Formula milk cans are an essential drink for babies. Instead of throwing them away, mothers can reuse them to create fun and lovely toys for their babies in just a few minutes. Let’s explore 7 milk can toys for babies with AVAkids’ Early Childhood Education section for ages 0-6 below!

Super simple ways to make toys from formula milk cans

Making lanterns from formula milk cans

Lanterns are one of the favorite toys of many children, especially during Mid-Autumn Festival or Lunar New Year. Parents can take advantage of their baby’s formula milk cans to create a super simple lantern. Making a lantern is one of the simplest ways to make toys from formula milk cans.

Instructions

• Step 1: Parents remove the outer layer of the formula milk can, then wash it thoroughly and let it dry.
• Step 2: Use a pen to sketch on the milk can or, more simply, parents can draw on tracing paper and then stick it onto the milk can.
• Step 3: Punch a few holes in the milk can, about 0.3 to 0.5 cm apart. Do not punch the holes too sparsely or too close together.
• Step 4: Next, punch two more holes opposite each other near the mouth of the milk can to tie the lantern’s hanging string.
• Step 5: Use paint or markers to color and decorate the outside of the milk can according to each child’s preference.
• Step 6: Take the wire and thread it through the two holes that have been punched near the mouth of the milk can. Make sure it is securely fastened.

Not only made from milk cans, mothers can also use paper to make lanterns as a paper toy for children to play with during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Making lanterns for babies from formula milk cans

Making toy drums from formula milk cans

Young children often enjoy toys that can make sounds; this makes them feel curious and excited. Therefore, parents can reuse formula milk cans to create colorful toy drums for their children to play with.

Instructions

• Step 1: Parents remove the outer layer of the formula milk can, then wash it thoroughly and let it dry.
• Step 2: Cut the fabric to the size of the milk can, then use a glue gun to stick the fabric around the can.
• Step 3: Continue to cut two identical pieces of fabric larger than the drum heads to cover both ends of the drum.
• Step 3: Punch small holes in the two fabric pieces covering the drum heads, then use yarn to crisscross and connect the two fabric pieces at both ends.
• Step 4: To make the drum more eye-catching, parents can cut and paste flower shapes, hearts, etc., to decorate the drum body.
• Step 5: Finally, to make the drumsticks, parents just need to wrap and glue cotton balls to one end of the bamboo stick.

This is one of the simple ways to make toys from formula milk cans, but it helps children be very excited. Parents can make this interesting toy with their children!

Making a drum from a formula milk can

Making a baby walker from formula milk cans

Milk cans can be used to make wheels for a baby walker. When moving, these cans also make sounds that make children feel more excited. If the child is at the age of learning to walk, parents can implement this way of making toys from formula milk cans to avoid the cost of buying a separate walker for the baby.

Instructions

• Step 1: Draw a model of the baby walker that parents want.
• Step 2: Use a saw to cut the PVC pipes into sections.
• Step 3: Drill two holes in the milk cans wider than the pipe size to make wheels.
• Step 4: Assemble the PVC pipes to create the frame and attach the milk cans as wheels.

In addition, mothers can also let their children play with AVAKids’ Antona toys to help them be more creative and excited.

Making a baby walker from formula milk cans

Parents can refer to the detailed steps of making a baby walker in the following video:

Making a rocking chair for babies

A rocking chair is one of the favorite toys of many children and is quite popular. Therefore, if the child does not have a rocking chair, parents should try this way of making toys from formula milk cans for their baby!

Instructions

• Step 1: Use 3 formula milk cans, placing them staggered to form an arc, and secure the 3 milk cans together with tape.

• Step 2: Place the 3 taped milk cans on the hard cardboard and use a pen to trace the outline of the milk cans onto the cardboard.
• Step 3: Cut the cardboard according to the traced shape and stick it securely to the mouth and bottom of the milk cans.
• Step 4: Place the remaining 2 milk cans as the headrest and backrest, placing them higher than the 3 front cans and securing them with tape.
• Step 5: Use the PVC pipe and tape it to the headrest to make a handle, then place the soft mat on top to make the rocking seat.
• Step 6: Use leftover fabric to cut according to the shape of the rocking chair and sew it together, adding decorations for a more eye-catching look or use plastic wrap to wrap around it.

Making a rocking chair for babies from formula milk cans

Making simple stilts

Stilts are a childhood game for many people, using 2 milk cans and standing with 2 feet on the handles made of rope and moving their feet to see who can walk faster. To let children experience this fun folk game, parents can follow these instructions.

Instructions

• Step 1: Use 2 milk cans, wash them clean, and punch holes in the bottom of the cans.
• Step 2: Thread rope or cloth through the holes and tie securely to make handles, and it’s done.

This is the simplest and least time-consuming way to make toys from formula milk cans. Therefore, parents should try making it for their beloved children!

Making stilts for children

Making a fun slide

A slide is definitely a favorite for all children. Usually, children can only enjoy playing at the park or school. But parents can totally create mini slides at home using milk cans, which is very simple. This toy sounds complicated, but with the following instructions on how to make toys from formula milk cans, any parent can do it.

Instructions

• Step 1: Parents attach the cans together with tape to form a pyramid shape for a moderate slope.
• Step 2: Use cardboard and a glue gun to attach along the milk cans, parents glue it in the shape of a slide like in a playground.
• Step 3: Parents and children can cut out flower shapes, hearts, and decorate the slide with stickers according to the child’s preference.

Making a slide at home for babies

Detailed instructions on making a slide from formula milk cans in the following video:

Making a beautiful chair for babies from formula milk cans

From milk cans, parents can also create super cute chairs for sitting and playing, which children will definitely love. This way of making toys from formula milk cans is quite simple; parents can follow these instructions.

Instructions

• Step 1: Use tape and wrap the 7 formula milk cans tightly together to create the base.
• Step 2: Use a piece of cardboard with the same height as the milk can and wrap it around the 7 milk cans, and use a piece of decorative fabric or paper to stick on the outside.
• Step 3: Continue to cut 2 pieces of cardboard or foam to stick to the top and bottom of the base, then use decorative fabric or paper to cover them.
• Step 4: Cut a piece of cardboard to make the backrest for the chair, use a piece of decorative fabric or paper to cover it.
• Step 5: Attach the backrest to the base, and parents can add some accessories such as tinsel, hearts, and flowers to make the chair more outstanding.

Making a chair for children from formula milk cans

Some notes when making toys from formula milk cans for children

When applying the method of making toys from formula milk cans, parents also need to pay attention to the following issues:

• If parents and children do it together, do not leave sharp objects such as knives, scissors, nails, etc., near the child and always supervise the child to avoid injury.
• Parents should wash the milk cans with hot water and then dry them to ensure hygiene during the toy-making process.
• Let the milk cans dry completely before decorating; this will help prevent smudging when coloring or ensure the glue sticks more firmly.

The article above from AVAKids has shared with parents how to make toys from formula milk cans. Hopefully, with the detailed instructions above, parents can make many toys for their children to play with without spending much money. Follow AVAKids to learn more ways to make toys from recycled materials in the next articles!