L.J.’s Favorite Toys

I feel like I began my motherhood journey with a pretty good grasp on infant care, but one area I wasn’t sure about was playtime. I didn’t really know when L.J. would begin to play (4+ months), or what toys he would enjoy (see below).

I gathered L.J.’s favorite toys on his blanket the other day, in preparation for Grandma arriving to babysit. I’ve wanted to do a “first favorites” post for awhile, so it ended up being the perfect photo opportunity!

1. Taggies Plushie Mirror – L.J. enjoys looking in the mirror and I like that this one is soft and not breakable.

2. Rhino Toys Oball Rattle – This toy is brightly colored and easy to grasp. When hung, L.J. likes to bat at it. It also keeps him entertained at length because he’s still trying to figure out how to get it into his mouth.

3. Vulli vanilla-scented teethers – Small and lightweight, these teethers are very easy for L.J. to hold and put in his mouth. He goes to town on the green lamb because of its nubby texture. They are also easy to wash and smell wonderful.

4. The First Years Starfish Blanket – This is definitely in the top 3! L.J. plays with this daily. He loves the textures, crinkle middle and the squeaker. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough for him to grab a handful and rub the soft middle on his face like a blanket.

5. Goodnight Moon beanbag bunny – I have a feeling “Bunny” is going to become L.J.’s lovie. He just loves this little guy! Bunny was the first toy that L.J. showed any interest in.

6. Vulli Sophie the Giraffe – Sophie hardly needs an explanation. She is awesome – easy to hold and easy to chew on. She also squeaks, which L.J. finds quite entertaining.

7. Carter’s Plush Monkey – This monkey has a rattle in it, which delights L.J. Its arms, legs and (most especially) tail are frequently found in L.J.’s mouth. It came from Target, but I don’t think it’s sold any more.

8. Bright Starts Blocks – These blocks are very lightweight, so they are easy to pick up. They are also brightly colored and crinkle. Two of them jingle, making them L.J.’s favorites. He likes to chew on the binding – it’s just the right size for him to gum.

9. Bright Starts Twist and Teethe – A young infant won’t have the dexterity to twist this, but it’s a great teether. L.J. can grab it with both hands and thus is able to hold it for longer than most things. I didn’t think he would go for this teether since it’s hard, but he chews on the beads all the time.

10. Wubbanub Pacifier – This monkey weighs almost nothing, so L.J. can easily pick him up and play with him. He loves “Mini Monkey”! He likes the bright color, two different textures and long tail. He also thinks the Soothie pacifier attached to it is a fantastic teething toy, alternately sucking on it and chewing on it.

There’s a definitely a pattern to the above items – L.J. enjoys things that he can easily hold and that he can chew on. He likes bright colors and loves anything that crinkles!

It will be interesting to see how this list of “first favorites” changes over the next few months as L.J. continues to grow and develop.