Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

to start tossing/donating toys?

How do you know other than the obvious falling apart or whatever?

I feel like with the holidays coming up they are going to get more toys than they really need, however they have so much already.

Plus I feel like they really don't play with many things to begin with.

What is your rule of thumb?

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

I am a really bad person to ask because up until now we haven't thrown away any toys. We hope to have another child so I store them in clear rubbermade totes and label them by age.

However, as far as packing things up I pack things up when they are no longer age appropriate. She plays with her puzzls, dress up clothes, disney prncess items, baby doll, little people toys, so that is what is still out for her to play ith.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

I retire the toys not being played with anymore, too "babyish"/past his age range.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

i find it hard to figure out what's age appropriate with having a 16 mth and a 26 mth old.

She is definitely more into her babies, doll house, puzzles and little people. And he just wants her toys. lol He has some cars and most of the FP toys but he doesn't play with them.

I am always trying to figure out what goes and once I have my mind set, they go and play with it.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

My DH and I sometimes go back and forth about packing up some toys. For example, there are a few "big" itmes like her piano and her walker-car from when she was a year old----that she does play with occasionally,but not often.

I don't even want to trow them away, just pack them up. And DH will be like "oh, she played with that last week." and so he thinks we should keep it out.

So FIL gave us a suggestion. Put it in a closet for a week. If they ask for it, take it back out. If they don't ask for it, pack it away for good.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

Well, Ava's birthday and Christmas are spaced perfectly for toy tossing If she hasn't used it since her birthday in June or barely used it, around Christmas it gets donated, then by her birthday, if it has barely been touched since Christmas, it gets donated. I kind of just cycle them out every six months. She's not really into toys. Books, on the other hand, we could drown in over here.

ETA: It's definitely harder in your case with the two being 10 months apart, so I woudl say if neither of them is playing with it and you know neither WILL play with it soon, donate or pack it up.

Message edited 10/13/2008 3:55:41 PM.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

By age appropriate, I mean he is outgrowing them.

For example, all the baby raddles, fabric toys.

Then I retired the FP laugh and learn house because he was leaning on it on an angle... not good! He will break it and fall on it.

Re: Toddler Moms: WHen is it time...

Well I saved all of the babyish toys a long time ago for baby #2. As for the other toys he's outgrown, I've donated them or thrown them away. He has a habit of busting a lot of his toys.

I find that when I take some toys away and then bring them out a few months later, he gets interested in them again.

As for rattles and all those other toys...they should probably be gone by now.