Babies & Kids Blog

Here are five awesome learning toys for babies and younger toddlers at affordable prices!

Fisher-Price Interactive Baby Grand Piano $44.50

Little ones can rock out with their very own Baby Grand Piano! This pint-sized piano teaches numbers and colors, as well as exposes them to musical concepts like tempo, pitch and style. Baby is encouraged to play and learn with the eight light-up keys and four activities with four songs led by a dancing character and “magic” music book. Features three modes: Learning, Musical Fun and Imagination.

Leap Frog ClickStart My First Computer $39.99

Turn your TV into a learning PC with Leap Frog’s ClickStart My First Computer. With a child-friendly wireless keyboard, console and mouse that converts for right or left-handed use, your little one will dive headfirst into the digital world. The doggy-designed keyboard has the same QWERTY key positioning as a standard version to advance their typing skills, while the mouse will teach proper screen navigation.

Four included games provide essential skills for school and beyond. Along with computer navigation, your child will be taught letters, numbers, phonics, matching, vocabulary, word building, animal facts and more! There’s so much to learn and do inside this safe computing environment.

Learning Resources Attribute Lacing Buttons $14.99

String-along fun! Easy for little hands to manipulate, this 48-piece set includes large plastic buttons in four colors, three shapes, two sizes and two hole styles. Four 36″ laces and Activity Guide “lace up” a good time! Stringing the easily grasped buttons promotes eye-hand coordination, fine motor, cognitive and visual perception skills. This one is best for kids over 3 years old as the buttons could cause choking.

Vtech Baby’s Learning Laptop $17.99

If I had just seen this one online, I probably wouldn’t have been interested in it but my daughter was given this as a gift when she was about 6-months-old. She STILL loves it and she’s almost two! Three modes of play teach shapes, common objects, feelings and music. Light-up screen interacts with colorful keyboard and moveable mouse sized for little hands.

Leap Frog Brightlings Builders $9.97

Leap Frog Brightlings Builders hold fun surprises that encourage exploration! Nine pieces fit together in different ways, motivating babies to create endless combinations. Different shapes and sizes develop spatial awareness. Colors, textures and sounds stimulate all the senses.

Shop for more affordable learning toys at Smarter.com.

The bouncer, also known as the “bouncy seat” is a favorite in many homes.  Babies ages newborn and up love a good bouncer.  It’s great for play and a little snooze.  You will find that you use your bouncy seat a lot until baby is crawling and able to crawl out on their own.  These bouncy seats are sure to please your little one:

The Fisher Price Precious Planet Happy Giraffe bouncer is so sweet!  Three animal friends with happy faces will delight baby, and the two songs, animal sounds and activities to explore are all great for baby’s development.  You can remove the bar, but the seat on vibrate and let baby drift off to sleep.

The Mother’s Touch II Bear Bouncer has a really neat feature that I have never seen before–auto bounce!  With a touch of the remote, the bouncer will sooth baby with gentle bouncing.  There are also 3 musical lullibies and 2 nature sounds and a simulated womb sound.  The seat is extra cushy and the color is simple and neutral.  Three soft teddy bears dangle above for baby to look at.

At around 4 months old, or whenever your baby has good head control, you’ll be ready to buy an exersaucer.  An exersaucer is an essential part of most homes with babies. Even toddlers enjoy an exersaucer.  My daughter is almost 2 and she loves walking around the outside of her old exersaucer and playing with all of the toys.  Babies love manipulating all of the various exersaucer toys, gazing at the eye-catching colors, and sitting upright and getting a good look at the room around them.  Today there are more choices than ever before, so there is no doubt that you can find the perfect exersaucer for your baby.  Here are some cool models:

The ExerSaucer SmartSteps ABC-123 has so many cool features, it’s hard to describe them all!  The exersaucer has three height adjustments and can rock, spin, or bounce.  There are a variety of songs and the toys that surround baby help to foster your baby’s cognitive skills and gross motor development.  See the bar with the toys hanging off?  Baby will stretch and reach up high for them, which is so good for developing muscle control!  It also folds down and has a carrying handle too!

The EvenFlo Mega Farmyard has a lot of cool features, but is still relatively simple so it doesn’t over stimulate baby.  A lot of parents prefer this exersaucer because it’s not too “wild”.  It spins, rocks, or bounces and features 9 cool toys that help babies lean object permanence and cause and effect.

My top pick: Fisher Price Nature’s Papasan Cradle swing: $119.99

A baby swing can be your best friend.  Many mothers rely on the baby swing to sooth a cranky baby.  The best swings mimic the movement the baby felt when he or she was inside the womb.  Here are some things to look for when you’re ready to buy you baby’s swing:

Safety first:  The base of the swing should be wide, and the seat should be low to the ground.  The lower the center of gravity, the lesser the chance of the swing tipping over.  The swing should have a 5 point harness seat belt.  This may seem silly, as the swing obviously isn’t going anywhere but newborns scrunch down in their seats and have been known to scoot all the way down until they’re hanging off the swing.

Weight limits:  Most swings accommodate infants and babies up to 25-30 pounds.  Stop using your baby swing when your baby begins to attempt to climb out.  Even if your baby is within the weight and size limits of the swing, if he or she is climbing out or attempting to climb out, the swing becomes a safety hazard and can no longer be used.

How much?:  A basic baby swing can be found for around $50 or you can go for all the bells and whistles for $150 or more.  The price you pay for your baby swing depends on your preferences and the features you want and need.  Regardless of all the extra fun features there are to choose from, above all, make sure the baby swing you buy is sturdy and safe.

What makes it swing?:  Your choices are wind up or battery powered.  Personally, I’d rather change batteries on a regular basis instead of having to quickly wind a noisy crank every time the swing stops.  Also, battery operated swings also usually have more features like music, varying speeds, vibration, etc.  One way to offset the cost of batteries is to use rechargeable batteries.

Music, speed and other features:  Every baby is different.  Some are soothed by music and vibration while others want a quiet ride.  My daughter always slept better when the swing was moving nice and slow.  Fussy babies may like a more vigorous swing.  Some swings now move side to side instead of back and forth, which is similar to traditional rocking chair style swinging that is so comforting to babies.

Recline:  Infants cannot support their heads and need swings that recline back.  A slouching infant’s breathing can become restricted.  Make sure you can easily adjust the seat with the baby in it.  You don’t want to startle the baby awake if you have to fumble with it.

Tray:  Many swing trays come with toys attached that baby can reach for and focus their eyes on.  Look for one that is fairly simple, too many toys can get in the way with you put baby in the swing or take them out.  A removable tray is also a great idea.  I can’t count how many times I accidentally hooked my daughter’s foot on her swing tray.

Nice and cozy:  Make sure there is plenty of padding to keep baby comfortable.  You may want to buy a separate cover for the cushion in case of spit up or the dreaded diaper blow out.

I hope I’ve helped you to find the perfect baby swing. Keep on swingin’!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through a variety of affordable baby swings.

Rolling Toy Xylophones were recalled by The Land of Nod due to “choking hazard.”

“Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from children and return it to the company for a credit of the purchase price and a $10 gift card.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Children’s Sunglasses have been recalled by Axiom due to “violation of lead paint standard.”

“Consumers should immediately take the recalled sunglasses away from children and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Fisher-Price has recalled Simplicity’s Rainforest Portable Play Yards due to “fall and entrapment hazards.”

“Consumers should stop using the play yards immediately. Although it did not manufacture or sell the play yards, Fisher-Price has voluntarily agreed to assist consumers who own the products. Consumers who own one of the recalled play yards with the Fisher-Price logo should contact Fisher-Price to obtain assistance to replace their play yards.”

Click here to read the full press release.

MSNBC.com featured “The best toy trends for all budgets.”  Check out some popular toys for kids’ today for affordable prices.  Click on the toy name to find out where you can get them (sometimes for cheaper prices than what is quoted in the article):

Games and Puzzles:

Eric Carle Brown Bear Floor Puzzle: $15.95        

Eeboo Travel Games: $9-$15

Create Your Own Pop-Up Book: $13.94

Go Nuts! Dice Game: $6.98

Sorry! Sliders: $29.99 

Fundomino: $15.98

Arts and Crafts:

Elmer’s 3D Pant Pens: $25.99-$4.49  

Crayola Color Surge: $5.36-$24.99

Active Play:

Schylling Color Roller: $23.95

Jungle Bell Skirt: $38.99

Green Toys:

Sprig Sidekick Vehicle Rally Racer and Baja Scout: $27.45

Playmobil Recycling Truck: $28.95

Cheekeyes Wooden Toys: $15.99-$29.99

Plan Toys Parking Garage: $79.99

Toy Dinosaurs:

My First RC Dino: $22.95

LEGO Stegosaurus: $44.99

Fisher-Price Imaginext Spike the Ultra Dinosaur: $129.88

Kota the Triceratops: $145.95

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through all games and puzzles.
Discounts on kids’ arts and crafts.
Buy eco-friendly toys and toy dinosaurs.

This toy is part of eToys.com’s 2008 Holiday Toy Guide.   Babies, although absolutely adorable, are extremely messy!  They love to get into everything and make a mess as they explore the world around them.  This musical fingerpaint set allows them to go crazy and get creative with “goop” that is sort of like fingerpaint, but it does not make a mess.  When your baby touches the goopy surface, music plays! 

Fisher Price Musical Fingerpaint: $19.99 Now: $17.99

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more baby toys.
                                       Discounts on musical toys.
                                       Buy Fisher Price toys.

Fisher-Price has recalled Learning Pots and Pans Toys due to “choking hazard.”

“Consumers should immediately take these recalled toys away from children and examine the bottom of the blue pan. The pan should contain six screws. If all six screws are installed, no further action is necessary. If any screws are missing, the consumer should contact Fisher-Price to arrange for the return of the blue pan for a replacement.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Boscovs.com carries a variety of products.  Right now they are having an awesome sale on some great toys:

                                 CompuKidz Teach & Talk Activity Laptop: $89.99 Now: $19.99

Teach your kids the basics of a laptop with a working mouse & keyboard.  This laptop comes in pink or blue & has over 30 learning games. (Ages 6+)

                                    Fisher-Price T.M.X. Friends Assortment: $34.99 Now: $9.99

Choose either Cookie Monster or Ernie…or BOTH!  They laugh just like Elmo.

                            Playschool Busy Basics Step Start Walk N’ Ride: $26.99 Now: $19.99

This toy can either be a walker or a riding toy as the handle can be moved from front to back.

                                 Thomas the Tank Water Tower Steam Set: $39.99 Now: $19.99

Kids can help feul Thomas with water & real steam comes out of his funnel!

Click here fore more Doorbuster deals from Boscovs.com.

This Smart Cycle “Physical Learning Arcade System” is probably one of the best inventions around.  Why didn’t someone think of this sooner as America is becoming one of the fattest nations in the WORLD??  They really need to make a similar system for older kids.  I know the Nintendo Wii  is supposed to allow for more physical activity during game play, but they don’t have a sort of cycling bike yet as far as I know. 

The Smart Cycle isn’t just a racing game, but a learning game as well.  Kids can race while they learn about shapes, numbers, letters, matching, creativity, problem solving & more.

Your child can play along with their favorite TV characters: 

                      Dora the Explorer: $19.99                                  Sponge Bob:  $19.99

Coupons for online stores selling the Fisher Price Smart Cycle:

eToys:  $5 off $30+ for new customers with a VISA card - Code:  VISA47ET - Exp. 02/29/08

Baby Universe:  Free Shipping on orders of $20 or more.

For more kids’ learning toys click here.

I think Fisher Price’s musical toy Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage is great.  I remember when I was a child my sister and I had one of those guitars that had a microphone attached to it.  We loved it!  I think my mother may have wanted to kill us when we would go on & on for hours. 

Musical toys are a great way to help you kids dance/exercise, sharpen their hand-eye coordination skills, visual skills, auditory skills & more. 

This toy is recommended for ages 6 months and up so I’m sure it will be a long time before your child grows out of it. 

You can buy this toy at The Baby Center Store for $40.49.

CouponMountain.com has some Baby Center coupons:

FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more - Use code:  24938573

Click here for more toy store coupons & deals.

For more musical toys click here.