Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Moby Clutching Toy

Moby Clutching ToySo my 11 month old daughter loves this toy and she has been playing with it for months. Today however I had a frightening experience. She was playing in her play yard and I started hearing a different sort of whining, whimpering than I ever had from her. When I went to see what was going on, she had the fish tail completely in her mouth and behind her teeth. She has four teeth on both the top and bottom, and she could not get it out of her mouth. Luckily she wasn't panicking and I was able to get it out, but she was definitely scared by the experience. I will still let her play with it, but only when I am right next to her. Although the tail is not of choking hazard size, it can get stuck in their mouth if they try hard enough. Just be careful if your baby likes to stuff things in their mouth as far as they can, which mine apparently does. I also took a couple of smaller stacking cups that have a rim around the top which I could imagine a similar thing happening with and put them in the "under supervision only" bag.

Lots of the Haba toys are smaller, and more teeth-able than this one. However, like all the Haba toys, well made, bright, fun. Would have gotten 5 stars if my daughter was older, but for very young ones, try the flatter toys instead

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The reviewer who stated this is too large for infant hands is absolutely correct. Moby is colorful and makes a wonderful teething toy, but until my grandson was able to sit up on his own he was uninterested in Moby. Not because it was dull, but because the size was just too large for his little hands to clutch and he is a large baby with large hands!

However, once he was able to sit up on his own, the baby really enjoyed putting Moby's head or tail in his mouth and gumming on the particular end he had chosen. The non-toxic finish on the tail piece has dulled and lightened from his chewing; the adjacent blue ring has also lost the sheen it had when Moby was new. The head is dulling, but the eyes are still fine. The other drawback to this toy is that when a little one decides to shake it vigorously, there is the distinct possibility of clunking either himself or the adult playmate with Moby. Yes, it does "hurt" when you get bopped by Moby!

Moby is a fun toy; but, it would not be my first choice as a gift or personal purchase. Haba toys are well made and have multiple uses. Nevertheless, there may be choices for your little one, other than Moby, which will provide better sensory or play experiences.

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This toy is so cute, I almost bought it for myself rather than my son. But it is a great toy for him as well. It is a little more challenging than some of his other toys. It teaches him how to grasp things with two hands and manipulate things into his mouth. He likes it most when he is getting a little tired and is sitting in my lap, needing something quiet to do. I also like that it's made of wood, not plastic, and is something we'll keep even after he outgrows it.

My son didn't get interested in this until he was about 4-5 months old. This toy is probably a little too much for younger babies.

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I really like this durable toy. It has bright colors and is made very well..i'm not worried my son will pinch his fingers or anything like that. I do agree with some of the other reviewers about it being a little too big for small babies..my son is 4mo and i don't believe he is quite ready for it. He can hold on to the Haba frog teether toy better.

Mary Meyer Print Print Pizzazz Olio Owl, Pink Face

Mary Meyer Print Print Pizzazz Olio Owl, Pink FaceThis owl is super cute! The fabric is very soft and the colors are beautiful and vibrant. The ears and nose will be perfect for chewing on by any little one who receives this. Perfect size for little hands to love, although rather pricey.

Green Toys My First Stacker, Colors May Vary

Green Toys My First Stacker, Colors May VaryThis is a great stacker. I love that there is no center pole. I bought a Melissa & Doug stacker and my (then) 11 mo old daughter immediately went for the center post...and I could see what was going to happen, and so now she has a set of wooden rings, with nothing to stack them on, since I confiscated the center post. Enter the Green Toys stacker, which has no center post and has a great design. For what it's worth, mine is not exactly like the picture. Our bottom "sombrero" is yellow, and our top is green. So the order of the colors may vary. (But ours does have the yellow/orange/blue/green color scheme like the picture.) The plastic is durable, and this toy is a good size. (Most wooden stackers I researched seemed to be very small.) You can't really go wrong with Green Toys. I love that it's made from recycled milk jugs and that it's safe (BPA, phalate, PVC free, etc.) It would've been nice to have a red or purple "ring", but all in all it's a fine toy.

Before I was a mom, I was an early childhood education professional for more than two decades. In that time, I saw a lot of stacking cups. These are the best by far. They are stable enough not to tip over when the child looks sideways at them, and they can be stacked in more than one way ("tip" down makes a wobbly but not falling-down stack). They roll beautifully. My son probably plays with this more than he does any of his toys. Other sets became bathtub toys quickly, this set is stacked and knocked down at least several times a day.

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We are making our best effort to purchase toys for our baby that are made in the USA (or more specifically not made in china). We were so happy to find the Green Toys line this toy is made in the USA of recycled milk jugs!

This stacker is cute, durable and fun! My son (8 months) loves playing with this knocking it over, banging the pieces together, picking up individual pieces. He has been playing with this for a few months and I know he will continue to enjoy it for many months to come as his motor skills, sorting skills & stacking skills improve. Another thing that I like ... this toy is also easy to wash and dry. Love this toy highly recommend!

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I had to take my at the time 10 mo old son to a dr's appt a long distance from home. We ended getting lost (thankfully we were 1 1/2 early!) and stumbled on an educational store. We waited for them to open and wandered around. I had been looking for a stacking toy and saw this toy. I liked the looks of it, so I got it. I ended up taking it into the appt with us, and my son played with it. (Yes, straight out of the box. I did not wash it, nor have I, in fact. GASP!) It did not have any discernable odor. It did not have any imbedded objects. My son loves it. I do wish it had one more color pair, to make the orange cap not as loose & to make it a bit taller, but that's just me. The sections remind me exactly of air hockey mallets.

The cap gets "lost" often, as one of my cats likes to play with it too. You probably won't have to worry about that, I'm just sharing that my "kids" of many species like it. LOL

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When we received this product, we were surprised by the strong chemical smell that this product had. We washed it, and hoped the smell would go away in time, but the odor lingered.

Lamaze Clutch & Go Pyramid Take Along Toy

Lamaze Clutch & Go Pyramid Take Along ToyMy boy loves this toy. I had no idea how much fun is for babies to have toys with rings or other hanging things on them. This pyramid is the ultimate "ring" toy since the triangles are thick, have rubber spots on them and also make popping sound when rotated. At the bottom of the pyramid there is a mirror.

The toy is nicely made as all Lamaze toys... Highly recommended for the price....

So far we have been big fans of almost all Lamaze toys, but my son especially likes this one. The sounds the triangles make when you move them and the mirror on the bottom are great! He also like the ribbon fringe.

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My baby (7 months old) LOVES this toy. It makes noise and has different textures and colors. He loves opening it up and putting his hand through it.

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My 5 month old son loves it. You can hang it from an activity mat and let your little one look at their reflection. Also good stimulation during tummy time & sitting practice. The plastic triangles click when they are moved which is a nice audible stimulation and the texture is good for chewing. There is also a rattle inside which makes a pleasant sound.

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I thought my baby would love this toy, but it doesn't hold his interest for long. It's actually bigger than I was thinking it would be. I was intending to use it as a stroller or car seat toy, but it's just too bulky. He does like that the triangles clack when he moves them, and the mirror is fun, but I don't think there is enough to grab and chew for him, and it's hard for him to carry around with him as he crawls or stands. Not as fun as the other Lamaze toys overall, although well made and nice looking as they all are.

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Haba Fairy Tale Dragon, Rug

Haba Fairy Tale Dragon, RugMy husband and I are expecting our first baby, and we thought that a "castle and dragon" theme would be perfect for a little boy. Alas, we've had such a hard time finding dragon baby items, especially those suitable for a pastel blue nursery, so we decided to invest in this rug despite its rather high price.

We received our rug yesterday (very fast shipping) and are overjoyed with it! The dragon is SO sweet and adorable. Just perfect for a baby's room. The rug is very high quality. The colors are a bit darker than shown online, but that's okay. We'll post pictures as soon as we finish decorating the nursery to give you an idea of how large the rug really is compared to the crib. It fills our nursery nicely.

We're not yet sure how well this rug is going to wear, but we're very pleased thus far!

*** Updated November 12, 2011 ***

We get so many compliments on this rug. We've had it for several months now. It gets tons of traffic and it still looks brand new. Very easy to maintain... I vacuum ours once a week and run a lint brush over it every few weeks. I know this rug will serve us well for years to come. We can't be more pleased with this purchase.

This rug looks even better in person. It is so thick and soft. Our son needed a rug in his room that has hard wood floors and this one matches perfectly. It was so hard to find a nice boy themed rug and we were a bit hesitant to order one from the internet so our son's Grandma decided to order it. It is wonderful and I can't believe we ever hesitated! If you like the picture of this rug then buy it because it is worth every penny!

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I was very impressed with everything about this purchase. the shipping was quick and handled with care and the actual product was even better than i expected. really cute dragon and very well-made. It is hanging on the wall of my 3-yr-old daughter's playroom and she LOVES it. she thinks it is the cutest thing ever!

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As we prepared to move into our new house, I wanted to purchase something really special for my son's new room. With his love of all things dragon and dinosaur, I chose this rug for him. It is just gorgeous. The colors are beautiful, the pile is thick (feels wonderful on bare feet) and my son is found sitting on it, playing with legos, all the time. I've always trusted Haba toys, with their exceptional reputation and their eye on quality. For buyers, I would just say-be prepared for some blue dust bunnies, until the pile has settled-which I understand is normal for this type of wool rug. It is always the first thing people notice when they enter his room. It's really a great piece.

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so required an initial vacuum to get the loos fibers off but other than that its a very soft natural fibered rug just as advertised and very cool in the nursery

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Step2 Push Around Sport Buggy

Step2 Push Around Sport BuggyMy 9 month old loves this. Make sure your little one sits well so you don't have to worry about them slouching over. At this point we are only taking small walks on flat surfaces. He loves honking the horn and there is plenty of room to grow (he's also already 25 pounds). This car is made sturdy just like all Step 2 products!

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Under the Nile Organic Cotton Veggies in a Crate

Under the Nile Organic Cotton Veggies in a Crate..and durable! These are the perfect size for my 6 month old's hands. He can pick them up, transfer them from hand to hand. He loves to chew on them and suck on them (ew!). They can be easily tossed into the washing machine, which is a must for any toy used by a teething baby.

He also digs the crate they came in. Strangely enough, so does my 4 yr old, who I had to locate and retrieve the toys from several times the first day.

Gave this as a gift to a friend of mine who is a vegetarian and just had a baby. She was excited that her child was going to have vegetable companions and apparently her husband is big on organic only products for their kid, so it was a double win. I can't attest to the durability, but it's been several months and I've heard reports that the child loves holding the carrot and have had no reports of fraying or any deterioration of the product.

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These toys are wonderful when family members and caretakers take the time to use them as teaching toys. These are perfect examples of beneficial toys that don't require bells and whistles.

My 7-month old son is enthralled with his Under the Nile Fruits and Vegetables. Being that he's teething, he is able to chew them safely (no small parts, non-toxic, etc.) and I can easily throw them in the wash.

The best part is the incredible learning experience each time we take them out -as I talk about each fruit/veg, he learns colors, shapes, sizes, type of fruit/veg, where and how it grows, etc. The toys are especially fun during mealtime when he sees me preparing actual fruits and vegetables for our meal.

These are a unique, fun gift for baby showers and birthday parties. WE LOVE THEM!

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You can give this product with confidence that its organic ingredients don't contain toxins for a baby. Prone to chew and suck, this will end up in babies' mouths, but there is no worry. The veggies are adorable and the crate pulls it all together. My favorite shower gift along with Mommy Diagnostics by Shonda Parker.

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The carrot and beans are great for my 4-month old as she can grab them quite easily. I wouldn't exactly call them soft (like the last reviewer), but they are just right for teething. As for "developing a positive attitude towards vegetables", erm.. well, she tries to eat them only time will tell if she starts the ASPC[V]!

Taggies Colours Take A Long Plush

Taggies Colours Take A Long Plush, Full BloomSomething nice and soft for baby. has squeaker in the middle. other security blankets feel a bit big; this is a nice size. although he loves the squeaker, i might've liked it without it because he only can put the edges in his mouth and it isn't quite the same as putting some thin, flexible fabric in his mouth that he soaks with his drool and sucks on; he loves that! still, it is nice and he likes it. good seller also.

My little boy has not once been interested in this taggie. It's not very interesting for him to play with. No noise and no interesting texture... just felt and the tags. I have a few of the other taggies and they are much better to keep little ones interested.

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I purchased this for a friend's baby. She was very unimpressed. Months later after not seeing her or her baby in a long time, I visited her and found this on the baby's car seat. I asked if she got it out just for my benefit and she said that her baby couldn't go anywhere without it. He loved the texture of the tags and how easy they were to put into his mouth. Score 1 for ME!

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Children s Factory CF100-783 Baby Bottoms- Hispanic Boy

Children s Factory CF100-783 Baby Bottoms- Hispanic BoyI bought this for my son while I was still pregnant with him 3 years ago. We named him Sam. He has been great. My son loves having a doll around the house who looks like him since he is the baby after 2 girls. Sam is well loved by everyone.

I would buy another one of these if we ever have to replace our current one. We just love him!

Super soft and cuddly. Fits in our other doll clothes too. This is a great doll for any boy!

B. Okideoke Microphone - Navy

B. Okideoke Microphone - NavyWanted this to work and it does!!! fyi, target $13 ! To get the amplify real loud twist the bottom of the microphone bottom, it's volume. All the mics are set to low in the packaging. :) have fun!

Initially, I wanted this microphone because the colors work so well for a boy (I was a little nervous about not getting to choose, but have ordered two and received a blue one, both times). I wasn't too worried about the functions, only that it looks like a microphone. I knew that my two year old would run around the house with it, using his imagination, and would also be able to sing along with his favorite music shows. The button does need to be held down while recording, and the amplification is not the loudest (which is just fine with me). I pushed the buttons for him at first, then he figured it out and has so much fun! He encourages us to sing into it, too. The first one was misplaced it went everywhere so I had to rush order another. The strap is a handy feature. He can put it around his wrist, it can be hung up when not in use, or clipped to a purse or diaper bag. Even the packaging is adorable. We could not be happier with this microphone!

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I was looking for a microphone that amplifies my son's voice so he can sing with or without the music. Well, the mic amplifies very little, but the worst part is that to amplify one has to hold a "star" button the whole time while singing... I find this rather inconvenient! Why isn't it simply built in to the microphone, beats me...There are only 8 tunes that are short and go in circle when you hit another button on the microphone. So far my son loves that functionality and pushes the button non-stop, but it becomes rather annoying and I am sure he'll get bored with it soon.

Also, to record singing, one has to hold the record button the whole time of recording...I don't like that. I wish one had to press this button until it beeps and then press it one more time to stop.. Most other toys operate this way.

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I was looking for a microphone for a while ( that is for a boy in boys colors....)

I finally found this one and wasn't sure until we got it.

My son just loves music and he loved this!

Main reasons to get it:

1. It has a feel of a real microphone with a cute childish look.

2. It plays music so my son is singing to the song he selectsold McDonald, twikle twinkle little star etc.

3. You can make the music go faster or slowers

The only con is that the feature of an actual microphone is not so great and hard for little kids to get-since you need to both press a button and speak right into the microphone at the same time.

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If I had more time, I would attach a video, but with kids, I don't. My daughter LOVES this mic. She finds it easy to use and entertaining. I gave it to her when she had turned 2 and she would dance around the house singing along with the music. She loved hearing her voice amplified. She easily learned the buttons and the volume control. Now she is almost 4 and she still loves it, specially when daddy records silly things for her. It has taken a beating and still works, I have nothing but good things to say about it.

Plush Stuffed Bunny Rabbits -Set of Three 5" Washable Pink Bunnies for Infants & Children

Plush Stuffed Bunny Rabbits -Set of Three 5' Washable Pink Bunnies for Infants & ChildrenI bought these for my grandchildren on easter, very cute , they were a little smaller than I thought they would be.

Bought these baby bunnies for my 4 year old granddaughter & she loves them.

The bunnies are cute, soft & cuddly. They look exactly the same as in the picture.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Gund Dog Spunky Plush Toy

Gund Baby Dog Spunky Plush Toy, BlueI bought two of the of the slightly larger light brown spunky a year ago and my son won't go to sleep without them. He liked them so much that I bought two of the blue ones for my newest arrival. This is the type of stuffed animal that your child will get attached to so you need at least two of them.

From a safety perspective, they are great. The eyes are thread and there are no small pieces to come off for your kid to choke on. The stitching is very durable. They go in the regular washing machine. Mine have been washed at least 2 dozen times each and still look great.

The only small con is that they need a second ride in the dryer.

This is easily the most snuggleable plushie that I've ever come across. My little one just loves it; she always sleeps with him at night, and takes him wherever we go. Definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone :)

~Luci

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My brother got Spunky for my daughter when she was ca. 8 months old. Now she is 6 years old and Spunky is still her favourite toy. She never ever goes to sleep without him, she takes care about him and she adores him! We have a lot of toys at home, but none of them is so important as Spunky (it is even her dog's name).

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My son who will be turning two next month, loves this toy. He will not go anywhere unless Spunky is with him. The toy is very soft and he loves hugging him and chewin on his nose and ears. In a room full of stuffed animals, Spunky is always his first choice. Can't go wrong with this one.

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My daughter is 20 months old and she really loves this soft puppy. He has been her favorite since she was an infant, and she still won't go to sleep without him. He's soft and cuddly, and comes out of the washing machine looking clean as new.

We have already gone through four of these puppies (only because we tend to lose them, plus we keep one at daycare for naptime and one at home). One of the best things about this dog is that he is easy to replace if you're prone to losing toys like we are! We can always find a quick replacement at a nearby toystore, at Babies R Us, or on Amazon.

Lamaze High Contrast Wrist Rattles

Lamaze High Contrast Wrist RattlesMy daughter has these and LOVES them! She's in a pre-teething stage and is constantly looking for something to suck on. They're small and easy to fit in her mouth but I don't have to be scared that she'll swallow it because it is secured around her wrist with velcro. They are very soft, and the bright colors are fun to look at too. It's amazing to watch her use one hand to pull the other hand closer to her mouth in order to suck on the little ladybug's head. So cute!

And since they're fabric I can throw them in the wash every few days when they get really slobbery and gross.

I might even buy extras in case we lose the one's she's got. They are better than most of the other toys we have!

I bought this for our baby with combination of Lamaze socks and it works out well. It catches baby's attention and the rattling is just right sound level, not too noisy, not too quiet. But, if your baby's hand is chunky, you will have little bit of issues with one of the rattles. The strip is made out of beautiful but fuzzy material and it is not too long, so it barely fits on the hand of our little one. The other rattle is pretty ok.

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They looked cute, but they really did not rattle very loud and the wrist size was small. My grandson was not impressed and neither was I. I would pass on this product.

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I've had these for my now 5 month old for a couple of months and we have been happy with them. We started with them when she was about 3 months old and just starting to find her hands and she was fascinated by the colors and noise. As she started teething, she loves to suck and gnaw on them (it sounds pretty funny, actually) and I love that I can just throw them in the wash, though I do use a delicates bag and air dry to minimize wear on them. Unlike a couple other reviewers, I have had no trouble with getting them on my daughter or having them stay on and shes been running about 50% on the growth charts. Maybe if your little one has large wrists? Anyway, I think they have been money well spent!

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It rattles ok. I got some new ones from walmart that rattled so much better. The design and color are amazing. I have a chubby little two month old, and she only was able to fit in the wrist rattles for two weeks, and now they don't fit. If they were to fit longer, they would be amazing.

Hello Kitty Plush with Heart "I Love You"-Pink

Hello Kitty Plush with Heart 'I Love You'-PinkI bought this for my mother and grandmother for mothers day. I was worried it wouldn't arrive on time. It arrived the the sat before mothers day (I order the Wednesday before). My mother and grandmother loved it.

Larger than I thought and very cute! My daughter loved it. Great gift for any holiday or for just because.

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I could swear the description said this was 10.5 inches tall but it most certainly is not. I am quite disappointed in this.

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I had purchased for my girlfriend has a gift, because she loves Hello Kitty, and thought she would enjoy this.

However for the price of 11$ total that I spent I was somewhat disappointed it was a little smaller then described has well as a suction cup attached to it?? The description said no such thing about a suction cup??

Overall i would give it a 3, the girlfriend loves it, but for 11$ i could have got something better

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Ambi Duck Family - Childs Bathtime Toy

Ambi Duck Family - Childs Bathtime ToyLikes

Like how colorful it is. But that's about it.

Cons

Baby ducks don't float well, always end up upside down

My two year old sometimes have difficulty fitting ducklings in the back of the mother

She is unable to open the back all by herself. Even I have some trouble with it

Mother sinks to the bottom of the tub once water gets in the opening which it always does of course. It's a tub full of water.

The point of ducks is to float. These do not float, they sink. Very dissapointing

Wonderful. I've given this item as a baby gift many times and they always loved it. Unexpected and great bath fun for years.

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My kids have been playing with these ducks in the tub for years now. They've held up really well over time both in structure and color. We also have the bubble fish and the pull-dog and all are of the same high quality. Wonderful toys!

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I don't know how long these have been made but it has the quality of a simple, classic design. My two year old didn't have any problem opening it and seems to like it.

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Sassy Developmental Wonder Wheel Suction Toy

Sassy Developmental Wonder Wheel Suction ToyThis is a fun and bright toy that has great suction! I have had this toy for about 2 months (my son is 6 months now) and he has enjoyed this toy since we got it. He finds new aspects to the toy every week. At first, he liked that if he hit it, it would spin. Then the next week he noticed the rings on the bottom, and the next week he noticed the small spinning boxes on the inside. It seems to excite him when he gets in his high chair! Best part is that is has great suction!

I love this toy! Entertains baby in highchair better than any toy I have purchased so far. Easy to spin and continuously spins for awhile. The rattle sounds also entertains my baby. Great toy!

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This is a great toy and my daughter loves it...HOWEVER, the reason I purchased this over other similar toys was because of all the reviews that stated how this toy had good suction, unlike others like it; and other similar toys all had bad reviews about the poor suction. We didn't have such luck; the suction is horrible and it does not stick, even when wet.

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Toys can be so dependent on your child's preference so reading reviews that say 'my child loves this' always makes me wonder. However what I think is fantastic about this toy is that it is a wheel and makes a soft swooshing noise when it turns so it really grabs my childs attention and she loves it. It generally always sticks too, however if its having trouble I put a drop of water on the bottom and then attach it and it will stick. Places that she really enjoys playing with it is at her highchair and on the floor. It was also brilliant when we went on a holiday the other weekend and we stuck it to the restaurant table where she had her highchair and she enjoyed it for ages!

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My child is only 4 months old but so far this toy keeps her interested while in her high chair. Now that she can reach the toy when I push her seat forward she likes to spin it and then stop it. This has really come in handy after she has eaten her meal but the rest of the family is still at the table eating. It gives her something to do at this time. It has the perfect blend of bright colors and a rattling sound without being annoying to everyone. Also, I didn't know this when I purchased it but on the packaging it said it is made without any paint that could chip off so I was really happy about that. I would recommend this toy if you don't want to buy a bunch of different things but just want a go-to high chair toy that will keep baby interested.

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Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker

Melissa & Doug Rainbow StackerI bought this as a safe and natural alternative to plastic. However, the rings were cracked and the paint chipped off. Fortunately, I noticed this before my baby 'explored' it with his mouth because he would have had a mouthful of paint chips no exaggeration. So much for being safe and natural I had to throw it away. So unsafe that I had to write a review.

I ordered this rainbow stacker after reading several great reviews. My 13 mo. old daughter grabbed for it as I was unpacking it, so I think she's going to love it. HOWEVER, I am disappointed in the quality several of the rings are stuck together by paint. The ones I have been able to pry apart have paint stuck on them (blue on yellow for example) and the purple & yellow ones I have not been able to pry apart yet (neither has my husband!) I'm sure they will come apart eventually, but personally I would not give this as a gift due to this quality control issue.

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This is a good basic addition to any toddler's toy collection. We like it because:

It's wood. The rings make a satisfying "clink" that plastic or cloth stacking rings lack.

It's easy for kids to do. We've had other stacking toys (like the Melissa & Doug stacking train) where certain pieces only fit in certain places, and that is frustrating for little ones just figuring out how things work. This one's simple and straight-forward.

It's inexpensive.

My older son received this when he was about 18 months and played with it quite a bit. Now his younger brother enjoys it, and has been able to put the rings on & off since about 12 months.

(Just a warning: the stick, or "ring holder" as we call it, often gets banged around like a hammer in our house this is partly why they like this toy so much, but it means close supervision is necessary!)

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The top piece, the blue one pictured, is small enough to be a choking hazard. Just FYI. We removed that piece and threw it away.

Also, the pole and the hole are small requiring really really good fine motor skills. For babies just learning this skill look for bigger poles and holes otherwise, it's really hard for them to do this one.

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Back before I actually had a kid, when I was insisting on natural materials only, I ordered the Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker, even though I'm not a fan of M&D toys as a rule (I find many of them to be cheaply made).

We got the classic Fisher-Price Rock-A-Stack as a gift when Jackson was born, and I remember scoffing a little. "Plastic! Look at this silly thing with the ridiculous foil shiny thing inside the top ring. They couldn't even make it a real rainbow, they ruined it putting those dumb little balls in the top half of the red ring. And why does it rock?! What kind of ridiculous popcorn-button-on-the-microwave unnecessary extra feature is that?"

Of course, six months later, the Rock-a-Stack is the undefeated champion of playtime, and the Rainbow Stacker sits unused in the closet. Jackson loves the balls in the red ring, he likes to make it rock, he can actually get the rings off and play with them, and I don't worry one bit when he teethes on the fat, squat, yellow ring-holder-thingy in the middle.

The rings on the M&D stacker, on the other hand, are heavy and hard for him to lift and manipulate, the red ball rolls away (and reminds me of a scary clown nose), and I'm always worried he's going to gag himself when he tries to chew on the tall, skinny wooden stick in the middle.

The Rainbow Stacker might be a great toy for a three-year-old, but it's not a good fit for my baby at this stage.

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Coconut Tree Shape Sorter

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Coconut Tree Shape SorterI got this for my son who is a huge chicka fan. It's a very nice and very well made wooden shape sorter. It's a classic and will hold up for many years.

I really like the wooden box and shapes. But for a shape sorter, 4 shapes to insert is a really small number. Six out of the eight sides have no hole at all. I liked the tie-in with the book, but would not buy this again.

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Fulla Blue Hijab Muslim Doll Arabic Toy with Extra Abaya

Fulla Blue Hijab Muslim Doll Arabic Toy with Extra AbayaThe doll would have gotten a five if the abaya would come off and go on more easily. My daughter loves the doll but likes to change clothing and accessories.

My 2 years old girl loves this doll. She was sooooo happy when she received it. The doll is an excellent well made. I love it myself.

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Power Touch Baby Reading System

Power Touch Baby Reading SystemAfter doing some research, I bought this toy for my daughter who is 15 months old. I chose it over the Leap Pad product because it is said to not be as easy to turn off, and the pages are sturdier. It also seems like there are more things to touch and hear about. My daughter loves looking at picture books, and is constantly pointing to pictures and touching the pages. I thought this would be great for her, as it would provide some sort of verbal output to her curiousity and interest. I was disappointed, however, that the book doesn't attach to the unit very well, making it easy for the child to take out. My daughter just wanted to hold the book on her lap and look at it. Maybe its just not the toy for her. As with other reviewers, my daughter touches the pages in an attempt to turn them, and the voice just repeats the same syllable over and over. I realize with this age group it is difficult to always design toys in the way they will be used. I was surprised that Fisher Price put a "notice" on the inside of the package (not visible on the outside) stating the unit works best when laying on a flat surface (not on a child's lap?)and when touched with only one finger at a time (a six month old may not even be physically able to point with one finger). This would be helpful to know BEFORE buying. We are hoping my daughter will get the hang of it and not become so frustrated soon. I'll give it a week or so, but I'm leaning towards returning it.

I liked the "idea" of this product. The only problem I have with it is that it is too sensitive. My son is 1 year old and when he touches it, it repeats and repeats. The recommendations are to touch with one finger which is almost impossible because he likes to touch the textures (like he is petting). Otherwise, it is a good toy.

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This is a re-do of my first review (I reviewed it the first day I got it before playing with it much.)and I couldn't figure out how to change teh stars. This product really only deserves 1 or 2 stars.

Hi, I reviewed this the day I first bought it, but thought I should post again because I returned it. My son could not get through one page. He loves to touch the pictures in the book, especially with the tactile pages. Whenever he would touch the page, the words to the story stop and respond to what was touched. And if he kept touching it or touched different things..it would just say the first syllable of whatever he touched. So, he wasn't hearing the story, or learning about what he was touching. It was more like a broken record of syllables. It was a good idea...but not a practical buy. We bought the leapfrog little touch system and have been happy with it. It isn't the greatest either, but he can atleast hear the story and it is not too sensitive. Leapfrogs pages are a laminated fabric, even though they feel like paper. They haven't torn yet. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Spending money on regular ol' books may be your best bet!

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I like this PT BABY for my 2 year old better than the regular PT for ages 3-7, which I bought at first. The regular PT has SO many things to do on each page that it is way too distracting and confussing for the younger age range.

The books are way stronger and more durable, as they have a thicker stronger plastic coating on them, vs the reg. PT books that bend & tear easily. The worst thing about the PTB is that the books fall off the unit very easy, which is very fustrating for mom and child. I wish the PT Baby had the alphabet on the unit itself like the reg PT does for use without the books.

I would have to say that the BEST books so far of the four that are currently retailing are: "I Know My Letters" and "I Know My Numbers". These two books are MUST haves out of the four. They are very colorful, textured, useful and the most educationl of all the four books out right now.

The carring case for the reg PT will NOT fit the PT Baby, however, the (green&blue) Leapfrog carring case/backpack will. Or, just buy a standard size backpack and use that instead...thats what we did!

But most importantly--this is a nice toy for child AND parent(s) to play together!!!! So enjoy!

***P.S. I hope my review has helped you out as much as other peoples TRU reviews help me with my decisions on toys.***

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After reading all the reviews that I could find on the PowerTouch Baby and Leap Frog's comparable unit I decided on the Fisher Price version. Boy am I glad that I did. Bear in mind that I have never used the Baby Leap Frog personally and might find it to be equally grand. My daughter received the PT Baby from "Santa" and she has loved it since she first set her fingers on it. She loves anything that makes music and this toy is great for that. She hasn't shown too much interest in the book that came with it yet but that will come. When the book is attached she likes to turn it to the back page and push buttons to hear the songs that are played as a result. I generally keep the book up on the shelves because she is very happy to play with the unit without it. It's great to take on trips in the car because it keeps her entertained "composing songs' without the worry of the book falling out, etc. It is easy for her to carry and she figured out in no time at all how to turn it on and off and adjust the volume. Several people have complained about how sensitive it is to touch, and yes, it is VERY sensitive. I wouldn't expect a 6-12 month old to be able to operate it in the same way that a 2 year old can. But while it may not seem like fun to you, it probably is for your child if they continue to press on the pages to hear the noises that it makes. People want everything to be so "educational" for babies. At this age it is enough for them to be learning about cause and effect! As an educator I can assure you that a six month old is not going to "learn" his alphabet or numbers by pushing pictures on a page and listening to the explanation that follows. While exposure to letters and numbers is benefitial sometimes the child just needs to be able to explore and have fun with the results! I highly recommend this toy for the ages listed on the box. Babies will enjoy the power that they feel from being able to make something respond to their actions while older toddlers can begin to benefit from more deliberate exploration.