Let your baby go almost a full year playing with toy that you have not put the batteries into. Then when you really need to get something done – fill the toys with batteries. It’s amazing the reaction you will get and the amount of time your baby will sit startled at what had been a quiet unexciting piece of plastic and now has both lights and sound.
Then after hours of play time you will begin to remember why you were not so upset when the batteries actually ran out and before the bus arrives with your older kids – you can remove the batteries again. This will accomplish two things. First, you older kids will not take any interest in the old toys that don’t work and second, the baby will again spend a huge amount of time trying to figure out how to get that thing to light up again.
Not winning mom of the year here – am I? 🙂
8busyfeet 
Maybe not mom of the year but still very good advice.