August 2011 New Specialty Toys — Developmental Toys

Zoë b Biodegradable Beach Toys include a bucket with built-in handles that won’t break off (usually the first thing to go, in our experience). A sifting lid with geometric cut-outs for learning shapes. Two cups for sand and water play. And one tough, virtually indestructible shovel. It’s all scaled for toddler-size hands and fits easily inside the bucket for carrying to the beach. In the off-season, the toys are great for the bathtub—plus the bucket doubles as a container for crayons and toys. BPA, phthalates and PVC free. Launch date: June 2011.
Awards: PTPA award

Thermobaby has invented the Kiddyloo for toilet training from 18 months old. Allows the child to do what grown-ups do. The Kiddyloo is very comfortable and its enveloping shape reassures the child. Features include: Soft surface ensures pleasant contact with skin;  Ergonomic handles;  Non slip step with two settings;  Feet adjust to different height toilets;  Non slip skids under feet offer stability. Case Pack: 4 units. Min order: 12 units. Colors can be assorted:  Blue/Green,Black/White Plum/Lilac, Grey/Green.

DINGaRINGs are a 3-in-1 RATTLE, SOFT TOY & TEETHING RING all rolled into one cheeky Australian character. Emma Owl is a truck driver who loves Country music & Surfing, but hates VPL & Speed cameras. Keith Koala works as a DJ, loves schmoozing & silk PJs, but is sick of trying to get the glitter out of his fur in the morning!   DINGaRINGs are safe, non-toxic, and highly interactive. Open up your babie’s senses with the perfect gift for ages 0 & up. Conceived & created in Byron Bay Australia.  Made with a social and ethical conscience in Indonesia.
Awards: Top 10 infant toy of 2010 from Babyology, Top 10 new products from Life Instyle trade show 2009 from KidsStyleFile

First Toddle® Baby Gym is a comprehensive play and development system that takes a baby from 3 months to 3+ years of age.  One product is all parents need to help their children learn to stand and walk.  It also helps children with special needs. "First Toddle® Baby Gym is one development system that grows with a child and replaces other infant and toddler toys.  Not only is First Toddle® Baby Gym enjoyed by children of all walks of life, it has dramatic positive impact on children who need a bit more support to get started (e.g., children with special needs)," Mike Monaghan, CEO of First Toddle, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2010.
Awards: 2009 - Creative Child Magazine's "Toy of the Year" 2009 - Creative Child Magazine's "Product of the Year" 2009 - iParenting Media Award Winner 2009 - The Toy Man Seal of Approval 2009 - The Toy Man Best of 2009 Award 2010 - Creative Child Magazine's "Toy of the Year" 2010 - Creative Child Magazine's "Product of the Year" 2010 - Mom's Best Award 2010 - WTS Toy Review 5-Star Award 2010 - GreatDad.com 2010 - NAPPA Honors 2011 - AblePlay - Top 10 Newest Products and Top 2% of Products We've Ever Reviewed for Children with Special Needs

These portable hand-held talking animals are cute and colorful and as much fun as they look.  Kids can learn all about musical instruments and transportation sounds as well as their favorite nursery rhyme melodies.  The animal pals feature two play modes, light-up buttons, friendly voices and activities and an auto shut-off feature.  Early Learning Animal Pals will soon become your child’s favorite toy.  Ages 18+ months.

Baby Diner attaches to any smooth table top or structure and allows a parent or guardian to secure all types of smooth-bottom plates, bowls and any other dinnerware to prevent young children from accidentally knocking or throwing dishes on the floor. "Baby Diner can be used with all types of dishware such as: Ceramic, Glass, Plastic, Melamine and Stoneware dishes," Jesse Mills, Owner/CEO of Lil Diner, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Best of Utah.

For infants from 3 months to 24 months. A fun new design from the creative minds at Baby Banana Brush. The Baby Sharky Brush is still made from the highest quality medical grade silicone. His “teeth” are actually short massaging bristles, and his fins give babies additional places to chew. In fact, Baby Sharky can stand up all on his own using his unique back fins.

Earth-friendly wooden play ball puzzle that exercises skills that prepare children for reading, math, problem solving and more. This 16-piece puzzle features four scenes of a boy playing sports. It's made of wood harvested from sustainable forests, and comes packaged in a handy carrying case to help keep track of the pieces.Launch date: July 2011.

Ten sturdy earth-friendly boxes to stack, build and nest with early-learning concepts on each side. Learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors and baby animals has never been so fun and easy. It's a "Classic development toy made entirely from earth-friendly recycled materials," Rich Hill, director of marketing at innovativekids, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2011.

Soft Shapes Puppies are soft foam books with bold photographs of puppies that pop off each page and stick to sides of the tub. Launch date: August 2011.

This product is for children ages six months and up. With a barnyard of friends to cheer baby on, little ones will love learning to walk with the Sit-to-Stand Walker. Start out with the easy-to-remove play panel for floor play or fun on the run. Then step it up with the fun-to-maneuver walker. There are three spinning flowers, five piano keys, colorful rollers, three light-up shape sorters and a telephone handset. The Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker keeps baby on track by teaching shapes, colors, animals, music and more. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, included. Measures 5.8"L x 20.9"W x 15"D.
— As of 12/17/2012 this product had 4.3 out of stars from 472 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Wheels don't have enough traction; too "loud and obnoxious;" too expensive.

Designed using sensory stimulating principles, this activity mat is packed with activities and features that encourage baby's development during the first year of life. The large plat mat features high-contrast colors, textured fabrics for tactile development, and adorable ladybug characters. Features include water-filled teether, soft corduroy fabric on mat for added tactile development, and 4 loops to attach more of baby's favorite toys. The Bright Starts Start Your Senses Activity Mat is a machine washable play mat.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product has 4.4 out 5 stars from 14 review on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of elements can be detached; many reviewers like the light-up mobile. Cons: One parent expressed concern over the toxicity of the flame-retarded fabric; one reviewer was disappointed that all of the "familiar faces" included in the artwork were blond/blue-eyed caucasian babies.

This soft activity gym features an electronic aquarium with classical melodies and dancing lights. A whale-shaped prop-up pillow accompanies baby on this aquatic adventure, which comes to life with the crisp and colorful real-life scenery of the sea on the play mat. A soft textured border encourages tactile development. Remove the arch and the play gym becomes the perfect play mat for tummy time. Tummy time is enhanced by the animal peek-a-boo flaps with real-life imagery, as well as the ability to reposition and attach toys to loops on the mat or loops on the whale pillow. The play gym comes with several developmental and colorful plush and plastic toys, including a large fish-shaped baby-safe mirror, a set of Ocean Discovery cards featuring real-life images of 6 underwater animals, a Baby Neptune rattle, and a star-shaped teether. The play gym also has 8 links for repositioning the toys. The plush Octopus with various textures and dangling rattles and teethers offers baby an on-the-go toy. The play gym features a 2-in-1 musical aquarium toy that can be used both with the gym and in the crib. his underwater-themed gym folds up for easy transportation and storage.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product has 4.2 out 5 stars from 63 review on Amazon.com. Pros: Lots of elements can be detached; many reviewers like the light-up mobile. Cons: Not interactive enough; noises are annoying/ not melodical enough; not enough toys/toys not interesting enough.

Sassy Ring O Links offers youngsters a variety of textures to enhance tactile experiences. A bright, bold spectrum of colors keeps kids interested- no link is quite the same. The bold black and white pattern on the ring itself offers high-contrast imagery that is ideal for developing eyes.
— As of 05/20/2011 this product had 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com from 65 reviews. Pros: Durable; Multi-use (toy, teething rings); very colorful. Cons: Cheaper to just get the "bag o links;" the large black and white link detaches too easily from other links.