droolicious : toys r us

Bath Time Bubble Maker

Lisa Estall — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:39:00 GMT

This Summer Infant Bath Time Bubble Maker looks like it'll provide plenty of fun for the kiddies. Save your breath from blowing bubbles, just press the button for the action!

It can suction to an infant tub or the wall. There are 2 speeds and comes with 4oz. of bubble solution.

You can buy this at Toys R US for $9.99.

Flat Head Fix

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Let’s face it; no one wants a kid with a flat spot on his head. It’s become a more common phenomenon now that it’s recommended babies sleep on their backs. Here’s a doctor-designed solution.

Dr. Ricardo Hahn’s Symmetry Sleep Positioner, $59.99, is supposed to ensure proper sleep rotation and head support. The reviews for this one are mixed, with the biggest complaint being that it’s too small for larger babies. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting idea.

Get Your Mega-Tough Pokemon Regigigas This Sunday at Toys 'R' Us

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Who's got Level 100 status and is coming to Toys "R" Us stores this Sunday? This guy.

More specifically, this character, Regigigas, will be made available exclusively, and wirelessly, starting Sunday, March 8, at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide. All kiddoes need to do is to bring their Nintendo DS, along with their Pokémon Diamond Version or Pokémon Pearl Version Game Card, to any Toys "R" Us store in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for a chance to add the ultra-powerful Regigigas to their Pokédex.

We know this sounds like gibberish to you, but trust us: Drop any of these names, along with the words "free" and "Toys 'R' Us," to the kids, and you've got an instant Sunday-afternoon outing. If you can't make it this weekend, fear not: The promotion extends to March 21 -- which also happens to be the day before the much-anticipated Pokémon Platinum Version hits stores for Nintendo DS.

For all the latest, check out Pokemon.com.

Pet Rocks Return

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

In an entertaining press release announcing the re-launch of Pet Rocks, toy company CEO Marty Abrams says, "We believe that natural disasters - earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, etc. - created geological changes that disturbed these dormant creatures, forcing them to surface above ground. When our field investigators reported back that the Pet Rocks were real, we decided to re-introduce them to the world again!”

Uhh, I don’t know about that, but I guess it’s a clever way for I-Star Entertainment to explain why they’re bringing back Pet Rocks. Jumping on the bandwagon of nostalgic 70s/80s toys, the company will re-introduce the rocks Earth Week weekend April 18 and 19th with scavenger hunts in NYC, Chicago, Boston, LA, Philly, and Washington, D.C. Pet Rocks will be available nationally at Toys R Us.

Big Deal: 40% Off Second Day Shipping at Toys "R" Us

elizabeth leach — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 GMT

It's not too late to shop on line at Toys "R" Us for Christmas and get a great deal on shipping. Look for the items that say "40% off second day shipping when you spend $49". Here are some of the great items in this category...

Live Elmo is $49.99 and a crowd pleaser for our Elmo obsessed babies!

If you have a new baby arriving soon, the Tiny Love Symphony-in-Motion is a fantastic mobile. ($39.99)

Boikido Wooden Blocks have colorful and imaginative drawings on each block. They are beautiful! (30 piece set for $29.99)

Shop all toys with 40% off second day shipping here.

Sign of the Times: Eco Dollhouse

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:58:00 GMT

I’m a bit cynical when it comes to marketing green products to children. I’d like to think it’s educational, but sometimes it’s really just about marketing the “it” topic of the moment to parents. Cynicism aside, kids should be learning about green living at an early age and I love this eco take on the traditional dollhouse.

The Eco House Wooden Dollhouse by Smart Gear comes complete with solar panel, windmill, recycling bins, bicycle and rain water collection barrels. It’s made of sustainable rubber wood and is decorated with only water-based paints.

For better or worse, I may have proved my marketing theory, it’s currently out of stock (due to high demand) at Toys R Us. But you can get it online for $129.99.

Trick-or-Treat at Toys “R” Us

Lisa Mulcahy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Usually a trip to Toys “R” Us involves dropping some cash, but not this time.

Toys"R" Us stores across the country will be hosting special Trick "R" Treat events on October 31 from 1 - 5pm, offering parents and kids a safe place for fun. Kids can participate in "Geoffrey's Costume Parade," collect treats and take "Geoffrey's Safety Pledge."

If you live near the wonderland that is Toys “R” Us Times Square in New York, there will be a grand scale party featuring Geoffrey's Trick "R" Treat Parade, face painting, appearances by characters from Broadway's Young Frankenstein and demos of the new Goosebumps videogame.

Marketing scheme? Absolutely, but all the activities will probably distract the kids long enough for some free fun instead of a shopping spree.

Very Big Toys: Video Game Beanbag Chair - Pyramat Gamebag 2.1

Chris Ford — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:07:00 GMT

Getting your kids a special comfy chair with built-in speakers is kind of encouraging them to play video games, watch movies or generally waste time, but think of it this way. When they go to bed you'll have a totally sweet chair to waste time in too.

The Gamebag 2.1 is a bean bag type chair made out of "breathable microfiber fabric" that has surround sound speakers and a subwoofer in the seat. It's compatible with all gaming consoles (XBOX, PS3 etc.) as well as televisions, DVD players, hand held video games and iPod/MP3 players. There's even a smaller version (pictured below), the Gamebag Mini, that is pink only and is a little cheaper.

The Gamebag 2.1 is apparently available now at Linens N' Things for $89.99 and the Mini is available at Toys R Us for $49.99 (though nothing is available at their respective web sites yet). You can also check out products from Pyramat at Pyramat.com.

Spike, Barbie, TAG and Gazillion-Selling New Star Wars Game Top TRU's 2008 Hot List

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:50:00 GMT

Toys"R"Us today rolled out its annual Hot Holiday Toys shopping guide, and though we're not sure of the exact scientific process the company used to nail down its picks for this season, the list is looking pretty much like we'd expect: Star Wars, Barbie, LeapFrog and robots of various stripes.

Fisher-Price's big honkin' animatronic beast Spike the Ultra Dinosaur ($139.99; pictured above) heads up this year's list, even if today he doesn't seem to be available online. Check back, though, because Toys"R"Us is throwing in a "buy two, get a third free" deal on all Imaginext (the series for which Spike is the alpha male) toys bought through its site.

Ditto on that deal for Barbie toys: Throw Princess Liana ($24.99) here into your online cart, add a friend, and you can pick up a third Barbie free.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed ($49.99), the Clone Wars-clobberin' new adventure that's already sold 1.5 million copies since its release Sept. 16, may not be aimed at the littler gamers in your family, but if you or your older kids haven't yet wielded your Force-lightning as Vader's Secret Apprentice, we guarantee you'll want a copy this season.

And finally, our old friend TAG ($49.99), the newly launched reading system (complete with accompanying book series) from LeapFrog that's like a virtual phonics teacher/video game in pen form, is kicking much behind in the learning-toy category. It's pictured above in a pink version, but if you're looking to go more gender-neutral, there's a green counterpart.

This, of course, is just the start of Toys"R"Us' list this season -- hit up Hot Holiday Toys for a look at everything your little ones will be demanding come December, and in the meantime, let's start talking: Drop us a note in the comments about your own picks for the best toys of '08.

From Our Archives: Video Games That Won't Turn Your Kids Into Couch Potatoes

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Sure, that Xbox 360 makes a great babysitter when you're nearing day seven of the holiday break and everyone's got cabin fever, but if you're looking for a way to sate your kids' game cravings that won't add girth to their bottoms, you've got quite a few choices this year. Here, then: a round-up of your Babble bloggers' favorite calorie-burning kid games from the past year.

How do we love Wii? Let us count the ways: Its motion-sensitive controller and huge list of kid-friendly titles literally put you into the game, and assuming you can still find one of these hot sellers on shelves before Christmas, you and the kiddoes can burn off those calories via the Wii Sports pack that comes bundled with the core system. As Babble's own Karen Murphy pointed out earlier this year, Nintendo has even started donating Wiis to select YMCAs as a way to get kids and parents playing (and feeling the burn!) together.

We drooled over this one several times this year, and not just because it hasn't been dinged by lead-paint recalls: Aimed at the littlest gamers, Fisher-Price's Smart Cycle is a combination video game/exercise bike that plugs directly into your TV (no game console required) and lets kids zip through various levels of fast-paced, vaguely educational racing action. It's not actually powered by kids' feet (now that would be innovative), but it'll definitely keep them moving. It's listed at $100, but both Amazon and Toys "R" Us have dropped the price for the holidays.

From our recent gift guide: Kids not yet old enough to get down with Dance Dance Revolution will dig Konami Kids Playground, a series of games that, along with teaching fundamentals for both brain (shapes, colors, numbers) and brawn (coordination and motor skills), utilizes a cool DDR-style mat controller that plugs into your PlayStation 2. You need to pick up the $40 Frogger: Hop, Skip & Jumpin' Fun game (pictured), which comes bundled with the controller, to get started, but from there, games average around $30 each.

Finally, of course, there's Dance Dance Revolution proper, which, as MetroDad noted earlier this year, has even started infiltrating the public school system. If you're looking for a way to bond and battle with your brood, it's still probably the healthiest gaming addiction to span multiple generations, with the new DDR Universe 2 (pictured) adding features like freestyle mode (where you can boogie down without those familiar flashing arrows to torment you) and a wider-than-ever selection of tunes from the '70s to today.

So, Babble readers, what do you think: Are these genuine fitness tools, or are we just dumb for smart marketing? The parental death match begins in the comments.