droolicious : infant toys

Skip Hop's Funky Farmyard Toy Collection (and Giveaway!)

elizabeth leach — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Skip Hop's new collection of infant toys, the Funky Farmyard Toy Collection, is modern, whimsical and beautifully designed. Each developmental toy is brightly colored with contemporary graphics and soft shapes. Skip Hop is giving away the above Activity Gym to one lucky Babble reader. Details after the jump...

Skip Hop's Funky Farmyard Toy Collection consists of an Activity Gym, Animal Ball Trio, Build-A-Barn Blocks, Roll Around Balls, Funny Face Mirrors and Farmhouse Activity Mirror.

The Activity Gym (above photo) would complement any decor with animal and farm graphics, tummy time pillow and five dangling multi-sensory toys with fun textures and squeaking sounds. ($60) (Details on giveaway at the end of this review.)

The Farmyard Animal Ball Trio is a set of three balls with animal faces that ring, squeak and rattle. Hang the cow, duck and pig from your car seat, stroller, or anywhere you want. ($15)

The Farmhouse Activity Mirror is a baby safe mirror designed to look like a farmhouse. It can attach to anything or stand up by itself. This is, without a doubt, the cutest baby mirror I've seen! ($15)

Build-A-Barn Blocks (below photo) consist of four soft blocks with rattles, chimes, crinkles and textures to discover. They are bright and fun to look at, too, with animals and barn graphics.($15)

Animal Chime Balls look like the Animal Ball Trio animals, but are big enough to snuggle. Animals chime, crinkle and are fun to roll. Choose a pig, cow or duck. Balls are 6" around. ($13 each)

Funny Face Mirrors (below photo) are soft, modern stuffed animals with a mirror face. Baby will have fun looking at himself and squeaking the cute bunny or cow. Loop at the back enables the toy to attach to car seats, strollers, or wherever you want. I love the bold color combinations! ($9 each)

Shop the Skip Hop's Funky Farmyard Toy Collection.

To win a Funky Farmyard Activity Gym send me an e-mail at babbledesign@gmail.com with "Skip Hop" in the subject and tell me which Skip Hop product, on their website, is your favorite and why. Also, please give me your name and address. I will choose a random winner next Friday, May 29. Good luck!

Pond Pals

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:45:00 GMT

Stacking seems to be a universal skill that babies are always trying to refine. Here’s a set of stacking pond critters that will help do just that.

Featuring “smart magnets” that allow the pieces to be stacked in any order The Lamaze Pond Stackers, $16.99, are an easy way to introduce stacking. No matter how a child puts them together they stick. There’s also a lesson to be had about colors, shapes and animal characteristics.

Baby's First Valentine

elizabeth leach — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Give your baby his or her first Valentine with this handmade, cloth rattle inspired by candy hearts. Four messages available: Sweet T, Be Mine, I Love U and Hug Me.

Rattle measures: D 4.0 x H 1.25 in. Made by Yellow Label Kids and available at Oompa for $8.99 each.

Handmade Soft Wool Bunnies

elizabeth leach — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:30:00 GMT

I love these colorful wool bunnies. Made from recycled sweaters in a smoke free home, these bunnies are fun and lovable. Available in a variety of fun colors and stripes.

Bunnies are 12" - 14" tall and $26. Shop Palomino Morgan's Etsy Shop.

Simple and Elegant Stroller Toy

elizabeth leach — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:06:00 GMT

I love the simplicity of this stroller toy. Handmade in the Netherlands, these rattling felt people will amuse and delight your infant when you're on the go. Made by Esthex and measures 12" when not stretched. Available in pink, blue and green.

Find the People Pram Cord by Esthex at Just Gorgeous. (Pram Cord is 15 GBP which is approximately $23.)

Kinderware: Soft, Funny-Looking Doll for Babies

Erin Behan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:02:00 GMT

This doll harkens back to a time when dolls were handmade from available materials. It's crafted from fleece, which is balled up and strung on a cord. The result is a soft, colorful, pliable doll that's easy for even small children to easily grip. Like any good doll should, after you look at it for a while, it really starts to grow on you. Somewhat ironically, the doll is meant to evoke a sense of Americana, but is handmade in Bolivia by Aymara Indians. Hey, at least it's made under fair-trade practices. Buy it for $25.99 at Oompa Toys.

Star Baby: Nicole Ritchie’s Daughter Bites Into A Giraffe

SunnyChanel — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:22:00 GMT

Nicole Ritchie was out and about in West Hollywood with her 10-month old daughter Harlow. Looks like the little baby was a wee bit hungry, and she was in the mood for some vintage giraffe. Harlow took a bite out of Sophie the Giraffe Natural Rubber Safe Baby Infant Teething Toy. The French have been making Sophie since 1961 and it has been a soothing teething toy for generations with over 10 million being sold, and each one is still made by hand. You can feed your kid one for $19.95 here.

Shake Your Scaaf Fleur

chrisjordan — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:01:00 GMT

Delightful wooden baby rattle crafted in Germany. All non-toxic materials, conforming to strict European toy standards. Infant toys don't have to be ugly or made of plastic.

Available for $24 at Modern Kid

Manhattan Toy Makes Big Baby Fun with Twisterella

Mir — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:06:00 GMT

I've yet to find the item by Manhattan Toy item that didn't look like an ideal baby gift -- their fun, noisy, cheerful toys are always winners -- but Twisterella here ($28 at Amazon) just makes me laugh. Stack it, sort it, pretend it's an 80s hair band that spent the day getting a makeover from some Oompa Loompas. The possibilities are nearly endless!

Droolworthy: Stacrobats Stack Up With This Mom

Karen — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:02:00 GMT

Toys that come with their own carrying case make me drool, but this one is a superstar. Bright colours and magnetic figures and balls can be configured into as many ways as the high school cheerleading squad. Also an easy thing to throw in the car and take with you to the restaurant or Grandma's ~~museum~~ house. Safe for ages 1 and up. $46 at Sparkability.

Squeak Easy Toys For Itty Bitty Hands

Karen — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:04:00 GMT

Available in 6 animal designs, these little guys look easy to hold and even easier to tote in a purse or diaper bag. Too bad they don't come as a 6 pack, because with all that traveling, they are bound to find themselves relocated against their will. Babies can be so careless. Sheesh.

$5.95 each at Rich Frog. (scroll all the way to the bottom to order)

Go Fishin' Just For the Halibut

Karen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:03:00 GMT

I'm smitten with this My First Tacklebox Playset, that features all the crinkly goodness of a textured bait pail, and a squeaky fish. All the fun of fishing without the ooey gooey goodness of hooking your own worm, which I still refuse to do. My grandfather did it when I was a young girl and this past week at the cottage, I squirmed as my 8 year old did it for me. Yes, I think I'd much rather fish with this set. Only $21.99 at The Corner Stork.

Sigikid Velcro Clutch Toy For Baby

chrisjordan — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:02:00 GMT

This soft colorful dragon has parts that attach together with velcro. The tail has a wooden ring for dragging around. Practice those fine motor skills. Pull them apart, stick them together, chew on them. Sigikid toys are made in Germany and blessedly lead free.

Available at Estella for $30

You Look Happy to Meet Me

Karen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:02:00 GMT

Perfect for a baby shower or new baby gift, this Kaloo 123 Zig Mini Musical Rabbit plays "edelweiss" in a soothing tone for baby. Wrapped in a circular keepsake box, order this captivating bunny for £22.98 at Baby.

Animal Den: A Fun New Toy From Haba

chrisjordan — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:02:00 GMT

The newest line of Haba toys shows why this company has long been loved by parents everywhere. The toy pictured above is just one of the newly released toys.

The animal den is a fun fabric ball for baby. Little animals can be pulled out to rattle, crinkle, or gnaw on.

(Hat tip: The Opinionated Parent)

Hand Made: Yoyo Dolls

Karen — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:03:00 GMT

Made from leftover fabric according to fair trade guidelines by Aymara Indians in Bolivia, these squishy pals are perfect for small hands.

Soft and cuddly, and completely safe for infants, they would make a great gift for baby, toddler or um, me. Machine washable.

$25-$50 at Uncommon Goods.

Naturally Cute Whale

Karen — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:02:00 GMT

Hug the planet with this environmentally friendly whale from NaturalEco.com. Soft and cuddly, 100% Organic, Pesticide and Chemical Free. Naturally cute as well!

$9.95 at NaturalEco.