Thursday, August 14, 2014
Disney Baby Bambi Amazing Animals
Monday, July 28, 2014
Wonderworld Duck Family Wooden Pull-Along Toy
Unfortunately, although this toy is adorable to see, its engineering isn't quite right. It is almost impossible to pull it around without the rear ducklings flipping over, and it is oddly difficult to right them. It's even hard for us adults in this household to play with this toy without capsizing (we use it on carpet, but it's firm non-bumpy carpet so it should work fine. All our other pull-toys are fine). I am hopeful that when the boy gets a little older, he'll be able to get some use out of this up on the hardwood, where it'll be less likely to fail. But for now when he's mostly playing on the carpet, it's pretty much a fail.
Also, ours was sloppily produced, with stray strands of dried glue all over the place. Boo.I am very happy with this toy and my 15 months daughter likes it very much.
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this is the one you wantno bells or whistles or pop-up alphabet videos, just ducks. Babies love ducks. So will you. If you don't tell anyone, you can play with them before you give them away.Read Best Reviews of Wonderworld Duck Family Wooden Pull-Along Toy Here
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Fisher-Price Apptivity Gym for iPhone & iPod Touch Devices
2) QR Code on back doesn't work. Deadlinks to something on the Fisher-Price mobile site. Maybe it will get fixed. Too easy to just go to the App Store/iTunes and search for "apptivity." There are two apps for the gym. One is titled "Peek 'n Play" the other is "Black & White."
iTunes Links -
Black & White -
Peek 'n Play -
3) Touchscreen works while locked in place. Good to switch between apps, maybe even put on a movie or something else? Can turn sound on or off while in cradle, but cannot simply turn down. The phone isn't too hard to get in there, but definitely takes surgical precision.
4) The toy works as a stand-alone (mirror on back-side of iPhone cradle), but significantly increases in value with the addition of the apps. They were designed for this thing, no doubt about it. The two apps were not an afterthought.
5) For fun, place your kid in it and sit facing them. Who is the creepy-creepster staring at you?! (See pic)The best word I have for this is simple. It's simple to fold, simple to carry, simple to put together, and simple to operate. You don't have to use your iPod/iPhone in it but if you do, just search for the Fisher Price apps in the App Store, pop it in it's secure spot and voila! You can also situate your Apple device so that the baby can't or can press the home button. If you don't want to use that function, just switch it around and use the mirror it comes with. I have twins and I found this is also a good tool for tummy time exercises as they can stretch their necks to look up into the mirror and reach up to get the toys. Good buy! Especially if it's on sale!
Buy Fisher-Price Apptivity Gym for iPhone & iPod Touch Devices Now
This is a very simple design and it can fold so you can take it anywhere, which is great for storage and ease. It's a very light product so anyone can move it. I know this shows a baby on the back but that's not always the case. The little toys that are attached to the apptivity gym has been really amusing for my 1 year old. She would sit there and play with all the toys and stare at them.I think the iPhone portion is just an added plus. You can either put your phone in there, which was pretty easy to fit in or turn it so it faces the mirror. I did find when I initially turned the phone holder over to the mirror, it was a little bit difficult. I also found that even with the mirror, my baby would play with this. It kept her amused since it allows her to tug on the toys attached.
Setup-wise, this was a little bit more difficult to put together. I really had to push some of the legs in and took me a little longer. It is easy to figure out how it goes, it is just that it takes a little bit of strength to make sure it is secured properly. To fold up the gym, it's just done by pressing the button. It was a little sticky at first but has gotten better with each use.
Overall, we do like the apptivity gym and even if you don't have a baby lying on their back, they can still play with it sitting up.
Read Best Reviews of Fisher-Price Apptivity Gym for iPhone & iPod Touch Devices Here
This is a great baby present. The Apptivity Gym works with many iPhones and iTouches but not with the new iPhone 5 because it does not have the new electricity adaptor in it. This means that if mom or dad didn't have an iPhone or didn't have an iPhone prior to the iPhone 5, then the "app" part of the gym would not work.That being said, the gym does not require apps to be used with it, as there is a mirror inserted in the place where an iPhone/iTouch is meant to be inserted. I actually prefer the gym without the iPhone/iTouch and appreciate that without these mobile objects, the gym is quiet. Kids still seem to enjoy the gym and it doesn't make any noise, unlike all the other battery-powered kids' toys that seem to continuously make noise.
This gym is best for kids that are still laying on their backs. It is also fun for kids that can sit up but not very useful for walking children, so it has a limited, but important, lifespan. I highly recommend this toy.
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My daughter is 4 months old and received this for Christmas. She loves it! She laid on the floor and played with it for 2 hours Christmas morning! She loves watching the apps on my iPhone or just playing with the toys and looking in the mirror. I would definitely recommend this to anyone!Thursday, July 3, 2014
Nickelodeon Dora The Explorer Multi-Bin Toy Organizer
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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.Monday, June 23, 2014
Kathe Kruse 12" Baby Plush Towel Doll, Luckies Lamb
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Bright Starts Soothing Safari Mobile
I saw other mobiles costing $40 and $50, but didn't want to pay that much. This one is inexpensive yet is quite nice and well built.
It's true that the music volume is too loud, even on the low setting. But I fixed that in less than a minute by taping a piece of cardboard (which I cut from the packaging) over the speaker hole. This part is hidden, so you can't even see the cardboard.
Somebody complained about the elephant (?) switch on the mirror. Yeah, it's a bit "squishy," but it does work, and honestly I doubt toddlers will even use it. All it does is toggle the music from song to song.
The one thing to be aware of is that this mobile can't be attached to a play yard. It will attach to virtually any crib though.
I wanted to use this mobile for a play yard, and so I built a decent stand for it out of a $2 heavy duty (Bankers Box brand) magazine file. Just cut a round hole in it, attached the mobile, and tied the tube coming from the top of the mirror to the opposite end of the box with string in order to give it support (keep it up straight). Then put a 5 lb weight in it. I set the box on a end table sitting next to the play yard. It works great!Our baby loves this mobile. It plays music for a long time, and we have never had to change the batteries in the 8 months we have been using it (unlike our first baby's mobile, which needed new batteries monthly). We like the feature that allows us to remove the arm, and toys, but keep the base attached to the crib so the baby can fall asleep to the music even after she has outgrown the mobile (pulls the toys off, etc).
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I'm yet to figure out what it is, but from 2 months old till now at 6 months old my son is just totally fascinated by this very simple crib mobile. So much so that even when you don't turn it on he just lies there looking at it laughing and making those noises babies make when they are well entertained.This was definitely a GREAT!!! buy.
Read Best Reviews of Bright Starts Soothing Safari Mobile Here
My baby likes to look at the objects but I think there are a few cons: it doesn't attach to my pack n play, you cannot turn it without music playing and the objects just turn but only really move when you hit them. It is cheap though.When i first got this i was really excited about it. my 3 month old baby loves it and so is my 2 yr old girl. one time I left my 3 month old on the crib, she was admiring the mobile. then my 2 yr old got a chair and reach out for the mobile she must have got curious at the blue button before the head of the mobile and press it. the head of the mobile immediately got ejected from the curved part of the toy and fell on the crib. thank god my 3 month old baby was not directly under the mobile.Thursday, June 19, 2014
Theophile Crocophone
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Doll Pram Blue/Red
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Nuby Fun Keys Teether Ring
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I found this toy colorful and nicely made. Bulky for under 6 months old hand. Really loves black and white ball at end.I am pleased with the quality of this product. My 7 month old likes it. Bright with different textures. She chews on everything! Big enough pieces that she can't shove the entire thing in her mouthWith the bold colors and cool patterns and the ability to freeze them, these are my daughters favorite teething toy... right next to sophie the giraffeWednesday, April 2, 2014
Little Prince Decorating Kit
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Fisher Price My First Dollhouse: Caucasian Family
Fact is, for $39.00 you can get the entire My First Dollhouse, with these 3 dolls and some furniture included at Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc. Stay away from this ripoff.
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These people are well made with jointed arms and legs. My two-year old granddaughter loved moving them into sitting, standing, and prone positions. They became part of her playworld.Read Best Reviews of Fisher Price My First Dollhouse: Caucasian Family Here
These are very sturdy, well made and easy for my 2 year old daughter to handle. They are chunky enough for her little hands, and easy for her to articulate the arms, as well as to get them in and out of the sitting position, all by herself.Want Fisher Price My First Dollhouse: Caucasian Family Discount?
I was glad there were replacement dolls for this because my puppies chewed up the dolls not long after my grandaughter got her doll house and she was upset with the puppies but thank you Amazon for coming to the rescueSaturday, January 4, 2014
Little Driver
So a cool toy if the stinkin' thing would work at all. My son was instantly interested in it and wanted to play, but alas no new little driver toy for him. I don't feel like dealing with strike three.
Thank God it's easy to return items from AMAZON.When I received this toy in the mail it didn't work. It must have been broken before or during shipping! There were no sounds at all. I tried 3 different sets of batteries besides the ones it came with it didn't work at all!
Thank goodness I tried it, as this was to be a Christmas present. After sending this broken toy back, I found the exact same thing at Walgreens for $6.99!!!! The Amazon price was way too high at $19.95.So... I debated ordering this for my 2 year old nephew, but we typically don't spend very much at Christmas since it's about more than that. I am an avid Amazon shopper, but may start shopping around before I order toys again. I happened up on this same item for $6.98... buy 2 get one FREE mix & match!!!!!!!!!! I purchased this and 2 toy tool kits (that are $24 on Amazon) for a whopping total of $13.98 plus tax for all three!!!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Shining Stars Monkey
The toy itself is basically a stuffed animal. The fun part (for me and my 7 year old son) was going to the website, deciding which constellation to place his star in, and what to name his star. And guess what I think he *gasp!* learned at the same time!
The game section of the site has been up for a while now. It is called "The Starcade". Most of the games are re-vamped "old school" games such as Pac-Man, and an Asteroids like game. I like it :) Some of the games are under construction, but there are at least 8-10 that are playable.
Another cool part of the site is that you can make a wish on your star for yourself or for someone else. You can also send greeting cards with the animals themselves on them. Each user has their own "Star Page" with all of their animal's information, and the information on their star, which you can print out. You can add more than one animal for each user.
Now all that said . . . My 2 month old daughter LOVES "monkey". (Yeah, I know we're real creative). She holds him by the ears and chews on the top of his head. He's really soft and the star on his foot WILL not come off if you are concerned and considering warning me (Thanks anyway though :)
All in all, I think this is a great toy for the price. I really like that fact that kids old enough can learn about the stars and constellations and can also be thoughtful and make a wish for someone. Younger kids who like stuffed animals will love the soft feel and the cute little faces. I have seen all of the toys in person and they are all of high quality. They are well made from quality materials and are very durable.
For the record, we have "monkey", "frog", and "pig". We are also considering making an investment in "elephant" and "snow owl".My girlfriend calls me monkey ears so when she had to go to the hospital i wanted to do something special for her. This monkey was small enough to be kept with her at all times during her stay at the hospital and it also comes with the package to name a star after her. her mother told me she had not seen her that happy in years which goes to show that the biggest things come in small packages.Our 22 month old daughter LOVES "Monkey." She has not really attached herself to any other stuffed animal or doll such as this one. Monkey goes everywhere with us and she sleeps with him tucked under her arm every night (we did remove the bow). The reason I am back on Amazon looking to buy another one is because when Monkey goes missing, there are often many tears until he is found. Definitely would recommend this product!plush n comfy.. always a fav with the kids who visit our home.. would recommend.. the site n games r way too kiddish for us tho.. maybe the kids love themThis Monkey was very cute ... and a gift .. so I can't say much on how they liked it.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Little Drummer
I can understand if this product was to be seen and not touched but it is made to hit. So dont buy this if you plan on using it, but it will make a nice decorative conversation piece.I purchased this item for my son's first Christmas (he had just turned 1 yo). I feel the item is constructionally sound nothing has cracked, fallen off, split, et cetera after being handled roughly by my one year old (who drops items or tests their sounds when drumming it against other items). It is a perfect size to be carried, makes a nice drumming sound (vs some of the plastic versions out there).
Read Best Reviews of Little Drummer Here
I purchased this toy for my toddler son for Christmas. Literally, within 10 minutes of it being opened, the top of the drum had been ripped through. He is not a rough child and was not using excessive force with the toy. The drum was also smaller than I expected.On a positive note, it was a beautiful toy. Loved the colors!
ALSO, I contacted customer service and they IMMEDIATELY offered a different (replacement) toy! What a GREAT company!My little niece loves this toy! It is string and really has stood up to the test of a rowdy 2 yr old! Great item.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Boikido Wooden My First Drum
Good contruction and a great buy for a first instrument for our toddler.
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This is an adorable drum with a nice sound. My only complaint is that the drumsticks are not connected to the drum in any way (though it has little rings from which you can hang them). My baby LOVES the drumsticks (he taps everything with them), but since he can carry them around the house with him, he eventually drops them and then I have to search for them! As I write this, one has been on the lam for several days.Baby loves it. He goes right for it every time he sees it, picks up his little mallets and bangs away singing happily. Great way to keep him entertained in the kitchen, much quieter than pots and pans !!Very sturdy and makes an actual drum sound which is nice compared to some of the cheaper major brand drums I've seen around, as many reviewers I wish the drum sticks were attached but still a great productTuesday, October 22, 2013
Spielstabil Nesting Stacker
UPDATE
At 16 months, my boy still plays with these every time he takes a bath. I have added other toys to his bath repertoire, but he prefers the stacking buckets. He now knows how to stack them and continues to do so repeatedly. It's also funny to see him trying to grab the water that trickles down from the buckets with holes...he still hasn't figured out that water is not solid....I am an extremely picky mom when it comes to the toys I buy for my son! I love the Plan toys and other educational toys that don't have a lot if bells and whistles. I looked for a long time for a high quality stacking cup toy and finally stumbled upon this German set. Other plastic stackers are likely to contain BPA, but these do not (I went to their website and checked!). They are thick and durable, and work well both for nesting and stacking play (when turned upside down). I am shocked more people haven't found these cups, and it's a shame they show up so low down on the page when you search for stacking toys!
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And a nice added bonus to these stacking cups is that you can still build a sturdy tower if you have a cup or two MIA about the house (say, when one cup is still hanging out near the bathtub from last night's water play, etc.) These cups are so ingeniously designed that the fifth cup fits nicely inside the rim of the third cup-which is also great when your little one isn't yet interested in building every tower by size order. It's just a great toy!I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for over 15 years so I have seen my fair share of nesting cups. The quality and durability of these far exceed any that I have used before for work. I got these for my son when he was 6 months old and he has been using them daily for a month now. A great pick!It's so rare these days to find a baby toy that is the result of careful thought and planning. The cups are very good quality, bright colors, and stack different ways because their proportions are so well planned. They nest, they stack in two separate ways, and some even have drainage holes to be used at the pool/in the tub! The holes are nice, too, when my son inserts a cup inside another upside down since they fit so well together, this prevents suction from sticking them that way permanently! He loves these cups at 10 months old and I foresee many years of imaginative play to come.Saturday, September 28, 2013
Kids Preferred Amazing Baby Sound Balls
WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Do not buy this product!Delivery was a bit slower than expected. The product is really cute, but the balls are smaller than I expected.
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When we first purchased the ball set, our infant didn't show much interest. But around 5 months, when he could reach out and grasp onto objects, they became one of his favorite toys. The different noises, bright colors, and great designs keep him coming back! Additionally, their size and carrying case makes them a great toy to travel with.Read Best Reviews of Kids Preferred Amazing Baby Sound Balls Here
My husband and I purchased this set of balls when our daughter was 2 months old. These worked great during tummy time. We'd roll them pass her and she would break out in laughter (which was a joy to watch). Now she's 7 months and still loves playing with them. Each has a different feature. Her favorite is the orange one with stars. We always make sure to pack a ball when on the go.My little girl loves these! The colors and designs are even more vibrant than the pictures show. They each make noise in a special way which my little girl adores. We loves these! GREAT buy!Thursday, September 19, 2013
Evenflo ExerSaucer Delux - Wild Thing
2. Fold the seat fabric over the red plastic seat back so the white sewn-on label is now on the outside of the seat rim. Do the same all around, so the fabric covers the red plastic seat rim sort of like a padded bumper.
3. Grab a thin implement like a butter knife. Put the point of the knife inside one of the elastic loops and push it between the seat ring and the rotating ring, from outside to inside. There is a thin slot here all around which you can see through. The loop should go through fairly easily, in a horizontal orientation.
4. When you get a loop thru to the inside, grab it, pull it down under the rotating ring, then toward the outside of the ES, and finally around one of the little red prongs on the underside of the rotating ring (made for this purpose).
5. Back up top, grab the white plastic tab that's attached to the elastic loop you just fastened. Lever it down and into the slot between the seat ring and the rotating ring that you just pushed the loop through. This holds the fabric down low around the red plastic rings, where it belongs.
6. Repeat all around.I chose this model of exersaucer because it was the least "busy;" no batteries, no flashing lights, no loud music or beeping or other ADHD-inducing extras. It's pretty basic, but our 4-month-old enjoys it.
We weren't sure if she'd be able to sit and play in it yet, although it is recommended for 4 months and up, but she does just fine. If your baby is still a little wobbly, like ours, just be sure she keeps her hands up near the tray. Our daughter sometimes puts her hands down into the seat near her legs, and has almost hit her head on one of the toys when she couldn't balance without her hands.
My only complaint about this exersaucer is that the toys are kind of lame. The spinning frog is a hit, but the other toys are pretty bland chunks of plastic. Luckily, you can buy "Switcheroos," different toys that snap in and out of the holes in the tray. Some of these are much more interesting than the included toys, so I think we'll be upgrading soon. All in all, though, this exersaucer is a good toy for the money.
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This is a nice basic product. My baby would be overstimulated by all the lights and noise of the more expensive versions. It is a great place for baby to bounce and have fun in and it gives parent's arms a break. I can't imagine the average four month old enjoying it, it seems more suited to a six month old child. The assembly took about 30 minutes. Read the directions before you begin and don't try to do it with your little one around. One place where the instuctions are not as clear as they could be: When you put the three yellow legs into position, they just hang there. Don't, as I did, waste your time trying to snap them into position.They won't be held firm until the next step when you you slip in the springs and position the caps.Overall, I'm very pleased with this product. My little one (we got this when he was 6 months old) loves to play in it. As someone else pointed out, the toys could be better for teething on but that wouldn't prevent me from buying this product.
Read Best Reviews of Evenflo ExerSaucer Delux - Wild Thing Here
I'm a grandmother and bought this to have available when my grandkids come to visit. The price was a big factor in the selection, but it turned out that my grandkids have liked it better than the comparable Baby Einstein product I bought for their house that cost a lot more. This exersaucer bounces up and down as the child bounces. My youngest grandson has been especially entertained by that feature.I love this activity center. It is a big help to me when I need to keep the little one occupied. I would recommend it to anyone. The only thing I didn't like was the assembling part. The directions are not that great.Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Kids Preferred Disney On-The-Go Musical Toy
Friday, August 23, 2013
Kids Preferred Flat Blanky, Pat the Bunny
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My son received this as a gift. It is the perfect size to play peek-a-boo, but the only reason it is called a 'blanket' is that there is no stuffing in the body. Still a soft, sweet toy with a flat body the size of an average adult's hand.Read Best Reviews of Kids Preferred Flat Blanky, Pat the Bunny Here
I bought this thinking it was a bit bigger than it was. My fault for not paying attention to the measurements, but for future buyers-you may want to check that out.It's a perfectly nice *little* toy for a baby. But the description as part pillow part blanket is deceptive. As a nice little snuggley toy it's fine, but *blanket*?? Not quite.
