Hina's Top 5 Ordinary Items as Baby Toys

I'm sure everyone has heard the anecdote: We spent so much money on such-and-such a toy, and my baby only plays with the box.

I don't know about you, but I am not rolling around in excess cash. Of course I would love to shower my child with every known baby luxury, from toys to furniture to clothes. I just don't have the means. And really, Mr. Baby doesn't need all those things. He has a fabulous time playing with the most ordinary things. Here's my list of Top 5 Ordinary Items that my 16 month old son enjoys playing with.

1. Citrus fruit - Mr. Baby calls them "baa!" He means, "ball," but he doesn't have the "L" sound down yet. Lemons and oranges are great, but he really seems to get a kick out of grapefruits and pommelos. I like the large fruits better because they're large enough that Mr. Baby can't take a bite out of the rind and choke himself. And you know what? After he's been kicking around a pommelo, it's nice and soft, and it's easier for me to peel each section.

2. Soap bars - I keep our stash of individually wrapped bars of soap in a drawer in the bathroom. At present, I am still unable to go to the bathroom by myself because Mr. Baby will start screaming. Apparently if the door is closed, I've somehow abandoned him. So he comes in and has fun opening and closing the drawers, and he loves to take out all the soap bars and stack them up. They're the greatest building blocks for him! Small enough that he can pick them up and maneuver them easily, yet large enough that he can stack them dexterously. He's still working on his fine motor skills, so I like that he plays with these.

3. Plastic tubs - When I finish the cream cheese/margarine/random food item in the plastic tub, I wash the container and give it to my boy. He likes to put his toys inside them or put it on his head. I confess, we've spent several afternoons playing dress up with plastic hats. They also make great stackers. Sometimes, I'll throw a few pennies inside and duct tape the lid on. Voila! Instant rattle. They are great drums, or houses for other toys to live in, or obstacles to run around and jump over, or they line up like mini bowling pins and make a very satisfying noise when we throw the ball at them. Line some up on a strip of tape, and they become a train for the toys to ride in. I like these, and if they break, hey, I know I'm going to buy more cream cheese eventually.

4. Paper cups - Thank goodness for the wonders of the bathroom! On a day when we were low on soap, my boy improvised by taking out a box of 3oz. paper cups, the kind you keep around for rinsing your mouth. Again, great toy for dexterity. He stacks them like little blocks, he stacks them all together, he smushes them, he puts things in them and dumps them out repeatedly, he puts them over his mouth and explores the different sounds he can make. They are also cheap chew toys. I like these because they're inexpensive and disposable, there are 200 in a box, and unlike plastic cups, if he rips one, it's highly unlikely that he'll get cut. The only thing I watch out for is that he doesn't start eating the paper.

5. Empty plastic bottles - These are the ordinary 1 pint bottles of water. When I'm done drinking, I leave a little bit of water in the bottom of the bottle, screw the lid on extra tight, and hand it to Mr. Baby. This has saved me on long drives in the car. When, as a new mom, I neglected to pack a toy, a snack, or a cd of kids' songs, I would down my water as fast as possible, tighten the lid as much as possible, and pass it to the screaming, red-faced tot in the back seat. When I hand him the bottle, I ask him to, "Shake, shake, shake the bottle for Mama!" More than once, it has fascinated him long enough for me to get to a convenience store for a pack of crackers or a bathroom with a change table - whatever solves the crisis of the moment. I also keep a few empty shampoo bottles in the bathtub. They are instant submarines, fountains, squirt toys, and hands-on physics educational aids. Sometimes, I throw some nuts or pennies inside a bottle, glue the top shut, and I've got a brand new rattle that my boy has never seen before.

These are just five of my favorites. However, they are the five that I use fairly often and with great success. I'm always looking for more ideas, though. I know you moms and dads out there have come up with some great stuff. Anyone willing to share?