June 30, 2020 Kelly Lampard

10 cheap and easy ways to entertain babies and toddlers.

I often see Mums asking online about ways to entertain babies. Being too young to play with toys but still enjoying the stimulation of colours and movement.

Here are a few things I found helpful in entertaining my three kids during the early years.

1. Helium balloons - It sounds simple, but it's effective. Simply loosely tie 1, 2, 3 or even 4 balloons to either their ankles and wrists and watch them come to life. They love the movement and colours and can spend loads of time wriggling around.

2. Blowing bubbles - You can buy bubble wands from most grocery stores, and babies love them. Let them reach out and try to pop the bubbles and hear them giggle when they do!

3. Baby light projector - These are terrific little devices that you can quickly get off Amazon. You simply plug them into a wall socket, and they project fun lights and colours onto the ceiling or wall. Ours came in 4 colours and 2 different domes for some variety and even played music. Look for projectors with timers as these are great at bedtime.

4. Homemade shakers - This is a simple and easy one. Simply take an empty plastic bottle and fill it with rice, pasta or any bits you find around the house and secure the lid tightly and let the little ones shake shake-shake to their own delight. You can also add some glitter for a bit of extra pizazz.

5. Glow sticks - Simply put the kids in a darkened room and activate the glow stick. The bright colours and patterns made by movement will delight and mesmerise them.

6. Ribbons on a stick - This could be as simple as tying some old Christmas ribbon onto the end of a chopstick, but the effects are the same. Your baby will love anything with colour and movement.

7. Baby TV - this is probably the most controversial suggestion, but for many parents, it’s a lifesaver. Another option is to find black and white baby sensory videos on YouTube.

8. Emergency blankets - My kids loved these, especially on sunny days. These simple but lifesaving metallic blankets are both noisy and shiny when moved around. Put the blanket next to a window with natural light, and you will see a disco of rainbows on every surface of the room.

9. Sing songs with actions - My twins love heads, shoulders, knees and toes, but there are a plethora of other songs out there. YouTube again is a fantastic resource for learning all the songs you haven't sung since childhood.