Good toy ideas for a 13 month old anyone?

Ink - posted on 11/10/2011

My son always spent SO much time in the kitchen under me while i was cooking...playing in the bowls...banging it out with the spoons...We got him a plastic "kitchen" for Christmas last year. The first month or two he was pulling himself up on it..but as soon as he mastered that, he was whipping up souffles and scrambling eggs right beside Momma. It has become a HUGE help to have that plastic kitchen..it lives in the foyer at the end of my galley kitchen. He plays in the foyer, cooking...while I cook in the big kitchen.

Occasionally I will hand over a carrot...or a few noodles..and he just LOVES stirring his food on his stove..hiding all his sippy cups in his fridge...and he talks to the little plastic phone so clearly sometimes, I have to go pick up the receiver and make SURE there's not someone actually ON it.

Recently we had our living room ceiling repaired. All of his big toys got moved to the basement during the roof repairs. We just didn't have ROOM for all that when the house was damaged and the living room furniture was all jammed together away from the drips. We started bringing back just a FEW of his big toys...and they were like NEW again!

Since I saw that unfold, I keep his toys rotating. Some come inside..others go to the basement. This keeps the house HALF as cluttered with toys..and his stuff seems "new" again.

Seriously, I don't think I could cook a decent meal without that toy kitchen. If he loses interest in it...a few dry macaroni noodles are all it takes to inspire him again.

Sometimes I will hide a juice box or a cereal bar in his kitchen...it's such a thrill for him to find real FOOD in his little fridge.

Chelese - posted on 11/09/2011

I cant believe I finally found the toy I was looking for! Now I just need to figure out what brand I want to get and if Walmart carries it. Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-71055... I guess I just needed to have patience and keep looking. I am sooooo happy now and Caleb is going to be even happier yay! I can't see why he would not like these one bit.

Jessica - posted on 11/09/2011

my daughter received a toy for her birthday this year, and she absolutely LOVES it! It's a dog that you can adjust to your child's age and you can even get the puppy to say his name!! There's a boy dog named Scout and a girl dog named Violet (which we have). I started with an infant program that had certain music that she could relate to, and common foods that she liked to eat. Then, there was a toddler program that has the same melodies and more songs to choose from. It is AWESOME! ;) they are about $25 at Walmart. Hope this helps!

Erin - posted on 11/09/2011

Look on line. If it exists the internet will have it. And yes I am not satisfied until I find the toy I want for my son. Your child won't be spoiled if he gets a lot of toys for Christmas, as long as you don't buy him everything he wants every time he wants it throughout the year. Just remember toys are cheap now because they're so young the older they get the more pricey the toys get. And having a ton of toys at Christmas when they're small sets up expectations for when they are bigger.

Chelese - posted on 11/08/2011

So i've researched almost every toy and I think this year Christmas time is going to make me go bankrupt :-) A lot of my family member I bet will saying "shes going to spoil him rotten!" But Kaden had every toy imaginable and he didn't turn out that way. I hope Caleb wont either. I'm still looking for those plastic connecting blocks that I can't seem to find anywhere. Has anyone every looked and looked for a toy and haven't been satisfied until they either find it or find out it's not made anymore?

Erin - posted on 11/08/2011

Little people toys by fisher price. My son loved at that age and still does opening the doors and putting the little people in and out of whatever it is. Saying he is active is an understatement. But those toys keep his attention for a while. He's almost 4 now and still enjoys them. I'm getting him the farm for Christmas.

Pamela - posted on 11/07/2011

Balls of varying sizes are always good to help develop hand/eye coordination and can be rolled about forever. As the child grows they can learn to catch and throw.

Playskol (sp?) has endless varieties of toys for babies and toddlers, all of which also help with coordination and development.

Chelsie - posted on 11/07/2011

Yeah my mother in law got him a puppie for easter and he loved him we had a poodle and Jim and wyatt had a ball!! the slept together and played but a very sad thin happend and we had to put the puppy down about 2 months ago and Wyatt would come in looking for him day after day so we got him a kitten he just loves animails!!!

Chelese - posted on 11/06/2011

I can't believe we spent two hours in Walmart. It seems the closer Christmas time comes the more crowded it's going to get in there. So I think i'll do my shopping early. Anyway I ended up getting Caleb the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Stride-to-Ride Dino and the fisher Price Stack and Roll cups. I have a feeling he's really going to like that a lot. I figured since he's already wanting to stand and not walk just yet I may as well put the fisher price learning musical table to use. Just ad the legs and see if he can stand there with me behind him and be motivated to keep his balance.

Chelese - posted on 11/06/2011

Well today my son has this project due for school on Monday and we have to go to Walmart and find some arts and crafts to dress up his paper turkey so I will be headed to the baby section to check out some of the duplo building blocks and see if I can find things with a lot of color to them to really get his interest going. I'm still thinking about getting this http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Baby-... Since he really likes standing I could put it on a carpet and be behind him while he tries to walk around with it. Anyone every buy anything like this for their little ones? I think now would be a good time to transition from traditional walker to this.

Fiona - posted on 11/06/2011

My son was 11 months on his first Christmas and his absolutely favourite present was a cheap universal remote control with no batteries in it! He always got frustrated that he wasn't allowed to play with the real remotes and they obviously became such magical forbidden items to him that he was over the moon when he had his very own one. He didn't let go of it for days. He was even breastfeeding and sleeping with it clutched in one hand... and he completely ignored most of the expensive 'proper' presents that the family gave him... ;-)

Stifler's - posted on 11/06/2011

blocks

Mercede - posted on 11/05/2011

Mr.Potatohead, jumbo floor puzzles, wooden construction toys, matching flash cards, and everything else that stimulates little brains.......

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

omg i got that for Kaden years ago and he crawled and crawled through that and still has a few pieces left. He still tries to put the yellow one around him and I look at him and say "Now you know you are too tall to be trying to play with that still." LOL

Brittany - posted on 11/05/2011

I got my daughter toys that she would grow into. Last Christmas my daughter was 13 months. We got her this http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...

She played with it off and on for a few months. Then around May/June, she went nuts with it. Best part for me, it collapses. So it isn't always taking up a lot of room.

Little people cars and playsets are also really good for growing into.

With a birthday and Christmas being so close, I try to make sure that the toys are something that they'll love in 6 months.

Rachel - posted on 11/05/2011

the number one played with toy in my home has been Megablocks. We got a classic 70 piece bag as a gift 5 years ago and they STILL aren't sick of it. I have 4 kids between 8 and 16mo, and they all still love playing with Megablocks. I tell ya, I don't hate them either.

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

my oldest loves those

Liz - posted on 11/05/2011

Sensory table:



http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2011/...



Lots more fun than a "toy." :)

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

is it possible other than a walker to get any kind of riding toy that has a strap that he can ride around on since he is not walking yet?

Tiffiney - posted on 11/05/2011

My son also loves his riding toy. It is a mickey mouse fire engine. We have wooden floors. He is just now 13 months and he flies around the house on it and he hasn't really fallen off of it. He also loves my older daughters soft baby alive. It giggles and stuff when you hug it. He basically stole it.

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

Okay so now I guess would be a good time to get a long list populated of all of these wonderful ideas everyone gave me and research and have a big bowl of pop corn and see which ones I really like. Hmmm that should keep me occupied for a bit. Caleb just woke up and in his fisher price jumperoo and Kaden is at the computer thinking of what he's going to do for the day. Both just smiling and happy. I couldn't think of any other way to spend my afternoon than hanging out with them.

Ielen - posted on 11/05/2011

a big cardboard box. they never go out of style

Renai - posted on 11/05/2011

How about the GoGo Caterpillar or Measure Up Cups from DISCOVERY TOYS? They cover exploration, motor and thinking skills not to mention how much fun they are to play with!if you're interested in taking a look, I have a website at www.discoverytoys.com you can order from myself! Renai Thingelstad 717215

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

Thank you I agree with you on that and how he loves hearing things repeated back. Especially now as I am teaching him to talk. His favorite words are hi, ba ba which I think is bye bye and mama and dada. He actually sings out dada all the time lol! Both my kids and even I love toy stores. I think i'm a kid at heart.

Brenda - posted on 11/05/2011

When you go to toys r us in the baby section you will have alot to chose from I suggest to get him something he can hear. Let it be fun as well as educational children learn by hearing things being repeated alot. Also make sure whatever you buy him since he is learning how to walk the object will not hurt himself if he fall on it. Have a great holidays.

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

Hey Chelsie our names are almost the same just a tiny bit different but when people see mine they always pronounce it Chelsie. I was thinking about getting a little ankle biter cause I just adore puppies. I bet he would be chasing my boys all around. Knowing Caleb he would be chasing him around though! He certainly is a fire cracker and jalapeno! Completely different from Kaden who is more mellow. I'll check out your website Sharen thank you.

Sharen - posted on 11/05/2011

I post lots of ideas on my website. Don't worry, they aren't connected to a sales thing. www.sharenpearson.com

Chelsie - posted on 11/05/2011

Well mu son just turned one and got so many toys and his fav is a blow up ball house they have some small ones that fit in to his room and I find him in it all the time! And he got a kitten for his birthday and he has a mouse that chirps on a string and he walks around draging it for hours laughing as the kitten fallows him every where they go and they couddle allot!

Chelese - posted on 11/05/2011

Oh I bet he will love that! He just loves hitting things and knocking them over. and very curious about digging through bags that have stuff in them to inspect them and look at them and see what they do. Hey what if he was the next inspector gadget and created something good. I'd say "Hey Caleb go go building blocks!" and all the sudden they would fly in the air :-)

Sharen - posted on 11/05/2011

Perfect age for anything "fill and dump". Try giving him some items from the kitchen to fill and dump. Put a favorite small stuffed animal in a tissue box and let him "fish it out". Make blocks from two milk cartons stuffed inside each other and let him stack and knock them over. These "home" games will teach you what store bought games will work. sharenpearson

Anita - posted on 11/05/2011

My grandson is 12 months old and walking for past month, I got him a Fisher Price Little People Farm for his birthday last month and he loves it, it has a farmer and a few animals and it has some animal sounds, a silo attached to store the animals, it is very sturdy and colorful, he likes it a lot

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

Thanks Faye I think I just saw that toy when I was searching for the blocks. I bet Caleb would love it cause it looks like a bench with the hammer like you were talking about and i bet he would pound away trying to push those object through. Seems like it would be something that would keep him busy too. Wow I bet santa is going to be good this year to both my Kids. I already know what my oldest is going to get. A Wii console with lots of games. He had one but it broke and i didn't have the warranty so this time i'm going to make sure when I buy it to get one.

Faye - posted on 11/04/2011

I bought for my daughter (she was almost 2) (son used it as well) a plastic box which had 4 colored rubber balls, 4 holes for the balls, a "hammer" and a slide. The ball is pounded down the hole with the "hammer", as it drops in, it starts to run the slide and comes out the bottom.

The idea is to build the hand/eye coordination and helping with the tracking that is needed later for reading.

I bought it from Discovery Toys but it has been too many years to remember the price.

Sarah - posted on 11/04/2011

My daughter loved the Fisher Price Little Superstar Sing Along Stage. We loved it too because it had different modes & kept her busy. She played with it for well over a year. http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Littl...

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

Ohhh what is that toy I saw it months ago at walmart. I can't think of the name right now but they are plastic and you can keep making them longer and longer. They have different colors and it's got a little knob at the end you can put it in the other and maybe make a circle or whatever. Alexandra triggered that memory when she said toyus that insert into other things. UGH I hate it when i cant remember

Michelle - posted on 11/04/2011

Never thought of musical instruments - don't know why as my daughter absolutely adores them - definately xylophones - maybe a tambourine/drum, etc

Alexandra - posted on 11/04/2011

things that make sound, blocks, toys that have things to insert in other things, xylophones, hard books, stuffed animals.

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

Hmmm I"ll have to check into that. It's funny how when I look around the house and now that we have his own room his stuff can be in there. But before when we had the 2 bedroom his stuff was taking over the living room and our room. So I have to make sure when we move his crib into his room that theres not so much stuff in there it wont fit.

Keli - posted on 11/04/2011

oh i know,my son turns 1 on the 25th then its christmas so i can imagine the toys ill have to trip over. i sell toys when he loses interest in them.on facebook there is a group for my town called Buy&sell everyone goes on and sells odds and ends around the house on there less work than a garage sale.!! ive sold all my baby things,i just dont have the storage for them.i live in a mobile home and were busting through the seams lol.

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

I'm going to look that up. Getting their attention to want to play with it is really good. Gosh I can see it now. He's going to have every toy on the block! Hmmm and when he outgrows them do I save them for a chance at baby number three in the hopes of a girl or have a garage sale.

Keli - posted on 11/04/2011

I ordered a "alex my busy town" activity center its got lots of neat things on it. my son also has a little tikes plastic sports thing that sits on the floor he loves to stand up at it,and i taught him how to shoot the ball in the basket things like that really get their attention!!

Michelle - posted on 11/04/2011

Way to go Caleb - I hope he walks quicker than my Alexandra. She stands well when I'm holding her but when i try to walk with her she just tries to run instead, which isn't going to work LOL - I shall persist LOL

Kyleigh - posted on 11/04/2011

my nearly 2 yr old around that age loved putting balls in a toy and shoots them out, its made by playskool! its lots of fun both for me and my DD

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

So this is totally off the subject lol but my Caleb just stood up on his own with me behind him with my arms around his waist for like 2 whole seconds! He looked like okay now don't let me fall mom but this is the start of his walking process yay!

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

Thank you :) You do the same. I"m going to get some duplo building bricks he would really love the color and now would be the perfect time to get him to learn his colors more and get his vocabulary wider.

Michelle - posted on 11/04/2011

My daughter is the same age. She has absolutely loads of toys, mostly learning ones, but what she enjoys playing with the most is the duplo building bricks. We sit and she gives me a brick and I tell her the colour and ask her to find another the same colour - she now does. They are also great for motability skills as they have to try and fit them together. She does play with them without me too. She also loves board books, which are a great thing to get your children liking. Have a great Christmas - just think, he's old enough to enjoy it this year :-)

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

Thats a good thought I would have never thought of that. It's funny how he likes to play with non toy items like plastic bowls. i could get some really colorful wooden blocks or other bowls that are smaller and teach him how to take things out and put them in and he would have a field day with that. Thanks for the idea!

JuLeah - posted on 11/04/2011

I like bright colors, toys that teach shapes, colors ... at 13 months, they like to pull things behind them, put things into other things ... they like things that pop up, books they can't eat ....

I like old fashioned wooden toys myself, more then plastic

Chelese - posted on 11/04/2011

oh wow i just bought a new fridge and electric stove for the house we moved into. I didn't even think of keeping the box! He could have used that to crawl into? i'll have to look in the garage and see if it's still out there.

Christy - posted on 11/04/2011

Buy something really big for yourself for Christmas like a TV, refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher. Take the box it came in and give it to him. Hours of fun for baby, and you got something cool for yourself!