Play Library » Baby Toys

Melissa and Doug Jumbo Knob Wood Puzzle

Linette Gerlach — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:58:12 +0000

A couple weeks ago I was asked to test toys for ebeanstalk. Of course I jumped at the chance. They sent out the toys last week. They sent out a variety of baby toys and toys for 1 year olds to toy experts (moms) for their review.

While ebeanstalk picks great toys, they like to get some help from the real experts – moms and kids, to help them select great learning toys. The toy we received was the Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle from Melissa & Doug who specialize in wooden toys.

Image (c) L Gerlach

My son is a little older, so I dropped by and let my nephew, who is not quite two, give the puzzle test run. He had a blast putting the shapes in the correct spot on the puzzle. He had a hard time at first, but after a while he started to get the hang of it.

The Melissa and Doug wooden shapes puzzle is a great learning toy for young children. The puzzle helps children learn their shapes, while they’re working on their hand-eye coordination, and learning to compare the shape to the hole in the puzzle to find the correct fit. The puzzle was definitely a hit with my nephew!

The puzzle is very tough and durable, so I think it would withstand the tests that a toddler can put it through and still hold up.

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Gentle Giraffe Soothes Your Child to Sleep

Linette Gerlach — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:58:26 +0000

I don’t often get to write about baby toys, but I found one that’s just adorable! Gentle Giraffe is one of the latest huggable soothing stuffed friends from Cloud B. Gentle Giraffe transports young listeners to the beautiful and mysterious plains of the Serengeti.

Gentle Giraffe features soothing sounds, including rhythmic drums, a waterfall, the sounds of a safari trail, and quiet giraffes to gently ease your baby or young one to sleep.

Gentle Giraffe would go great with a jungle, or safari theme bedroom or nursery. The best part is, he doesn’t have to stay in the nursery. Your child can take Gentle Giraffe with them wherever they go, to have a little bit of home to soothe them when they need to relax or sleep while you’re out and about, or traveling.

Gentle Giraffe is made from hypoallergenic, eco-friendly bamboo fabric, which makes him a wonderful bedtime companion for young children.

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Flutter ‘N Fun Photo Book For Infants

Linette Gerlach — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:24:46 +0000

I thought this was a really cute idea. A photo album for infants. Check out the Flutter ‘N Fun Photo Book made just for the little folks.

Now your little one’s can look at familiar faces, even if they’re not right there. There are also fun sounds, textures, and a teether on this cute little butterfly to help keep your little one occupied.

The butterfly will hold up to four photos of your babies favorite people, the bright colors and photos help develop your babies sense of sight.

Cute!

Image via Infantino

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My First Fish Bowl – A Favorite Baby Toy

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:54:23 +0000

If you have a baby or know someone who is having a baby, then the My First Fish Bowl is a must-have toy. The My First Fish Bowl is intended for babies 6 months and older. It’s meant to help babies explore textures, colors, sounds and more. The best part – babies love it!

First, this toy is soft and babies love to teeth on the fish. They can all go in the washing machine, which I love. Each fish makes a different sound when you shake or squeeze them and each has a different texture. As your baby grows, he or she will move beyond simply grabbing the fish and chewing them to making noises with them and eventually putting them in the fish bowl and taking them out of the fish bowl again and again and again and again, you get the point.

This toy went through spurts of popularity with my triplets, but I think if I hadn’t given it away to make room for “older toys”, they’d still take it out and look at the fish and play with them. Of course, now they’d use their imaginations more, but I really do think they’d still use it in one way or another.

At just $15.95, the price isn’t too high for a toy that won Parenting Magazine’s Toy of the Year Award in the past. I give the My First Fish Bowl two thumbs up.

Image: LeapsandBounds.com

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Sassy Poppin’ Push Car – A Toy That Lasts for Years

Susan Gunelius — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:37:14 +0000

My kids got the Sassy Poppin’ Push Car when they were babies. Before they could even crawl, I remember pushing that car in front of them as they watched intently. Soon they would hold it and shake it. Eventually, they could push it along the floor themselves as they crawled behind. This car took a lot of abuse and now, over three years later, they still use it.

Of course, these days it’s included in the various traffic jams, crashes and other activities 3-year olds put their toy cars through on a daily basis. Many of the cars the kids have received over the years have already been put out to pasture due to lost wheels, missing parts and other unfortunate fates. The Sassy Poppin’ Push Car keeps holding up and shows no signs of breaking down anytime soon.

I’m not surprised this toy won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award and the National Parenting Publications Honors Award. I love the Sassy toy line, and the Sassy Poppin’ Push Car has been a huge success in my house.

Do you have any baby toys in your house that your kids used for years?

Image source: Sassybaby.com

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Babies Love the Skwish from Manhattan Toy

Susan Gunelius — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:27:40 +0000

I don’t know what it is about the Skwish from Manhattan Toy that babies (and toddlers) love. My triplets received this toy as a gift when they were born. Once they were able to start holding toys, we gave them the Skwish along with some other baby toys. To be honest, I was nervous at first that one of my babies would poke an eye out with this toy. However, for some reason, the Skwish was an instant favorite, and it remained very popular for a long time.

At $14.95 from BabyCenter.com (with free shipping through their current website promotion), you might think this toy is overpriced. After all, it’s just 6″ in diameter, and it’s made of wood rods and beads that skwish together then bounce back into shape. How can it cost $14.95? Don’t let the price deter you. This little toy keeps the attention of babies and toddlers for a long time.

My kids aren’t the only ones who have come under the spell of the Skwish. This toy has been named to Parenting Magazine’s Toy Hall of Fame and Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys.

Any guesses as to why the Skwish is such a hit with babies?

Technorati Tags: Skwish,Manhattan Toy,BabyCenter.com,baby toys,award winning toys,Baby Center,skwish toy

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Northern New England Toy Test – Best Educational Toys

Julie Bonner — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:22:42 +0000

The Northern New England Toy Test in Maine wrapped up a few weeks ago. This was a chance for a few kids 5 and under to test a some educational toys and see which ones they enjoyed the most and held their attention the longest.

A few were big hits among the kids, while some were either too hard or only held their interest for a few minutes. My favorite was the puzzle which made the animal sounds.

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Technorati Tags: educational toy,toy testers,new england toy testers,best educational toys,toddler toys

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CTTC Unveiled its 10 Children’s Choice 2008 Award Winners

Julie Bonner — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:06:40 +0000

In Ottawa, the Canadian Toy Testing Council unveiled its list of the top 10 toys that were voted the best by the most qualified toy testers in the world…..kids. The kids were on hand to test the toys out and then offer their opinion.

2008 Children’s Choice Award Winners

1.Lamaze Balancing Bug Stacker

2. Ultimate Family Wagon

3. LifeStyle Grand Walk-In Kitchen

4. Shrek 3-D Memory Match-Up Game

5. LeapFrog WordLaunch Learn-to-Read-It System

6. Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye

7. STICKY MOSAICS – MY JUNGLE ADVENTURE by The Orb Factory

8. Made You Look: A Book of Picture Puzzles

9. Keesdrow Deluxe Word Seek Game

10. LEGO Snowmobile

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Parenting.com’s Top 26 Toys of 2007

Julie Bonner — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:05:04 +0000

Everyone is coming out with top toy lists right now. It’s hard to keep up, but I love to see which toys made the cut and which ones didn’t. I am particularly interested in Parenting.com’s list because they asked kids from around the country to test 100 playthings and tell them which ones were their favorites. They also talked to moms who told them what their favorites were according to durability and safety. Needless to say, I think this is a great list of toys!

So, without further ado….Here’s Parenting.com’s Top 26 Toys: (click on pictures for larger view)

Birth to 18 months

1. Stride-to-Ride™ Lion

2. Gbaby Blocks

3. International Playthings Animal Shape Sorter

4. Bright Starts Baby’s Playplace

5. Fuzzi Hugbug – Sensory Pleasing Toy

6. NooBoo Pound A Sound by Manhattan Baby

18 months to 3 years

7. pre-zolo

8. Eric Carle Brown Bear Puzzle Tiles

9. Radio Flyer My First Scooter

10. Pull Back Autos

11. International Playthings Lift-Off Rocket

12. Hasbro Playskool Bounce ‘N Go Inch-Along

3 to 5 year olds

13. Bobbin Bumblebee by Mega Brands

14. LEGO A World of LEGO Mosaics

15. LeapFrog ClickStart™ My First Computer

16. My First Kitchen by Educo

17. Fisher-Price Smart Cycle

18. Blue Orange Toys Froggy Boogie

5 to 8 years old

19. Talicor Inc.; The Great Word Race

20. Funky Car 5 Model Build and Play Set by Erector

21. Duck Duck Bruce

22. Fisher-Price I Can Play Guitar

23. Cranium Jam Pack Jam Game

8 to 12 years old

24. Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye

25. Foam Craft Workshop

26. Wild Planet Hyper Dash

What a great list of toys! I sure found a few to get my kids for Christmas.

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KB Toys Super Value Toys and Its List of Hot Toys for 2007

Julie Bonner — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:12:23 +0000

If you’ve been into a KB toys lately, you have probably noticed their “Super Value” toys. We were just there the other day and they had a table set out with several of these super value toys on them.

You could get craft items, cars, play huts and John Deere items for a great price. These have been a big hit for KB Toys customers, according to this press release from PRNewswire:

KB Toys closely follows the hottest trends to offer the most popular toys, and new this year is an exciting collection of “Super Value” toys at great low prices.

“Our new Super Values program has been a clear hit for customers,” adds Bailen. “These toys offer exceptional value and with hundreds to choose from and new arrivals every week, it’s no surprise that this collection has really taken off.”

KB Toys has also come out with their annual “Hot Toy” list for the 2007 holiday season. Here’s the extensive list broken down by age group. Over the next few weeks, I will highlight many of these toys and give you the toy description as well as some reviews.

KB Toys HOT HOLIDAY Toy List FOR 2007 (alphabetical)

7′ x 7′ Bounce House, Ages 3 & Up, Radco, LTD
Baby Genius Preschool Toys, Ages 6 months & Up, Creative Innovations & Sourcing
Grand Canyon Express R/C Train Set , Ages 4 & Up, EZ Tec Radio Control
Hannah Montana Dolls & Accessories, Ages 6 & Up, Mattel(R)
Hot Wheels Turbo Town Garage, Ages 3 & Up, Mattel(R)
Lightning McQueen R/C Vehicle, Ages 3 & Up, Mattel(R)
Shining Stars, Ages 3 & Up, Russ(R)
Turbo Twister R/C Somersault Car, Ages 5 & Up, Simbable International
We Did It Dancing 12″ Dora, Ages 2 & Up, Fisher-Price (R)
WWE 6″ Figures, Ages 8 & Up, Jakks Pacific(R)\

KB Toys has your holiday shopping list covered with a range of toys to
suit children of all ages!

Ages 6 Months & Up
Baby Genius Preschool Toys – With Baby Genius … Music Makes a Difference! Baby Genius is the premier musical edu-tainment brand for infants & toddlers, offering child- friendly, quality content with play patterns that nurture & stimulate. Manufacturer: Creative Innovations & Sourcing

Ages 2 & Up
We Did It Dancing 12″ Dora — A KB Exclusive Super Value Dora talks in English & Spanish & dances! Ages 2 & up. Manufacturer: Fisher-Price

Ages 3 & Up
7′x7′ Bounce House – Perfect for indoor & outdoor fun. Self inflates in minutes. Features continuous air-flow. Ages 3 & up. Manufacturer: Radco, LTD

Lightning McQueen Remote Control Vehicle – A KB Exclusive Super Value Easy to steer star of the movie Cars! Approx. 10″ long. Batteries sold separately. Ages 3 & up. Manufacturer: Mattel

Hot Wheels Turbo Town Garage — A KB Exclusive Super Value Multi-level service garage playset with working elevator. Includes one Hot Wheels vehicle. Ages 3 & up. Additional vehicles sold separately. Manufacturer: Mattel

Ages 4 & Up
Radio Control Grand Canyon Express Train Set G-gauge train set features wireless remote controller & authentic sound effects. Track layout measures over 20 feet. Batteries sold separately. Ages 4 & up. Manufacturer: EZ Tec Radio Control

Ages 5 & Up
Turbo Twister Radio Control Somersault Car Radio control stunt car does it all — super flipping stunts, spins & more. Features light-up wheels. Batteries sold separately. Ages 5 & up. Manufacturer: Simbable International Industries Limited

Ages 6 & Up
Hannah Montana Dolls & Accessories Rock out with the hottest Hannah Montana toys around! Ages 6 & up. Manufacturer: Play Along

Ages 8 & Up
WWE 6″ Figures Ultra-realistic sculpt, design & battling accessories. Styles may vary. Ages 8 & up. Manufacturer: Jakks Pacific

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