Bouncy, squishy, squeaky and colorful. Baby toys are definite attention grabbers, and I think that’s the point.

They are made to draw a baby in and get those little wheels turning. But…what happens when mom or dad get mesmerized by the mirrors and silky tags?

Okay, so maybe it isn’t so much that as it is just pure excitement to see baby play with something new…but whatever it is, I find myself often getting way more excited about new baby toys…than baby.

With just a little 5-month-old, I can hardly blame my endless trips to the infant toy aisle on her. (Not quite yet anyhow). Each and every trip to the store I find myself mindlessly gazing at a wall of colorful trinkets.

Some loud, some soft, some bouncy and some reflective. Minutes fly by as I stand carefully reading each and every label to find the perfect item to entertain and teach my little human seamlessly.

Then my gaze drifts from little toys to the big ones on the bottom of the shelf. Then just like a diamond among pearls…one sparkles far brighter than all the rest.

A little chair/activity center. Sure it’s $45 and LO surely will outgrow it within a month or two at most, but the value of such a toy far outweighs the green I must give in its exchange.

I carefully set my find in the basket and talk with baby to hopefully get her as excited about the new toy as momma.

We get home and like a young child at Christmas, I rip open the tape and the box and rush to put the answer to all my prayers together. With just as must haste, but a little more careful…I slide baby’s tiny legs into the seat and sit back to watch my mom-win in action.

But, to my utter disappointment…baby ‘s face cringes as she looks at me in disbelief that this is what I’d been talking up the whole way home…and…

WAIIIILLLLLLL. 

She hates it.

But, determination is key.

We’ll keep trying.    =)

<3

Michaela