A Better Way to Use Baby Toys (Without Buying More!)

[@EmmaHubbard]

I hope this video was helpful! Let me know what's your baby's favourite toy? At the moment our little one's favourite toy are the shapes from the shape sorter and the Tupperware draw 😂

[@osunborosas9418]

Please I am unable to download the milestone chart

[@EmmaHubbard]

@osunborosas9418 Drop us an email at [e-mail] and we'll get it to you :)

[@janetyay242]

What was the link to the behaviour video (pls) - it didn’t show on the screen

[@lollsazz]

Mi es favorite is anything resembling a phone (she pretends to call people), pencils/paint, eating utensils she can wash (she loves playing with water), or ANYTHING she can try to wear 😋 My clothes drawers have been raided since she was 6 months old, and it has barely stopped for the past 2 years, even though I myself wear maybe 4 different pants, only black or grey t-shirts, and a few different sweaters and jackets. She NEEDS to tey on ALL of my dresses, and tells me that I need to put one on too 😂

[@nurnadzifanidzam2465]

my baby love to play with broken toys or an empty earbud container 🤣

[@connie6690]

I find this is true as an artist. I'm more creative when I limit the number of colours I can use. Interesting to learn this about kids. I have 6 grandchildren and I think too many toys come out when they come.

[@gigicolada]

It’s the same for adults. I get so excited when I rediscover old things I forgot about.

[@EmmaHubbard]

So true!

[@rcece569]

Sooo true!!

[@hadirazhar9362]

I instinctively have been doing that😊 i always remember and compare my childhood when I played with mud, rocks… and try to spark his creativity ❤

[@EmmaHubbard]

Fantastic!

[@MadisonHeiner]

I agree. I have implemented minimalism in my own life and with my child’s toys as well as following the Montessori method and I’ve noticed that my child enjoys all of the toys she has and plays with them for longer periods of time than when she has a bunch of toys to choose from.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@RememberToWaterYourPlants]

Man, wish I knew this a year ago. My son has so many toys! I bought him some balls and stacking disks, but everything else was gifts, usually unsolicited toys... Gonna pack a bunch away and start trying just a few toys each day.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Sounds like a great idea!

[@SUPATWIN1]

Emma I love you! Thanks for this! As a new dad I mentioned this concept because I felt too many toys can be distracting and impact their ability to narrow focus. I am naturally a minimalist and a true believer in less is more. However I was convinced it was ok, turns out it's not!. It's distracting, it's messy! Takes up space, and expensive wasting money on so many unnecessary things. I think we also teach our kids they need more in their lives to enjoy life. I believe the opposite and want my babies to learn they can live and enjoy life with less and make the most of it because this can be applied to life when it comes to friends and other aspects of life. Thanks again! Lovely content and presentation

[@whalesong4401]

I have a shoes box (a man size shoes box) of baby toys and a slitly larger box for my two toddlers. Each girl has one doll they love. Grandparents keep bringing them toys, but those don't stay out or don't stay around.

[@mommynmum]

I wish you'd have uploaded this video months ago 🥲 Now that I have too many toys for my baby, it's really very overwhelming for myself as well so I hide many of her toys and only hand over one or two to distract her or when she's throwing a tantrum. P.S.- I can totally relate to you. Watching and listening you talk seems like listening to a good friend. It brings joy. Thanks a lot ☺️

[@bodhgaia]

Thank you! How many books should one have out? Are these part of the toys or seperately category?

[@lollsazz]

I've known this for some time, and tried buying as little as possible. Unfortunately, my husband doesn't educate himself on these things, and from time to time I have to go through the GIANT toy box my tiddler has and pick out about 70% of it. When there's too mamy things in the box, she doesn't seem to even want to go near it. When it's 30% full, suddenly she discovers new toys and uses them in different ways than before :) Oh, and of course: having too many toys is very wasteful too. It's better to have fewer, but of good, safe quality, and not have several of the same thing unless the child actually really shows an interest in having several

[@ingridreiz2876]

Excellent advice! Well researched and great video as usual :)

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks!

[@Alex.i]

@EmmaHubbard we would really appreciate a video as example of few toys for each developmental category. Since I understand it would be beneficial to have toys available that encourages sensory stimulation, motor skills development and so on..

[@maggiemaja822]

Emma Thank you for the valuable content! You rock and you're awesome 😘

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks so much!

[@sabinaberariu3478]

My 6 month old baby really enjoys playing with a small, plain m&s bag

[@redroselace9545]

LITERALLY 😭😭🤣🤣🤣

[@EmmaHubbard]

😂

[@ChickenPermission617]

Yup mine loves an empty and cleaned off water bottle (cap, cap seal, and wrapper all removed) 😂😜

[@SiddiquiSadia]

Lol, mine also 😂

[@EliMae]

Paper towel rolls and paper bags of various sizes were my LOs favorite for like a whole month when he was 6 months 😂

[@poweroflove2932]

Great info, as always!... does this also hold good for books (3 at a time/rotating books etc.)

[@poweroflove2932]

My baby is 8mo, he loves his black and white books and a colorful ball that comes back when we throw!! 😀

[@kena2522]

Does the concept of many toys be overwhelming apply to books as well?

[@princessjess739]

Emma, I love your videos. Thank you so much for contributing to all the mums and bubbas out there. My 9 mo is enjoying his new nesting eggs, and shapes from his shape sorter. Would you count movement toys in the four? I just made a cardboard box tunnel for him and he has a baby walker and a ball pit in the same play area.

[@Lizzifer7]

(My LO is 27 months) What about books? I have a LOT of books... maybe cover up the bookcase with a blanket? I imagine all the spines are visually stimulating

[@hsusandy6968]

Hi Emma, thanks for the vid! It’s very helpful. I think I find the reason why my sixth years old can’t focus long on play time recently, and constantly want us to hold her instead😂 just to clarify, if my baby naps three times a day then I can prepare 4x3= 12 toys for her to play in a day, right?

[@EmmaHubbard]

My 6 year old and 4 year old also just want to play all the time with us instead of their toys - we are really the best toys any child can have! Tiring but it is nice they want to play with us! Also yep that's right! If your baby naps 3 times per day then she would have 12 different toys to rotate through.

[@hsusandy6968]

@@EmmaHubbard Thanks for the reply, Emma. And I think I had a typo. My babe is sixth month, not six years.😂 But it’s nice to hear your experience. Yes, I cherish every moment she’s with us. Kids grow up so fast~

[@PraveenSrJ01]

I didn’t have too much toys 🧸 growing up 🆙 in the 1980s and about 3-5 toys 🧸. It feels like those years were just yesterday and not almost 37 years ago!!

[@elh4089]

I really appreciate your vidoes, has helped a lot thank you!

[@EmmaHubbard]

You're very welcome!

[@graczznumerempierwszym]

Helpful video! Keep going!

[@AnnaM-e5s]

Love this advice! What about when you have a 4 year old and a 5 month old with completely different sets of toys?

[@KS-cl8br]

two separate montisorri shelfs with separate toys and still rotate but do so individually for each child

[@PraveenSrJ01]

Thanks for the video Emma and just found your channel. I hit the subscribe button.

[@maryshippee3673]

How would you navigate this with twins? Four toys between the two of them?

[@PLopez-bs5xs]

How does this hold as they grow? Say 3,4 or 5yo, i expect it would still be better to limit the amount of toys available, but, to how many?

[@sandhyasakthivel5080]

Timely advice. Great one. thanks

[@EmmaHubbard]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spamela]

Yay, another video! You've helped us so much. Thank you!

[@EmmaHubbard]

You are so welcome!

[@dl6]

I put out two toys and my 9 month old walks right past them. How do I get my baby to engage with toys instead of household items?

[@rebeccadutton611]

Do you count stuffed animals and books in the 4 toys? If not, do you also rotate those? I have a 12 mo old.

[@EmmaHubbard]

They would be counted in the toys. Hope that helps

[@XXavierSin-XXs]

I bought a shelf with equal compartments. My plan is to buy a series of different colored boxes, putna number and a letter on each, and put a few small toys into each. Im hoping i can use this to teach them colors, letters, numbers, and to ask for things politely to receive one box at a time. I was going to instill the rule that they couldnt get another box down until they put away there toys from their current box. That way they can get used to putting away their toys, and hopefully will learn that putting them away isnt a bad thing and wont freak out at thebend of the day so badly as the kids in the rest of my family 💀

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks so much for sharing!

[@danniellemariegierynska4621]

Thank you for this video. Does the same apply to books, or is it okay to leave all of those available?

[@EmmaHubbard]

I would still limit the books as at this age they would still be considered a toy.

[@Itsybitsyizna.]

Great information ❤❤❤

[@EmmaHubbard]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amandaslough125]

This is great knowledge, I just wish there was advice for those whose love language is gift giving. "Finding the perfect gift" and what you know the person will like is very important for some people to show affection. What can someone with that do, while trying to reach more mininalism of toys?

[@MsSweetSunshine904]

My mom is a gift giver, and with all of the grandparents, we have asked them to buy experiences for the kids for holidays. They live out of state and can't go with us, but I send lots of pictures of the events (like a day at the zoo, the trampoline park, the pumpkin patch... or for the older kids, a water park, a ceramic decorating class). We have created so many wonderful memories as a family from those bday trips!

[@anmbia]

Every time I try to do a toy rotation I completely forget that the toys I packed away even exist. And if I do go looking for something, all of the little pieces are scatterd across several boxes...

[@redroselace9545]

My son likes most random household objects as long it safe i give it and he plays with it all day more than his very expensive development toys he super bored of them 😅

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing. It’s so funny that they get some much entertain out of simple household items (like measuring cups and Tupperware containers) 😂

[@aurora6920]

Great idea, I didn't realise I could apply this to babies.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Glad it was helpful!

[@feliciasuris2381]

Hi emma 🥰 Thank you for your videos! My question is my about to turn 12m old is behind in alot of areas. Were working with eci and seeing some changes. We dont use any jumpers etc anymore to speed his progress. Toy wise: we still have the fisherprice playmat with piano that transitions to sitting and been doing that but sometimes he falls back and rolls around. Should we keep using it or let it go at his age?

[@EmmaHubbard]

Hi! I would love to help but honestly his ECI therapists would be the best people to answer this question as they know your son and know what you’re working towards. I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help. I really hope the ECI continues to be helpful for your little one. ❤️

[@feliciasuris2381]

@EmmaHubbard ty, she said it's okay to put away and then he scooted around which was new. But my mom friend said he's more delayed mentally than physically (both but more other) he's about to be 13 and doing things like 6m level.. waiting for his 12m to see if there's a cause but is there anything I can do to help speed him along, do you have a video for that? He only babbles and just started clapping and doesn't respond to name

[@ybur6760]

I hope all goes well with the development of your little guy. ❤ Keep up the hard work!

[@annikawilliams659]

My (nearly) 3 year old likes to play with the 10 month old's toys and vice versa. Is 4 toys each still ok?

[@EmmaHubbard]

Yep that would be fine. Just follow their lead. If they start to get fussy or destructive with the toys then just switch it up.

[@fathimahumaiza2007]

Best advice 👌

[@EmmaHubbard]

Glad it was helpful!

[@desi-likes-unicorns3214]

My baby is more obsessed with the remote and a plastic bottle cause of the noise lol

[@Sauvageonne]

That what I do with my 12-month old. I'm trying to get the nanny not to forget.

[@justme7920]

Hi Emma! Recently discovered your channel, we find it very helpful. Do you have or can you make a video on giving water to babies under 6 months of age? Thank you

[@EmmaHubbard]

Welcome! I really hope you are finding all the videos helpful! IN regards to water, the general recommendation is that you don't give babies under 6 months water. If this is something your doctor has recommended then do check in with them on how much they would like you to give your little one and the best method. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[@justme7920]

@@EmmaHubbard thank you for replying. Indeed, we saw couple of pediatricians for check-ups. One recommended we give couple of teaspoons of water few times a day. The second one said this isn’t necessary. Which one to believe? I’ve searched all of the Internet and found a reliable source in the NHS UK site which says that (for formula fed babies) you can give little boiled cooled water to babies under 6m in case it’s very hot outside. Anyways, thank you again for your reply and keep up the great work you’re doing.

[@Humsterchen]

Favorite toy from my child (8 months) a sheet of kitchen roll since 5 months 🤣

[@EmmaHubbard]

😂

[@ChickenPermission617]

My desire to be a minimalist is happy to learn all this 😉

[@EmmaHubbard]

That’s great!

[@mommynmum]

2:46 Wow! You said "mantra". It's a Hindi word, spoken in India ☺️

[@RitzzaRamirez]

I give my baby rice pouches to play with She loves it😂

[@mrsamirza4392]

Right on time today my son is 11 months old and took his 2 first steps since yesterday 😊He loves his hammer and drives everything like a car even my phone if he gets hold of it 😢😢😢would prefer wooden cars he breaks d plastics ones😅

[@EmmaHubbard]

Yay! That is so exciting that he is walking! So glad this video came at the right time for you too!

[@mrsamirza4392]

@EmmaHubbard thank you so much for ur informative highly needed content as always ma'am, 🙏 ❤️ I was so happy yesterday he has been cruising for the past 2 months 😊 long awaited moment indeed! Lots of love from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@venyl6028]

Do books count as toys? I don't keep many toys available but sometimes he grabs books instead.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Yep books are definitely toys.

[@venyl6028]

@@EmmaHubbard oh my we have at least 2 dozen books he should not be bored!

[@mmpops2470]

It wouldn't work for me then. My little daughter can read books for 2 hours straight so we go through way more books than 4!

[@venyl6028]

@@EmmaHubbard sorry another question. What if it's a climbing gym or large toys that can't be rotated out? Do they permanently stay in the rotation?

[@pmwyy]

You would recommend a walker? I thought it’s been shown to be unsafe and/or hinder development.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Yes, I recommend push walkers. These are the ones babies stand behind and push. I do not recommend baby walkers (the ones that the baby stands in the middle of with a slung seat). I have a video on my channel which clarifies the difference. Hope that helps 🙂

[@chaitravallish3410]

My 9 months old baby just puts everything into mouth ..! how to make him play? Pls suggest

[@omaymaeldali9214]

My 18 months boy keeps throwing his toys at the tv screen or he would grab anything and start hitting the screen with it, in order for me to chase him, he loves chasing, I tried to ignore him, but he almost broke the tv, how am I supposed to deal with him??

[@now591]

Get rid of the tv. You don't need one.

[@amandaslough125]

First, get a wall mounted tv that's higher than 5ft off the ground so the kid can't reach it. 2nd, look into ways to redirect his behavior so he gets play time but you aren't rewarding such disruptive behavior. There should be some technique for conditioning that will work.

[@Ayverie4]

Is he "jealous" of the tv? Do people in the home spend time paying attention to it instead of him? Maybe or maybe not, but I'm on team "you don't need one".

[@lapisstories]

Observe if he doesn’t like the tv program maybe it is not for babies that happen to my nephew. He would cry cause he wanted to watch Cocomelon instead. And yes if you could mount the tv off the wall.

[@omaymaeldali9214]

@@lapisstories yes he loves Cocomelon a lot, this might be the reason. Thank you for the advice

[@ropicllcoffical9610]

can you do a video on toddler toys

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for the idea. I will try to do one soon!

[@kateryna1790]

My 1 y o doesn’t spend a lot of time with toys no matter if it’s few or many

[@seanspradlin5306]

Does the 4 toy suggestion apply to twins?

[@EmmaHubbard]

I would still limit the number of toys your twins have. If they are sitting right next to each other and sharing toys you could just try giving them 6 total and see what happens.

[@shannaestewart3355]

My seven months old enjoy playing with clothes pins over her own toys.

[@EmmaHubbard]

That's a great opportunity to develop those fine motor skills!

[@cylarcena178]

i stored away his toys for a month now, all he does is put in his mouth or throw outside the house. What he plays on now is just anything he sees around like an empty water gallon, cups, plates 😔. He's 1 y.o..

[@nareebacaroline1871]

My 8 months old is not interested in toys😢

[@Beachandpool]

My two year old doesn't care for toys. I keep buying and giving away....

[@TwistedKarma]

I only dont understand the cover photo lol

[@caitiemaesings]

The baby is surrounded by toys reinforcing her point that kids surrounded by toys don’t actually play better and in fact it can be detrimental. Perhaps, watch the video to learn more.

[@TwistedKarma]

@@caitiemaesings Oh I watched the video, it just looked like you were stating the one toy box is bad for brain development. It looked more singled out, so I was waiting for that part. I understand you probably meant the clutter of toys :)

[@ellielopez1615]

What about the children’s museums? They have stuff all over the place & kids going nuts all over the place & can’t learn & focus on one thing

[@ZeKiwiOfTheNorth]

A children's museum is entirely novel, unless you're going daily. Even then, you could probably focus on one room per visit. And though they have stuff all over the place, it is ALL OVER the place - a kid probably can't touch more than two exhibits at once, which is way different than plunking down amid the contents of a spilled toy box. I can't imagine there'd be anything developmentally troubling about a trip to the museum :)

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

most babies' first toy nowadays is a phone

[@mahanooralvi2403]

Emma , you are so wise why don't you study Islam ? Kindly do so