Group E - Bumps and BABY Busy Bags!

This was our first busy-bag swap designed for babies! The toddlers were most interested, and I'm sure that one or two items didn't make it to their baby siblings at all! It was fun to be creative for younger babies, but equally, babies are easy to please; happy with paper bags and bunches of keys! Here is what we made for the first swap. Enjoy! (I decided to put these photos up before my baby is born. I've a sneaky suspicion that I wont have any free hands!)

High-visibility soft flash-cards!

  

These were designed to be visually captivating for babies; using simple geometric shapes, faces, and colours that are distinguishable to newborns. Made of soft foam, with no sharp edges, and tied together with shoe-laces. At the time of writing, I have roughly 10 days left before my next baby arrives, so these baby items have been lovingly stashed, away from my enthusiastic little toddler!

Ribbon-Taggy Car-seat toy!

This goes on your baby's car seat, wrap, sling, pram, high-chair, shopping trolley... wherever you are in need of a little entertainment! Visually stimulating, coupled with encouraging reaching, grasping and fine motor skills. By Laura of Busy Bags!

Raincloud!

This furry cloud has hidden treasure inside! It hides a bell and crinkly cellophane! I think that it's good for cause and effect development, auditory stimulation as well as being very tactile! By Debra of Busy Bags!

Lava Lamps!

  I am reliably informed that the lids need to be super-glued on for these to work and be safe! Its made from water; sunflower oil (you can use baby oil) and glitter. Food colouring can be added to change the colours. This looks simple but is really gloopy and interesting (I played with mine for about 20 minutes!) The oil, water and glitter combo actually take some time to adjust after being up-ended.... retro and psychedelic! I think that this little gem stimulates visual development, gross motor skill and imagination! By Judith of Busy Bags!

Squooshy Treasure Bags!

  

 Quote: "The Treasure Bag is mine, all mine!"

These are bags, filled with glitter, objects, shiny things, lumpy things and hair gel! (And sealed really well!!!) As you can see from the photo, they are just dying to be touched and squeezed! These actually smell interesting too! I'd say they are great for discovery-type play, tactile, good for the development of coordination and curiosity! By Elly of Busy Bags!

Fabric Funtime!

And just to show you how simple and easy making busy bags can be; three squares of differently textured material, and bingo! A baby amusement activity! I'd say that this activity develops hand-eye coordination, tactile stimulation, oral texture exploration, grasping and releasing, spatial awareness and the good old skill of 'peek-a-boo!' By HelenS of Busy Bags!