Bell Crafts for Baby

Small bells, usually used for Christmas crafts, can be found in sizes from teeny-tiny to the size of a quarter or so. The bells can be used to make all sorts of crafts, and as well all know, babies love noisemakers - particularly bells.

Use fishing twine to string the bells. Tie the ends together to make a ring of bells or leave them in a rope-like arrangement. It's very important that the bell toy you make won't lose the bells - baby would choke on one of the metal objects, so be very careful with this craft. After stringing the bells all in a row, squirt a little bit of liquid cement into the thread opening on the back of the bell. Pull the knot into the cement and allow to dry. Do this to both ends. If you've fashioned the bells into a circular arrangement, add the last bell and tie the twine, then add the liquid cement and pull the knot into the adhesive.

Place tiny bells in a metal tin and glue shut with contact cement. Now use a strap of leather to make a handle. To ensure the handle stays in place glue the strap to three sides of the tin, then leave a few inches hanging from each end. Over lap these to make a handle for the rattle. Use spray adhesive that works for leather - you'll find it at a home improvement store. Allow to dry well before giving to baby.

A 'sippy cup', used to train babies to drink from a cup, makes another great rattle since it comes with its own lid. Feed a ribbon piece through two of the openings on the lid, then tie them on the underside of the lid. Glue into place. Put the bells in the cup, cover the rim with glue, and snap the lid in place. The ribbon will serve as a handle and allow the child to swing the cup around.

Put bells into a soda bottle and glue on the lid. Kids will play with this for hours. The lid makes it easy to get a handle on the bottle and allows for shaking and slamming the bottle. Most any plastic bottle will do, but the round bottles, like the pop bottle, lets kids roll the toy as well.

Place bells between two small paper plates and tape around the edges. Poke holes in the plates so baby can hear the bells loud and clear. Make a handle by first stapling a piece of wide ribbon to the top of one plate.

Drop bells down into a pop can and use liquid cement to affix a second can to the first - top to top. The bells will travel from one can to the other when baby rolls and shakes the cans. The aluminum gives the bells a different sound entirely. Do not punch holes in the aluminum can to let out the sound - baby can get hurt on the metal.

There are lots of baby toys that you can make using bells and ordinary items from around your house. Drop them down in empty spice bottles, small cardboard boxes, plastic jar with lid, or make them a stretchy bracelet with bells. No matter what you create baby will play with it for hours.