Your mom maybe right. I have found with my Senegal, there are some toys he likes and some he hates. I make sure and remove them quickly and not go on the old idea that if you leave them in there, he'll get used to them. By the way, get plenty of foraging toys, which will keep him busy and you can change them out frequently.
Please do not try to pet him yet. He will most likely growl at you if you try it. He will let you know when he's ready to move forward. My Senegal although was hand fed when I got him, the previous owner left him locked in his cage for the last 3 or 4 months before I adopted. So eventhough she could barely play with him and scratch the back of his neck, he wouldn't let me touch him for like the first three weeks. Now this week, he's started letting me scratch the back of his neck and climbs up my arm to my shoulder, then across my chest and snuggles under my chin when he wants me to scratch the back of his neck.
He first came over to me while on my arm and got up to my face and started making the kissy face noise and then bending his head down. That was my clue that he was ready for us to move further along with our relationship. I call it making it to 2nd base. hahahahahahaha.
If you try to rush him, you will only be taking three steps back after make two steps forward. Let him set the pace.
Remember, you have to build a trust between you and your bird. Sometimes it takes a few weeks, sometimes a few months. But the gentler you are with him and the more time you spend with him will speed it up.
To get Bella used to new toys I leave them in area where she can see them outside of her cage for a few days, then I clip them onto the side of her cage & then when she is used to them I put them in the cage. Here is an article with great information about this... OMAR'S Exotic Birds :: Cages and Toys ..
Bella is also no longer afraid of new toys because she knows they are just so much fun!!!!!
I have a few that's afraid of new toys as well. But they do get over it eventually. Or like what it was mentioned above by putting it where it can be seen by the parrot. Once they get used to it then place it within.
Glad to hear it, you know whenever I see a blue crown conure it reminds me of that old movie Paulie! Which I love that movie, but I'm still not a conure fan...lol Someone tried to give me two Sun Conures awhile back and I declined very quickly....I'm a ex conure owner...lol... I left those with my best friend when I moved, they like him better anyway so they were a present from me...He still has one of them, one didn't make it for some reason...We got them about 12 years ago....