Editorial Review

This toy will make you want to take a nap. Equipped with straps that attach it to a crib, this play aquarium and music maker is the perfect thing to amuse a child or soothe them to sleep. There are three settings, depending on what kind of stimulation is needed: music only; music plus soft glowing lights; and music plus lights, bubbles, and moving fish. There are also three music options, the best one offering soft and melodic New Age fare, the other two somewhat odd, spacey versions of familiar lullabies. The music combined with the lights creates an instantly peaceful, soothing ambiance. There are a couple of buttons and doodads for baby to bat around that make the fish react in various ways. If these buttons were a little more responsive, this toy would be near perfect. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (659)

My little one goes to sleep everynight w/ this toy
We really like it. I had the older one for my 6 year old. Now my 7 month has had this one for 6 months, and has listened to it everynight before bed. He has now learned how to turn it on and off himself. I would highly recommend this toy.

Second baby still loves it
I love this aquarium. We first had the older version of it with my first son (broke it when he got older). Then we got this one for my now 6 month old. I change his dipes in the crib sometimes or let him play there and I just turn it on for him to watch. He loves it. I LIKE that it can be loud because when I lay him down for a nap, I want it to drown out the noise in the background... like of my almost 3 year old racing through the house. <br /> <br /> It definitely keeps him entertained and even moreso as a newborn.

ok toy
This is just an ok toy. My 9 month old son likes it ok but it not one of his favorites. The motor is loud and it's kind of creepy music. I would recommend getting a different toy to soothe your little one back to sleep. My child just mainly likes to play with it a few minutes or so.

Not quite what I expected
The ocean waves sound really soothes my son to sleep, but I have to keep the volume turned down all the way. I can't believe how loud the volume is for a nightime toy. Also, I can't turn the bubbles on because the motor is so loud if it doesn't keep the baby awake, it keeps me awake over the monitor. The bubbles are the major reason I bought it, so I'm not exactly thrilled with it. I just feel like there was probably something else out there we both would have liked better.

Helps her learn to go back to sleep on her own
I bought this for my daughter when she was just 1 month old, she is now almost two and she still loves it. You can adjust the how low it hangs down in the crib so I have never had a prblem with her head getting hurt. She loves to push it by herself, and when she wakes up in the middle of the night she just sits up and pushes the button and goes back to sleep. The Bubbles are a bit to loud to use when she is older though and the music is also a bit loud for a crib toy. But the running water noise saved us when she was a baby. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Activity mats are a staple baby item in most households. They provide a safe, fun, and educational environment where your little one can lie or sit, and play. Tiny Love's award-winning deluxe mat depicts a riot of happy animals. Elephants, monkeys, giraffes, and even birds will charm your baby who will love the round mirror, squeaky bird, crinkly elephant ear, and pullable giraffe tail. Also included are four plastic rings that can hang from the crossbars, each one with a different plush animal attached to it providing more stimulation and activities. Hidden in one corner of the playmat is a small plastic box housing a switch and speaker. Move the switch to Mozart to hear 10 continuous minutes of music and to light up the three flowers on the mat. Switch to Nursery Tunes for shorter snippets of three popular songs. The mat and its arches fold up nicely, and the entire gym snaps together and travels easily. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (186)

EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT
My 4 1/2 month old daughter has enjoyed this Gymini for over two months. It is wonderful entertainment. She especially loves the mirror and looking at the flowers light up when she is on her belly. I love the convenience of being able to fold it up quickly and neatly to take to our parents' houses. It is the ONE item that we could not live without right now. She loves to play on it for over an hour a day. It's well worth the money.

GREAT GYM
Our 4 month old little girl just loves this gym. She plays with all of the animals and just laughs for hours at a time. It folds up very easily, which makes it a sure thing to take to the grandparent's house. I would highly recommend this gym for your infant.

Wonderful
My 8 week son is very active. He loves to move his arms and legs all day long. So, I knew a Play Gym would be perfect for him. He loves this one. He can kick and grab at the hanging toys for up to an hour. It's very colorful. There is so much for him to look at. Don't think for a minute that this is too busy or that there is too much going on. He makes all sorts of happy grunting and gurgling sounds, so I know he is being entertained. He isn't laying on his tummy very often yet, but that just means he can grow into this toy. I highly recommend this Play Gym!

This is Great
My baby loves to play with this. I used this almost right away. Great colors and music. You will be sooo proud when your baby first reaches for the toys!!!!

A MUST FOR YOUR NEW BABY
This is by far the greatest gift we got! I don't know what I would have done without this! My daughter loved it so much. I first put her in it when she was 3 weeks old and she stared at the animals so intently. She would smile so big at the giraffe... It was too cute. It encouraged her to reach, swat, kick and grab at objects very quickly. And the mirror on the corner helped encourage her to roll over at an early age. The arches are removable (and should be removed once your baby can sit up) and the mat & toys are machine washable. It folds up nicely and I kept the original plastic bag it came in for traveling. Again, this is sooooo worth the money!! I would move the toys around all the time. And she loved the different textures. The giraffe and monkey are rattles, the parrot crinkles, and the elephant vibrates. There's another rattle and mirror too. She loved chewing on the monkey and giraffe feet! Perfect size for a little mouth :-)The mat itself has a crinkly elephant ear, zebra tail, squeeky bird, and musical flowers that light up. You can put the music on yourself, or they go on when your baby puts pressure on the music pad.
The ONLY negative is that when it folds up, the "good side" of the mat and toys are exposed, instead of folding the opposite way. But if you save the original bag, it's not a big deal.
I can't say enough about this - it helped me occupy my baby for hours. I just loved laying next to her while she played - or knew that she could entertain herself while I relaxed nearby. It has been a favorite for months - adapting to her development!! DEFINATELY BUY!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is a happy, noisy toy that should amuse most toddlers. Everything that can be touched reacts in some way, from a trombone-playing frog to a book that sings the alphabet. Our favorite is the colored keyboard that sings each color you press. The tabletop can be placed on the floor for those still in the crawling phase, or can sit on the included legs for a sturdy surface and leaning spot for little ones who are new to walking. If there is any fault with the Learning Table, it may be that it has too many features: each element of the table reacts in two different ways, depending on whether it's in Learn Mode or Music Mode. (Modes are switched by flipping the page of the book mounted in the center of the table.) Though this means more fun stuff for kids to hear, the mode concept is not one that they can be expected to understand, and the effect of the toy's inconsistent reactions is likely to be confusion. --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (511)

Well worth the money!
Bought this for my daughter at about 6 mos and she just turned one. She still plays with it! It is well worth the money. Also, it is fun to put little goodies in the open/close compartment. I put cheerios in there and she loves it!

Great toy!
This is a must! This was given to my daughter before she could walk. Not only did we take the legs off so she can play with it while sitting up, but this toy helped her pull up! We love this toy! She is a toddler now and still enjoys it and I am sure when our newborn gets older she will enjoy it the same. ***We use to put surprises in the little purple compartment!

Love this!!!!!
Wow!! We got this for Christmas for our 4 month old and she loved it from day 1!! She loved holding herself up and standing by it and playing with it. I thought that there didn't look like very many activities but when you turn the page in the middle it makes all the gadgets do new things. Our daughter is now 1 and still plays with it all day. My husband has even caught me playing with it and singing along a few times!! I love it too!

Great For Learning to Walk
I bought this for my son when he was first starting to crawl. After I bought it he was pulling up on it and cruising/ walking around it at 7 months. He interacts with it by learning how to open the little purple lid, how to press, push, pull and how to flip the page. It is very heavy and he can push it and bang as hard as he can and it will not flip. It is also very durable, although, the purple lid can be pulled off but it is safe and it snaps back on easily. It is funny because my son cannot stand for me to reattach it because the first thing that he does is pull it back off. Highly recommended.

Best table toy ever!
My kids and any other kids that come to my home LOVE this toy. It's the first thing they got to. We've had ours for about 2 years now and when ever any one I know have a baby I get this for them as their Happy six months old gift! This is a MUST have for any kid! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Designed for children in preschool through second grade, and easily portable, the Leapster multimedia learning system offers educational games, reading exercises, art tools, and interactive videos in one electronic device. Atop an ergonomic silver body sits a 4-inch, 12-bit color backlit display protected by a blue rubber shield. Slide a Leapster cartridge into the slot, and learn letters, sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and more, using the touch-screen stylus and multi-directional control pad. This unit comes with a bonus cartridge of six learning games; other Leapster cartridges are sold separately. Control knobs let you adjust volume and brightness; there's also a stereo headphone jack. Required are four AA batteries, not included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (293)

Best $$ ever spent-just bought 2nd
I wouldn't be able to praise this toy enough. We gave it to our oldest daughter last Christmas when she was 3 1/2. We were concerned because of the price but compared to a GameBoy we prefered the educational aspect. We have never regreted the purchase. She loves playing with it and has even mastered basic math skills well ahead of time. We had a problem with the screen not responding after about 6 months but it only took a quick email to Leap Frog and they replaced it with our only expense being a few dollars to ship it to them. They have excellent Customer Service. We would have even invested the money to buy a new unit if they hadn't replaced it. <br /> <br /> We have just purchased a unit for our 19 month old daughter because she always wants to share big sister's. I know the age is 4-10 but our little one just loves the characters and even though she doesn't totally understand what to do, she still loves playing. It has helped her to master control of the stylus and she is now much better at coloring too. We have a few extra cartridges and plan on expanding for Christmas. <br /> <br /> We haven't had a problem with battery consumption. This toy definitely hasn't eaten batteries nearly as quickly as others and my older daughter plays with it almost every day. She would play with it more if I would allow it. But we still plan on buying the recharging system too.<br /> <br /> I highly recommend the investment in the carrying case also.<br /> <br /> You just can't go wrong with this toy.

my grandson
I purchased the LeapFrog Leapster for my grandson as a Christmas gift when he was 2 years old. His mom gave it to him when we was 21/2, he absolutely loves it and has learned so much. I like the durability, educational theme and the add ons, it just keeps getting better and better.

Love It
My son was given this on his 4th b-day, he absolutely loves it and so do I! It has taught him alot and the only reason I rated a 4 and not a 5 is because of the battery situation!! Ouch!

Battery Eater!
My son got this toy for his 4th birtday. He truly loves it, but it's a battery eater! I cannot believe how quickly this toy drains 4 AA batteries. Thank goodness they are coming out with a recharging unit soon or we'd go broke!

BEST $ EVER SPENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've never written a review before, but feel I have to about this product. It is the BEST money spent on my daughter ever!!!! My daughter got this for Christmas when she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. At night we read books to her and then let her do her Leapster for a little while. We just purchased The Letter Factory for our last trip....and she already knows ALL the letter phonics....it is just amazing!!!!! We have never had a problem with it in 7 months...and we just put new batteries in it for the first time. I so highly reccomend this toy!!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Many high-tech toys start with a fun and fascinating idea only to make it frustratingly complicated in the execution. Leave it to LEGO to make a technologically advanced toy fun to play with. The enormous 718-piece LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention System lets you construct a variety of moving robot vehicles and then program them from your Windows 98- or Windows Me-compatible computer. The robots are all based around a bright yellow basic unit, which serves as the functional heart of whatever is being built. The brick receives commands from the computer via an infrared tower unit. The computer interface is incredibly user-friendly and intuitive. What's most impressive about the system, however, is the variety of robots that can be built. There are detailed instructions for each one, and since these are LEGOs, builders are free to come up with an endless variety. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (55)

The Best Toy I have Played with in 40 Years
This system is phenominal. We own version 1.5, purchased a year ago and we have not put it down. And trust me, this is not for kids only. I only wish there was something around like this when I was 12 - I was stuck with Robbbie the Robot replicas.
When my son opened it for Christmas, we knew it would be a big hit. We have spend uncountless hours working on this together (quality, quality time) and the problem solving skills he has gained have put him in a position that he can now program a computer in Visual Basic at 12 years. (Not that this system teaches you VB, but it sure teaches you logic and structure, necessities for any program language)
We have since bought all the expansion kits, a few books and have built robots capable of some unbelievable feats.
Keep in mind that older Technic sets work well with these sets as well as many of the other Lego sets you have.
I would recommend this set to anyone, especially those who longed for a real robot as a child, not a "flashing lights only" Robbie.

Best think ever
I have this toy for more then a yeat and it still is fun,i keep making stuff i even made a robotic hand, this is the best thing ever well what are you wating for buy it!!!

Beware of software incompatibilty
Unless you have Windows 98 or Windows ME, it may not work (who knows -- you may get lucky). I refuse to use either of these operating systems, which I consider wretched. The Mindstorm official FAQ says it was tested only on those 2 operating systems. For those who can get it to work, apparently it's a great product.

Great Product, but IR Tower has problems w/certain computer
Great Product - but like another reviewer, I had the same issues with the IR Tower and XP. Non of the Lego Support Documents were of much use, but using an older PC with Windows 98 did the trick.

A MUST!!!!!
I am an engineering student and we use these in our robotics lab. Adults with an interest in programming can use java or C to program, children can use the included software. The software is an easy to use visual drag and drop type software. I would recommend every parent to purchase this toy. It allows the kids to learn the basics of programming and see the immediate results when the program is downloaded to the robot. My 9 year old daughter never lost interest in my assignments. This is one of the best learning toys I have ever seen. I am planning on purchasing on for myself to use with my daughter (lots of little parts, messy children will need some supervision or most of the robot will be in the vacuum). Children between 7-12 will enjoy the product, with alot of assistance from parent, over 12 should have no trouble at all with it. Excellent for education, and a lot of fun for a parent - child activity. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Be it a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away or right here at home in the 21st century, Mr. Potato Head never fails to reinvent himself. For generations this spectacular spud has wowed us all with his ability to keep up with the times. Now he throws us all for a loop once again to reveal that even he has a Dark Side, taking up the role of the most menacing movie villains of all times: Darth Vader. Donning the trademark black helmet, mask and cape, our favorite tuber wields the infamous red lightsaber to become his own Darth Tater. Of course you’ll still find all the classic accessories like the googly eyes, red nose, and silly tongue we’ve come to love but now with an added twist of Star Wars. As always, all the pieces still fit away inside his body for easy storage.--Chip Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Together they shall rule as father and spud...
At 42 years of age, I never thought I would find myself seeking out a Mr. Potato Head.But one look at Darth Tater and I was gone. Darth Tater now has his place on my desk at a respected law firm, but rarely can someone enter my office without playing with him.He sits on my desk, glaring menacingly out the office door at all those who dare to pass by.Generally, once he is spotted perched on his corner of my desk, he is greeted with a smile and his light saber arm is raised up and down.OK, so one coworker called me a dork, but that's OK.She's young and has much to learn.....My advice?Get Darth Tater if you can!!

REVENGE OF THE TATOR!
This is great toy...I always loved Mr. Potato Head & now Darth Tator is my new favorite toy!

Make sure you get your hands on this one while you still can, I know they still have them in stock at other sites.

Oh & one more thing in reference to the guy from Lodi who openly admitted he hates Star Wars...its a shame that he owns one of the Tators & I hope his Tator seeks his revenge & breaks!

I taterly love this toy
my teacher brought this in to school and he isnt even a star wars fan. when i saw it and read the darth tater name i thought it was hilarious and got one myself and i hate starwars i just love darth tater tho

Sure to be a mashing success with "Star Wars" fans...
Okay, I really wish I had come up with "Use the Forks, Luke" first, because no one is going to be able to top that one when it comes to the Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater.But I bet you cannot stop at just one when it comes to riffing on this idea (e.g., Luke and Leia are now Darth Tater Tots and the story takes place "in a grocers far, far away").Not since somebody decided to dress up Barbie in costumes from famous movies has a childhood icon benefited from a commercial tie in to a major motion picture.But not even Barbie as Eliza Doolittle from "My Fair Lady" comes close to the high level of Midi-Cuteians with this toy.

In addition to the "Potato" with it storage space in the back, Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater comes with helmet, mask, cape, feet, arms (right one holding a light saber), eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, and two ears.The mask makes the nose, mouth and tongue incompatible (the mouth and tongue are either/or choices to begin with).Consequently, you can experiment with other looks besides the obvious: lose the mask and cape, put a face together, and the result is pretty cute.Of course, everything works just as well on a real potato for those of you who want to go real Old School on this one.

If the words Mr. Potato Head Darth Tater does not sell you then the picture of this toy has got to seal the deal.There are obviously limited opportunities for companion Potato Heads in this series.Princess Leia's original cinnamon hair buns would work, as would Yoda (albiet with a green potato), but neither of those is ever going to be as cute as this one unless they use some sort of Jedi mind trick.That is because the farce is strong with this one...

I LOVE DARTH TATER!
This is the coolest thing ever!He sits on my desk and watches me with those glaring eyes.He sometimes uses the force to manipulate me.Someone please help me!You are my only hope! ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog is well known for their interactive learning toys and now they've paired with Disney for a princesses' tour of language and math. Cinderella and Belle will help guide your child through various learning activities, such as: letter hunt, spelling games, addition and subtraction games, and number find. Both Belle and Cinderella tell jokes, sing songs, and are generally encouraging with sweet and cheerful voices. If your child decides to stop playing and doesn't turn the laptop off, the princesses ask, "Would you like to play some more?" and if there is no answer, the computer shuts itself off. An LCD screen displays letters, numbers, and other pictures during all the activities. Moms and dads will be glad to note that there are two volumes and virtually no set-up. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (included). --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Best toy in the house
My 2 1/2 year old received this toy as a gift. She ABSOLUTELY loves her "puter". I fill my house with fun and educational toys and this one is hands down the best. She has been playing with it for a few weeks now and can sing her ABC's from A-K. All her friends want to play with it as well. I only wish they had a "boy" version so my son could have one of his own.

Another good one from LeapFrog
My mother and I were having a garage sale and I very much wanted to clean out and get rid of some toys. After explaining the concept to my daughter that if she sold some toys, she could buy some new ones. Well with her money, she picked this out of everything in the huge toy store. She loves it, she takes it in the car on trips, plays with it at the kitchen table while I am cooking. It's great, educational and something to grow with!

A fun "umputer".
I love it and I am 34yrs old.
My 4yr old loves it. And, as far as I am concerned that is all that matters. The sound, the colors, the characters and the keys all all conducive to the purpose that it was intended for.
I bought it for my daughter so she could use it when I was on our family computer.
The only thing (and its not a big thing)is that I wish the screen was bigger.
I would highly recommend it or buy it as a gift.
d

Disney's Laptop by LeapFrog
My daughter Lily got this for her 3rd birthday. We have always loved LeapFrog products. This was her favorite present, hands down. My 6 and 9 year olds even love it! I am really impressed by how many things it does. After playing with it for a day Lily can identify some letters and numbers. The music is great, and I LOVE that there is a high low switch, making it a quiet toy as well as a learning toy!

A perfect laptop for your Princess!
Our 3.5 yr old got this for Christmas and LOVES having "my own 'puter". It is easy for her to open for herself and she loves to hear her favorite characters speaking to her! She likes the activity that sounds out words as you type in letters, and gets so excited when she actually makes a word! She also really likes the counting activity. This laptop has been banged around and dropped several times and it is in perfect working condition. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great toy to give moms a break
Great toy for babies. My daughter can spend one hour on the mat by herself. I also made a few adjustments for her to enjoy the toy even better by placing the mirror on top, so she can look at herself while laying down on her back. She absolutely loves it. Also, I placed the bird chime towards the end where her legs are so she can kick it since the kicking pat doesn't respond to her kicks at all. The chime makes wonderful sounds.
The kicking pat really need to be improved. The kicking pat doesn't respond unless you kick hard at the exact spot. This kicking pat is not designed for little babies, maybe useful when baby gets older.

Anisa's Mom
I just bought this mat this past weekend from my local Babies R Us after comparing it online with other playmats.My local Toys R Us didn't have any in stock, and I didn't want to wait for one to be shipped to me.One reason I was drawn to this one is because the mat is much bigger than a lot of the other ones.I also like the idea of snapping the sides together to form somewhat of a border around my baby.As soon as I bought it home, I couldn't wait to unpack it. I set it up, which was very easy and put my daughter, Anisa, who is 3 1/2 months old, on it.Right away she started batting at the dangling figures and kicking on the kickpad.She really likes the tiger :-).She spent about a 1/2 hour playing on this mat and was just smiling and laughing.I left her with her dad for about another 20 minutes, and when I came back, she'd fallen asleep right there on the mat.I guess she played so much, she wore herself out. Wow!

Another thing that I like about this mat is the fact that the bars that hold the hanging figures simply unsnap from each other, lay flat and I can then change her right on the mat without having to pick her up to change her diaper somewhere else and then bring her back to play.

I do have an issue with the kickpad.It seems to take a lot of strength and exactness for the lights to light up and to play the music.If she doesn't kick exactly on the imprint showing the ball of the foot, it doesn't light or play the music.And I've gotta say my daughter has pretty strong kicks when we are playing, but I guess they are not strong enough when she kicks this kickpad.

The description on Amazon.com said that 3 AA batteries were included, but when I bought it at Babies R Us, there weren't any batteries included.Now I don't know if Amazon has a slightly different one or they get some extras from the manufacturer, but I think if you are paying $70 (which is quite pricey I must say), batteries should be included.After checking 3 other Total Playground Activity Mats on the shelf at Babies R Us, I gave in bought a 4-pack of AA batteries at 4 more dollars :-(.

Overall, I really like this mat because it has some really nice features, eventhough it is a bit pricey.Aside from the kickpad issues, we really do like this toy because it is both educational and fun and it keeps Anisa well entertained and happy.

Great toy...Worth the money!
My three month old loves this gym.I was a little nervous about spending so much on what seemed to be just a blanket with some toys attached but I am thrilled with what I received.My son will spend 20 min. easily playing on this.I would recommend this to any parent.

Well Worth the Extra Money!
My boyfriend and I bought this for our three month old.He absolutely loves it!He loves kicking the little feet to make the music and it teaches him cause and effect.The colors are great and catch his attention during those fussy times.This play mat is well worth the extra cash! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the bright, cheerful colors that Sassy has become famous for, this set of miscellaneous playthings and teethers is sure to capture baby's interest and attention. While the eye-catching colors and shapes, are sure to draw baby's eye, the toys in this set also come in a variety of textures and shapes, so that baby can investigate how each one feels in her hand and, inevitably, in her mouth. Soft, flexible rubber parts on many of the toys make them just right for a little playful gnawing when baby is teething, while other toys in the set come with smoother plastic parts that have been rounded off to prevent injury. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (12)

You get a lot for the price
We bought this set for our then 1 month old son for Christmas. Now that he's almost 7 months old, he plays EXCLUSIVELY with these toys. They are adorable, fun, easy to grasp( the only exception are the theething toys, that are a little bit heavy with the water inside). I have to say though: the toys we got are a little different from the ones I see in the picture here, but I bet these are great too - Sassy makes great baby toys. For the price you pay there are so many of them, that I've decided to give them to my baby one at a time, according to his age. Some of them are still in the box. We use the links to attach toys to his stroller or crib. The set makes a great gift too, especially for multiple babies. I gave it to my cousin's twins: they can share and there's plenty for both of them. All around a good product, highly recommended.

warning for the babies who are theething
the toys are cute and great for the baby to play with. the only drawback are the colorful teether toys. when the baby gets few teeth and bites the teether toys, the paint comes off!!!!!!!!!!!! unfortunately, all the teether toys had to be thrown away. babie's safety is more important!!!!

Best Gift Ever!
We received this as a gift when my daughter was born. She's now one year old, and still plays with these toys. This was by far the best gift we received, and I am now buying it for friends' babies.

I'm a copy cat!
My sister gave this toy to my newborn daughter. Now I consider it a must for friends' babies. I just ordered it for my friends twins. There are plenty to share, and 2 rubber duckies!

A Must-Have
This set of toys is a definite 'must-have' for all babies! I cannot beleive the amount of use we have gotten out of these toys. It seems that everytime my 8-month-old daughter is reaching for one of her favorite toys, I realize it is something from this set. One word of caution--even though the octopus is supposed to be a bath toy, I would not use it as such. I believe the water gets trapped inside and gets moldy. It is a fun toy outside of the bath anyway. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Nothing soothes a baby into slumber like music. Now baby canhave a CD player right in the crib. This battery-operated CD playerattaches securely to a crib rail and also has a soft-glow night-lightthat can be turned on or off, making it easy to check on baby duringthe night. This small streamlined-looking unit has a child-resistantcover to keep control buttons out of reach of curious hands. Withstandard CD player controls, high-clarity speakers, and an automaticshutoff, this CD player makes it possible to play your favorite CDselections in the nursery--at bedtime, naptime, or anytime. This playermay also be used as a tabletop unit once baby outgrows the crib.Although this is a great product concept, many users have found that itis quite impractical, as the slightest brush against the CD player orbump in the crib causes the CD to skip. Requires two C batteries (notincluded). --Deb Oroszlan ... Read more

Reviews (133)

LOVE IT!
My baby loves music! So, I bought this CD player since it hangs on the crib and has automatic shut off. I've been using it for the past six months and love it. At first, it seemed the music was too quiet, but at night when the house is quiet for bedtime, it's the perfect level. The CD player hasn't skipped and I can push a button and it'll shut off in 15 mintues. It also has a night light that automatically shuts off. I use it every night with my baby and found that if I always use the 15 minute button, the batteries last pretty long. I have definitely used this CD player, changing CDs all the time. I would recommend it. It is rather expensive, but I've got my money from it.

Worth the price
I don't know why some reviewers don't like this product. It's extremely convenient, and doesn't eat batteries at ALL. My daughter is four months' old, we use this every night, and still haven't had to change the batteries. The volume level is perfect for lulling her to sleep. I love that it fits right on the crib and doesn't have to be plugged in with cords dangling around. It's also safer than a regular CD player because it's impossible for the kids to get into. Turning on Mozart every night has become part of her bedtime ritual... I just press play, lay her down, and she goes right to sleep.

Doesn't fit on most cribs
This would have been perfect providing it fit on most cris. I thought it was the most wonderful invention until trying to put it on the crib. I also took it to the store & tried it on 10 cribs to find it only fit 2!

Good concept, but won't work like it should
I thought this was a marvel idea, as most everyone else thought. I even got it 50% off. No wonder. I do like that it attaches to the crib and it has a nightlight and can have a timer but the cons outweigh the pros.
First off it does eat batteries quickly and changing the batteries is hard. Why do they make it so difficult to change batteries on baby toys? You ahve to unhook the light part then find(!) a screwdriver that fits the screw to unscrew it and then reassemble it all. There have been many a night when it would not work due to dead batteries and no screwdriver to be found or no batteries in the house.
The most annoying thing is that the volume does not work. It is scratchy sounding like it has static in it. You have to find a certain millimeter area where the volume control will work. I did find that if I insert a small piece of cardboard under the dial it pushes it up and it will work correctly. I'm assuming mine is a lemon and I need to somehow exchange it.

Also the volume never goes too loud. I would like it a little louder for when it is in our toddler's room on her chest of drawers. She can barely hear it. We also like to play fun, dance songs and can barely hear it.
I think we are going to get a small cd player for her room that plugs in to save money on batteries and save our sanity.
I wish this device had a place to plug it up.
Good concept but doesn't work!

Lemon Law This One!
Our first one stopped working in a few days after we brought the baby home. We exchanged it for a new one and that lasted one month before breaking. The light still works, but the CD portion is junk. DON't waste your money. Get a cheap boom box or alarm clock w/ cd player and plug it into the wall. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

AWESOME TOY!!!!
I bought this toy when my son turned one. By far has been the best toy we have bought yet!! Finally a toy that is fun, teaches, and keeps them entertained at the same time! Worth every penny.

Good for learning and keeping kid occupied
My son loves this. I bought it for him when he was 9 months old and he is now 12 months and still has a blast. My nephew who is 24+ months old loves it too when he comes over. Every item has a function and there are even toys that you can buy to go with it. Like a birdhouse and a phone.

The mom who only buys fisher price
I found the Toys R Us near me carried this toy so I went to get it, my 11 month old daughter really enjoys it, she likes to dance to the music, and crawl through the door, and open in and close it, over all this toy is really neat, but the problem I have with it is my light does not stay on when you turn the light swith to on, it sometimes would blink, but now it doesn't work at all, so I probably will have to return it and get a different one.

Great bang for your buck! So many activities!
Wow! This is a new Fisher Price toy that I hadn't heard of before - but knew I had to have it when I saw it. My daughter loves to crawl in and out of things, so I thought this would be a great floor level toy that might keep her interest. This was purchased for her first birthday and I think we are still discovering new buttons and such! There are so many activities and interesting things on this toy that I think the price was a real bargain! The house numbers, the rain gutter, the radio, the clock, the window, the mailbox, etc, etc! There are sounds for nearly every activity, and even the sounds can be changed depending upon what setting the radio is on. My daughters current favorite place in the "house" is the mail box. She loves putting the mail in and out of it. She gets very excited and just chatters away at this toy - crawling in and out of the door and listening as it "creaks" open and then "slams" shut. The toy overall seems to focus mostly on the concept of opposites (night/day, up/down, open/close, etc) and numbers.

There are two volume settings - the lower one being just loud enough for her to hear it while she is playing (thank you Fisher Price!) and the other much louder. On the lower setting, I cannot hear it unless I am sitting at the toy with her.

I just can't say enough about all the activites - I expect that this will be a toy she can play with for a long time without getting bored of it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Baby Tad is a wonderful interactive toy that makes early learning fun andeasy. Baby Tad (short for tadpole) helps your preschooler learn shapes, colors, activities,and songs. When your little one presses a colored light-up button, Tad identifies the colorand shape indicated on the button. With his cheerful demeanor and infectious laugh, Tadoffers support and encouragement and will quickly become a close and trusted friend.Besides various greetings,a squeeze of Tad's hand brings forth favorite children's songs, sung in a squeaky, high-pitched voice. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (310)

better then expected
My 2 year old daughter got this last Christmas. My first thought was she was to old for it,I was wrong. She plays with Tad, regularly and is now 3. She love to sing to the songs. I love that it turns it self off. The batteries are still going strong.<br />

leapfrog tad
My 18-mo. old received this gift for his first christmas. He loves it so much. it goes everywhere with him!

Baby Tad is a lifesaver!
My daughter got Baby Tad as a gift when she was 6 months old.At first she ignored it.Now she loves listening to the nursery rhymes during playtime.I would sing along with Baby Tad first then eventually my baby would hum along with us!Most helpful is the 6 minutes worth of Lullaby/Classical songs.When it's sleep time,I would just have Baby Tad play the lullabies and usually in 6 munutes my baby is asleep!We bring Baby Tad during long car trips too.The nursery rhymes keep my baby occupied when she's bored with her other toys and the lullabies help her settle into a nap when she's tired and sleepy.A true lifesaver!

We all LOVE TAD
I love this toy. It has two volumes (loud/soft) and it plays sleepy music (you can set the minutes) and it is easy for little kids to push. My daughter got this gift at age 10 months now she is almost three and still loves to play with him. She really loves the kiss noises he makes (lips on his cheek). This was worth the MONEY!!

Learning to hug
I love this toy for the fact that it taught our 8 month old daughter to hug everything in sight. Her's makes kissing noises and says "I love you" when you press the kiss on the cheek. She was a hug enthusiast after just a few days of playing with it! Now that she is 16 months old she is starting to understand the reward system for playing with the light buttons and has learned about turning it on and off by using the hands and foot. The tunes it sings are all her favorites now. My only regret is that I didn't buy it for her sooner. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "L&agrave;Ci Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (107)

fabulous for babies and toddlers
My daughter loved this toy when she was six months old, and still loves it at 18 months. I have had no durability issues, and when I noticed the instruments playing out of sync I replaced the batteries, which solved the problem. I love that she can select different instruments to listen to, and that it exposes her to more than the usual canned electronic baby music... she now has a love for instrumental music! This is a fantastic addition to her toybox.

Great music, but it doesn't hold my son's interest.
I seem to be more interested in this toy than my 8 month old. There are lots of beautiful songs and the music is very high quality for an electronic toy. It's too bad my son doesn't like to play with it, because the music is so much nicer to listen to than any of his other toys!

BEST toy we have, by far!
This toy was given to me for my 1 yr old daugther. She is almost 2 yrs now, and she still LOVES playing with it. It is very durable, considering how much she tosses it (and that another baby played with it before they gave it to us). Also, we have only had to change the batteries once. We take it with us every where we go, and it has served us very well in the car - especially in those moments when she just doesn't want to be put in the car seat. It has been very educational as well, in that she can now identify each instrument by name and picture, and presses the appropriate button. She will keep playing the instruments over and over - and yet we don't get tired of it either. This is one of the best toys we have, by far.

He loved it- while it lasted
This toy gets my son's attention- and did since he got it for his first Christmas (9 months)- but unfortunately, it is NOT DURABLE. You cannot let the child actually play with the toy- if they throw it at all, it's history. And guess what- most babies throw things when they get excited. They tend to drop things, too- the toy is heavy for a small child. He loved the lights, and he loved pressing teh big buttons- the music is not too bad, either- but for the cost, you want it to be durable so the baby can play with it.

Best toy yet!
My parents gave this to my daughter when she was three months old, and she seemed to like the musical sounds as we pressed the buttons. She is now eight months old, and she STILL loves it! It is her favorite toy. At 5 months, we would put it between her legs for balance while she learned to sit up, and she would make the music play. Now she's learning to crawl, and she always goes for this toy! The music is NOT annoying, and we enjoy listening to it as much as she does. We feel like she will enjoy this toy for a long time to come! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

ok Product with minor flaws
I purchased this because I love the Ocean Wonders line. It is just like a play gym. The Octopus toy has is battery operated but the batteries cannot be replaced so if your planning on having more children and what to pass this down its a no go. Secondly the one I have (I may just have purchased a defective one) comes apart too easy and is a chore putting together. The toys come off the bars way to easy the velcro on mine hasn't been sticking to well. And a couple of the toys are more like the toddler toys from MC Donalds. I hate to say this I usuaklly give FP high marks
Sure this is fun for some babies but there are other babies Ive seen that get bored with this quickly. And there are Play Gyms with better (and more) toys in this price range that will grow with your baby.

Fact: There's a reason why playgyms are made in Red black in white : Because its easier for babies to see at the time when these playgyms are in use.

ocean fun!
My son is nearly 2 months old and already loves this toy. He bats and kicks the toys hanging down. He's still too small to activate the songs from the octopus but this allows mommy and daddy to sit there with him and play too. The colors are fun and the characters are simply adorable. What's awesome is that this can be used for a boy or a girl and it also has many other matching items (ie. bouncer and swing). My only critique is that I wish there were activities on the mat itself to help with tummy time play.

Children not interested
I am a mother of 7 month old Quads, and I am always looking for something to help me entertain them. I thought that this would be a great toy for them, but I was wrong. All 4 of them just lie there and stare at the toys. They can't reach the Octobus thing, and don't really care about the ball. I am very disapointed.

Great!!!!
My daught just loves this item. It's a fun little toy to have and you can take it along with you any were. It does not take up alot of space.

What a wonderful swing!
I bought this swing after hearing great compliments from some of my cyber mommy friends. Wow, were they right. My son loves this swing. Everytime he cries I turn on the features with the lights and music including the fish mobile, and he stops crying. The music feature also plays some famous lullabies, ocean sounds and running water. Plus, the fact that it swings sideways as opposed to front and back, is what I think he enjoys too. It has two ways of swinging(east to west/north to south). I love the bright colors in the fabric, they are really pretty to look at, especially for a 5 month old. One more feature I forgot to mention is a pouch on back of the swing for storing things. I would recommend this swing to everyone out there. It was money well-spent and so easy to assemble. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you grew up with a Radio Flyer wagon but lost it along the way, here's your chance to own abrand new one. The body and sides are made of finished wood. Painted bright red, the stake sides simplylift out, leaving you with a natural-finish flatbed. Steel wheels with big, inflatable pneumatic tires rolleasily on pavement or rough terrain. At 33.5 inches, the extra-long handle makes turning easy. The wagonbed is 36 inches long, 15 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 21 inches from the ground to the top of thewagon. The durable-tread rubber tires are 10.5 inches in diameter and 3 inches wide. If you're lucky, yourchild might let you borrow this wonderful wagon. --Louise Carter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Very satisfied
This wagon was my second pick, but has ended up being my first choice! The wooden wagon bed stays cool even in the hot summer sun (unlike a metal bed), and the tall wooden sides keep "exploring" babies in their proper place. My son loves riding around in this wagon, and it has room enough for all of his favorite toys too. Walks are smooth and quiet (no rattling parts) and the large tires really make this wagon a pleasure to pull.

Great Wagon for Growing Families
We bought this wagon when we found out that we were expecting our third child. Since our oldest had just turned 2 when we found out about baby 3, we figured that we needed a way that we could safely transport three small children to and from the park, around the zoo, etc.

This wagon has been great. We've brought it to the zoo lots of times, and it fits right into the back of the minivan once you remove the siderails. The kids absolutely love to ride in it, and are looking forward to getting the cooler and the wagon trailer.

Wagon Canopy
... It looks like it cames from the horse and buggie era LOL but it covers the entire wagon definately worth it. I love this wagon but i am some what worried about the paint flaking off as i have read, but will make sure to cover the paint with car wax as told on the radio flyer site. We love this radio flyer! Its big you can fit everything in it!

Great #29 Wagon
I can't say enough good things about this wagon, but I also wanted comment on finding the correct wagon pad that will fit it. The pad sold through this site does not fit. You need to find the pad made specifically for Radio Flyer model #29, which I easily located through other online merchants. It is worth the effort to get the pad as it seems to make the ride much more comfortable and makes the wagon a good napping locale too.

GREAT GREAT GREAT
My daughter just turned 1. She got this as a present and loves it. It is a smooth ride on all types of terrain. We go to the park, the beach and around the block. There is plenty of room for all the extra stuff you want to take along. There is even enough room for a friend and their stuff too. I would recommend this wagon over the steel one to anyone. It is a quiet ride and there is no chance of rust since it is made of wood. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sometimes you just have to put down your little bundle of joy and give your arms a rest! Butwhere can you set someone who may not be able to sit upright? The Gymini 3-D Activity Gym may be theperfect answer. This award-winning portable, washable gym is easy to assemble. Simply spread the3-foot-square quilt on the floor and enjoy a vivid animal circus in red, white, and black. Slide two pliablearches into the corner sockets of the quilt, so that they cross diagonally. Clip the beads, rattles, and mirrorsinto the hole-punched arches. The dangles can be repositioned for endless variety. Babies can lie on theirbacks and stare up at the colorful dangling toys. The gym will improve babies' hand-eye coordination, andsoon they'll be reaching, stretching, kicking, pulling, and rolling--an adorable sight! To put away the gym,simply remove the arches, fold up the quilt, and tuck all the parts into a handy waterproof carrying case.--Kathryn Gustafson ... Read more

Reviews (204)

A must-have for a new infant
I put my infant down on this playmat from day one. I didn't really believe she'd enjoy it -- I just thought I'd try it. She loved it from day one. I also bought a Fisher Price Kick and Crawl Barn. The Gymini is far superior. The Gymini toys are soft and covered with patterns babies love. The Fisher Price toys are hard plastic. The first time my baby's hand hit that hard plastic, I put the "Barn" away. She loved the mirror on the Gymini first, and now she bats at all the toys. She's two and a half months old and we've used the Gymini EVERY DAY since she was born. It goes to grandma's house with her because she loves it so much. I also don't have to feel bad about not interacting with her when I put her down on the mat because it's such a good learning toy. Also, my friends have a 5 month old and she loves the mat too. If you're having a baby soon, do yourself a favor and get this toy!

my son loves it!
My son loves this so much! As soon as we lay him on the mat he smiles as soon as he realizes where he is! Coincidentally, he also loves his Tiny Love crib mobile.

The best investment in infant entertainment/development
I LOVE THIS TOY AND SO DOES MY SON!! I bought this when he was 10 weeks old. At first he liked looking at the black & white patterns (he would follow me with his eyes as I carried past him). Within a couple of weeks he started getting the hang of it. He gets so excited now batting at the toys and his little legs kick with excitement. This is excellent for tummy time too (and might offer him the incentive to roll over to play with the toys overhead as it did for my guy). EXCELLENT CHOICE - WELL WORTH THE $$!!!

Mommy's best friend!
I got this for a baby shower gift and it has been one of the most valuable things I received! When I originally registered for this, I thought it was overpriced, but it is well worth the money. I have a 7 week old daughter and she absolutely LOVES her gymini. She will play under this anywhere from a half hour to an hour. She loves to look at herself in the mirror and it keeps here entertained for some time. There are many places to add more toys to the gymini, too. I change them and switch them around to give her a little variety. The only complaint I have about this is that the musical toy does not work at all. I think I must have gotten a defective one, but my daughter still loves to look at it. This is great for little ones who are not able to do a whole lot yet... keeps them very entertained.

Worth Every Penny.....
This was a baby shower gift off of my registry. I put it on my registry because of all the awards it got, etc.... I can honestly say that this was one of the best toys. This toy was my son's favorite toy until he was 10 months old...even at that age he still liked it but I had to put it away because he was trying to pick it up and bend it. When my son was around 3 or 4 months old he would sometimes lay on this for an hour at a time...this toy helped him learn to roll over and how to grab for objects....This is a must! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Aquadoodle isn't a pool or tub toy, but without water it's no fun at all. It's just a drawing mat after all, but kids will like the novelty of its disappearing colors. The 81 by 53-inch drawing mat is large enough for several kids to doodle on at a time, using the included magic marker pens that do not transfer color to other surfaces (to our knowledge …). Color from the pens appears when water touches the mat; it then fades out without a trace in 60 seconds or so. That's it: no ink, no paint, and no mess.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Love it!
I bought this today at target for my 2 year old daughter. We absolutly love it! She can doodle and draw to her hearts content and never run out of paper.....or be told to be careful to not color on the table. It is just water.....no mess what so ever! The drawings took about 2 minutes to completly disappear. What a great invention! Highly recommend!

What a great idea!
I recently bought an Aqua Doodle for my 2 year old nephew, and it was a huge hit! He was immediately drawn to the mat, and understood how to use the pens right away. The best part was that his 3 year old cousin was able to sit with him and they both had a blast. This is a great toy, because there is absolutely no mess.

I would NOT recommend this toy
I am a frequent buyer/reviewer for toys online and I am generally quite happy with them. This toy has a great concept, but I really wasn't thrilled with it. As the other reviewers have stated, it is a great toy...that is, until it's all wet. I found that the manufacturer SAYS, "image disappears in approx. 20 seconds.". This is where they are wrong. My kids LOVED playing with it, until they ran out of room to write stuff. It took so long to dry to become clear again, that I had to bring it in and put my hairdryer to it for an additional FIVE minute to dry it in order to continue using it. And this toy wasn't even drenched, just regular use. The idea of this toy is great, but has a big inconvenience. Maybe when it's a hot day it'll be better....I hope! I bought two, one for my daughter and one for my niece. I'm returning the unopened one.

Happy Mom
This toy is awesome....Hats off to SpinMaster....I saw this toy online a month ago and went to Toys-R-Us to purchase it and they did not carry it yet...I was just there today and was so happy to see it on the shelf....My kids just opened it and they love it....They are 4 and 19 months old and this is something that they can play together and enjoy....My 4 year old loves to trace the alphabet...If anyone has preschool aged kids or younger this toy is a true winner!!!! Definitely worth the money....

Very Special Toy - Highly recommend
This is a WONDERFUL activity toy for children of all ages - even adults! Several kids can play together on the large size mat and it is very neat, easy to store,very educational,provides hours of fun. The unique technology allows for children to draw with water so you never have to clean up or replace any pens etc. The images disappear after a few minutes so you always have a new writing area. I highly recommend this toy to everyone!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderfulactivity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observationchamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (62)

So fun I Bought My Own!
I bought one of these last year for my nieces. I also got one for me, and I'm in my 30's. I waited until the spring time to send in my caterpillar certificate. They came in their own little container with just enough food. So you don't need to feed them anything. I tried to put some real food such as leaves from the plants they like to eat in the wild, but they preferred the food that came with them. I think I received 6 caterpillars and they all turned into butterflies. I let them go a day or two after they emerged. Kids are completely fascinated by the process from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. One word of caution, it may not be the best thing to get for Christmas since you may have to wait until spring to get your caterpillars. They will send them in the winter, but I didn't want the butterflies to die on me or freeze to death if I let them go.

Our kids loved this
Our daughters received the Butterfly Garden from their grandfather. The whole family really enjoyed the entire process from catepillar to butterlfy. Very educational for the kids. Unfortunately, though we had three cocoons, only one of the butterflies actually survived. Nevertheless, this is a great gift and one I just bought for my nephew.

Tons of Fun and Educational too!
My daughter received this toy from her cousin. She is 5. At first my son was a little grossed out by the worm looking caterpillars but once they grew and I pinned the paper disc with the attached chrysalides to the netted garden, it was worth it. My 2 kids just sit there and watch. It's better than TV. One caterpillar died but 3 have already emerged. My daughter has named the three butterflies and she loves watching "Crystal" balance herself on the orange wedge that she placed in the hut. I find myself checking on them at least 4 times a day because it is so interesting. We are waiting for the last one to emerge before we set the other three free. My daugher doesn't want the last one to be lonely.

A wonderful combination of fun and education
My daughter had a wonderful time learing about butterflies and watching them emerge. This is a fantastic teaching tool, with clear instructions and easy to use equipment. I can't rave enough about this toy!!!!

WOW! This thing is cool!
I recieved my Butterfly Garden yesterday and boy, was I excited! The pop-up mesh butterfly habita is so neat. I've always wanted one! I sent away for my caterpillars today. If you want to give something or get something GREAT, the Butterfly Garden is a good idea! :) ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Your Baby Will Love This Toy!
Out of all of the toys that my daughter has, she loves this one the most. I bought it for her when she was 3 1/2 months and she loves it still. It is easy for her to hold and shake. It is very durable-we take it everywhere. I have purchased other Lamaze products as well.and she loves them the best out of all of her toys. Great company, great products. Highly recommended.

Hours of Play
Such a fabulous interactive cube. Lots of bright colors, jingles and jangles. My 4-mo little boy shakes it, stares at it, gums it, and reaches and grasps for all the rings and handles. Since he has had this cube his grasp has improved as well as his independent play time. Great for the stroller and car, small enough to transport all over. The only reason for the 4 out of 5 stars is that it is not machine washable. Great, interesting, he loves it. Also try the Lamaze catapiller, really impressed with this line of toys.

Jingles, crinkles, chewable -- what more could a baby want?
This is one of our son's most beloved toys. It's amazing how much they've packed into one little toy. The big, soft handles made this one of the first toys he could successfully clutch and lift. He loves to shake it and hear the jingling noises. Whenever he's bored, we can offer this toy and it seems to satisfy him.

great toy
I bought 2 of these for grandchildren as Easter gifts.They were 4 1/2 and 6 months old and they both loved them from the start. So I purchased another for my newest granson who is just 3 months old now. The 2 older babies had no problems figuring out how to rattle, shake, open flaps and chew on this toy.And it is still a favorite for both of them 2 1/2 months later. Levi likes to look at his but at this point thats about all he does with it. I'm thinking that even though it says 3 months and above they should be 4 months or so in order to actually try playing with it. Or maybe its because he was premature. At any rate it really is a good toy, has lots to offer and I would reccommend it for every young baby--it holds their interests for a long time and I'm sure it will do the same for Levi in another month or so--glad I purchased these. As always, LaMaze makes great infant toys and I think I've purchased everyone they've made and never once have I been disappointed. This one is a must have and well worth the money.

One of our favorites!!
Our son received this as a gift, and LOVED it!! Now it is the gift that we give to everybody!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Outfitted in orange and purple, this electronic learning system for preschoolers plugs directly into a television, and at first take looks a lot like a video-game console. Insert any of Vtech's "Smartridges" into the unit for lessons on language, math, phonics, problem-solving, music, and more. Children can choose between two difficulty levels. Included are a large joystick, adjustable to right- and left-handed kids, and an Alphabet Park Adventure cartridge; other cartridges are sold separately. There's also a storage compartment on top that holds up to six cartridges. The system can run on either three C batteries or an AC adaptor; strangely, neither are included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (11)

your gonna need batteries
the ac adapter is extra, and the unit runs on 3 c batteries! otherwise it is perfect for the school age child...the controller and joy stick is large enough for small hands.. the games may requier parental help at first, but they are quickly learned...my kids love it.

little kid friendly!
my 2 boys (ages 3 & $) received this as a gift and they are fascinated by it. I did find the additional control at Target and bought it along with the SpiderMan cartridge. It is fairly easy to use and very kid friendly for tough little boys who like to use their feet and hands! The cartridges are by age and the levels are very easy. Once they master one level they can move up to more difficult levels. What I really like about this toy is that it is educational and not violent like most of the other video games out in the market today. I like it so much, I'm giving it to several on my gift list for the Holidays. Another retailer (online) is $10 cheaper but you have to pay shipping.

Not impressed
I have two boys, 3 and 4 years old. We also have many video game systems, XBox and Playstations 1 and 2, I was originally going to get the boys a used Super Nintendo, but I saw V.Smile and thought it was more created for their ages and less likely to end up broken as quickly as any other console.<br /> I was upset that the 9 Volt adapter didn't come with the system, I actually think it is because V.Tech is a "rookie" when it comes to game systems like this.We expect to have to buy another remote,like all other game systems make you do, but most game consoles come with the accesories needed to make it run properly. It is designed to be a learning video game system for Preschool age to age 8, but I couldn't imagine a normal 8 year old or 7 year old enjoying it as much as other game systems. <br /> I also was upset and returned the first V.smile I got, because the learning system would shut off and I would play with the batteries replace the batteries and blow in the game and game slot, I noticed sometimes the game would come on even though I pulled it out and it would make my TV screen all disarray. I exchanged it for another and the new one does the same thing. VTech should be more on top of things. I even called the company at 1-800-521-2010 to ask if they have had many complaints. I do not know why VTech would sell the V.Smile without the adapter if it doesn't work properly alone on 3 C batteries. A parent should not have to go in there every 5 minutes or everytime the child changes games. If it is designed to run mostly on an adapter it should say so and include this feature with their product. I do not think it is worth the price, and hassle, but its okay as far as the activitie sthe games play. <br /> All I know is if you think you are going to get your kids to leave you alone for a minute while they play, then you are mistaken, lots of "mommy come help me" because the game has shut off. Even my husband who can fix anything gets annoyed when he plays with it for a while. One of these days, probably after their 90 day warranty expires, the system will probably shut off and never turn back on. Other then that, it is OK, my kids love it, and the games are nice because they are made similar to the Nintendo games, that won't break or scratch like a CD.

Good but.......
The system is great, but......<br /> The extra controller is no where to be found! IT IS NOT AVAILABLE through V-Tech even though the customer service rep said they had 1000's in the warehouse. They can't sell me one because they have no way to take payment. <br /> Try explaining that to twin 4 year olds who argue over the controller and whose turn it is. The adapter was also very hard to find. <br /> Why would a company even consider merchandising something as awesome as this before making all the necessary items readily available? If you have as much trouble as I did locating the adapter, buy yourself a ton of batteries!

extra controller
I haven't actually used this product yet (with the exception of the display in the toy store....loved it!), but I did stumble upon an extra controller in Target. I grabbed it up because I haven't seen it sold anywhere else (and it was the only one on the shelf) and I knew if I waited, chances are I wouldn't get my hands on one until January. ... Read more