables, chairs
48. Push/ pull carts and trains
49. Adult operated music and songs
50. Sturdy cloth, plastic, board books with few pages
51. Picture books, nursery rhyme stories
52. Touch and feel books
2 YEARS OLD

Abilities

1. Skilled at most simple large muscle skills.
2. Like jumping from heights, hanging, rolling, galloping, somersaults, rough-and-tumble play.
3. Throws and retrieves all kinds of objects.
4. Pushes self on wheeled objects.
5. Good hand-finger coordination.
6. Interested in attributes of objects.
7. Can match a group of similar objects.
8. Starts counting skills.
9. Develops creative skills.
10. Begins problem solving.
11. Imaginative play begins.
12. Uses language to express.
13. Enjoys stories and books.
14. Likes to be independent.

Appropriate Toys

1. Push pull toys with strings

2. Small wagon, doll’s carriage, wheel barrow
3. Realistic looking ride-on
4. Small tricycle
5. Tunnels
6. Climbing structures
7. Solid, wooden blocks
8. Large hollow plastic blocks
9. Plastic interlocking rings
10. Plastic nuts and bolts
11. Fit in puzzles
12. Puzzles with knobs
13. Peg boards with pegs
14. Colour cubes
15. Magnetic boards with shapes, animals, people
16. Colour forms
17. Nesting toys
18. Balls of all sizes
19. Number/ counting boards
20. Shape sorters
21. Pounding/ Hammering toys
22. Smelling jars
23. Feel bag or boxes
24. Colour/ picture dominoes
25. Simple lotto matching games
26. Large coloured beads
27. Lacing set
28. Dressing dolls
29. Frames and cubes for lacing, buttoning, snapping, hooking
30. Bath tub activity toys
31. Nesting tub toys
32. Small boats
33. Sprinklers
34. Small and large sandbox tools
35. Soft-bodied and rubber baby dolls
36. Dolls to fit in child’s hands
37. Talking dolls
38. Dolls with movable body parts
39. Caretaking accessories
40. Soft stuffed toys
41. Mother and baby combination
42. Toys with music box
43. Small hand puppets
44. Hand held puppets
45. Bells, rattles, cymbals, drums, triangle, xylophones
46. Large crayons
47. Non-toxic finger paints
48. Brushes with blunt ends
49. Clay
50. Sturdy markers
51. Blunt end scissors
52. Chalkboard, large chalks
53. Coloured construction paper
54. Lotto matching games
55. Dominoes
56. Board games
57. Costumes for dress up
58. Child-size equipment, table chairs
59. Kitchen sets, garden sets 
60. Vehicles with moving parts
61. Large trucks
62. Small cars
63. Train sets
64. Adult operated songs
65. Board books
66. Pop-up books
67. Hidden picture books
68. Dressing books

3, 4 AND 5 YEARS OLD

Abilities
1. Jumps, climbs and balances.
2. Loves acrobatics.
3. Increasing finger control.
4. Loves construction activities.
5. Familiar with common shapes, primary colours.
6. Interested in simple number activities, alphabet play, copying letters, matching/ sorting.
7. Prefers realism.
8. Interested in nature, science, animals, time, how things work.
9. Recreates adult occupation, uses costumes and props.
10. Begins to share and take turns.
11. Enjoys simple board games, looking at books and hearing stories.


Appropriate Toys

1. Push and Pull toys like wagon, wheel barrow etc

2. Tricycles
3. 3 and 4 wheel pedal toys
4. Vehicles with steering mechanism
5. Battery operated ride-on vehicles
6. Full size rocking horse
7. Small bicycle with training wheels and foot brakes
8. Slides, ladders, swings
9. Large and small wooden blocks
10. Large hollow blocks
11. Interlocking building toys
12. Fit-in puzzles
13. Simple jigsaw puzzles
14. Puzzle clocks
15. Cardboard puzzles
16. Peg board with small pegs
17. Bead stringing
18. Magnetic boards with shapes
19. Colour cubes
20. Equipment with movable parts
21. Rope ladders and ropes
22. Gym sets with enclosures
23. Balls of all shapes and sizes
24. Double blade ice-skates or roller skates
25. Lightweight soft baseball and bat
26. Junior sized foot-ball
27. Kites
28. Wading pool
29. Jump ropes
30. Flying disks
31. Kickboards
32. Simple weaving
33. Matching toys
34. Sorting toys
35. Number boards
36. Lock boxes
37. Nesting toys with multiple pieces
38. Geometrical concept toys
39. Frames/ cards to button, hook, tie
40. Simple sewing kits
41. Large and small sandbox tools
42. Bubbles
43. Wind-up bath toys
44. Realistic dolls
45. Stuffed toys with accessories
46. Music boxes
47. Simple sock puppets
48. Simple puppet theatre
49. Housekeeping and cooking equipment
50. Toy telephone, camera, doctor kits
51. All rhythm instruments
52. Harmonica, horns, whistles
53. Piano
54. Large crayons
55. Magic markers
56. Finger and tempera paints
57. Brushes of various sizes
58. Clay and clay making tools
59. Scissors with rounded ends
60. Paste and glue
61. Simple block printing equipment
62. Beads to string
63. Colouring books
64. Water colour paints
65. Weaving loom
66. Dominoes
67. Simple card games
68. Board games
69. Simple electronic and other teaching toys
70. Toy cars of all sizes
71. Action sets
72. Ping-pong or foam balls
73. Soft darts
74. Simple video games
75. adult operated music and songs
76. Science materials like magnets, flashlight, shells, rocks, magnifying glass, stethoscope, prism, aquarium
77. Clock
78. Printing set
79. Toy typewriter or computer
80. Picture books
81. Complex pop-up books
82. Alphabet books, information books
6 TO 9 YEARS OLD

Abilities
A school-age child seeks out new information, experiences and challenges in play. Extremely social with a clear sense of fairness, a child in this age group is influenced by peers and has a strong gender identity.

Appropriate Toys

1. Board games
2. Sports equipment
3. Model and craft kits
4. Science kits
5. Jigsaw puzzles
6. Construction toys
7. Fashion and career dolls
8. Doll house
9. Action and hero figures
10. Puppets, marionettes and theatres
11. Video games
12. Bicycle and helmet
13. Stilts, pogo stick
14. Magic set
15. Roller and ice skates plus protective gear
16. Tape player/radio
17. Books 

9 TO 12 YEARS OLD

Abilities
A pre-teenager is independent, yet thrives on play with other children. A child this age knows how to cooperate and negotiate using advanced social skills. Mastery of academic skills enables him or her to pursue both intellectual and creative pastimes. (Graphic omitted)

Appropriate Toys

1. Card and board games
2. Sports equipment
3. Table tennis and billiards
4. Jigsaw puzzles
5. Model kits
6. Science kits
7. Microscope, telescope and magnifying glass
8. Craft and handwork kits
9. Art supplies
10. Advanced construction sets
11. Puppets, marionettes and theatres
12. Video games
13. Bicycle and helmet
14. Stilts, pogo stick
15. Magic set
16. Roller and ice skates plus protective gear
17. Tape player/radio
18. Books



The list above is not exhaustive. You can add more to it. And yes, if I have missed out something, please do let me know. 

P.S - Simply buying toys and handing them over to kids is not enough. While playing alone is vital for encouraging children to explore, think creatively and allow self-learning, it is only when they play with their family and friends that they learn to cooperate. More on this in my next post :-).


 
ABOUT THE WRITER

Rajalakshmi Prithviraj dons the hat of an Air Warrior, Educationist and Psychologist in her profession.  She is passionate about penning her thoughts and writing true stories from her life (with the consent of her characters of course!!). She loves traveling, and thanks to her profession, she puts on her travel shoes every two years. If you ask her about her hometown, then pat comes her reply, “INDIA”.

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