Friday, August 1, 2014
Gumball Machine
Thursday, July 10, 2014
InCharacter Costumes, LLC Goofy Gorilla
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Lamaze Play & Grow Stretch the Giraffe Take Along Toy
PLEASE READ!!
I LOVED this giraffe..this thing is the cutest toy ever and I had placed this on my wish list for my baby shower last May. Well..I ended up receiving the giraffe from a good friend of mine for my baby shower like I had wanted. My son had only played with it maybe twice since he's been born, so it's still pretty brand new.
My son is 10 months old now, and we just moved to a new house last week, so I re introduced him to stretch yesterday, (still in super new condition) and he had been sitting in his highchair playing with him, chewing and biting on him as most babies will do with their toys. It's to be expected.
I was upstairs unpacking, my son was in his highchair next to my husband while he washed dishes when my son started choking!!
He was choking on the white stuffing inside the toys foot! He had managed to chew the thing until it became unstitched at the seams and that's when the stuffing began to fill his mouth. He must have swallowed a majority of what he had in his mouth. Needless to say, it was a frightening moment for all of us!!
UGH! I am just so disappointed and now concerned for anyone else's children who may have this toy!
Upon close inspection of this toy after the fact, I noticed that the stitching is very poor. Not nearly strong enough to withstand the mouth of a teething baby! I noted other parts of the giraffes seams and stitching where it has signs of also beginning to become unstitched!
The very worst part is the fact that had my son gone un noticed and not attended to right away, he could have very well choked completely, or the round small plastic squeaker (also inside the same foot he opened) could have also come out and easily become lodged inside his throat! In fact there are multiple "perfectly sized pieces" including a small round ball rattle, a more flat circular shaped rattle and the disc shaped squeaker (the one my son almost managed to get out) inside each foot. Again..they are very poorly secured inside the giraffe and are a major choking hazard! I hate to think of how many babies go to bed with this toy and are possibly left alone with it when they wake up in the morning or after a nap. Parent unsuspecting, because these toys made by learning curve are supposed to be designed with safety in mind. Safety being what Learning Curves number one priority is. I would have never have thought to check those details since I was convinced this toy or any toy designed by a big name baby toy company was undoubtedly safe to let my baby play with.
This toy needs to be recalled ASAP! I have contacted Learning Curve /Lamaze RC2 department regarding this serious issue, and Stretch the Giraffe is on his way back to them for inspection. I have no doubt they will issue a recall. If I were you...and just to warn parents ahead of time..please refrain from buying stretch for now! Or if you have him already, take him away from your baby...especially babies with teeth!
In an effort to make me, the consumer happy, they offered me a new toy and that's on it's way now, but in reality, is that really enough? Or does that make up for the fact that we watched our little son choke and go through that trauma? Imagining the scenario if we had not been right there to help him...would the new toy suffice? It's horrifying imagining the things that COULD have happened and Thank God that didn't.
In addition I am going to be weary of the new toy and I am not even sure he will play with it until I inspect every inch of it, and now I need to sit with him every second while he plays with in fear that some little thing could go wrong in a toy that has been deemed safe from a reputable company I have grown to love and trust. I just believe this is an honest mistake but a serious issue that was grossly overlooked. I know that Learning Curve will do the right thing in the end.
I will never send my son to bed nor leave him to play with ANY toy, stuffed animal, or object ever again for fear that he will wake up, be alone and begin innocently teething while I am still asleep, and something similar to this may happen. It's a good thing that wasn't the case this time.
Please parents...check the babies toys! You just never know!!
Forward this to all your friends who you think may have this toy, may buy it, are expecting a baby, have infants and small children.
-Tiffany
Buy Lamaze Play & Grow Stretch the Giraffe Take Along Toy Now
We had one of these before and it was my sons favorite toy. It got lost and if anyone said 'giraffe' he would start looking around for it. We bought a replacement and he is as happy as ever! The colors, the noises, he loves it all!Read Best Reviews of Lamaze Play & Grow Stretch the Giraffe Take Along Toy Here
Item is colorful, but is large so make sure you look at deminsions. Has several noise features when my sons touch and play with it. This is one of their favorite toys at this age (4 months).Want Lamaze Play & Grow Stretch the Giraffe Take Along Toy Discount?
Our 3 month old twins thought the face and legs were very intersting. At 5 months, they both now love to grab onto the tags, bite and chew on the face, and even fling him about by the handle. Highly recommend it.Friday, June 6, 2014
Sassy Flip and Grip Rattle 2 Pack Developmental Toy
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Bought these for my son because they were inexpensive and looked fun with the spinning balls on them.This toy is okay, but A) cheaply made and B) not that engaging.
Wish I would have saved my money and spent a little bit more on something else.
Read Best Reviews of Sassy Flip and Grip Rattle 2 Pack Developmental Toy Here
I purchased these for my 3 1/2 month old daughter. Of course, I am one who sterilizes her toys before I give them too her since she's at a stage where she puts everything in her mouth. Well I ran them under water and washed them baby dish liquid. Come to find out water and soap leaked into the ball part. There's no possible way of getting the ball apart unless you want to break it and the water stuck in there was going to eventually harbor bacteria. So, I just ended up tossing them in the trash. Waste of money and shipping.Want Sassy Flip and Grip Rattle 2 Pack Developmental Toy Discount?
My baby loves these rattles. She loves chewing on the handles and they clip easily to her stroller or play mat with plastic baby links. They are not too heavy for her to lift and she loves the patterns/ mirrors inside the balls.Sunday, June 1, 2014
Sakrada 10 Piece Block Toy
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I have bought HABA block sets for gifts for years and each time someone opens it there are great compliments on the style and uniqueness......and I know that they are very well made in Germany and will definately be something that can be handed down to the next generation. (also no batteries needed just imagination to play with these great toys!)This was meant as a gift for a 2 year old who loves playing with it. Good blocks, no sharp edges, and plenty of creative options for kids.These blocks are really colorful and fun. The different shapes make creating towers super creative and interesting. My son got them for his first birthday and all he did was chew on them, but now he's almost two and loves stacking them. We keep these in a bowl on our kitchen table and adults even like to play with them when we're just hanging out. Love these and plan to order more Haba blocks!!Friday, May 2, 2014
Chicco Hello Baby Animals Phone
On the educational side, there was an inconsistency with the toy where it uses the word puppy during idle time to encourage continued play. All other times, it uses the word dog. This inconsistency only occurs in English, and is the only reason I don't give a perfect 5 star, more like a 4.5. Also, the picture is not reflective of the print for English and Spanish, which is Perro/Dog instead of the Italian, Cane/Dog.
Great toy, great gift. Perfect for 12 months+ and interested in English/Spanish bilingualism.Very easy to handle for a small child. The volume is perfect. Lots of lights and sounds. I actually enjoyed pushing a few buttons and I'm an adult! A reasonable price for a great toy.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Alex Little Hands Talk of the Farm
If Santa had kept the packaging, this would already be on its way back to where it came from.The Talk of the Farm play mat set is cute. The design is simple a sturdy, flat, colorful mat (big enough for a little one to get down on for play, but not so big it takes over a room) that's designed to look like a farm, with various enclosures for the cheerful-looking animals. With its farm-animal theme and little red pickup truck, it looked like a great idea for my 18 month old son, who loves trucks and animals equally. So far, it's been a fairly popular choice among the toys he plays with daily, though he doesn't really play with it in its intended way at this point. Kids are *supposed* to drive the included truck over the mat, stopping at designated spots (marked by musical notes) to hear the "talk of the farm" soundbites about the farm, its animals, and suggestions on what part of the farm to visit next. He'll turn on the truck (which plays a simple, upbeat melody as it rolls along) and dance as he pushes it across every surface in our home EXCEPT the mat. He'll get down on the mat and point to the various animals and make their sounds. He'll even add his own animals to the mat, putting a toy cow on top of the cow pasture, for example. But he has no interest in placing the truck on the "right" spots on the mat and hearing what the mat has to say. At this point, I don't know if it's because he hasn't really connected the talking with the location of the truck, or if he simply prefers his own thoughts and sounds to what the mat has recorded. In either case, he's happy to play with the parts, and that's really all that matters. All in all, this was a good purchase, especially at a discounted price I wouldn't have paid MSRP for this one, but for what I spent, my little guy's getting a good return.
Buy Alex Little Hands Talk of the Farm Now
My son who is 15 months adores this toy! He's still too young to grasp the concept of the games that it teaches(Find the pig, etc.) but its kept him busy for the past two days straight! I agree that the sensors are small but in all honestly its a great toy, for a reasonable price. It seems sturdy also, and we've had no problems with batteries draining, or the sounds from the truck sticking. I definitely give this toy 5 stars, and I was disappointed to see the poor reviews when I came back to purchase another for a friends son.Read Best Reviews of Alex Little Hands Talk of the Farm Here
I scoped out educational toys at a local teachers' store, and found this priced at around $40. I was glad to find it on Amazon for much less, and I expected that my 2-year-old would enjoy it. It was a Christmas gift, and while other toys got more attention at the beginning, this one eventually got plenty too. Both my 2 and 4 year old sons like the peppy tune the truck makes. They also enjoy following the instructions given by the toy , and finding the various areas of the farm/play mat. (i.e. "Let's find the sheep meadow. Can you baa like a sheep?") It's a toy I enjoy playing with--with them! We discuss all the work a farmer has to do, and the different animals.All in all, a creative idea, good quality materials, and pleasant. Well worth the price paid, and I'd buy it again as a gift for toddlers/preschoolers we know.I bought this for my 2 year old, but he has no idea what to do with it. It i really an adorable toy but youhave to know what a cow and a sheep are and he does not. The truck drives around on the mat and @ certain points, it will talk and tell you to find another part of the mat that talks. He did not get it but an older child would. Definately worth the $8 I spent on it though. He will get it eventually and love it!
Saturday, March 22, 2014
HABA Little Birds Clutching toy
ring size for babies little grip. Cute toy for the price.My friend is an orinthologist so I was attracted to this toy for his new baby. I thought it was for chewing, but I think it's just for grasping. That being said, the circle-handle part seems a bit thick for baby-hands. Otherwise, it is nicely made and hopefully useful.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Pirate Parrot Costume
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Parents Magazine Bee Bop Band
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I love that the instruments are brightly colored and fun. It's also fantastic that they store within the drum itself (with space for other instruments; we use the drum to store all the music toys we can, and there's enough room). The drum can be worn around your little one's neck, and my daughter has worn it as a drum, as a pretend container for snacks when she was pretending to be a vendor at a baseball game, and as a snack bowl with easy access so it has more potential than you'd expect!We've had the toy through three years and two children (who play roughly), and other than a few stickers that my daughter has added to the set, they're like new.
When I got this, it also included a coupon for a free year's subscription to Parents magazine. That was a definite positive, and I enjoyed the magazine not enough to renew it at the end, but enough to read it cover to cover for the year I had it.I got this for my daughter on Christmas. She love it! (18m old) IT doubles as a carrier so the toys don't go everywhere when she's done. She watches a show called, "Jack's Big Music show" and it fits with the show soo well. The only real gripe I have is with the xylophone. There are 6 bells but only 3 notes (both sides are the same except for color). Plus they seem to be bolted down a bit too tight so it doesn't sound a clear as it could. But over all it's been a great toy for her. I recommend it!This toy is sold at Target for 22.00. Do not buy off this site... it is ridiculously over priced. But it is a wonderful set.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Sun Stop'r Kwik Cabana I Instant Beach / Backyard Cabana w/ UV Protection
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Don't buy. This is junk. I took it to the beach twice. The second day, it broke!!!!Read Best Reviews of Sun Stop'r Kwik Cabana I Instant Beach / Backyard Cabana w/ UV Protection Here
This was a pain the rear to use. It was fun for the kids to play in the house, but to use it on the beach was a waste. It was a mess to clean up the sand..from the inside out.Want Sun Stop'r Kwik Cabana I Instant Beach / Backyard Cabana w/ UV Protection Discount?
I bought this for my infant for a trip to the beach. The sand was hot so i had to place a towel beneath the tent to shield the baby. Also, even with the mesh and the ample door opening, it still retains heat plus the light shines through (its a thin nylon material) creating a greenhouse effect. My baby was hot in there! I would place this in the shade next time I go to the beach.Saturday, January 11, 2014
Whoozit Stellar Sar Activity Center
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Haba Meadow, Rug
It was fulfilled by Amazon but sold by MLC Distribution, Inc. which also had made me skeptical but the company itself was fantastic. They wrote me an email once the order was made (along with Amazon's confirmation), and once delivered they enclosed a note on how to contact them if we had any problems with the rug.We bought this for my daughters room and she absolutely loves it. She calls it her grass. The rug is high quality, great manufacturing, very durable, soft, vacuums up well, and I highly recommend it! I also like that it didn't have a funky carpet smell when we unwrapped it. It's just perfect! Worth every penny!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Ty Beanie Babies - Slowpoke
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Fisher Price Little People Convertible
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My daughter loves this little people car. She received it for Christmas and it is one of her favorite toys so far. It is what you would expect from Fisher Price durable plastic and very cute. Great toy!Read Best Reviews of Fisher Price Little People Convertible Here
Two year old grand daughter is enjoying this car. It is durable and cute. Goes with her FP doll house.CUTE LITTLE TOY...GRANDCHILD LOVED IT. RECOMMEND IT FOR ANOTHER SMALL CHILD. FISHER PRICE ALWAYS HITS THE SPOT, WITH A DOT, DOT DOT, AND A DASH, DASH DASH, AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS!Saturday, October 19, 2013
Vtech Twinkle and Learn Tambourine
Monday, October 14, 2013
Jellycat Cordy Roy Lion Md 15"
Buy Jellycat Cordy Roy Lion Md 15" Now
We have the pink kitty version of this stuffed animal and our 13 month old adores it so we got her the lion as well. She loves lions and roared as soon as she saw it so she definitely knew it was a lion. It is really, really soft and she loves hugging it. The fabric is noticeably softer than the pink kitty version but the kitty has been washed so I don't know if washing it made it less soft or if this lion is just softer. The good news is that the kitty held up to washing (gentle cycle in a front loading washer) and drying (on low) and pretty much looks as good as new so I suspect the lion would wash well too.Item arrived as described and made a great gift for a friends new baby. Only thing I noticed is that the fur in the mane and tail was pulling out pretty easily. Hopefully that was just because it was new.I purchased this corduroy lion for a baby shower gift. The toy is soft and well-made I'm sure it will be cute in the baby's nursery and later will be a favorite cuddly pal.Sunday, October 13, 2013
Fisher-Price Comfy Time Bouncer
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This is an attractive and affordable bouncer. (So many are in garish colors.) It is light weight and functional. The picture does make it look as if the head pillow is plusher than it really is, though. So if you want a bouncer for a small baby, the head support might not be enough. The bouncer back leans back a bit far for reaching the toys and for baby to see much other than the ceiling. The padding on the toy bar is a good feature, though. I guess I'd give it a B.Read Best Reviews of Fisher-Price Comfy Time Bouncer Here
MY DARLING 4 MONTH OLD GRANDSON LOVES HIS BOUNCY CHAIR. HE IS NOW ENJOYING FOLLOWING HIS MOMMY ALL OVER YET SHE IS HANDS FREE AND CAN DO HER WORK AND HE CAN SIT AND PLAY AND WATCH HER.Want Fisher-Price Comfy Time Bouncer Discount?
My husband and I purchased this for our baby that has not made an appearance yet. I was looking for a bouncer with a cute print and fun toys. I fell in love with the fun, yet neutral colors on this bouncer. I was worried that it wasn't comfy enough for a newborn, since some of the other bouncers seem to be more circular with padding, but after assembling, this is going to be great for a newborn. I was looking for something that our child wouldn't grow out of and would still find entertaining at 4 months old. The toys on this bouncer are what sold me. They are much more fun than the plush toys that come attached to most other bouncers. They rattle and spin...something I would find very fun if I were a little one. The vibration is exactly what I was looking for; soothing without felling like the entire bouncer would vibrate all over the floor.The bouncer was very easy to assemble (would have been easier if my husband had read the directions to begin with). During the assembling process, we felt that some of the pieces fit loosely together, however once it was completely set up, everything locked into place. The cushion seat slides on and off easily, which makes for great clean up!
My friend brought her two-week-old daughter over to test it out. She seemed just as satisfied with this bouncer as she was her Fisher Price Little Lamb Bouncer. She couldn't take her eyes off the toys!
The only con to this bouncer is that is does not fold up. Once assembled, the only way to store away is to unassembled and pack into a box. So if you're looking for a bouncer that can travel with you, you might want to consider selecting something else.
All in all, this was exactly what I was looking for! Once again, Fisher Price has not let me down! Next purchase: Fisher Price Cocoa Sorbet High Chair! Too cute!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Little Tikes Activity Garden
This toy is meant to encourage development of kids from 6mos to 36mos. The bright colors attracts their attention, the simple ball drop makes a crawler wonder where it went, the peek-a-boo game they play with the door and you can set the toy up anyway you want! 2 year-olds will start to play pretend (I actually saw my friend's daughter pick up the phone and say hello)... One 3-year old focused on the telescope because he was a pirate while his twin sister thinks its her tea room. It was not meant to have advance technological apps and bright lights and music and all that sort of things but instead, it's the "play" that entices the childs' imagination, creativity and discovery.
Buy Little Tikes Activity Garden Now
My daughter loved this toy from the second she saw it. At 8months old, she loves to sit in the middle of this toy and play peek a boo with the window shutters and teethe on the balls. She also enjoys playing with the removable console too. Right now, she's still learning how to use the ball shute correctly, and she could care less about the mailbox shape sorter or the "telescope" but these are activities that she will grow into with time. I love the bright colors, the different activities this toy provides, and the overall cuteness factor it has, but there are a few tweeks that could make this a 5 star winner....First, just about everyone can agree that the slide is a joke. It's not just the size of the ramp, that's not even my main issue, it's the overhang part that's ridiculous. It's a good 4-5inches too short. My daughter is of average height, and even when she first got this toy at 6 months, there was no way she could sit on the slide and use it normally. Your child would have to be 3-4 months old to be short enough to sit and not have their head hit the overhang. As cute as the slide looks, it's simply not functional for it's intended purpose. Little Tikes should either send new parts to correct the issue or stop calling it a slide and call it a crawl ramp instead.
Second, I love the zylophone on the door, it's simple, cute, and sounds nice, but I wished that they added buttons on the other side of the door so that babies could play with the zylophone when sitting inside too.
Third, I wished that the red door was able to stay closed if you wanted that option. The weight of the zylophone makes the door swing open at the slightest touch. The shutters don't have that issue, you have to actually push them out for them to open and it should be the same for the door, just saying....
Fourth, if used on tiled/harwood floor, this toy will slide around. While I don't have this issue (it's used on foam tiles), some might have an issue and it should be noted. You might need to use some of those felt pads that are found on the feet of furniture to prevent scratching the floor.
Lastly, this toy is marketed for children ages 6-36months, but lets be realistic. This toy's age limit is closer to 24months in my opinion. The reasoning for this is that while this activity center has lot's of features and the abiltiy to extend and provide the platform for imaginative play, it's simply too small for most 3yrs olds to play with comfortably. So if you're intention is to get 2 1/2 years worth of play for your dollar, don't count on it! A good 2yrs is more like it, but that's still a pretty good return for your money.
Other than these minor issues, I really love this toy and so does my daughter. I was able to set it up in less than 1/2 hour. The directions were easy and clear to follow. When closed, this toy is super sturdy, easy to clean, and has no sharp edges that could cut little skin if they bump into it. This is a gender neutral toy that any baby or a pair of siblings would love to play. While it's issues are minor, I still HIGHLY RECOMMEND purchasing this toy for the baby in your life! It's well worth the money and a great long term investment toy for growing babies.....It's cute and easy to put together. But it is soooooo tiny. And in my oppinion it is not worth $70. My kids played with it for a few days and haven't bothered with it since.Very easy to put together. My son is 13 months now and still loves it. Even 3 old loves playing with it! Highly recommended.

