Creating treasure baskets for babies and 6 ideas of what to fill them with
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When all my children have been babies, we’ve always used baskets for their toys. Little, shallow baskets that they can reach inside of easily. Treasure baskets – perfect for little babies to explore. I’ve always kept a basket or two filled with items pretty much from them being born… especially in my bedroom and the living room. It’s an easy way to make sure you have some toys on hand to entertain them. For Vega, we’ve ended up with several baskets dotted around the house. Because our home is quite large, having a basket of toys in each room means I don’t have to go searching for toys or remember to take some things with me if we go to a different room! Having a basket on hand wherever we are means Vega always has something to occupy him, and things I know are safe for him to have.
Babies seem to prefer things that aren’t toys the most! Wooden spoons, cookie cutters, keys, shells, stones {not to mention Mama’s mobile phone!}. While I’m not totally against plastic toys, I do prefer wooden, natural toys – but my pet hate is those electronic, flashing toys – the ones with an annoying loop of music. The reason I dislike them is that they don’t encourage imaginative play – they only do what they do – things like wooden blocks, or a stone, can be anything you can imagine, and something different each time you play with them.
Here are a few ideas of things, other than specific baby toys, to put into those toy baskets. Remember, you know your baby best, so put the things you think they’ll like the most in, and what is suitable for their age
Metal objects: egg cup, measuring spoons, tea strainer, whisk, honey drizzler
Wooden objects: wooden block, small bowl, pegs, spoons, curtain rings,
Natural objects: coconut shell, loofah, shells, pine/fir cones, driftwood, large pebbles.
Fabric objects: bean bag, leather key ring, coloured ribbons, knitted toy, piece of rope
Brushes: toothbrush, make-up brush, soft babies hairbrush, paintbrushes
Misc objects small empty bottle {such as a vanilla extract bottle}, piece of greaseproof paper, ball, bath plug with chain, strong cardboard tube
8 Comments
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laura redburn
October 12, 2015 at 12:02really good idea, and always good for babies to play with different textured objects i think!
Molly
October 12, 2015 at 14:38These photos of Vega playing are SO cute! Baby Girl absolutely loves her treasure basket. Her favourite item is the pinecone for some reason. What is it with babies and pinecones?!
Alice
October 12, 2015 at 15:14I love this – my mum used to think I was bonkers to fill a basket of weird and wild objects for the kids but I knew I was doing something right ;)
Fritha
October 12, 2015 at 17:41this is such a sweet idea! There used to be a similar little basket at a kindergarten which I always meant to recreate at home (and never did!) x
Lori
October 12, 2015 at 22:54This is such a fab idea and by having multiple baskets it keep the toys new in the mind for little hands to explore. If I was at this stage again I would definitely make some. x
Gill Crawshaw
October 12, 2015 at 23:15SO with you on this – kids love emptying baskets don’t they? They’re so useful to have around to give throw everything in to tidy up at the end of the day x
thismummylark
October 15, 2015 at 09:55I’ve just startes to put one of these together so thank you for more ideas of what to include. Im fi ding at the moment my son would rather play with things he shouldnt than things he should. All those expensive baby toys were pointless he’d rather play with a handbag strap or the rug
polly
October 17, 2015 at 10:08You’re so right, all of my children have prefered things that weren’t actually toys! Keys, boxes, wooden spoons….