Showing posts with label toys for down syndrome babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys for down syndrome babies. Show all posts

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Chicco: Construction Crane and Mixer

Chicco: Construction Crane and MixerQuailty toy. Very Durable. Excellent value. My only complaint is this truck's attachment is difficult to take on and off. But I would not hesitate to give it as a gift.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Mary Meyer Cheery Cheeks Hooray Horse, 12"

Mary Meyer Cheery Cheeks Hooray Horse, 12'This little horse is my 13 month old daughter's FAVORITE toy. Purchased as a gift, when I gave it to her she grabbed her, hugged her and hasn't let go since. We've named her Cheryl and she has been a wonderful addition to our little one's daily activities. At one point we realized it's all fun and games until someone pukes on Cheryl and she was going to need a little more than a simple wipe down. I popped her in a mesh bag and washed her on gentle cycle in the washer, air dried her and she was as good as new she's a tough little horse! Mary Meyer plush toys have proven to be of very high quality and we have been thrilled all of the toys we have from them!

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Snap-Lock Caterpillar

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Snap-Lock CaterpillarMy mother in law purchased this for our 8 month old son. I was very appreciative for the thoughtfulness but I expected it to be just another item for the toy box, boy was I wrong. Our son loves this toy!!! It has parts that rattle, spin and turn in addition to great nubs for chewing. I think that his favorite part is ripping each section apart. It takes a little but of effort for him to get it apart even though he is large and strong for his age, so I think that aspect will still be entertaining for a while. Overall I am thrilled that she purchased this toy for him and I would definitely purchase it as a gift for a friend.

I am pleased with the Fisher Price Caterpillar. It was a gift for my new little granddaughter, Hailey. The colors are very vivid and it is another quality product from this company. I have been purchasing Fisher Price toys since 1974 when I had my first baby. Since then, I have purchased dozens of Fisher Price toys through the growing up years of my six children and now through the additions of 17 grandchildren. In fact, my grandchildren are still enjoying play time with toys that their parents played with including the Sesame Street Club House and the Fisher Price Castle.

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My 6 month old likes this toy. Its a lot bigger than it looks in the pictures. Its not huge, just bigger than I though. The bug comes apart into "beads" that are each about 3 inches long. My daughter chews on the antennas. She's too little to try to put the bug back together, so the pieces are kind of everywhere at the moment. Overall, its a good little toy.

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She loved the various segments with the different colors and sounds, but should also enjoy pulling it apart and reassembling when she's older.

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This toy is a basic snap type toy my only complaint is its really hard to pull apart my 7 month old is no where near strong enough to pull it apart I sometimes struggle.

Monday, March 31, 2014

VTech - 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter

VTech - 3-in-1 Learning Zebra ScooterGrandma and Grandpa delivered the Zebra Scooter to our 28-month-old grandson this past weekend. I (Grandpa) could hardly put it together since he was so excited about the scooter. Would the excitement last? After screwing on the wheel and securing the seat, he was off! He rode it around the house and outside. We took it to the park and he rode down the hill. He kept saying 'I love this'. And he certainly proved that. The scooter is a 'cute' design.... I think it looks more like a cow. It is well-made, and did not scratch or mar the wood floors. Technologically, it was more advanced than I thought it would be. There are 3 different attachments that plug in to the top of the zebra head: a compass, flashlight, and walkie-talkie. These attachments will 'program' the toy to give different responses when the lighted buttons are pushed. Yes, this toy does speak and play music. The parents were going to put some tape over the speaker to mute it, but I didn't find the sounds intrusive, even while we watched football on TV. The speaker has a loud and soft setting, and the music and voices are pleasant enough. I didn't get a chance to listen to all the messages, because our grandson 'claimed' this toy and was energized by it. The 3 different modes of the scooter are really inventive. The basic, seat-down position is his favorite, as he can scoot around all day on it that way. The seat can be raised a bit for another position, which is used to push the scooter. He was also able to sit on it in this mode, sort of like an Easy Rider position. The third position is the standup scooter. He is a bit young for this, but took the challenge, and managed to scoot around with some help. His Mom and Dad said the toy was a hit, and we got our share of 'I love you's' from our grandson.

Congrats to V Tech for making a neat toy for young kids. This is a perfect gift that should get a lot of use.

I got this scooter for my two nephews. One is almost two, the other is a newborn. The great thing about the scooter is it converts from a walk-behind toy for toddlers learning to walk, to a sit on scooter to a standing scooter. The conversion is pretty easy and requires no tools.

I was very impressed with the build quality of the scooter. Some assembly is required (isn't it always). But, it's not bad. The sounds the scooter makes might get annoying to parents after a while. But, there is a volume control on it (two position switch). As for learning, my first thought was "Kids aren't going to learn an awful lot from this". The manual didn't really detail how to use all the functions. But, then I realized an 18 month old ain't gonna be reading the manual anyway. There are buttons to push and things light up and just maybe they'll learn something from the animals and songs on the scooter. But, the main thing they'll learn is cause and effect, at that age.

I think my nephews will love this toy and it'll be something they can use for quite a while.

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Normally I associate V-Tech with learning toys. I think they are now branching into other areas. This is a well built scooter. Has more than the basics, lights, music etc. Not sure if the kids actually push all the knobs and whistles while actually driving it as a scooter. It is sturdy, looks nice and bright. Can be used in multiple modes, a push walker, scooter etc. Looks cute too. Do you need a $50 scooter that can blink and whistle... it is upto you. For the money it does a admirable job.

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My 9 month old loves this toy! He rides on it while being pushed around or moving his feet to cause it to roll forward. He's very intrigued by the flashing lights and sounds. The clarity of sound is amazing,,not muffled at all. Causes my infant to pay attention to what's being said. Goes well in my son's Safari themed play room. I love that the baby can sit on it, use it as a walker (that does not tip), and eventually use it as a scooter! Says it is to be used starting at 18 months, but my 9 month old is doing just fine with this toy..just as he does with the Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Stride-to-Ride Dino. Great that he will enjoy this for years to come and it's very easy to interchange between the different functions. Excellent education about different animals too. Kinda pricey here but I got a deal elsewhere when it was on clearance for about $30 bucks. Worth every penny!

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My son recieved this for Christmas when he was 8 months old...He loves being able to push it all around the house without our help and it has so many lights and songs that keep him entertained for long periods of time. This has also been a favorite for my 2 year old. She enjoys being able to sit on it and ride around the house. She is very small for her age (at 28 mths she's 20 lbs and 29 inches tall) and she can reach the ground with her feet to do it herself, which has been a problem with other ride on toys. It is very stable and we haven't had issues with it tipping for either of the kids. It has also held up very well to their abuse...It's been rammed into many walls and shows no signs of wear at all. I think that it will definately hold up to many years of fun for our kids.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Russ "Twirly" Lavender Peeper Turtle with Tutu, 11"

Russ 'Twirly' Lavender Peeper Turtle with Tutu, 11'This was a gift for my niece. She loves it. It has held up well for being used almost daily.

I ordered this beginning of Dec and it wasn't scheduled to get here until Dec 24. This item shipped faster than I thought it would and got here in a cute little package. My daughter lost her other turtle that was the hawaiian one and so this was my substitute. My daughter loves the fact that the turtle also has a tutu like she does and the purple color is a nice change from pink. You can even dress her in doll clothes. She is very durable and my daughter takes her everywhere. What a great cuddly toy.

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Push N Whirl Whale

Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Push N Whirl WhaleI bought this thinking it was a nice toy for my 10 month old to use to build her confidence while learning to walk. However, the handle doesn't snap or lock into place. I can see where she could lose control of it and fall forward on her face. I'm going to return it. It's cute, and seems otherwise sturdy, but not designed for new walkers.

I normally love FisherPrice toys, but the only "wonder" this whale offers is wondering why I ever bought it. My daughter is 1 years old and is walking great, so I was thinking this would be a great toy to push around. Instead, it is like pushing a broom; it doesn't roll, it's not sturdy, and you can't put any "weight" on it without it pushing out from under your toddler. My daughter carries it around instead. Which is cute, but not the point. Also, all four of the wheels never seem to be in contact with the floor, so the balls never "pop" around inside the whale. It only works if it is in the correct position, with the handle at the right angle, and with a feather-like grip. NOT WORTH IT.

Try the "bark-bark vacuum" or the "stroller" by fisher price instead.

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I bought this for my 10 month old son who was walking pretty well already. I thought it would be a good toy for him to push around. However, the handle does not lock into place and the it would fold down while he was walking. My son would get extremely frustrated, cry, and throw the toy down. He really wanted to play with it but it just didn't work well. Luckily, my husband is handy and put a screw through the handle so that it would no longer fold. The problem was solved and my poor baby was happy again but not everyone has that option. I'd go for the basic corn popper if I could do it over again.

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Friday, January 3, 2014

VTech - Winnie The Pooh - Call 'n Learn Phone

VTech - Winnie The Pooh - Call 'n Learn PhoneLike everyone else I changed the batteries thinking they had worn out but nope after changing them it was still hard to hear. Just might have to return it.

I bought this toy for my 6 month old grandson, he likes the toy somewhat. It seems if he could hold it better he would enjoy it. I'll give him about 2 months and it would probably be his favorite. I think the volume could be a little louder, but it is a great education toy.

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My daughter usually likes such phone toys, pushing the buttons, etc., but there is something seriously wrong with the volume on this thing. I think maybe I got a bad phone, because I even changed the batteries and the volume is still very very low. You have to actually turn the phone over and put the speaker right to your ear to hear it. So, my daughter never plays with it. I'm thinking of just throwing it away. I suggest testing this at the store first to make sure the volume is acceptable.

Read Best Reviews of VTech - Winnie The Pooh - Call 'n Learn Phone Here

This phone is very cute and also educational because it teaches letters, numbers, and shapes. I also like the small size. The roller thing is my daughter's favorite part. It is rather quiet, but you can still hear it good enough.

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We got this handed down from a friend, and it is my son's absolute favorite. He goes back to it again and again even when enticed with other toys. I actually like that the volume is low. It is adorable when he puts it up to his ear like an actual phone so that he can hear it. Love it!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Hape Eco Toys / 38-piece Animal Block Set

Hape Eco Toys / 38-piece Animal Block SetThese seemed cute & bought them to add to my daughters block collection. Shortly after receiving them & without much play, I noticed that the wood was sharp on a few of them & that the paint was peeling. This may be just a set that is damaged, but in comparison to my Plan Toys block set, these seem cheap and not as durable. I highly recommend buying the Plan Toys set instead; for the same price you get 12 more blocks and they are much better quality.

Perfect! His first set of blocks! I build with them, he knocks them down. Glad I bought them for him.

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Little People: Beeps the Bus

Little People: Beeps the BusBoth of my girls, ages 2 and 4, enjoy playing with this bus. It comes with about four Little People and a wheelchair. The side door and back door open (for wheelchair access), the headlight/eyes move as the bus rolls, and the stop sign can be pulled out from the side of the bus. It plays two songs, beeps, and makes a "voom voom" sound.

One thing I like about this bus is that it moves only by kid-power, not a motor or wind up, so it can't go too fast and bump into things. It tends to engage the kids in more quiet play, rather than some of the motorized toys that zoom around the house. Also the noises that it makes are not too loud.

This toy has paid for itself in terms of the amount of use it gets. If I could only afford one Little People toy, I'd choose the Farm, but the bus is reasonably priced and the kids love it, so if you can afford it, get it!

My three-year-old son loves this school bus. He likes to load the kids on the bus and make the bus driver talk and sing songs. He has learned empathy by helping the little people with disabilities (with the wheelchair) on and off the bus. It is good exposure to the idea that not everyone is the same. However, it was shocking to have to describe that to a, then, two-year-old. One of the first questions he had that I really had to think about the best way to answer. Other good features are the stop sign and two doors that open and close.

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I got my nephew this bus for Christmas when he was 18 months. He likes to dance to the music the bus plays when you push down on the bus driver. He likes to open and close the door on the bus and take the people out. The good thing is that the driver doesn't need to be sitting in the seat for the music to play, so if he is "missing" you can still have the bus play music. There are two doors to open and close, and a stop sign on the side of the bus pulls out as well.

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Adorable music, lights and sounds from this toy-keeps the kids glued to it for long periods of time.

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We bought this for our now three year old, who loves it, but is having to get used to sharing it with his 1 year old sister. This toy gets played with often throughout the day every day, so I definately think it was a good purchase. I like that it it teaching my daughter fine motor skills when she puts the people in their seats. We've had it for almost 2 years now, and it has held up very well, and doesn't show any wear. The music and voice is a little annoying, but my kids love it. I am suprised with the age reccomendation though.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Gund My First Golf Bag Playset

Gund My First Golf Bag PlaysetFor my future nephew to be! Daddy is a big golfer, so this was a cute little present to put on top!

Bought this for the grandchild of an avid golfer. The little ball is a rattle and it comes with a soft club and a little patch of green with a tee. This is for a newborn so the functionality of this is irrelevant to me. It's a great gift for children or grandchildren of golfers. I bought it with an infant golf outfit. So freakin cute!

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one of the cutest idea I have ever seen.It"s a gift that i havent given yet but i sure love it and I know my grandson will--his daddy too

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Looks like this will make a great first golfing experience for my twin grandsons after they're born. Gund usually makes exceptional items.

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ITEM IS CUTE AND ADORABLE. MET EXPECTATIONS AND MORE. BABY SHOULD LOVE THIS AND HAVE FUN AND LOOK HANDSOME WITH HIS OUTFIT

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Friday, November 1, 2013

Little Tikes Wide Tracker Activity Walker

Little Tikes Wide Tracker Activity WalkerThis is the same activity walker as the one listed under "MGA Little Tikes Wide Tracker Activity Walker". That one has a recommended age of 6 months to 3 years and this one says 12 months+. One thing you need to understand is that this is definitely a no frills walker -the toys on this aren't exciting at all but honestly, my daughter couldn't care less because she's too busy enjoying the sensation of walking!! No batteries needed and I for one love "going back to the basics" where children learn from non-battery-operated toys! My daughter is 11 months in this video. Since the day we brought this home from the toy store, she has walked up & down our hallways about 50 times a day so I'm more than pleased with this purchase.

In my opinion, this has a stable/sturdy base. You can see in this video that my daughter will get up & down on this walker a number of times. Once in awhile, there'll be a little wobbly moment but we've had no ouchies. Every walker will have the potential to tip over if you push too hard or too fast or too something! I have the resistance tension on the back wheel at the tighest level but as you can see, she can still go fairly fast. Do note that it'll be hard in the beginning for your child to steer and to turn around once they get to the end of their path.

First of all, this is not a review of Kaplan Toys. I have nothing but praise for their customer service. See details below. However, this product should not be on the market.

I received this order quickly and assembled most of it with moderate difficulty. It's not easy but it's not unbearably hard. Lots of little screws, though, (so make sure you don't drop them) and tricky parts to slot in. Awkward placements. When i got the last piece, the handle that kids grab on to, i discovered that a squarish knob that sticks out on one side was defective. The plastic molding was fused in a way that prevented the handle from snapping on. It worked on one side not the other.

I called Kaplan and they immediately sent me a replacement, no charge or questions asked. I went through the process again and found the same exact defect in the second one sent to me. I jury-rigged it by drilling some holes through the plastic knob so that i could snap the handle shut. With the screws attached, it was plenty solid. Assembly time at least 45 mins.

Our 9 month old daughter enjoyed playing with it for two days. The upper green door would not stay attached, it broke out of its slot. This wasn't a big deal. But then 2 days later, our daughter managed to rip off the front wheels. And these were not even a part that you have to assemble, the wheels came attached. I emailed Kaplan, and within a few days they said they would refund my money and notify the production folks.

As I said, this product should not be on the market.

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For something so difficult and time consuming to put together, this is a cheap unstable toy not worth the money. My 9 month old likes to try to use it to walk and often ends up on his belly because there is little resistance. The doors do not stay on in the front and the plastic letter things serve no purpose at all. I'm sorry I wasted what little money I have on it.

That said, my son still likes it because he loves standing on his own and he can use it to walk rather than crawl, but if you are deciding what to buy, go elsewhere.

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My son really enjoys. The brake on the wheel is a nice feature.

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I'm going to go against the flow here... my son ADORED THIS TOY!!!!!!!!!!! He got it for his first birthday and has adored it ever since. When your child is very little you can adjust the wheels to be tighter so it doesn't go too fast and baby can keep his balance better. My son really loved this by 18 months. I wish this thing had an odometer on it, I bet he's put 30 miles on it! He pushes it everywhere, to the park, to the library, up and down the sidewalks, and all over the yard. He's now 2 1/2 and the walker is falling apart. The wheels dont stay on because the screws are soooo stripped from all the miles he's put on it lol. Not a defect in the toy, just a testament to how much he LOVES this toy and how many miles he's put on it. We're buying another one for my now 11 month old, the other one is way too beat up from all the love it's received.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

LeapFrog Chat and Count Cell Phone

LeapFrog Chat and Count Cell Phone, ScoutWell it finally happened. This phone has replaced the Parents Phone in our house. For years the Parents Phone was a favorite with our first born, now 3 1/2. My one year old was given the "Leapfrog Chat and Count Phone" for his birthday and now it is his go to toy. He throws the Parents Phone across the room and shrieks in frustration. He loves the music button on the Leapfrog phone, pushes it and does a little dance. He also puts it to his ear and pretends to have a conversation. Since he has never seen a flip phone, I am not sure he knows that the Parents Phone is a phone. The Chat & Count Phone goes everywhere with us. It is perfect for the car, grocery store and doctor's office.

My daughter got the Scout Plush a while back so we picked up the phone now that she is older (she still falls asleep with the plush every night). This is one little tough phone with a lot of fun learning animations for each number and other fun functions. My daughter like most kids love have whatever mommy has. It was great to pick up a phone that somewhat realistic looking and also has the learning done right for my little one. Ruff ruff!!!

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I purchased this phone because my baby wouldnt leave my blackberry and cordless phone alone. worried she would one day accidentally dial 911 i looked up a phone to purchase for her that would be somewhat educational and found this one, I have to say it is soo cool, so now she will leave my berry alone< this is going to be great for car trips and alot of other things it it entertaining and enough buttons and noisy things to push around that is plenty of amusement the little animated pictures are fun for counting and development towards number recognition, even though my baby is close to 12 months it is still worth the purchase as she is engaged with it for a little while i see her carrying it around when she starts to walk and will be growing into it more and more.

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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this phone!!! We received this as a gift for my second child on her first birthday. She is now 20 months old. She liked the phone when she got it, but likes it more now. She is already understanding the concept of counting and can count to three (only partly due to the phone,) and the more she understands numbers and counting the more she likes the phon. So I think she will be even more enamored of it by her second birthday.

My older child (6yo) had several phones including the Parents phone, which was his favorite. We still have it and my little one likes that phone too, but mostly because you can record your own voice speaking to the child and calling him/her by name. She definitely prefers this Leapfrog one to any of the other play phones in the house!

We generally keep this phone as our travel/restaurant/car phone for her. Limiting her exposure to it means it is always new and entertaining when you need it to be, and that she doesn't get bored because she can't play with it all the time. This is a relatively small toy that isn't too obnoxiously loud, it is easy to take with you to keep a child entertained for a short period of time (even my 6 yo will play with it for a while when the baby gets bored).

In short:

Pros

+ Fairly small toy yet big enough to have buttons that are easy for a 1 yo

+ Buttons are very easy to push and I LOVE the smooth easy to clean surface of the buttons!

+ Image on screen is clear and the dog is very cute

+ Simple but cute animation in the dog

+ Clear easy to read display of each number when you push the corresponding number

+ There are more than a dozen different 'messages' played when pressing the phone button, and several different cute 'ring tones'

+ Two volume settings that are perfect! Not too quiet but not annoyingly loud either. I wish all kids toys were this volume!!!

+ Overall very durable except for the screen scratching see note below.

Cons

Screen is a tad on the small side. I would trade slightly smaller buttons to get a slightly bigger screen and still have the toy the same size overall.

Screen scratches really easily!!! This is the biggest disappointment in the toy, the manufacturer knew it was for little kids who would beat it up so a more scratch resistant screen should have been a must. That said after 8 months of occasional use the screen isn't so scratched that you can't see it, but bad enough to be bothersome. This is a MUST change by Leapfrog!!

Not enough counting songs!!! The music button only offers 4 different songs as follows:

* A 'Hello' song that is made up by the manufacturer but is cute

* The tune to 'If Your Happy and You Know It'

* The tune to one verse of 'This Old Man'

* A made up manufacturers counting to ten song.

There are tons of counting songs for kids so one would think that at least a few more would be incorporated into the music button. And that the dog would sing more than two. I suggest singing the words to 'This Old Man' and singing one verse each time the button is pressed. You don't have to go up to 10 just 4 or 5 would be fine. Also another cute counting tune is the traditional 'One little, Two Little, Three little Indians' but change the words to 'One Little, Two Little, Three Little Puppies' then when you get to ten say Ruff, Ruff, Ruff.

Wishlist for future releases this is a list of nice to haves

More counting songs as stated above

Ability to connect to pc and add childs name just like the Scout plush toys

Ability for parent to record a short sentence on the phone just like the old Parents one

Overall, we are very pleased with the phone and price! We are big fans of Leapfrog products in general and this toy is not a disappointment. I would have given it 5 stars except for the screen scratches and desire to have a couple more common counting songs where the dog counts.

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The manufacturer's age range is up to 5 years old, but this toy is definitely not fun or a challenge for my 4 year old, who is even behind his age targets. It plays the same 10-12 songs over and over again, depending on which buttons you push. If it wasn't such a pain to send it back, I would. I could see it being worthwhile for up to 3 thoughthe visual and auditory repetition of the numbers probably does help kids learn their numbers.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Swimways Disney Princess Sun Canopy Float

Swimways Disney Princess Sun Canopy FloatI had no issue inflating this floaty due to my Masters in the Inflatable Arts, Concentration in Swimmables. But that's were the compliments end. The design is kind of dumb. The 'canopy' is practically useless when the sun is overhead. When the child starts bouncing around it's impossible to keep the canopy up.

I would also have preferred to have one that had a higher back to help stabilize the child. Our's spent a good deal of time intentionally trying to look at us backwards, upside down. Also, a few little toys would have been a simple add-on.

If you have a pool you are going to use a lot I'd get a better one, but if you just need something quick and fairly cheap for a few uses, this isn't too bad.

I bought this thinking it would be great to shade the baby from the sun. The canopy was very floppy and did not stay over the baby. I would not recommend this product. I should of returned this product.

Deb from NJ

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It was too big for her to fit in this summer but I am sure next year she will love it!

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this pool toy is so pretty and is good for beginning swimmers to get used to the pool without fear. My granddaughter will love using it.

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The good keeps my daughter afloat. Has Disney princesses on it.

The bad there are no instructions with this float. For new parents or people who have never inflated something in the last 10 years, that is a problem. I spent 30 minutes trying my hardest to blow this thing up no air was going in at all. I eventually got my power drill and tried to drill through the airhole (because it's closed) and still no luck. I now claim stupidity but there is nothing intuitive about how to actually blow this up. You have to squeeze the air valve while blowing to open it up. I am not the only person who did know realize this. Several of my friends (from doctors to contractors) did not realize it either when they bought similar products for their kids. Also, the canopy does not stay up and falls all the time.

Overall not too bad for what you're paying.

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

P'kolino Geared Shape Sorter - Robot

P'kolino Geared Shape Sorter - RobotI bought this for my 17 month old daughter, I think that maybe it is a little to difficult for her right now. She likes to play with it but whenever she tries to put the blocks through the holes she knocks the whole thing over and just gets frustrated. If she lays it down and plays she does better but then she gets frustrated because she has to pick it back up to find where the blocks went, plus at this point she hasn't figured out how the gears work for lining up the shapes, so if they get a little off she just tries to cram the shape in the hole and again gets frustrated when it doesn't work. I like the design of the toy but I just wonder if maybe she'll enjoy it a bit more once she is a little older and can find tune those skills a bit.

this is an EXCELLENT toy to teach ur child shapes. my son is currently 22 months and it is perfectly challenging enough for him! turning the gear also makes it more challenging. this keeps my kid busy for a long time.

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This is a really cute shape sorter and the one that we settled on when looking for one for our 16 month old. It is absolutely adorable! Seems well made and it makes a satisfying "plunk" sound when the shapes drop through. It is a bit tricky for him to figure out right now and the gears turning make it even more challenging...which will be good for a long time! Definitely get this shape sorter, it is much more fun than the little cubes and such!

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I like the fact that they have to turn th gears to get the shape in right, I bought it for my 15 mo. Old and her and her 2 1/2 yr. Old sister really enjoy figuring it out.

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The front loading aspect is great for children that do not look at a traditional cube shape sorter. I work with autistic children that have a difficult time looking at the cubes and flipping the box around. This toy helps build skills for those more difficult ones by gaining experience with putting shapes in/observing the shapes. Also the shapes roll out so you don't have to take time to open the box, etc. I work with children with varying degrees of abilities and some love the spinning mechanism and trying to turn with the block to get the shape into the hole. It's a very cute toy!

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Sunday, September 15, 2013

Small World Toys Neurosmith Together Tunes Block

Small World Toys Neurosmith Together Tunes BlockMy son who is now 20 months has been playing with this toy since he could pull up on it to stand. He loves all the different activities on the sides of the block and knows all he has to do to get the nursery rhymes started is tap on it. If you sit with your child and play with this block, it's great fun. My son loves the side with Pop Goes the Weasel. When I make the weasel pop out, he helps me push the weasel back in so we can make him pop out again. This is one of our favorite toys to play with together.

I was hesitant to spend so much money on this toy. I really like the idea of something soft (not plastic) and musical for my 6 mo old daughter. I imagined her standing on her wobbly little legs and really enjoying the music and pictures.

However, what I imagined didn't happen. We've had this toy for almost 6 months and she still shows little interest in it, even though she loves music. My daughter is really busy and moves from toy to toy quickly. She will only play with this for a short time and never seeks it out on her own. There just aren't enough knobs, gizmos, do-dad and what-nots, for her to keep her fingers busy. Maybe when she's older and can sing along, she will start to appreciate this toy.

Cons:

1. minimal interactive parts

2. sometimes requires large movement to activate sound and sometimes activates with barely any movement.

3. fabric collects tons of dog hair and dirt

4. catchy songs (they will stay in your head, even if the words make no sense...i.e. "Pop Goes the Weasel")

5. Expensive

Pros:

1. catchy songs (Wheels on the Bus is our favorite)

Overall, I would not recommend this product.

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I gave this to my 10 month old daughter for Christmas and she stands up at it but thats about it. My older children ages 4 and 7 seem to enjoy it more by singing the nursery rhymes. Its a cute idea but for babies there are alot better toys out there. FYI She loves the fisher price incrediblock.

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I wouldn't compare this to fisher-price toys. It has much better sound quality. My son, now 2yo, has played with this block almost continuously since he was 3 months. I have only changed the batteries once. I have the different cartriges to play music other than the rhymes. The reason I rate it a 4 is because the other songs are not loud enough to hear even on the higher setting. I agree it is not so easy for young babies to activate the cube, but they need the parent-child interaction and all it takes is a tap. I have many Neurosmith toys and I took a risk buying them as they are out of business, but I did not regret it as all of them have worked for over a year now.

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this is the best item I could have provided my grandaughter she loves this toy. The seller is one of the best I have had the pleasure of dealing with. :)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Fisher Price Laugh & Learning My Learning Tools

Fisher Price Laugh & Learning My Learning ToolsThe small toys are great for little hands and is fun for big brother to play along. The only downfall is that all the tools do not fit very well inside the bag, it would be nice if they all would fit inside. There are holders on the outside, but they fall out.

I bought this toy when my son was still a newborn. It interested him back then and it still interests him now at 18 months. There was a period of time where he didn't want to play with it, but that's normal for any infant they need change. But he has recently discovered in the past 2 months that he likes to dance along with the music.

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My little guy received this toy for Christmas (he was 11 months old at the time). It is very cute and the musical songs are fun. That being said our little one hasn't been overly excited about it! We thought this would be perfect because he has a 4 year old brother who has some other tool sets (Melissa & Doug wooden take along tool kit, Fisher-Price Drillin' Action Tool set, other assorted tools). We hoped this tool set would be the answer, and keep the little guy from 'snatching' big brother's tools since he would have a set of his own. Well, that didn't work, this tool set is not nearly as interesting as the tool sets big brother has. My little guy hasn't taken too much interest in this toy, for whatever reason. (Ironically big brother has been more intrigued by it than little brother!) The little tools are really just 'rattles'. They are bright, fun to look at and each one makes a different sort of noise if you shake it. My younger son does like to open and close the bag and he likes that the bag makes music, but overall his interest in this toy is short and limited. He hasn't really shown too much excitement about the rattles. I think this toy (at least the rattle tools) would have kept his interest better at 4-6 months, when he was more into rattle type toys. This tool box would really make a great baby shower gift so baby can use it earlier, for the rattle tool part and then grow into the toolbox bag. Also, it is a bummer that when you put all the tools inside the tool bag the latch does not close! I agree with other reviews that I've read stating how it would be nice if the toys actually fit in the bag. It really is a cute toy and for that reason I wish my little guy showed more interest in it.

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There is nothing wrong with this toy, it's just not super interactive. I guess for the price, it's a good buy. My children like it, but it only has a few features. We have the majority of what Fisher Price has to offer, and we're not disappointed with this toy, you just can't expect too much out of it.

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This toy is "ok". It definitely held my 7 month olds attention for about a long ten minutes. He comes back to it every once in a while. I personally think the toy is very cute.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Brainy Baby Spanish/English Board Book

Brainy Baby Spanish/English Board BookThe words are translated ok from Spanish to English, but the pronunciations in parenthesis seem to have been developed by a native English student learning Spanish. The Brainy Company should hire a competent teacher to effectively and accurately write the Spanish pronunciation, or not put them in at all.

Translation isn't completely accurate so you will need to be cautious when teaching it to your kid. I suggest looking online for the proper translation first if you don't know basic Spanish, and them using a sharpie to write in the correct translation.

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The books I ordered are fro my granddaughter-I was very pleased with the presentation of the material and the pictures. Pleased with all purchases

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Baby Einstein Octoplush

Baby Einstein OctoplushI'm not a huge fan of Baby Einstein stuff, but my son loved this octopus as an infant. We would play the songs for him again and again and he seemed to like it. One thing they don't show you is that the underbelly of the octopus is colorful and a baby likes to look up at the BOTTOM of the octopus, not just the face part. We hung this toy (has a velcro strap on top) over our son's bassinet when he was awake during the days. When we took it down to play with it with our son, we would sometimes spin it around while he looked at the bottom of it. It held his attention so he must have liked it.

It is soft and (I thought) a decent size. It's true that it doesn't "sit up" well for long. It ends up getting kind of floppy-headed and its head will lean back on its legs when it's set down on the floor. This doesn't affect its use in any way, it's just an annoyance for those of us who keep trying to get its head to sit up nice.

The songs are played by pressing on the head. It IS really sensitive, but that's so a baby can make it work. The color words are played by pressing the circles on the feet. They are too difficult for a baby to work.

I didn't mind the music, although I agree with one reviewer who said one of the songs reminded her of circus music. There is one song which is kind of frentic (I called this one "the crazy song"). The music is very electronic sounding, not soothing. This toy is definitely designed for play time.

My son is almost 2 now and we still have the Octoplush. Here are my observations after having this thing for so long:

1) The toy will go crazy when the batteries are low. Before they stop working, they seem to make the toy act bizarre and work in weird ways. If your Octoplush is acting up, it may be the batteries need to be changed.

2) The songs are long (as one reviewer pointed out). But you can stop the music at any time by pushing one of the buttons on the feet. It'll say "blue" (or whatever color you push) and then be quiet.

3) My son can barely get the feet buttons to work even now. I can get them to work just fine (it's not broken), but even a young child (not a baby) has trouble with it.

4) It's true that you can choose English, French, or Spanish for the color words. That's great, but I can speak enough French and Spanish to tell that some of these words are pronounced so poorly that it's hard to make out what the little electronic voice is saying (some of them make me laugh). Don't expect your child to "pick up" all these words while blithely playing with the Octoplush. The quality is not good enough for that. If the recordings were better (which would be easy for the company to do), then maybe so. This is the main reason why I don't give this toy a 5-star rating. I think this is its biggest fault...the poor quality of the recordings for the words (including the English too).

But that being said, this toy only costs about $12 so I think it's well worth the price.

My daughter received this toy for Christmas. It quickly became a favorite of hers and therefore my husband's and mine as well. Baby girl is 9 months old now, and this guy keeps her entertained during diaper changes, toweling off after a bath, or anytime we need to put her down for a second to grab a diaper or a change of clothes. She has really put him through his paces and he holds up well. He's been spit up on, chewed remorselessly, even chucked into the diaper pail and he always comes out unscathed.

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My daughter is 4 months old and we have to take this toy with us whenever we visit friends of family. It plays music fine for her and the colors work. The only problem we have is that she listens to the music so often that the tunes get stuck in your head.

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We received this toy at our baby shower, and were thrilled to get it. However, when we first started using it with baby, we noticed that it began to say the wrong color associated with the wrong foot. we would press the red foot, and it would say yellow. or press the white foot and it would say purple. Sometimes now, I'll just be walking by it, without pushing anything, and it will shout out a random color. Obviously, this isn't teaching our daughter anything!

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This toy is 3 languages, most toys are only English and Spanish and I specifically purchased this because it goes to French as well. My son's aunt is willing to teach French to him and this toy will help Mommy practice with him!

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Kushies Zolo Cha Cha Buggy

Kushies Zolo Cha Cha BuggyOk, this rattle is insanely expensive... and in the first few months it's too big/heavy/awkward for a baby to hold themselves... but I swear every time I would use this rattle my baby would instantly stop crying (until I stopped rattling...). Now that she is 6 months old she has no problem playing with it herself, and she loves to chew on the yellow part. I think the unique part about this rattle is that it has so many different attributes: a funny face to look at, the rattle (both visual and sound), and the squishy yellow top to chew on. A great toy that she'll play with for a long time!

Purchased this item as a Xmas gift in November. The first time the baby used it after xmas and it dropped the eye came off. Felt it was a danger of coming off again a safety hazard.. I wanted to return it but my return date was early December.

Very disappointed with this company because I also purchased another item and that item was defective also. It was the ring stacker and one of the sounds in a ring does not work.

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My daughter was given this as a gift. She has loved it from 2 months on. It is interactive in many ways. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great rattle for your baby to grow with.

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