Books and toys, borrow or buy?

DD doesn't own many toys and/or books (as they mostly seem aimed at older babies/children) and I want to give her access to some more.

What books & toys do your children have / had that they really like?

We belong to the library and the local toy library have you found it better to buy or borrow?

I completely agree with Kellz. Books are worth buying (or getting as presents) because they love hearing them over and over and over again. But toys they seem quite happy to play with different things frequently. I have bought, or requested some stuff that will last for years (eg wooden building blocks) that we love but I reckon the toy library would be a great thing for the rest. Mind you you'll still accumulate tons of stuff somehow.

I agree, books are always great to have, though the library is good for variety but they do get their favourites. For toys, get the lasting wooden things, or stuff like a shape-o that can be used for years, or if you are having 2 or more kids, stuff that will last :D
Maybe start saving up on the lego early cause that stuff is expensive and I think it is such a cool toy for kids as they get older.
We are getting her a wooden trolley (to get her walking confidence up) that has wooden blocks with numbers/letters etc on them, for her 1st bday. She is just getting it early cause she sort've could use it NOW if you get what I mean.

We have been given so many toys, its ridiculous. I would vote for buying/asking for good quality wooden toys and books and puzzles and then borrowing any other bits and pieces.
Although, I did say this to people myself and still ended up with miles and miles of plastic crap.


I found a bulk lot of books on TradeMe for super cheap about a year ago and bought them and a few other books from time and time, DS favourite book is one of the Trademe ones, he's always coming to me with it to read.

I agree with the others, i love toy library and they do have toys for babies from young age. I used to borrow a play gym and then after 4 months J would play in their exersaucer and now we borrow activity tables and little bikes etc.

Some toys are worth getting as your kids will play with them for years. A good trolley with blocks - there are some nice wooden ones around. My 2.9year old loves his trolley. Him and the baby fight over it!

Those little Triang Trikes are bombproof and again the toddler and baby both play with ours.
Ball pit is pretty popular here and has been for awhile, we just put the balls in our paddling pool. Blimming messy tho, those balls get everywhere, you'd never want to get that out of toy lib as you'd be losing the balls all the time.
Water table is another good one for a long age range - maybe 10mos to 3-4 years. In winter just put warm water in.

Books for baby - any board books with feely bits in - the "That's not my..." series are my 1yo fav, we have 2 but always have a few more out of the library.

Crafty, Lily's fave are the 'That's not my...' books too.

We also got the gym out until about 3 months but haven't signed up again since. Although our toy library had some other things too from about 3mo+. We borrowed there JJ at 14 weeks but wasn't too big a hit, DD enjoyed it more at 5mo but we are glad we didn't waste our money on one!