Good toys for independent play - 8-9 months old

[becky1969]

I'm in a bit of a fix. I have a couple of reports I HAVE to finish for work in the next 2-4 weeks. I work at home, and so only work while LO is sleeping. however, I'm going to have to try to get a little done while he's awake or I'll be in deep water!

Of course, just to be helpful, Owen is teething and suffering separation axiety so not real keen on mama doing anything but sitting right by his side. His favorite game is to build block towers and knock them over. I was wondering if anyone had a good toy that's REALLY absorbing at this age so that I could maybe sit at the computer 15-30 minutes while he's awake!

Help a desperate mama! 

[Erin M]

Stacking cups?  Shape sorters?  I think Katie was just getting into those at 8-9 months.  She was (and still is) a big fan of the Leap Frog learning table too around then, they also have a ton of other toys out that I've heard people say good things about.  There are also some ideas up on the sticky at the top of the forum.

[Nikki~]

Toys that balls can be put into slots. One of those pump up and down spinning tops with balls inside (I think playskool do one). DD loved just a small basket with a bunch of her socks in it and she'd sort them and put them in and out for ages. Maybe make up a "busy box" with different household items - a shaker with rice in it, utensils, ribbons, crinkly wrapping paper etc.

[becky1969]

The busy box sounds like a good idea!

He has the stacking cups and a ring stacker that you can put balls down the center. He's not coordinated enough to do the ball part, but is great at taking the rings off the stacker! The problem is, these things aren't absorbing him anymore. I think an activity box might work though. If it has new and different things - things mommy and daddy use - he may get really involved in it.

Any more ideas out there?

[MDHmommy]

My 9 month old loves paper. Give him some old magazines to shred and he's happy for 15 mins at a time! You do have to watch that he doesn't eat the paper...but if he's busy sucking on the paci...he won't generally put paper into his mouth

Mine also LOVES to play with stacks of board books. I keep little piles of 5-6 of them around underneath the tables in our living room, he goes to get them, pulls them out, picks up, turns pages, puts on top of table and pushes them around on the carpet. Also great for about 10-15 mins of uninterrupted play.

[becky1969]

Ooh, I like the board book idea! I think he'd enjoy that. Never thought of just letting him paw through those. Duh!

I'm not big on paci's while awake, so I'll have to skip the magazines, though that is ALSO a fantastic idea! He'd happily spend an hour shreading them - but the problem is he ends up ingesting them!