Stimulation is critical to early brain development, and so we hope to bring something back for those babies when we return for our Embassy trip. Something for them to look at, to chew on, to touch, and hear and smell.
The toy consists of four 4 inch by 4 inch squares sewn together in a row.
The finished product is 16 inches longs by 4 inches high and has ribbon (or something) on each four corners for tying it to a crib. To make it as stimulating as possible each of the four squares should include one or more of the following:
Sound: Crinkle sound (made by sewing cellaphane or something else crinkly inside the fabric) or jingle bells
Taste: Tags of different textures sewn off the sides
Smell: a packet of lavender or another soothing scent sewn in between the fabric.
Sight: High-Contrast black and white fabric or brightly colored fabric
Every square can be different, but I want at least four of the five senses covered in each set of four squares. And I want two squares of high contrast black and white and two brightly colored squares in each set of four. Otherwise, use your imaginations! And remember, nothing that can be torn loose and swallowed! These need to be safe for an unsupervised baby.
If you are a beginner sewer you can simply sew squares and give them or mail them to me and I'll assemble them. Or if you want to go ahead and assemble the whole row, that is fine too. Just make sure that you have included at least four of the five senses in each toy.
Here are some my cousin, aunt and mother-in-law have already been working on.
Email me at BrandyDWade (at) gmail.com for our mailing address and leave any questions in the comments section. Thank you!