After the first four to five months with the twins, I thought I might never have a moment of peace ever again. Eat, play, sleep. Eat, play, sleep. Everyday was like groundhog day, and the hardest part was figuring out what to do with the babies while they were awake. I was spending the majority of my day bouncing a bouncer or shaking the mobile on the activity mat. I tried toys, but at that age those never seemed to entertain them for very long. Then something magic happened. Their little hands started reaching for things, and I could see their minds begin to wonder. It reminded me that they have the whole world left to get to know, starting from the the very beginning. As a mom, I wanted to give that to them. I can’t give them the whole world. But I can break it down, bit-by-bit ,and show them the most simple, uncomplicated pieces of it. Colors, shapes, movement, sounds, textures. This is the recipe for simplicity. No mess. No noise. I want my babies to learn this way. That’s why I started with their toys.

At the time, we already had several toys in the house, mostly given to me as shower gifts. There were only a select few that the twins cared about and even those barely held their attention. So I started looking for purposeful toys that catered to the development of the twins’ milestones. When they were learning to grab, they got a toy that was easy to grab. When they were first developing their motor skills, they got toys that encouraged them to shake, spin, or rattle. Any toy that didn’t have a purpose was donated. Any toy that they no longer played with was donated. It was a process, but by the time the twins got to 6 months or so, they had a core group of toys that each served a specific function.

Once the twins were sitting up really well, I began making play time more structured. I found a lightweight cotton basket and piled all their favorite toys inside. Now, when it’s time to play, I bring the basket over to them and take a few toys out one by one. Then I leave the basket beside them, allowing them to tip it over and grab more if they want or they can just play with what is out. When they are done playing, I make a point to put them all back in the basket and put it away. This may seem like a hippy dippy philosophy, but somehow these babies have kept the same enthusiasm over these toys for weeks. I will add and switch them out as they lose interest or their developmental needs change, but there are also some toys in there that they’ve had for months.

It’s very important to me that the twins toys are still real toys with life and color in them. None of that new age minimalistic crap. Sure, I worked hard to decorate my home with a calming design and neutral color palate, but I didn’t have babies to match that aesthetic. My babies need color. Keeping their toys as minimal as possible is about space, not concern over clashing patterns in my living room.

With that, the following are the current toys inside the twins’ toy basket. Does another toy sometimes find its way in there? Sure. Do some of these toys occasionally get left in the car or my diaper bag? Of course. Only keeping a select group of toys when you have twins is not a perfect system, but we make it work as best we can. Take a look and feel free to tell me what you would or wouldn’t put in your baby’s toy basket.

Seven Month Toy Basket
  1. Wheel Activity Suction Toy – I call this one old faithful. This toy has been keeping the twins engaged since they were 4 months old. They love the colors and the sounds, and I love that it suctions to any surface, like the highchair or bathtub.
  2. Stacking Circle Toy – These stacking circles are smaller than they look. I even had to take the top white one away as I was afraid it was too small for their mouths. The small size makes them great teethers and they squeak almost like a dog toy. They really just love to chew on them. Kind of like a dog toy. Hey, it works!
  3. Suction Spinners – These toys are great for teaching simple mechanics like making something spin. As time went on, the twins learned that they could make the animal in the center spin too if they hold the wings and flick it. Sounds like a simple thing, but it makes their faces light up every time.
  4. Stacking Cups – This toy was amazing for when they were first sitting up and developing their pincer grasp. Now that they have that skill down pat, they love to hold the cups and bang them together.
  5. Animal Tails Crinkle Book – This book has also been around for a while. They love the texture and when they get sick of that, they love to chew on the tails.
  6. Sensory Balls – These balls actually go with an object permanence box i purchased, but felt they were quite ready for. They loved the balls though, especially the green one that rattles. Each one is a different texture and weight.
  7. Paint Palate Press Toy – At 7 months, they haven’t quite figured out the press part yet, but they are close. They really just love to hold it in their hands and feel the bubbles.
  8. Suction Bowl – I added this bowl to their toy box to go with the sensory balls. It has the perfect curved shape and they like to watch the balls circle around the bowl.