Showing posts with label toys for toddlers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys for toddlers. Show all posts

Friday, August 8, 2014

Helicopter Sea Rescue Natural Rubber Bath Toy

Helicopter Sea Rescue Natural Rubber Bath ToyReally. Without his helicopter, it doesn't feel like bathtime. From 2-5 months (present), you could tell it was his fav! I heard a few of his first giggles, playing with it! Thank you for making an All Natural bath toy, I feel comfortable letting my newborn put in his mouth. I attest his wary hand control to this toy. Greaaaaat buy!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Tiny Love Sort N Learn Pelican

Tiny Love Sort N Learn PelicanIn theory, this toy is great. My son loves the bright colors, and though he's not old enough to be sorting shapes, he still is very interested in it. However, his favorite part is opening and shutting the pelican's mouth. And like the other reviews have mentioned, the lid of the mouth (the red part) comes off very easily. I get that they probably did this to keep it from breaking, but still, when it comes off so easily it's pointless. I spend the entire time my son plays with this trying to put the mouth back on!

Totally not worth buying. Yes it's cute and colorful but the part of the pelican mouth that opens and shuts ALWAYS falls off.

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I wanted to like this because Tiny Love usually makes great items, but this was a miss. The sound is not great and I had to return mine because the pelican's mouth kept falling off. There are better shape-sorters out there. I gave it 2 stars because the babies did like it, though rarely put the shapes through the sorters

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My 12 month old son loves this toy, he can play with it all day. The head falls off easily, but does not diminish my son's enjoyment.

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My baby loves this toy! He plays with this more than anything else. Its a toy that he can use throughout his toddler years too so its got that versatile edge as well!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Animal Cottage

Animal CottageMy granddaughter really likes this toy.

The only problem was that the yellow elephant was not in it.

Other than that, it is a very fun toy for a 1 year old

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Fisher-Price Discover 'n Grow Stroller Chimes, Elephant

Fisher-Price Discover 'n Grow Stroller Chimes, ElephantLarger than I expected. Only one of the blue/purple cylinders is a chime, the other is hollow. Baby seems to like it

De los mejor que he comprado para niños en los últimos meses, tiene un sonido que arrulla al bebe como de cascabeles

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Thursday, July 10, 2014

The Original Toy Company Pop Up Toy

The Original Toy Company Pop Up ToyThe idea of this toy is great. The construction of this toy is awful. From the minute my daughter started playing with it the springs would stick, therefore the pegs would not pop up. Every single time she played with it I would have to get out the screw driver, unscrew the bottom of the toy and re-adjust the springs....and do it all over again, and again and again. (you get the idea).

Don't waste your time with this one...just plain no good.

This was given as a gift to my sone for his first birthday and now at 2.5 he is still fascinated by it. It's a simple mechanism of springs and pegs but he's loved learning how to make the pegs "pop" and never tires of watching them fly. It's been a simple and valuable toy to teach counting and colors.

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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Nickelodeon Dora The Explorer Multi-Bin Toy Organizer

Nickelodeon Dora The Explorer Multi-Bin Toy OrganizerI have been looking at this online for the past month, deciding on if i should buy it for my 2 yr old. When i passed it in a store today, I went ahead and got it. Its alot smaller than i thought it would be, but it was the perfect size for my daughter. She could easily reach all of her toys. I didnt expect it to be so colorful when I took it out of the box, so that was a nice surprise. All in all, I think this is a great toy organizer for younger children, maybe toddler age, because of the size.

I bought this toy bin at Walmart for $27 and so far it's worth every penny. Very cute and so easy to put together. My daughter loves it and actually helps clean up her room now!!

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We got this for my 2 year old. Her bedroom is upstairs so we made a play area in the dining room. It holds all her toys nicely. And she LOVES Dora. 2 negatives: First is the sides of the bins get a little mangled cause they aren't super sturdy, but not too bad. And second is the bottom drawer. Because we have carpet it does NOT slide easily in and out. I have to pull it out for her.

Read Best Reviews of Nickelodeon Dora The Explorer Multi-Bin Toy Organizer Here

My daughter loves this toy bin. It's a great place to organize toys and teach kids to put their toys away as the bins are easy to take out and put back in.

A little smaller than you originally expect but it's a great size for a toddler.

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It is quite sturdy. The little bins are fabric, but they seem to be made very well. It's very cute and perfect for a little girl that loves Dora! It is also compact so it fits nicely in the little area in our dining room that is her play area. My only complaint is that the large bin underneath is hard to pull out for a little one because it doesn't have a shelf to sit on. It just goes underneath, so it catches on the carpet.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Organic Farm Buddies Rattle

Organic Farm Buddies Rattle, Boxer the dogBought this as part of a set of the Pirate Pig Rattle, Blankie and Toy. I love that these pieces are certified organic,. the size is great for a baby's hand. The rattle is gentle enough for a newborn's ears and very soft. I think the trio of Pirate Pig toys will make a great baby present.

I received this rattle as part of my Stork Stack subscription and I'm so glad I did! Not only is it organic cotton, which makes me feel much better about my son shoving it in his mouth (lol teething babies...), but it's extremely soft too. The rattle isn't too loud which is nice and the size is perfect for my five-month-old to grasp. I'm really excited to have discovered this company through Stork Stack and I can't wait to get the other products they offer!

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chicco First Dreams Crib Mobile

Chicco First Dreams Crib MobileMy son hated his room, or crib, or both. It's likely my fault. I resisted a mobile because it didn't really work with the decor and I didn't know if he'd really love it.

Insert Chico First Dream Crib Mobile. All of a sudden my two month old son that would scream bloody murder when laid down loves his crib. You can actually lay him down awake and tired and this entertains then lulls him to sleep.

Best part of all, the mobile has a sound detector that is perfectly sensitive. Coos are nothing but when he starts crying this kicks on and buys me a few more seconds to rub my eyes open and grab a bottle. It's even been known to get him back to sleep unaided!

Very minor complaints, the projector started jerking a little but a light slap and it was back to normal for now. Oh, and it runs on batteries. In my book, the adjustment to sub-par wine for our new battery budget is easily accepted.

This mobile bridged the "plastic, shiny, toys with lights and sounds" and "mommy really likes mid-century clean lines" line.

We purchased this crib mobile in hopes that it would help our 4 month old with her difficulties falling and staying asleep. She absolutely loves the lights and is mesmerized by the planets & stars on the ceiling. Unfortunately, the music even in the quietest mode is still really loud and the songs are way too upbeat and high pitched to be soothing from a sleepiness standpoint. The mobile definitely keeps her attention and she enjoys laying in her crib for some quiet play time, so we won't be returning it, however, I definitely wouldn't recommend spending the money for this mobile if you're only looking for something soothing for bedtime. We'll be sticking with the much less expensive musical seahorse for bedtime readiness. If I were to just rate the mobile/toy itself I would give it 4 stars, however since it's advertised as something that helps babies with sleep, I give it 3 stars.

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The mobile itself is great, my little one loves it but IT'S A BATTERY NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!Batteries do not last a week!!

Also thanks to a silly programmed stand-by option (that u can't change!) it turns off continuosly while the baby is trying to fall asleep and he start crying again!!

Could have been a great product, instead it truly sucks!!Do not buy!

Read Best Reviews of Chicco First Dreams Crib Mobile Here

im really happy with this crib mobile it keeps my baby busy all the time looking at the lights and the toys, but the only disadvantage is the battery finishes very quickly i recommend odering boxes of batteries with it.

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This mobile is so frustrating. I knew I wanted a mobile that projects on the ceiling. This mobile does, and it's very cool, but that's where the coolness ends. The mobile part detaches, and it's a good thing, because otherwise it sits at a really weird slanted angle. It only plays two really long songs. it DOES NOT attach to the newer decorative cribs with thick rails that convert into beds later. But the projections were so neat that I didn't want to return it. The round base sat freely (without the mobile) on the nightstand for 3 months and we just used it like that. Then, after a trip to the fabric store, some nylon cord, and some tiny fabric hooks, my husband trimming some extra plastic from the back, and a hole drilled through the plastic ledge, I fashioned a way to securely attach it to our sons crib. Waaay to much messing around. Chicco needs to update their crib attachments!

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Saturday, May 17, 2014

Hagen Dogit Luvz Plush Toy, Pink Elephant

Hagen Dogit Luvz Plush Toy, Pink ElephantVery soft and so cute. My dog loves it. She sleeps with it and carrys it with her from room to room.

Love this little toy! Actually bought it for my daugher and she loves it. Bought the alligator for my nephew.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Kid Galaxy Press N GoGo School Bus

Kid Galaxy Press N GoGo School BusPros: Toy arrived on time. Very durable. Made of soft plastic good for tiny hands to play with. Bus is designed for very young baby who likes to watch a bus go slow and stop in 5 seconds.

Cons : This toy was a disappointment My son loves school bus and I thought this one will be perfect but this toy is only for kids who like to press the buttons and watch it move slowly (VERY SLOWLY) for exactly 5 seconds and stop. It cannot be manually driven it is not for that purpose. My son sure plays with it but gets tired of the bus going so slow and tries to push it manually. Way too expensive and not worth it!

My son at 20 months loves this toy. It moves forward and backward. It also lights, tilts, and beeps. It does not go well on carpet.

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It's been over a year and my son still plays with the bus. It has been dropped and kicked and still keeps going. Battery life is good. Only wish it had rubber wheels on back because they will spin on carpet without moving sometimes.

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I began with (strong) disappointment when I opened this because only 3 out of the 6 buttons on the top of the bus worked (you press each one for sounds and bus-activity) and the box, itself, had a plastic upper liner that was dusty (not a big deal to smear the dust away, in retrospect, but I felt it should have arrived in the "NEW" condition which was advertised.) *Magically,* by the following morning, absolutely every button was working without fail (tried it several times before wrapping it) and we gave it with confidence that the intended toddler would not stare at it, wondering what was wrong with it. What began with my intention to not use this seller (and possibly Amazon) again, ended with my resolve to simply test the item, and be patient while it 'wakes up' -it seemed clear that this item may have sat on the back of some shelf somewhere and was 'groggy' when it arrived. (Suggestion to seller: perhaps poke these buttons a few times and swipe the dust off prior to shipping so it arrives in the same condition that was advertised.) All of that said, the packaging was PERFECT and the arrival-time even better, given how late we ordered it. I suspect that these sellers work very hard to makes everyone's dreams come true *ESPECIALLY when scrambling at holiday time*, so I want to be sure to recognize the efforts of the seller, in light of all things. At the end of the day we had the gift in our possession in time for wrapping, and it truly was in perfect condition when it was opened on Christmas morning. Thank you, seller.

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My two grandsons, 12 months and 3 years, love this school bus. I also previously purchased the firetruck in October. I purchased them for the 1 year old b/c he can operate all the buttons and loves to make it go. But his older brother enjoys it too.

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Sunday, February 9, 2014

Rhino Toys Oball Rattle (Colors May Vary)

Rhino Toys Oball RattleWe found this ball at Target and as soon as our son was able to start using his hands to grab things, this toy has been his favorite. The design makes it super easy for him to hold on to and pass back and forth between his little hands. He loves sticking his nose and his tongue through the holes. He is more "talkative" when he is playing with this toy. Its also soft and light-weight so he wont get hurt.

Lightweight and soft surface makes this a great safe toy for my baby. She never seems to get tired of this toy.

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The ball is colorful and bright. The sound of the little beads in the ball's chambers are very feeble. Would have rather liked some bells or anything that would jingle a little louder. My 3-month old daughter likes to grasp the ball, the big holes in between help her do that. But it doesn't hold her attention for more than a few seconds. I suspect that's because it doesn't do anything more than that.

Overall: So-so product. Try the Manhattan Toy Winkel instead.

Read Best Reviews of Rhino Toys Oball Rattle (Colors May Vary) Here

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Fisher-Price Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tummy Pooh

Fisher-Price Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tummy PoohThe focus of this video review is on exhibiting the actual toy and its features, rather than my opinion (other than my five star rating is my opinion that this is WAY too cute for a grownup to like as much as I did). I'm not sure about the sound level in the video, but you should be able to hear Pooh sing his "My Tummy and Me!" song. Hopefully, you will find it useful to see the toy in action, rather than just a verbal recounting of its features.

Pooh is about 12 inches tall, when sitting. He stays vertical pretty easily, even when moving around. You can feel the hardness underneath the plush covering, but this isn't a true plush toy in the first place. This Pooh has a limited array of phrases, noises, and behaviors. Thus, it is well suited for the age for which it is designated (18 months and up). This is no Teddy Ruxpin toy. If you like Pooh, you'll probably like this. If you don't like Pooh, you're probably not reading this in the first place. TTFN. Ta ta for now.

The test subject here is my little 2-year-old granddaughter. This toy looked so cute, and like it would be right up her alley. She hasn't really tuned into Pooh yet, being more into Special Agent Oso and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, with a dab of Yo-Gabba and Ni-Hao Kai-Lan. But there's a really strong resemblance to Oso, so I figured "what the heck?"

Well, she loves it. It's plush; it's cute, it talks and sings. What more could you ask for?

Very sturdily made, as far as I can tell. Soft, cuddly and huggable. A good-sized product, perfect for my munchkin. The product picture is a very accurate representation.

Good value for the money. This toy should last for years, though I'm sure she'll tire of it before then. But then it will be passed on to someone else; either a future sib, or someone else with a small child.

I think this toy would be fun for little kids of either sex, too.

Well done, Fisher-Price.

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We saw this in the store and it was on try me mode. I thought it was so cute and my soon-to-be one year old loved it. I was lamenting to my older kids that it didn't do a little more (didn't realize it was only on try me). but we got it anyway. We gave it to her for her first birthday and she lit up when she saw it again. Then when we got it out of the box we realized it said more and was more interactive than we thought. His tummy rumbles and he asks for his honey pot and when you put it on his nose (not his mouth) he wiggles his nose around as if trying to get it out. then he thanks you. The song is very cute and he rocks back and forth when he sings. Oh, he asks for a hug, too. Very cute for the kid to learn to "take care of" pooh by feeding him and giving hugs. It is very well made, too. great quality... soft material... doesn't feel hard and robotic, either.

I think the box says 18 months and up, but I really think 12 months and up would be more accurate. also, my other three kids (3, 6, and 9) get a big kick out of pooh, too. me too!

coming back to edit...

my daughter got this for her first birthday and she is now 17 months old. five months later, this is still one of the favorite toys. she plays with it almost daily. she never gets tired of pooh... she hugs him and feeds him. so cute. it doesn't occupy her for hours, but I love that she goes to him nearly every day. she loves the song and loves that he moves. the price currently on amazon is amazingly good!!

Read Best Reviews of Fisher-Price Winnie the Pooh Rumbly Tummy Pooh Here

I reviewed this once before and it got posted as the kid's review above. Not sure why but It did so here goes again. We really like Winnie the Pooh around here so when I saw this I thought it looked cute. When the package arrived my daughter opened it and tried it out right away. Pooh is cute when he wiggles his nose and sings. When you put the honey pot up to his nose he does the same thing. I see this as a toy that a child would really like for a day or two but grow quite bored with after that. I plan on making it a "once in a while toy" that is taken out occasionally so that the novelty doesn't wear off. I personally think that they are stretching the educational aspect of the toy. It does hae a slight educational benefit but not as much as they lead you to believe.

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If you watch the video, my seven year old daughter obviously loves this stuffed bear. I think it is cute too, but I also think it could have been better. Of the two dances it does, one is good and the other is half-hearted. While it is neat that it sways back and forth and wiggles it's ears and nose, I can't help but think they could have done a lot more. A different song or a few more unique dances wouldn't have been too hard to program into this Pooh doll. Anyway, watch the video and judge for yourself.

Kyra gives it a 5 and I give it a 3.5.

~ Kort

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Chicco Do Re Mi Baby Piano

Chicco  Do Re Mi Baby PianoI bought this for our baby when she was six months old. She loves playing with it. The book "flaps" and the slider are fun interactive features. This also has been very handy to throw in the diaper bag while travelling. This still is a favorite toy even after two months of development.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Chicco Colors Mobile

Chicco Colors MobileI bought this for my, then, 4 month old daughter. She had always been interested in mobiles, and we decided to get one that moved on its own. The reason I chose this mobile specifically is because the advertisements on the website made it seem like the lights on the mobile were much brighter than they actually are. When you put the pieces of fabric over the lights, the lights are invisible. Without the fabric, the lights are still barely visible. You also can't just have the mobile move in its own. You HAVE to play the music for that. I returned the product in an instant. I would not recommend this product to anyone! I'm sure there are plenty of better mobiles out there that are cheaper, too.

Good product 100% Recommended

Choosing this rating because it is a great product

I would recommend this product to everyone

100% Recommended

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I purchased this almost 2 years ago for my son, from another company. It looks much more gender neutral in person. I was specifically looking for something simple that played classical music. My son spent his first 6 months in my room and his first mobile was too annoying. This one is perfect. The music box has a light up button that is easy to push and my son quickly learned how to kick it on. The mobile arm comes off so when the child is older they can still have a music box. I read the other reviews and have to disagree about the fairy lights. The red and yellow were plenty bright enough, but yes the blue was very hard to see. I only gave it 4 stars because the thing died after a year. I would buy this again, in fact it is why I'm on Amazon right now to find this for a friend.

Read Best Reviews of Chicco Colors Mobile Here

I bought this when my daughter was around 5 months. I love the fairies on it! It has great colors and my baby seems to really enjoy it. I don't give it 5 stars because the lights in the little canopies are pointless. You honestly can't even see them when they're on. Aside from that, it's a great mobile. I would recommend this to a friend. :)

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Friday, November 8, 2013

Learning Curve Baby Buzzing Bee

Learning Curve Baby Buzzing BeeThis is the best teether you could buy! My daughter and the 5 other children I've given it to, love this teether. It has a great design. The vibrating part is small enough that the early teether can use it with ease. The wings are easy for small babies to hold, chew on and attach a lanyard or rings. I can't say enough positive things! Buy this teether and have a happy teething baby!

My daughte LOVES this teether. Not only can she hold onto it but she can get a massage while bitin down on it! When I first bought this teether, I didn't know it vibrated, and was stunned at the buzzing sound it made....I wasn't the only one. My daughter instantly from then on loves to teethe and bite down, and I think she not only likes the sensation but the sound is really soothing also!

I am going to be buying another, as my daughter loves this one!

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My son is now 9 months and has enjoyed chewing on this teether since he was 3 months (I had to help him a little at 3 months)

Read Best Reviews of Learning Curve Baby Buzzing Bee Here

Requested the pink by writing "pink" they sent yellow. Not enough time to send back. Don't expect to get the Colorado you request. If I had known I would not have ordered. Should get the color you want for the $.

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Bought my Massaging Buzzing Bee Teether last night, got home & there is a soft plastic over the vibrator part it is coming off before we even began to use it. What a horrible choking hazard for my baby!! I will no longer be buying this brand as they do not seem to care about my babies safety..........This is the 2nd time in a month I have had issues with TOMY products.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Sassy Chime Along Developmental Toy

Sassy Chime Along Developmental Toy, FrogI originally bought this item as a gift for my niece, but my dog heard the pleasant sound and had to have it. So i bought two and now i have a happy niece and nibbler. The sound is really pleasant and easy to make.

My daughter is fascinated by texture. The multiple frills on this toy ensures that my daughter keeps scratching at it, grabbing it, and petting it. The chime inside seems to make her happy, she opens her mouth very wide, laughs, and smiles.

I leave this toy hanging on the side of her crib when she sleeps. When she wakes up she likes to bat it around. This serves two purposes. It lets me know that she is awake and keeps her entertained while I'm getting to her.

This toy does not need to be dangling in order for my daughter to have fun with it. I will often give it to her to play with. She chews on it and shakes it around so that she can hear the rattle. I have seen no signs of fraying and the toy still looks like new, even after five months.

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Monday, October 21, 2013

Small World Toys Gerty Balls Gertie Hoop

Small World Toys Gerty Balls Gertie HoopThis is the best basketball net on the market. Like a real net and rim, but flexible in that you can set it at any height. My baby used this sitting, and as he started standing, we would raise it up the glass door. Our dog popped the ball quite quickly and we were able to use every other ball in the house (including full size basketballs) until the weight and usage by our older family members, finally damages the suction cups. I have had great difficulty finding this on the market and am purchasing a backup one, and extras for gifts. BTW, my husband is a basketball coach, and the ease of storage and durability combined with quality of the product and low price make this an ubeatable hoop.....

My 7 year old loves this hoop! He is a diehard b-ball player, and practices every day. We researched for a durable indoor hoop that he could dunk with. He finally broke his first Gertie after 5 months of daily use. We happily ordered another. One note: the suction cups don't really work for serious play. We immediately duct taped the hoop to the base. Not totally pretty, but it is practical!

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In addition to the net not staying on the hoop, and the suction cups not working AT ALL, the biggest problem is that the ball does NOT FIT through the hoop unless you push the ball really hard. Rather pointless if you plan on putting the hoop a little higher so the ball can be thrown in rather than dropped in. I will be returning this item.

Read Best Reviews of Small World Toys Gerty Balls Gertie Hoop Here

This idea seemed like a good one and I'm pretty clever at putting these kinds of things together. That said... no can do. Suction cups do NOT WORK. There are no instructions and the small world site offers no information. Set is useless unless I can resolve this.

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Apart from the fact that this comes with literally no instructions on how to hang the hoop (not that they're really needed) the major flaw is that the ball doesn't fit through the hoop! Now, I may not be a pro at basketball, but I'm pretty sure that's one of the basics. The whole ball going through the hoop part. Also, the net hangs down about 4 inches from the rim. More than anything, it's just bizarre. Not at all as pictured. We can use it with other balls, it's just plain confusing why they would include a ball that doesn't fit through the hoop.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Twitterling Mobile

Twitterling MobileI got this mobile for my 5 month old daughter. She loves it!

So do I. The balance of the two rods is easily adjusted by sliding the orange balls, the height of each rod can be adjusted by sliding them up and down on the strings, and the height of the "sun" on the top string can also be adjusted.

Two of the birds have squeakers in them (press to squeak) and all five are magnetically attached. This allows for them to be placed on any of the mobile's five strings, right-side-up or up-side-down, and even allows them to be stacked together.

The birds aren't small enough to be a chocking hazard, though, so they're safe for my girl to play with.

And... made in Germany (with stringent child-safety laws), not China.

All in all, well worth the price. I'm going to get her the Flutterflies mobile from Haba, next.

At 8 wks. my baby began noticing this mobile which I hung over the changing table. He is entranced by it and always smiles when I give the birds a little push to make them "fly" and twirl. They have a nice random movement instead of the predictable, boring spinning pattern that most mobiles have. The colors are bright and eye-catching and the birds are soft and detachable which he can hold and should work great at keeping him occupied while I change his diaper as he gets older. I don't miss the fact that it doesn't play music because he likes it so much! I highly recommend this and other Haba products.

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This is a wonderful mobile. I have had it up over my son's changing table from when he was born to now (five months). He absolutely loves it. It was probably a few weeks before he really noticed it, but he gets very excited when he sees it. Now that he is a little older, he also likes to hold a bird during diaper changes which helps distract him from "helping" change his diaper.

Pluses

easy to install and adjust

birds come on and off very easily with the magnet attachments -they seem safe for baby to hold and chew on

you can put the birds on so their faces face the baby (a lot of mobiles don't allow this the characters face up nice for the parents, but boring for the baby

both engaging for baby and aesthetically pleasing for parents

seems well made

Minuses

unless you have a drafty room, it doesn't move much on it's own -it is fine above the changing table, because I can twitter it for my baby, but it wouldn't be that great to use where you wanted your baby to be able to entertain himself. I got a motorized mobile for above his crib.

it is actually made in China, not Germany (just designed in Germany).

Highly recommended!

Read Best Reviews of Twitterling Mobile Here

We received this mobile as a shower gift, and it is one of the most beautiful and interesting items we got! Our daughter is almost four months old and is intrigued by the random patterns of the colorful birds. Right now it is in our living room, and the other day she was sitting in her bouncy chair with the mobile behind her. She tried to look at the mobile by craning her head backwards to get a peek at it. If that doesn't demonstrate serious interest, I don't know what does.

My husband and I find ourselves fascinated by the mobile as well, especially when a fan is blown on it. On the one hand, it might be a result of the sleep deprivation, but I do think a lot of it has to do with the mobile just being that interesting to look at.

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This mobile is wonderful. It is made with high quality materials, and will never cost you batteries. My son has loved it since he was 2 months old. Every time he looks up at it he smiles one of his huge grins.

He likes it so much that we sometimes have to take the birds down so that he can nap, but it is very easy to take them down and put them back up again because they are magnetic. You can't go wrong buying this mobile.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Alma's Designs My Quiet Book

Alma's Designs My Quiet BookThis book is very cute in the sense that it zips up nicely like a little suitcase. I was expecting a bit more since this puppy ran be about 30 bucks, but i am hoping that it will prove worthy. I am not going to let my child play with this right away because then it won't be fun the next time I need to keep him quiet! This is what the book offers: BUTTON THE FLOWER a big button for the kids to put the flower on. I am hoping that this button will be sturdy enough for my 2 year old so i don't have to sew it back on, but it seems pretty tough! ZIP ME, WHAT'S INSIDE? A ladybug that you can unzip and reveal a baby ladybug. MATCH MY COLORS balloons that are velcroed on the back and you match the red to the red, blue to the blue, etc. Wish the velcro pieces were a tad bigger. SNAP ME ON MY SHAPES: Same concept as the balloons, only shapes with snaps on them (a bit hard for my 2 year old COUNT MY WHEELS PUT SOMETHING IN MY CARS A train that has 2 pockets in it's cars that you can put 2 little dolls into. LACE THE FOOTBALL A football that you can lace up like tennis shoes and tie a bow with (hard for my 2 year old, obviously) BUCKLE MY BELT This isn't like a seat buckle, this is more of a cheap cloth buckle that you find on cheap pants (kind of hard for a 2 year old) FEELY FINGERS 4 Rectangles that are supposed to be differnt textures, but unfortunately they are all the same. I wish they would have put more effort into this page, as the textures should vary greatly and they DON'T. WHAT TIME IS IT? A sun shaped clock that you can move the hands on. Overall a cute book, just hoping it delivers. I will repost at a later time if it does/doesn't. A bit expensive, but i haven't found any that are not expensive, for whatever reason. Made in Phillipeans, should be cheaper, in my opinion, but like i said I have high hopes for this purchase. The product is a bit difficult for my 2 year old, but some pages are just perfect for him, so this book will definitely grow with him!

My friend had an older version of the Alma Designs Quiet Book, which my baby loved. I was excited to get mine, but I am so disappointed with the changes they've made that I will be returning it. Definitely NOT worth the money.

Alma has found ways to save money in the manufacturing process compared to the older design. In the old version, shapes were nice stiff felt fabric, easy for my baby to handle. Now are made with thin flimsy cotton fabric. Pages that she liked, such as "pick the oranges from the tree and put them in the basket" have been replaced with a easy-to-manufacture "feel the fabric" page with four pieces of very similar feeling fabric. Also, there is no way that the snaps could be done by a child. The belt did fray instantly and would need to be melted with a match. The clock arms were very flimsy and so tightly snapped on that they are nearly impossible to turn, even for an adult. It's a fantastic idea, but doesn't deliver on its promises. I will be buying a quiet book, but definitly NOT this one. The ONLY thing that I like better than the old version is the zip-up design. Good idea with all the small bits inside. Too bad even the cover is kind of ugly, which I wouldn't care about if the activities were better designed.

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There are several "My Quiet Book"s out there & I carefully read the reviews as well as looked to see which had the most activities...this was one of my top ones & decided to go with this one b/c while others had a dress that you zip & a shoe that you tie, I have a little boy & this one seemed to be more boyish as instead of a dress to zip it was a lady bug & instead of a shoe it was a football (my son's favorite sport thanks to my husband). I was a little disappointed, tho, when received because the football doesn't look like a football at all...it's bright red! & it's football shape isn't very good either.

Here's a list of the activities the books has: 1)a flower that you button on (large button) 2)a ladybug that you (un)zip with a baby ladybug inside that you can remove 3)balloons that are attached by velcro 4) 4 shapes that snap (plastic snaps) 5) a train w/ a boy & a girl that you can remove from the train cars (also says you can count the wheels) 6)a not so good-looking bright red football that you can tie 7)a belt to buckle (plastic buckle) 8) this page has 4 different areas that I think are supposed to be different & the child feels the different textures but only 2 of the materials are different so really it's kind of a useless page, not much texture to any of the fabric (really?!), & 9)a clock (says it's a sunshine clock but it so much doesn't look like a sun that I would've never guessed that.

I think you're better off with buying a different quiet activity book.

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This is not well-made. Hems are unfinished, the belt ends were not finished at all and frayed right away. There are no metal rivets around the holes for lacing making it almost impossible for a child to do. The snaps are very difficult for an adult much less a child and as a result, the fabric just ripped around the snap. The only things my child can actually do are the zipper and the train pockets. Not worth the price.

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Mine has a:

1. Flower button page

2. Lady bug zipper page with a baby ladybug inside (best page, so cute!)

3. Velcro balloons

4. Plastic snap-on shapes (that are so hard to pull of I'm afraid I will rip the shapes right off the snap)

5/6. A train with a stuffed girl and boy to put in pockets (the girl and boy kinda look strange)

7. Lace the football

8. Buckle the belt on the shorts

9. Feel the 4 squares (worst page, there is not really a difference in the textures at all)

10. Sun/clock looking thing (flimsy)

11 and 12 are considered the front and back cover.

This book does zip up which is nice, but the cover is weird (lace easter egg heads?)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Lamaze Stack, Roll and Crawl Ball

Lamaze Stack, Roll and Crawl BallWe have this ball and a 4yr old, an 18 month old and a 4 month old and this toy doesn't work for any of them. Our infant has no interest in looking at or rolling the ball and cannot stack it yet. Our 18 month old can stack it but it isn't really a lot of fun. And the 4 yr old taught her how to throw the ball. Throwing the ball is what happens at our house. It is heavy and when it hits your floor (ours is hardwood) it explodes, spinning the pieces in all directions and making the loudest, most satisfying noise. Fun for kids but not so fun for mom and dad. Maybe our kids are extra destructive but aren't all kids to some extent? This ball is no fun.

There is nothing special about this toy. My daughter is simply not interested in it. The ball, looks like a ball but does not really function as a ball as it easily splits up into its components when rolled around. I am a big fan of lamaze toys so I was expecting something more exciting. Maybe my daughter is too young for it;(she is 4 months).

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We bought this for our daughter when she was 9 months old, now she is 11 months and still is only mildly interested in it. The pros: It's a toy that will continue to be interesting as more than just a ball, as she gets older, hopefully taking it apart and putting it back together will be fun for her. She likes it better when it's apart and she can play with the rings individually, bang them together, chew on them, etc.

The cons: When its a ball, it's too big for her to manipulate very well, so it usually ends up rolling away from her and she gets frustrated and gives up on chasing it. Also, taking it apart requires some precise fingerwork into the little provided notched edges on the top, which may take awhile for her to develop, so I'm not sure how well she'll be taking it apart herself anytime soon.

Read Best Reviews of Lamaze Stack, Roll and Crawl Ball Here

This toy is great because it can function as a ring stacker of sorts and also as a ball. Ours stays together quite well when rolled. The part with the rattling beads that goes on top is held in place by a pretty strong magnet, and that keeps the whole thing together.

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I am a huge fan of Lamaze toys. My son's first favorite toy was Morty the Moose (made by Lamaze). :) So of course, I gave this toy a try when he was learning to crawl. This toy is really what got him to army crawl. He's a year old now and still plays with it. He loves stacking the pieces, and shaking/chewing on the blue piece (it's a rattle). You can also fit the pieces so that the ball becomes a fully functional rolling toy. As is, the red center piece is weighted, so the ball doesn't really go onto it's side.

I will say, this is not really a toy for middle-older toddlers. He is beginning to lose interest in it. I recommend buying this toy for babies that can sit up and/or are learning to crawl. We got it for him around 6-7 months old, so I feel like it was definitely worth the money and we are still getting good use out of it.