Toy of the Month: the Ice Cube
I’m always looking for new things to occupy the baby for a minute so I can do the dishes, put away the baby food, pet the jealous yowling cat, feed the jealous yowling cat, think a single thought to completion… stuff like that. In order to do this I’ll let her play with just about anything, save for sharp knives of course. It seems like the only thing that interests her is something new. Toys? Toys are only fun for five minutes and then they are sooooooo last season. Unless of course Mommy is playing with her with the toys and making funny voices. Then toys are fun but I can’t play with her ALL DAY LONG. I gotta do stuff now and then and nap times are few and far between.
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I found out that an ice cube can keep her occupied for many many minutes. In fact, when I put one in the little mesh fruit holder thing I had to take it away from her after ten minutes because her whole chin was turning red and I started to worry that she might get frost bite or a numb tongue. I think she did get a numb tongue, she kinda made a funny expression at me when I took it away. Like she wanted to cry but her whole bottom lip felt funny so she got distracted by that and just stared at me.
She loves ice cubes. She chases them around her high chair tray until they fly up and over the lip and onto the floor. No worries there, I just give it a quick rinse in the sink and deposit it right back on the tray. When it’s gone there’s a whole new supply in the freezer. They are quick and easy and other than some puddles on the floor, they are a breeze to clean up. I should market this thing…
When the ice cube gets old, I give her the whole ice cube tray. It’s rubber and feels great on the sore gums.
12 Comments
Jamie
What a great (and cool) idea! You’re becoming a pro at this mommy thing. :) My 16-month-old’s favorite toy? My husband’s very expensive cell phone. I just got a new one so I am letting her play with my old one, but somehow mine is not as cool as Daddy’s.
Marissa
Cute photos, too!
BeachMama
Awesome idea! I was going to suggest some of those fun shaped ice cube trays, then I realized that you have one :). You can get them in so many shapes now that make them fun for kids to play with and cool off with. When she gets older you can make them with some fruit juice for instant freezies.
ellamama
You got the high chair! Me too. Sooooooo much better.I wish it were taller, but at least it is plain.
Ice is good, and silicone spatulas.
Gretchen
Necessity is the mother of all invention! When the ice cube looses it’s cool… my kids love to play with boxes.
jP
We’re making juice pops in Dixie cups. One hour and forty-five minutes later put in a craft stick. Solid enough the next day and too big to swallow or choke on. Sticky though. Apple juice was better than Sunny D.
my 2 cents
Good idea! Looks like she enjoyed it!! :)
jP
Uncle Brion wanted to make sure you take them away from her when they get too small because she can choke on an ice cube. The “too small test” is if it can fit into a toilet paper roll it is too small. She may not be putting them in her mouth now, but it is only a matter of time. She’s growing so fast. jP
Jamie
Such a great idea, I will definitely try this one to see if I can get stuff put away too :)
I have heard from someone else that ice in the mesh feeder is a great teether, gotta get me one of those too!
Oh, and my baby loves measuring cups so give those a try if you haven’t already.
Thanks, SAJ!
josephine
Wouldn’t they melt before she choked? I guess maybe they might not melt fast enough. She does put them in her mouth so I’ll be more careful. Maybe the mesh thing only.
Liane
Thanks for the idea…it really is crazy how real toys seem to hold so little charm for them. My seven month old son loves to grab and chew on the TV remote…how typical!
jP
No, they won’t melt fast enough. I think that mesh thing is very inventive. They weren’t around when my kids were small. jP