Treasure/Sensory Baskets for babies? Please have a look and help where you can.

Barbiegirl_2 · 15 May 2008 at 7:55PM

Hi all,

I attended a baby group today and they had a treasure basket for the kids under 1 year to play with. I would love to make one up for our little boy. He's 11 weeks and I'm sure when he is sitting and able to reach for things he will enjoy this. Unfortunately I arrived a little late and missed the advice on where to get items to put in it. I was told that nothing plastic should be put in them.

Some of the items such as a wisk I have in my house but everything else they had you don't find in the local supermarket. Has anyone made one of these before? What did you put in it and where did you get items for it? Were they expensive?

I realise I am asking a lot of questions but apparently this sort of sensory play for babies and toddlers can benefit them a great deal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

squashy · 15 May 2008 at 8:31PM

I heard that bathroomy things in there are great, pumice stones, loofahs, sponges, nail brushes...the idea is anyting with a different material or texture than you would find in the average toy box!

Perhaps you should hit superdrug to start you off?

Pink_butterfly_3 · 15 May 2008 at 9:24PM

Bean bags!!!

Make some up in various colourful fabrics. Fill them with pasta shells, stones, beads etc. etc. Sew different colour and shaped buttons onto some of them.

Get a piece of colourful string and thread big beads or blocks onto it (nothing too small obviously).

Things that make loads of noise are always good

Sharra · 15 May 2008 at 9:26PM

I used to have one of these for my son when he was tiny, I kept it in a bag and carried it round with me - it was great if we had to wait around anywhere.
A bunch of keys are a winner, I put a pine cone in mine too (but kept a close eye that he didn't chomp it too much), a big shell from the beach and a pompom are other things I can remember.

Kit_Kat_Kate · 15 May 2008 at 9:33PM

I just used things I had in the home already, such as large metal spoon, kitchen utencils ie, wooden spoon, spactulia, ribbons, netting, dolly pegs, sponge, nail brush, balls of wool, egg cups, cardboard ceral box, tin foil, old bags, hats and so on...

Just make sure its safe and supervise play. Happy playing

daveyjp · 15 May 2008 at 9:33PM

Ikea marketplace did for us and for the nursery. Lots of wooden stuff, whisks, mushroom cleaning brush, cork coasters, spoons etc etc.

Barbiegirl_2 · 15 May 2008 at 10:19PM

Thanks all for the wonderful ideas. the bean bags sound good but I don't have a sewing machine. Can these be bought cheaply anywhere? I could manage sewing big bright colourful buttons on and that's about it.

snugglepuss_2 · 15 May 2008 at 10:28PM

We were told about treasure boxes this week too - my DS is 6 weeks old now. The Nursery Nurse who ran the session suggested things like a new toothbrush and nailbrush, wooden spoons, and something like an empty water bottle with some dry rice or lentils sealed inside it as a sort of rattle. I'm going to a Mother and Baby group in the morning which is run by the same woman, and if I get a chance, I'll ask her for some more ideas.

shirefairy · 16 May 2008 at 12:36AM

My son loved playing with a sheet of greaseproof paper (supervised obviously!) He was fascinated with the noise it made and the fact that he could scrunch it up, and it doesn't disintegrate when they get it a bit soggy or tear as easily as other papers. A metal springy egg cup was also a favourite. But basically anything you have around, don't go and spend money you really don't have to. In my experience kids love free toys much more than anything you spend your hard earned cash on! why is that!!!

squashy · 16 May 2008 at 12:53AM

My baby's ultimate favourite toy is a round biscuit tin and wooden spoon combo- if Arctic Monkeys need a 7 month old backup drummer they need look no further!

Welshlassie · 16 May 2008 at 9:42AM

http://www.peep.org.uk/standard.asp?id=300

http://www.contentedchild.co.uk/howtouse.htm

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/_doc/P0000221.pdf

I've put one of these together for my DS and we have one at our house and grandparents house. He loves it, definately his favourite "toy".

I just searched the web for a list of things and printed it off and pinned it to the fridge, then when I was out and about I popped into £ shops and the like and picked up stuff as I saw it.

His favourite item from it is by far a wooden honey dipper I had from my mums house. I'd say it cast me no more than £10 to put it together.

Be careful with cardboard objects and watch them carefully my DS chews them and then has ended up with bits of paper in his mouth.

Treasure/Sensory Baskets for babies? Please have a look and help where you can.

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