7 Simple But Entertaining Baby Toy Ideas that Won’t Cost a Packet

Occupying your baby doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive. Truth however is that the days keeping a little one busy can be long!

Here are 5 instant baby toy ideas to keep your baby smiling using things you already have in your home.

Little hands love to knock down towers! All you need is some plastic cups from the cupboard. Show your little one how to stack them like a pyramid – and the fun of knocking it down! TIP: kid cups work best as they are a good size for little hands to hold.

Moving things is fun! This is a great one for encouraging hand eye coordination. Just grab a clean muffin or scone tray, 6 or 12 hole ones are fine. Using some of your baby’s favourite small toys, put a toy in each hole. Your little one will be intrigued by grabbing the toys and moving them between holes. TIP: This is also a great game for older babies if you use balls as they are trickier to grab.

Babies love to make things move. All you need is a piece of strong cardboard or a large hardcover book and something to lean it on. A child’s step stool or even a stack of baby books works well. Just lean one end of the cardboard/book onto the stack to make a small ramp. Using whatever baby toys you have that roll, show your little one how to place them at the top of the ramp and watch them roll! TIP: Toy cars and balls work best.

Playing with shadows is simple fun. You just need to darken the room by closing the curtains and turn on a torch or lamp. Show your little one how to make their shadow move! Make funny shapes with your hands and the matching noises – quacking ducks and fluttering butterflies are easy favourites! TIP: For older babies on the move, add some music and make dancing shadows!

Little ones love to make noise! To make your own baby safe drum kit, you just need some clean saucepans and wooden spoons (and perhaps some earplugs for mum!) Turn the saucepans upside down and let your baby get drumming! TIP: If you don’t have suitable saucepans, plastic containers work just as well.

Little kids love playing in cubbies! Make an instant cubby using just a large sheet and your dining table. Simply pull out the chairs and drape the sheet over the top, covering the sides to make a cubby house. This is the perfect spot for a picnic morning tea! TIP: For older babies you can add to the fun with blankets and a torch for pretend play – go camping in a tent under the table.

When all else fails and you need something simple to keep your baby busy, plastic containers from your Tupperware drawer provide easy entertainment. TIP: Add some toys to the containers or plastic spoons for banging for extra fun.