Homemade Toys & Materials for Infants

Household Objects

• Anyone who's ever played with an infant knows that most babies are just as easily entertained by the contents of your purse or kitchen cabinet as they are by an expensive toy. With a little creativity, you can make almost anything you have lying around your house into a toy. A few boxes of plastic food containers and some wooden spoons are a versatile play set that can be used for drumming, stacking or putting objects (such as Cheerios) in and taking them out. Cardboard boxes are wonderful for crawling into and out of. Old newspaper is fun to tear and makes an interesting sound when crinkled.

  With a little more work, you can make toys out of ingredients you have sitting around your house. Mix flour, salt and water to make a homemade playdough that is cheap, edible and easy to clean. Take the battery out of an old cell phone and your baby will love to "talk" on it and push the buttons. Turn old cardboard boxes into building blocks or playhouses with a little bit of duct tape and non-toxic paint or wrapping paper for decoration.

Soft Toys

• With a little bit of sewing expertise, you can make almost any kind of soft toy. All you need for sewing toys is a sewing machine and a few scraps of material. You can use recycled material from old clothes or other projects; many toys are small and only require a little bit of cloth. Puppets are simple projects that require very little sewing. Soft blocks are also easy to sew, requiring only four straight stitches. Dolls and stuffed animals are simple to make. By making your own soft toys, you can design toys that match the decor of your playroom or nursery. You can make many versions of your child's favorite toys without spending a lot of money. And you can know exactly what materials went into the toys.

Wooden Toys

• Woodworking might sound like a difficult craft to learn, but you can make wooden toys with just a few simple skills and tools. With a scroll saw or coping saw, a drill and sandpaper, you can make many simple wooden toys. Always be sure to use natural wood that hasn't been pressure treated; pressure treated wood has many dangerous chemicals in it and shouldn't be used for baby toys. Also make sure that all your pieces are always at least 2 inches wide or larger so they aren't a choking hazard. If you want to paint your wooden toys, use non-toxic paints or natural wood stains that are safe for babies. Some wooden toys that are easy to make include blocks, puzzles, animals and tiles.