We bought this phone for our one-year-old son, and he loves it. It's probably not as interesting, educational or colorful as almost of the other toy phones out there, but it looks somewhat like a real phone with the grey color and flip top, so he feels like he's one of us (not sure why we'd want that, another annoying person in the world with a cell phone, but wait... we're his parents, and we're also those annoying people). With his little fingers, he had a difficult time opening the cover, but he eventually figured it out (it's probably best for kids ca. 2 year and up). The record function is sub-Radio Shack bare bones and only lasts for a few seconds--and doesn't store multiple recordings--but it works OK. The edges around the flip top are a little severe, but not unsafe: just not as rounded as other toy phones out there. Now for the kicker: the first two toy phones we bought just flat-out stopped working, so we called the company, got a representative on the line immediately, explained the problem, and they offered to send a replacement phone or give us our money back immediately. Now that's customer service! We just hope that the THIRD phone works and doesn't break. Bottom line: if you want a toy phone that looks a little like a real phone, get this one, but if you want something that is more educational, a little more sturdy and looks more like a toy, get another one, such as the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Phone (we own an older version of this phone and it works great, but makes funny sounds as the batteries become run down).
I was going to buy this phone but after a quick Google search, I found this (and noticed another reviewer experienced this same problem):
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07178.html
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2007
Release #07-178
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 247-6144
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Battat Inc. Recalls Parents® Magazine Toy Cell Phones for Choking Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Parents® Magazine Record-A-Voice Toy Cell Phones
Units: About 14,000
Manufacturer: Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Hazard: The metal pin inside the hinge of the cell phone flip-top can fall out, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 54 reports of the metal pin falling out of the hinge. In two cases, consumers reported finding the pin inside a child's mouth, with one child receiving a cut in the mouth.
Description: The toy cell phone plays different songs, sound effects and user recorded messages. They were sold in polka dot, swirl, floral and stripe patterns, and the Parents® logo is visible inside the flip-top and on the battery compartment cover. Only items bearing date codes 090106 through 101206 are involved in this recall. The date code can be located on the bottom of the product packaging and in the battery compartment.
Sold by: Target stores nationwide from September 2006 to January 2007 for about $8.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should take these toy cell phones away from young children immediately and contact Battat to receive a replacement product or refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Battat, Inc. at (800) 247-6144 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at cellrecall@battatco.com
Buy Parents Cell Phone Toy (colors may vary) Now
I agree that this is a really fun toy--my kids loved them while they lasted. We bought two for Christmas and they both broke within a few weeks, and it wasn't because of rough treatment. You can tell that they are definitely cheaply made. Too bad, the features were cool, as other reviewers have described.
Read Best Reviews of Parents Cell Phone Toy (colors may vary) Here
My son (11mo.) loves my flip cell phone. We've tried other toy cell phones but they weren't flip phones. This one is PERFECTit is flip, it has sound AND it lights up. I finially have my phone back!
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This phone seems to cater to chewers...the antennae is knobby. While the area around the keypad is very rounded, the top (screen) part is sharp. After chewing, my son has red irritation on the corners of his mouth. Needless to say, this phone has gone in the drawer until he is much older. Yes, my son is younger than 18 months, but nothing else about this phone seems dangerous.
For the phone itself: the record-your-voice function is pretty cool. It can hold an 8-second clip. The screen isn't really an LCD, just an image with a backlight. The voices and music (two 15-second songs) are very pleasant.
As for reliability...we have not used this phone enough for it to fail or prove itself.
The toy that arrived from this seller was not the one pictured. The only reason I paid more for this one than the same exact toy that Amazon had for a little cheaper was that this picture contained a toy with a pull stringIT DOES NOT HAVE A PULL STRING. It is the toy that is pictured under the cheaper amazon price with the single colored wheels and no pull string. My son loves to pull toys behind him, so that is why I purchased this and I am very disappointed that it doesn't have the feature I paid more for. My son still loves his "choo-choo" and taking the blocks on and off, I just wish I paid the lesser price.
