Toys in Motion: Infant & Toddler

This soft, colorful velour sun has bright flexible arms with colored lights on the end that pulse to the music of Bach, Beethoven or Mozart when the sun’s face is pressed. Sunny attaches to cribs and other fun places to keep Baby amused. Babies can develop an understanding of cause-and-effect relationships by playing with Sunny’s face, which activates lights and music. Sunny also helps babies develop motor skills and listening skills.

Critics back in the 1500’s thought Leonardo da Vinci had bats in his belfry when he drew plans for a flying machine that looked and worked like the wings of a bat. Scientists today, however, know there is a lot to be learned from these incredible animals. Because bats’ brains are built for "seeing" with sound, scientists are now studying this special bat skill to build robots that use echolocation to navigate in the dark. Kids will love exploring the mysterious world of the planet’s only flying mammal in this cool book packed with amazing information and awesome illustrations. Then they’ll get a chance to build their very own robotic bat — complete with light-up eyes and flapping wings! The model can hang from a post and attach to a door, or stand on a perch.

All the elements that can be touched, listened to, pushed and discovered make Dragonstone a real adventure for the smallest of children. When put up, the fabric book converts into the knight’s castle complete with a squeaker, a mirror and rustling foil. Door can be opened for fun, peek-a-boo play. A knight, princess and dragon that inhabit Dragonstone’s castle come with each set. Figures are made of cotton/polyester and velour. Includes zippered vinyl carrying case. It's new for Spring 2006.

Toss the Taggies is approximately 8" in diameter and comes adorned with loads of multi-colored, multi-textured tags that babies and children love to rub and grab. It is designed to benefit children developmentally as they are enticed to explore the various tactile and visually stimulating looped satin tags. The colors and material are both soothing and comforting. This product recently received an iParenting Media Awards editorial inclusion and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. It also received the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and the 2007 Oppenheim SNAP (Special Needs Adaptable Product) Award. “The patented functionality and multiple tactile and developmental opportunities offered by our unique, looped tags…set this product apart,” Shirley Conner of Taggies Inc. told TDmonthly.

— "Anything by Taggies; those sell like crazy," Holly Anvers, manager of Ages & Stages Toy Box in Golden, Colo., told TDmonthly about her best-selling infant product in March 2010. "Especially the Toss the Taggies ball." Two of 39 retailers named Taggies as a top-selling baby product.

The award winning Tropical Fun Around We Go! Activity Station is the only product of its kind designed to grow with baby through the toddler years. Babies safely navigate around the outside of the sturdy activity table in the "cruise control" seat, exploring over 20 toys and activities, which include 2 music and lights stations, a pat mat featuring fun ocean sounds and an electronic piano with upbeat music. Additional activities include clickers, spinners & rattles and a removable, dishwasher-safe snack tray. Once baby learns to walk independently, easily remove the seat to convert Around We Go! into a traditional toddler play table. Its open design allows room for two children to share table activities, fostering fun sibling interaction.

Packaged in a plastic Chinese take-out carton, this set of two baby bibs and one washcloth is perfect for hungry, messy babies. Parents can easily rinse, wipe or clean the baby bibs. The colors and patterns in the bibs stay bright and fresh and any crumbs are caught in the front crumb-catching pocket. The bibs have convenient Velcro closures, and are 10" by 9".

 iBaby books let babies be babies: Each is created with parents, educators and child development experts who believe that babies develop at their own natural pace. Each book comes with a hangtag activity guide filled with suggestions for parents about how to use each book. “Happy Baby” is a board book that introduces babies to their moods and to the world around them. It includes a magnetic plush ring that holds 20 look-and-learn flashcards illustrated with baby-thrilling images, such as “Dog.” A pocket at the back of the book easily stores the flashcards. The book measures 7” x 5.75” x 0.75”. It’s illustrated by Jackie Parsons and Ana Larranaga. Launch date: March 2006.

The Bumble Bee’s motion encourages baby to follow, building upper body strength needed for crawling. Its bright patterns and multiple textures and crinkle offer both visual and auditory stimulation.

Toilet Buddies Toilet Bowl Attachments help create early awareness of the toilet bowl, reduce fear and anxiety, and make toilet training a fun and positive experience. Designs include Gatago Giraffe, Poo P. Bunny, Puddles Puppy and Ca Ca Cow. Each character’s friendly head is displayed on the toilet’s tank. The animal’s feet and other features adorn the rest of the toilet. Ca Ca Cow gives going to the head a whole new meaning. She and her buds are great for those way past toilet-training, too.

Dudley is a chunky and tough dump truck: He tips, he drives and he shakes, too. Turn the power switch for great tipping action, then drive off-site with the powerful friction motor and realistic engine sound. This eight-piece set includes barrels and traffic cones to collect and dump, a driver friend and a sturdy carry handle.
— "I love Wow Trucks," was the enthusiastic reaction from Elaine Hackney, owner of JP Boing's Toy Shop in Jamaica Plain, Mass.
— "They are big and chunky plastic infant toys that appeal to the adults for those reasons," observed Joanne Farrugia, owner of JaZams in South Pennington, N.J.
— Dudley is big, fun and noisy … but doesn’t need batteries. “His cute and chunky styling is perfect for little hands,” explained Tanya Laperouse of WOW. “Each toy also comes with fine accessories that can be interchangeable with the rest of the range, making for even greater worlds and adventures to discover.”

This collection includes four multi-colored baby-safe plastic blocks, each focusing on a different developmental concept: colors, animals, numbers, and real-world objects from nature. The six-sided control block features one panel for each of the five featured colors: blue, pink, red, green and yellow, while a sixth panel contains an image of the lovable Baby Einstein orchestra. Match any color from the number, animal or nature block to this control block, and you’ll hear the color name and the name of the object pictured. A match of the Baby Einstein orchestra will play a score from Contradance by Beethoven, specially re-orchestrated for little ears. This toy won a Toy Tips “Tested and Trusted” Mark (2005).

This cheerful toy is a brightly patterned plush ladybug with lots to stimulate babies’ senses. Her flower antennas make a crinkle noise when crunched in the hands. Her pillowy body is crunchy, too. Two legs squeak, two crunch, and two rattle. One of her rattle legs even plays a synth version of “You Are My Sunshine” when pressed. Tots can examine their own smiles in the kid-safe mirror that’s sewn into the ladybird’s tummy. She has a red body, yellow face, orange hat, and multicolored patterned legs. She’s 7”H x 10” W x 10” deep.

This gym provides an environment for infants up to 10 months to achieve the essential milestones of their early development. The floor mat converts from a large play area to a cozy, secure environment. The touch pad is an adjustable kick and touch response pad. The musical pad can be used upright as a kickboard or flat for tummy time, with baby-activated flashing lights and music. There´s also a mirror to encourage lifting the head, a teether and interactive hanging toys. - Aire Norell

Little ones love the famous Boo-Bunnie Ice Packs. When minor boo-boos occur, this little bunnie helps to soothe baby. Place reusable ice cube in the freezer, until needed. Replacement cubes are available separately. Boo-Bunnies come in blue, pink, green, yellow and white. New 20th Anniversary patterns, launched in January 2007, include multi-striped, flower, multi-dot, blocks, blue, pink and yellow. Boo-Bunnies have won an iParenting Media Award. "The Boo-Bunnie has been with Stephan Baby for 20 years, comforting little ones," marketing director Judy Witt told TDmonthly. "It's great to help take a baby's mind off of a recent bump or fall."