After reading all of this, I'm starting to wish there was a way to have a BB 'toy exchange' so that we can get rid of those toys our children never play with and receive something 'new' for our child/ren in return. Once the recepient was 'over' the new toy, then we can donate them to the Salvos etc.

At least for someone like me when the temptation struck to splash out on something plastic, we wouldn't be spending a fortune for something our child may not even like.

I realise it's probably not feasible on here but I'm off to search for something of the same nature. If I don't find a place who already does this, I seriously think I'm going to start this on my own. Less money wasted, less landfill created, children are still happy.

But thank you everyone so far for giving me some creative ideas for both gifts and solutions to buy/use in the upcoming months when DS starts to get more active.