When is it ok to put toys in his crib?

Question

I have an almost 5 month old and I am wondering if it is ok to put a couple toys in his crib. He has been sleeping with his burp cloth for months. Randomly he wakes up in the middle of the night when he has been sleeping 10 hrs for the past 2 months. I usually end up giving him play time. Can I just put the toys in there so I don't have to get up?

Answer 1

You can sort of skirt the whole toys in the crib question if you get one of those toy mobiles that can attach or hang over the crib. It's sort of like a mobile, but the kid can touch it and interact when he wants, yet it won't interfere with his sleep. I believe that it's better to be safe than sorry. There's always more than one solution when you are looking at a question. Take care and give your baby a hug for me!

Answer 2

She should only be crying in the crib for as long as it takes you to get to her. You are doing the opposite effect of getting her used to the crib. You are showing her that when she goes into the crib she is going to be left alone, which is going to give her the wrong idea about the crib, and make her upset every time she goes in their. Plus, putting toys and stuffed animals in the crib is dangerous. She is only 6 months old, 6 month olds don't amuse themselves for periods of time, she wants interaction and stimulation. She wants to be around people. Why can't she just come lay and play on the floor next to where you are? If you are having a hard time taking care of her, ask for help, from a friend or family member. You can't just put a 6 month old in a crib and expect them to sit their and be content. That is wrong on so many levels. Say you need to run to the bathroom or something of that sort, then yes, putting her in her crib for a minute is okay. But thats just about it. Well, when folding clothes, take the clothes in teh living room and lay her next to you. My son loved when I fold clothes at that age, we could play peek a boo with towels and I would let him dig through the clothes. Their was no reason to put him somewhere else. While cooking, place her in a high chair with a few toys, away from teh stove, but still within talking distance of you. Or else I used to pull my sons jumper into the kitchen. That way he was still around me, I could talk to him, and he didn't feel deserted and alone. Its not always easy taking care of a baby and taking care of a household, but you must become crafty and figure out a way to happily incoorperate baby in your daily activites and responsibilities.

Answer 3

Ack! Dont put toys in his crib...and dont give him playtime in the middle of the night! By giving him playtime, you are reinforcing his night waking and encouraging him to keep waking up! Yikes! This will cause him (and you) to be sleep deprived, which is bad for his development. When he wakes, go in and check on him - dont turn on the lights. If you need to pick him up because he is crying, do what you need to to soothe him, but then put him back down...do NOT play with him! When he sees you will not engage in play with him, he will get the message after a few days and he will stop waking.

Answer 4

He should be fine. You don't want to put a bunch of stuffed animals in there or anything he could suffocate on but something to entertain him should be just fine. You might get some of those toys that affix to the crib bars too. They have mirrors and rattles and other things to amuse baby...and won't come off.

Answer 5

Yes. Just be sure they are toys for his age and have no small pieces that he can get choked on. Watch for the eyes and noses on stuffed animals that may be easily pulled off. I'd suggest one of those exploring toys that are designed to hang on the side of the crib.

Answer 6

I put toys in both of my boys' cribs somewhere between 5 and 6 months of age. When they woke up, they could entertain themselves for a while before crying for me. (Hey...sometimes that extra 15 minutes sleep does wonders!) I just made sure it was nothing they could choke on, could get wrapped around their necks or could suffocate them. They both LOVED their padded blocks. I got a set of four at Babies R Us. One rattled, one had a bell in it, one quacked like a duck when you squeeze it, and the other one is a frog...you pull his leg and the block vibrates. :) They're very bright colors, so they keep the baby's attention. I also gave my younger son the Baby Tad from Leap Frog. It's cool...plays music, etc.

Answer 7

absolutely not! but you can get those crib toys that attach to the side of the rails, anything else though is a choking hazard. so is the burp rag, really. all that sort of stuff increases the risk of SIDS. it might seem over protective, but better safe than sorry!

Answer 8

I think you should wait until he is about 9 to twelve months. If this calms him down you can put toys in the vrib but nothing that can hurt him or nothing that he can choke on.

Answer 9

My little one was the SAME way...

Just put in toys that you know will not come apart and be a choking hazade. A teddy bear with a nose, eyes swone in! (My little ones bear, Rupert, his nose came off... and she, luckly, had it in her hand when we got up with her that morning!)

Oh.... and make sure that if you put a "NOISE" make toy in there, you'll be ready to get up and play when they start playing with it!!! (Learned that the hard way!!!)
(If you have any questions, or wanna talk about kids... email me.)

Answer 10

I keep a few in my daughters crib that way when she gets up in the morning she has some alone time to herself. When she's ready for me to come and get her she starts to talk loudly. So he doesn't get up at night have you tried keeping him up later. i put my daughter to bed at 9-9:30 and she gets up at 8-8:30. Sometimes she gets up at night,but she has acid reflux and sometimes it bothers her, but she goes back to sleep when she calms down.