Good Questions: Keeping Toys in the Stroller?

2008-08-07-stroller toys.jpg
Naomi wrote us: Any suggestions on what to use to keep my 5 month old throwing his toys out of the stroller? I was thinking of making something with stretchy cord but am worried about the safety hazard. I'm sure there must be existing products out there.

Well, this question seems particularly appropriate as we focus on outings with your little ones this month here at Ohdeedoh. You bring along toys to keep them entertained, but how do you keep the toys from getting lost or thrown on the ground over and over again?

What you probably want to do first is think about "stroller toys" that are made specifically to attach to the stroller. Tiny Love makes a bunch of stroller toys. They're not the most beautiful things to look at, but they might do the trick. There is also a product called Secure-a-Toy, though safety might still be somewhat of a concern with something like this.

Anyone else have a suggestion for Naomi?

Comments (7)

I've seen people use big plastic 'links' in a chain. that way the chain and the toy at the end are fun.

posted by Enamorada on August 7th 2008 at 5:25am
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Yep, we use the plastic links. Lots of companies make them, like this: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2734997

You can get them at Target or anyplace they have baby toys. Or you can be cheap like me and just swipe the links off the Gymini.

posted by jk2 on August 7th 2008 at 5:34am
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I second (or third) the plastic rings. We had a series of toys by http://www.tinylove.com/ and the toys/rings were interchangeable. We had the Tiny Love toy arch for the stroller, but eventually removed it and just used the plastic links to attach a few of the toys to the stroller, itself. We used this method to switch out toys between the Gymini, the toy arch, the stroller and our backpack carrier.

posted by Speakaboo on August 7th 2008 at 6:07am
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I used Baby Buddies toy straps (not plastic) and they come in a pack of two. I always give them at baby showers, too.

They are cool because you can also use them for a Lovie Leash or pacifier holder on. Of course, you can only get one toy on at a time...

http://shop.nurturecenter.com/babusetoyst2.html

posted by MissyW on August 7th 2008 at 7:30am
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I used the Baby Buddies, too. They seemed to be just the right length to hold a toy in baby's reach (and off of the ground), but not long enough for baby to get tangled up. I never used the plastic links as we are anti-plastic at our house.

posted by nicmariemc on August 7th 2008 at 7:44am
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Links! While they are plastic, they have numerous uses. We used them on the stroller to attach:

-Winkle toy
-Her taggie blanket
-Fabric books (that already had a fabric loop on them)
-Snack trap cup
-Sippy with water
-I used a couple of links on the back of the stroller to hang my reusable shopping bags.

I have found the Discovery Toys ones to be the best links, as they don't stretch out.

At Grandma's, links are used as a temporary childproofing measure on the cupboard doors.

posted by carriec on August 7th 2008 at 7:55am
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i use the straps from secure a toy with my son and the stroller. i think i started using them when he was about maybe 7 months old and i've never had any problems with it. works great! highly recommend them.

posted by smileygirl on August 7th 2008 at 8:40am
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