DIY Baby Sun Ray Toy

November 1, 2011
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49 comments

Our baby girl is starting to play with toys! At almost 5 months old, she’s still having a little difficulty holding on to things, and getting the right parts of certain toys into her mouth. So I decided to make her an easy to hold, sun shaped toy, with lots of rays to suck on. I also added a small circle of velcro in the middle, for extra tactile exploration. (I might try attaching something to the velcro later, too.) And finally, I got to add some crinkle, which I’ve been wanting to try. We had a bag of Sun Chips, and some of you told me those worked well. You were right!

So far she’s really having fun with the toy, and it holds her attention for quite a lot time. I have some directions below, if you’d like to try making one. It might even be a good holiday present.

Directions: (See images below.)

1 – Cut out two circles of fabric for the middle of the sun. (My circles were 5 inches in diameter.) Then cut out 7 rays, by folding some fabric in half, and cutting a long triangle shape. (My rays were about 7 inches in length.)
2 – Fold each ray in half, right side facing in, and sew up the side.
3 – Now turn the rays right-side out. (I used an end of one of my paint brushes to help with this.)
4 – I noticed most baby toys like this have knots in the end, for babies to suck on, and they’re right. (At least my kids like them.) So tie a knot in the end of each ray, if you’d like.

5 – Sew on a circle of velcro in the middle of each circle piece. (Sew on the right side of the fabric.) Then sew the end of each ray, one at a time, to one of the circles. When doing this, sew the rays on the right side of the fabric, and also sew the rays so that they’re pointing to the inside of the circle. (Then later, when you turn it right-side out, they’ll be pointing out.)
6 – Now place the other circle on top of the other circle, right side facing in, and sew around the edge, leaving about an inch un-sewn.
7 – Turn the circle right-side out, and tuck in some crinkle paper if you’d like. (I used a sun chip bag, but I’ve heard that diaper wipe bags work well too.)
8 – Then hand sew the opening shut. Done!

I put her on my lap while turning the rays right-side out, and it was so cute how fascinated she was. Maybe she already knew it was going to be for her.

49 Responses
  1. Cindy

    How cute is this and simple too – need to find some babies to make this for :) Thank you Joel for another clever idea.

  8. michelle

    heh i made something similar last week.. I’m now thinking of making more and making a play mat to attach them too… i just need to make a trip to home depot for Styrofoam insulation tubs to be the inside of the arches to attach toys to..

    1. Joel

      Thanks everyone! Yeah, we’re having such a great time with her. She’s a sweet baby!

      Michelle – Wow, I was also tempted to try making a little arching play mat, but wasn’t sure what material to use for the arches. Let me know how it goes! I’d love to see how you do it!

  9. Kate S

    Will definitely be making one of these for my almost 3 month old today. He is just starting to reach out and grab at toys so he will love this.

  13. Marit

    A HI from Norway to you!
    I love your ideas – and that you share them with us!
    Here’s what I made to my baby, just a few weeks ago.
    http://hopplablogg.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/vognstjerne-av-stoffrester/
    Quite similar, also with crincle paper inside, but I used transfer paper to make faces on the sun/star – familiar faces, of course, and I made a star for each member of our family. I also used different types of fabric on each side of each ray.
    My star is a bit smaller than your sun, and I have hung one on her car seat, one in her baby pram, and I keep one in the changing bag.
    Good idea to tie knots in the end of the rays! My baby would have loved that too!

    1. Joel

      Wow, I love this Marit! Great idea with the faces. You could even use them as decoration for the holidays. They look fantastic! I should try experimenting with transfer paper too. So many possibilities!

  17. Celeste

    Bookmarking this for my newborn’s Christmas gift–I have made various “chew toys” in the past, but I really like all the grabby options on this sun shape. And your baby is absolutely precious–what a doll!

  22. Jamie

    Definitely making these for my little Lucy this Christmas. What a great way to use up some of the Amy Butler fat quarters I’ve been hoarding!

  23. Susan Kinnamon

    I LOVED this idea! I embroidered a smiling face on mine and I stuffed the faces with fiberfill. I gave one to a 7 month old baby yesterday and she played and played with it! It made a huge hit! GREAT IDEA! Thanks!

  26. Nancy carlton

    Hi Joel, I am a cousin of Shannon’s mom and ran across your website while “surfing”. Saw Shannon at her dad’s wedding last yr. and knew you were having a little girl in June. I saw her picture on your site–what a cutie! What did you name her?

    Your work/avocation is so exciting. I’m very happy for all of you. Give Shannon my love.

    Nancy Carlton

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  31. Patti Culea

    Joel, thank you for this pattern/idea. I made 3 yesterday. Two are in the mail. One going to daughter in Belgium and one to daughter in Florida. I posted a photo on my Facebook page. Hope that is okay. Have your link there, too.

    1. Joel

      Hi Carole. Thanks! And no, I don’t have a video for this one. If you look at the photos though, I think you can do it pretty easily. Give it a try!