A snap, click and we all fall down: the wonder of legos lasts a lifetime. OK, so your baby would rather eat the Legos than play with them, but your toddler loves the colors, the towers and building then destroying vast Lego empires. How do you balance the need to keep your baby from choking and your older child's need for engaging in imaginative play?



This is a question parents beginning their Christmas shopping for young children have had to wrestle with for decades. It was once much more simple since the variety of toys was not that broad. Now with so many choices that have smaller pieces it is a troublesome question. What do you do when your toddler asks Santa in the innocent belief of childhood for a Lego set? Well, there are many gifts that you can choose that will keep your infant's airway safe and still fulfill your toddler's holiday dreams

Snap together blocks are not a one size fits all toy. There are many varieties that are baby friendly. These larger versions might even be preferable for parents of young children and not just because they don't pose a choking hazard.

The large snapping blocks are easier for toddler fingers to master. They also come in themes that are more appropriate for toddlers. You are not likely to find a large Lego set featuring Star Wars or GI Joe, but you will find bright colors, ABC themes, lots of car, truck or train sets and cartoon favorites like Bob the Builder and many others.

If your toddler or somewhat older child is well past the large Lego stage then this is not the option for you. Look for accessories that are designed to keep play safely contained. Keeping them off the floor and away from baby's seeking fingers will ensure her safety and allow your kids to play with their Christmas bounty.

Many products are designed for this purpose: carpet mats, storage bins with lids and the master container - a table designed purely for Lego play. A mat will help create a Lego zone. This will signal to your child that the pieces need to stay in this one certain spot. Having a limited area will help with clean up as well as stemming the flow of toys, and the choking threat, to one area of the house.

Storage bins with lids keep toys safely out of reach until you are actually playing with them. You will still need to supervise play and clean up but at least you aren't worried about the baby finding the Legos when you are not looking. A table combines the safety features of both the bins and a mat, but also elevates play off the ground. This means your older children can play even when the baby is around because the Legos are out of the baby's reach. Whatever option you choose, your baby and toddler should be very happy with your holiday shopping efforts this year.