We bought this for our daughter for Christmas last year when she was 9 months and it is still around a year later. It is definitely a cute toy but it can be very overstimulating for the child and I've finally realized that children learn most from simple one task toys. Each shape has multiple meanings and sounds. She can now put the shapes on and likes when she pushes down on the top bug and all the shapes pop out. I just wish it was quieter and less annoying!
I am a serious purger. If my kid has a birthday, you'd be better off getting us a membership to the zoo or Children's museum than buying a toy because chances are, in 3 months it will be in the "Give to Charity" box. This little bug was given to us about a year and a half ago and has survived multiple purgings. Kids of all ages like it from my youngest (7 months) to the day care kids that come to the house (4-5 years old). It's one of the first toys kids zone in on when they come to visit. I'm not sure what the other reviewers were talking about, because this has several songs and I don't find them annoying. The kids love when you push the center and all the shapes fall out. We have lost the ladybug on top long ago, but it's still a great toy. Easy for young ones to operate and complex enough for older toddlers to get some educational value out of it. It's a keeper!
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This is a cute toy designed to look like a Mommy ladybug carrying a baby ladybug on her back, and it has a TON of features. From what I've been able to figure out so far, it has 2 modes, an "It's Learning Time" mode, labled with an open book, and a "Let's Explore" mode, labled with music notes. The Learning Time mode will say things like, "Where is the square?" and then make a clapping sound when the square is pushed. When you push the baby ladybug down, it will change from shapes to nature sounds to numbers. Each shape has a number and also a correlating number of nature pictures (one sun, three leaves, etc.). When you push each button it will either tell you the shape, the number, or a sentence using the nature picture, depending on the setting. This mode also has a few short songs and music. The "Let's Explore" mode is a mix of longer songs and silly sounds. There are two colored arcs that light up on the top of the toy, one on either side of the baby ladybug. The purple one, with pictures of nature things, will produce a sound effect when pressed in this mode, and the yellow one, covered with music notes, will cycle through the different songs. (In Learning Time mode, they produce the "Where is the...?" questions.)In addition, when the baby ladybug is held down and the toy is pushed across the floor, it makes a clicking sound and it will say various phrases, including "It's so nice to crawl with Mommy". (This one is particularly nice in my opinion, because crawlers tend to push the toy in this manner as they crawl around the room.)
The shape pieces are held on to the toy by an elastic string with coils around it, which keeps them from getting lost (Thank you, VTech!) and they're only long enough to go on the shape groove they're attached to and to reach the ones next to it only if the string is pulled out to its max. They seem a little hard to get lined up at first, but it's still easier than traditional shape balls and it's not to difficult to get used to. My 14-month-old twins have started being able to get the shapes in, and my two-year-old has been able to get them on ever since we got it around her birthday. When the baby ladybug is pushed down, it releases the shapes that have been latched on with a fun boingy sound. The shapes can also be pulled off, but you have to pull rather hard (though my twins can do it). The pull string is stored inside the battery compartment, so that it can be stored for crawlers and pulled out for walkers (another good idea by VTech, I believe). When the toy is pushed or pulled across the floor, the songs speed up, and when left alone they slow back down to normal speed. Also, it has an automatic shut-off feature that turns the toy off after only a couple of minutes of inactivity.
This toy is very durable and colorful, and all three of my children enjoy playing with it. I only have two real complaints, one minor and one a little more major that cost my review a star. My biggest complaint is that there is not a volume control, and its sounds and music are a little loud. The other thing is that when it is picked up off the floor by its string (something all kids will do sometimes, and mommies, too!), it is top-heavy and the whole thing turns upside-down. It's not a big problem, it doesn't hurt the toy, but toddlers have a hard time knowing how to turn it right-side-up again.
In all, I like this toy and I recommend it, but if you're looking for a toy that's not overloaded with features or is somewhat quiet, this is probably not the one for you.
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This toy is great! Exactly what I expected from a VTech toy. It does carry a similar vibe to the Airplane toy and Laptop that they sell, but who cares? The kids love it and it's a different shape and does different things.
Some previous reviewers mentioned that the toy doesn't come with a pull string. I thought mine came without one also until I read the manual which told me that the pull string is stowed inside the battery compartment so that you can pull it out once your child is ready for it. This is actually a great feature because other pull string toys do not have this, so instead of my son pushing it around until he is ready, he just sits their chewing on the string.This is not the case with the crazy legs bug at all because the string isn't there yet.
I also want to mention that this toys is really a "grow with me" style toy. It specifies 12 months and up on the box but I could easily see how any child who is old enough to sit up could enjoy banging on it and having fun with the lights and sounds. Later on it becomes a useful push toy and then a pull toy. Let's face it, most kids won't have the aptitude to actually put the shapes in the correct slots until after 2 years of age, so this is actually a fantastic toy that could last a couple of years if the child doesn't break it.
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My daughter got this toy for her 1st birthday and within the first few minutes she was already figuring out how to put the shapes in by herself. It is a great toy to stimulate a young child's mind. Within a couple days she could put all the shapes in by herself at one year old. The only downfall is that the toy is loud, and the sings are annoying. But, isn't that every infant toy? lol I just keep the sound off.
I like the way it looks, like a real tablet. I bought it for one of my friend's kids. I learned that he is just recognizing the alphabet; this toy is teaching him with fun games, and cute sounds. He loves it and carry it everywhere around.
