So Many Toys. So Little Time.

Before Ada was born, I somehow thought we'd be immune to the widely spread baby-taking-over-the-house syndrome. Parents, can you relate? Do you have a corner of a room that looks something like this?

(Oh, who am I kidding, our entire house looks like this right now!)


Toys e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e!

We try our best to be semi-minimalist when it comes to baby A. We don't buy every flashing, battery-operated gadget that catches our eye at the store. We have tried packing away a good portion of her loot and even sent a good-sized box to grandparents' houses. We have bins, but little closet and other storage space. And well-meaning friends and family have given us so much stuff, it's overflowing from every corner. We need to get a better system in place. We're already dreading her first birthday, which has brought upon many conversations at night. They start something like this: "Is it ever OK to ask people NOT to bring toys to a birthday party?!"

I don't know where I'm going with this. I guess I'd love to hear what you do to keep things organized and somewhat pared-down. It's silly to think there would be no mess. Still, I think we could do a better job containing the madness.


Which brings me to another toy-related discussion. When Ada got sick for the first time last month, I was presented with an issue I hadn't thought about: Cleaning her toys. I don't know why the thought hadn't crossed my mind in the 4 months prior to her sniffles. It just hadn't. Of course there were a few times when she spit up on Bumble, her beloved bee puppet, and I promptly gave him a good go through the washing machine. Otherwise, all those links, blocks, and other toys -- that were always, always, always in her mouth -- didn't see soap nearly as often as they should have at all.

How often do you clean your little one's toys? Once a day? Once a week? A month? Never? Of course, after Ada had coughed and sniffled on all her frequently gnawed-on goodies, I dunked them in a hot bath with a splash of all-purpose cleaner (Meyer's - Lavender) and vinegar.


I've decided -- at least for now -- that I'll be a once-a-month kind of mom. I don't want to go overboard. I don't think every time a toy/pacifier/bottle touches the ground that it's some god-awful thing. And I can't keep up with that kind of maintenance anyway. Hell, I can't even take a shower once a day! The plush, stuffed toys are another matter all together. I have little idea how to keep them clean. Some fit nicely into our washing machine. Others don't.

Like this guy. We've had him for two seconds, and he's already covered in slobber.


I got an email asking for exersaucer recommendations. We actually don't have one and didn't ever intend to buy one. Ada's doorway jumper has been enough fun. But Stephen's mom got us this awesome exersaucer-like thing for Easter called the Go-Pod (by Kidco -- thanks, Kathy!)

We love that it folds up in a snap . . . so portable and hide-able. Her toys attach to it, too. Best part? We don't have some gigantic plastic eyesore in the middle of our living room. It's win-win!

And Ada loves it.
There you have it. A super-long post about all-things toys. What are your storage methods? What are your cleaning methods? Basically, how do you deal with all the STUFF that comes along with having a baby? And have you been successful at doing more with less? That's our ultimate goal.

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