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Finding Elmo

Fill the Toy Box on a Budget

By Alexandria Powell

Online auctions such as Ebay can be a great source of toy deals, but make sure to ask plenty of questions before buying, as sales are generally final. Check your seller's feedback ratings, and pay attention to shipping charges. "Sometimes the cost of shipping can negate any savings," says Danger.

It's crucial to make sure used toys are sturdy and safe. Check thoroughly for missing or broken parts, peeling paint and sharp edges. "One of the key things [when shopping for] children under age 3 is to look out for small parts," says Fields. He recommends the toilet paper roll test. "Take a toilet paper roll along," he says. "If the part can fit through it, your child can swallow it."

Toddlers love familiarity and repetition, but once they've "mastered" a toy, they can get bored with it quickly. But how do you keep things fresh and interesting without spending a lot of money?

Tanya Murphy of Haughton, La., thinks the trick is toy rotation. "If you put certain toys out where the kids can see them for a few weeks, then rotate to different ones, you can keep them occupied without feeling the need to constantly buy new [ones]," she says.

You also can try borrowing toys from a toy library. Toy lending libraries started as a resource for families of children with special needs, but now many are open to all children. To find one close to you, visit the USA Toy Library Association's Web site.

Finally, consider a toy swap. "A toy swap is a good thing to arrange in your neighborhood," says Fields. "[Families] get together once a month, put the toys in a couple of different boxes and then you swap. After all, there's nothing more exciting to your child than someone else's toy!"