These Baby Travel Toys Won't Get Lost

“For travel toys in particular, it is a priority to make sure baby’s toy won’t get lost on the move.” — Michael Silberstein, Infantino

These days, the choices of gadgets and gizmos to enthrall all ages of babies on the go are plentiful. Current musts are toys that attach so they won’t get lost, baby-activated sounds and added features that help ease parents’ minds.

“What sells in this category are toys that provide entertaining activity to baby and convenience for mom,” said Michael Silberstein, president of San Diego-based Infantino. He said a top seller is the Disney Activity Arch, and he noted that products such as Discovery Bunny and Stay & Play Pals offer benefits and features for both mom and baby.

“Both travel toys are created to stay with baby either by an attachable loop or suction cup,” he said. “For travel toys in particular, it is a priority to make sure baby’s toy won’t get lost on the move. It is also important to make the activity fun for baby — enticing all of the senses. To do so, we focus on combining fabrics with multiple textures and colors as well as including a variety of fun sounds.”

Currently, this category continues to grow.Diana Nelson, owner of Kazoo & Company in Denver, Colo., was most impressed at this year’s Toy Fair with products from Tiny Love (ToyShow).

“They had a great selection of new baby toys and stroller toys that will be shipping in the spring,” she said.

Kazoo’s Anthony Chullino noted that Tiny Love has realized that infant toys need to be as much a convenience for parents as they are fun for infants.

“It shows in this year’s line,” he said. “The new and growing innovations for both travel toys and infant toys from manufacturers such as Tiny Love are bountiful to say the least.”

He gave the example of the Frog Kick & Mirror, which is a new water-kicking mat for infants in the car.

“The mat not only helps teach the child about cause and effect, but also keeps parents in mind as well,” he said. “The face of the frog contains a large mirror so that parents can see the child when they glance in the rearview mirror.”

Margaret Manson is Tiny Love’s media contact at Ameba Marketing. She noted that the company’s new toys are specifically designed for baby’s safety and amusement. The company’s top priorities are toys that actively engage the baby so that parents can concentrate on the road and introduce the baby to a developmental environment in which cause and effect and other important principles can be learned. Outside of the Frog Kick & Mirror, the Wonder Wheel is another top selling product, she said.

According to Susan McDonnell, vice president of sales and marketing for Danny First Toys (ToyShow), their top-selling travel toys are their lines of Activity Playbooks and Snuggle & Play Pillows, which are available in specialty stores.

“Moms love these toys because they include travel handles and a vinyl bag; a pouch to hold the dolls in place, and all the toys are sewn inside, making it easy to keep the toy intact,” McDonnell said.