toys

It's hard for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to hold back and not overwhelm the child with toys. However, more is definitely not more.
Children are quickly overwhelmed by too many toys. This leads to them not engaging with one thing for a longer period of time, and in the worst case scenario, they may even lose the desire to play.
The best way to find out how many toys your child actually needs is to pay attention to their behaviour when playing. Children are full of creativity and imagination. They are always discovering new ways to play that adults would never think of. If you notice that your child is running out of ideas, it's time for a new toy or an extension of the one they already have.

In the first weeks of life, newborns are fully occupied with the impressions from their environment. Toys would overtax them. When your baby begins to consciously perceive and explore its environment, it is ready for its first toy.
The following baby toys are particularly suitable:
Rattle
Gripper
Cuddle cloth
Soft book
Playbook
Mobile
Oball

As a rule, it is sufficient to clean the toy in the washing machine, dishwasher or by hand at intervals of a few weeks.
If baby toys end up on surfaces where you prepare food, if the toys pass through many children's hands, or if a person in your household is sick, you should also clean the toys in between to make sure that no germs take hold.
Dry bath toys well after splashing to prevent mould and bacteria from forming.

Sad but true: the answer is yes. Shockingly, the results of tests show that a large number of the toys tested contain substances that are hazardous to health.
Unfortunately, the test seals in this area are somewhat fuzzy and the test criteria are not very transparent. If a toy has the GS mark or the seal of TÜV Rheinland, you can at least be sure that the product has been tested for harmful substances and that legally defined maximum values are not exceeded.

If your family planning is not yet complete, a storage box is the right place for disused toys. The next offspring is sure to enjoy the treasure chest.
If a family member or someone in your circle of friends is expecting a child, you'll be doing them a huge favour by passing on toys in good condition.
You can also make an important contribution by donating the toys to social institutions, such as a family centre in your area or the Child Protection Agency.
You can give cuddly toys to the old clothes collection. Containers bearing the FairWertung label, the seal of the German Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Disposal (bvse) or the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI) guarantee that the soft toys will be donated to social projects.
Otherwise, you can get rid of a lot of stuffed animals at the flea market or via internet platforms.

You can simply put unusable toys made of wood or plastic in the residual waste.
If the toys contain electronics, they are hazardous waste. You can dispose of electronic waste either at the nearest recycling centre or at a dealer for electrical appliances. Batteries also have no place in household waste, but must be handed in at collection points.