Toys Under Three

[dingledine]

I have toys for under three, and two children under 18mo. They like to have the toys in their mouths, try to walk around with them, etc.

What is the best way to stop this from happening, or is standing over them, the only way. Suggestions?

[Play Care]

I have toys for under three, and two children under 18mo. They like to have the toys in their mouths, try to walk around with them, etc.

What is the best way to stop this from happening, or is standing over them, the only way. Suggestions?

The only thing I do when kids that age mouth toys is keep the "yuck" bucket handy. I don't even say anything to them about it, just as soon as they are done I pick it up and put it in the bucket to be sanitized. I read something a while back about mouthing toys being an important part of sensory development so I try to keep toys meant for that purpose.

Now when I get kids closer to 2 1/2 -3, I start redirecting when I see them putting toys in their mouths "we can rock dolly or feed her a bottle, dolls do not go in our mouths." Older then that, they might lose out on the toy if they keep mouthing them, because I'm not going to be in a hurry to sanitize a toy that a 4yo mouthed.

[JoseyJo]

I have toys for under three, and two children under 18mo. They like to have the toys in their mouths, try to walk around with them, etc.

What is the best way to stop this from happening, or is standing over them, the only way. Suggestions?

I only take children 18 mo and up. If I did take littler children I would not stop them from mouthing the toys as it is developmentally appropriate. I would just keep toys at their level that can be mouthed, and remove them/stick them in the dish washer as soon as they put them down.

For my crowd we have a No Toys in the Mouth rule. A lot of times when they start they are mouthing toys - as soon as the toy goes in the mouth I immediately remove it and say "Uh oh! Toys don't go in our mouths at school, that spreads germs." Then I put the toy in the dishwasher. After 5-20 times (depending on the child!) they realize that every time they put a toy in their mouths they loose it and have to find another so they stop putting them in their mouths.

[MCC]

The only thing I do when kids that age mouth toys is keep the "yuck" bucket handy. I don't even say anything to them about it, just as soon as they are done I pick it up and put it in the bucket to be sanitized. I read something a while back about mouthing toys being an important part of sensory development so I try to keep toys meant for that purpose.

Now when I get kids closer to 2 1/2 -3, I start redirecting when I see them putting toys in their mouths "we can rock dolly or feed her a bottle, dolls do not go in our mouths." Older then that, they might lose out on the toy if they keep mouthing them, because I'm not going to be in a hurry to sanitize a toy that a 4yo mouthed.

I love the "yuck" bucket idea.

I usually put the toy aside, and sanitize it at the end of the day, but the "yuck" bucket is a great idea.

[dingledine]

What I am asking, is if they are constantly pulling out all of the toys for the three and up crowd, and putting them in their mouth, and they aren't age appropriate... do you just let them go ahead, or aside from putting the majority of the toys UP, where NOBODY can reach them... what do you do?

[dingledine]

For example... there was a post a while back where a child fell, had a toy in his mouth... a car... the child hurt themselves with the car that was in their mouth... and people were like... why is he having that toy... and I was thinking... what was he doing with that toy... and now I know... it is hard to regulate... so people that DO regulate... what do you do, and how do you do it?

[Play Care]

For example... there was a post a while back where a child fell, had a toy in his mouth... a car... the child hurt themselves with the car that was in their mouth... and people were like... why is he having that toy... and I was thinking... what was he doing with that toy... and now I know... it is hard to regulate... so people that DO regulate... what do you do, and how do you do it?

OHHH, I see. My littles (under 18 months -2) have a play yard that is their spot. Older children are not allowed in, nor can they share the "older" toys with them. For the most part I don't keep many toys that are not appropriate for all ages - I have cars, just not matchbox cars. I have duplos, not legos, etc.

[MCC]

For example... there was a post a while back where a child fell, had a toy in his mouth... a car... the child hurt themselves with the car that was in their mouth... and people were like... why is he having that toy... and I was thinking... what was he doing with that toy... and now I know... it is hard to regulate... so people that DO regulate... what do you do, and how do you do it?

I have a group of 5 months-2.5 years. My state regs say that anything that can fall through a toilet paper roll, without getting stuck, has to be out of reach of children under 3, OR has to be directly supervised by provider.

So, I have all my puzzles, "Mr. Potato head", and a couple of little cars, sitting up on a shelf. I get them down about once a day and we play together with them, then I put them away.

Same with the train table. I have the tracks and buildings on it, but the cars, trains, signs, etc...are all up on a shelf so we can play together with them, and then put them away.

I hope that helps?