August 2010 Notable Toys — Developmental Toys

Hugga-Bébé is a support for children 4 months through toddler years to use in activity centers, jumpers, walkers, high chairs, park bucket swings and more. Hugga Bebe is designed to solve the problem of having to stuff pillows, blankets or towels around a child during playtime to keep them supported. Hugga-Bébé gives children the proper tools to sit without having to slump over or flop around. Awards: 2009 iParenting Media Award; 2009 PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved); 2009 Family Review Award; 2009 WTS 5 Star Product Award; 2009 The Best and Hottest Products Award through Metro Moms; 2009 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year; 2009 Mom’s Choice; 2010 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year

Scopey the Dog is a unique character whose adventures are designed to bring environmental awareness to readers. The product line includes a plush toy, microscope toy and multiple activity books. Scopey the Dog has "Scopey Sense" built-in to magnify micro-images in the books, or magnify any object to 50x the original size on a TV or computer screen.

Part of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker line, this clip board is designed to be a smaller, portable, gender- and age- neutral version of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker. The clip board allows users to easily create even the most complicated friendship bracelet patters with the patented designed "peace" sign clip and string holder. The kit comes with 10 pre-cut threads so users can get started right away. The "MY Friendship Bracelet Maker Clip Board allows users to create an unlimited variety of friendship bracelets with ease," David Crorey, Owner and CEO of Crorey Creations told TDmonthly.

Sabu & Me is the true story of Maura and her dog Sabu and the wonderful times they spent together during Maura’s early life. The book is a re-telling of her earliest memories with her best friend. Through a rainbow of colors, the illustrations of Hazel Mitchell bring the story of Sabu & Me to life. Since Sabu was a rescue dog, profits benefit the charity PAWS Chicago. "The book was written by a 7-year-old girl who had the idea not only to write the book but to donate the proceeds to an excellent cause due to her love for animals," Alton Road Publishing CEO Jeffrey Markowitz told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Children's Picture Book of the Year; 2010 The Toy Man Editor's Choice; 2010 The Toy Man Top 10 Products of the Quarter; The Toy Man 2010 Award for Excellence; 2010 Dr. Toy Best Summer Products.

DINGaRINGs' natural wooden teething ring, luxuriously soft body and gentle rattle are designed to make them ideal gifts for newborns and teething babies. This product is "the ultimate non-plastic baby toy," Kate Nicolson, director of O.B. Designs, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 Life InStyle Trade Fair Top 10 Kids Products

This toy is designed to be a playful, interactive adventure with shapes, colors and sizes to stack, fit, share, compare and “wear.” The set includes one 12" Eebee doll and four soft “wearable” shapes that easily slip on and off of Eebee’s arms and legs. "This truly interactive doll is a modern, playful twist on classic stacking toys. Rather than just a spindle and four shapes, If The SHAPE FITS Eebee provides babies and parents with countless explorations beyond simple stacking," Every Baby Company President Stephen Gass told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2009 NAPPA Gold Award

In this DVD, beloved children’s books are brought to life with voice, sign language, and beautiful music scores. Designed for preschoolers.

These nine Puzzle Blocks feature fresh contemporary graphics incorporated into a classic play pattern. The blocks are designed to be the perfect size for travel and small hands.

This toy includes 11 dressing activities. Kids learn to snap on straps, button, hook and loop, zip and more while developing fine motor skills. The monkey features bright colors, engaging textures and a soft plush body.

This plush toy is designed to keep babies entertained. It features clinking rings, a tummy squeaker, a hanging banana and a knotted tail for chewing. The Monkey design includes a soft velour body and multiple textures and crinkles, along with a portable clip for on-the-go play.

This plush toy is designed to keep babies entertained. It features clinking rings, a tummy squeaker and a knotted tail for chewing. The Lion design includes a soft velour body and multiple textures and crinkles, along with a portable clip for on-the-go play.

This Jumperoo's comfortable rotating seat is designed to provide a safe place for infants to play. The colorful rainforest toys and lively music aim to stimulate visual and auditory senses and help develop motor skills.

The colorful ball is flexible and includes sections that allow babie to mix and match red, blue, yellow and green. Designed for little hands to grasp, it includes a rattle inside for baby to shake and measures 4" in diameter.
  — As of 1.10.2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars on Target.com from 11 reviews and was listed as a top 30 bestselling toy. Pros: Assists in motor-skill development; makes rattling sounds.

As of 1.10.2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars on Target.com from 11 reviews and was listed as a top 30 bestselling toy. Pros: Assists in motor-skill development; makes rattling sounds.

Ten bright blocks are ready for baby to drop into the open bucket or through the shape-sorting lid. This toy is designed for developing eye-hand coordination and other early skills. Then children can move on to sorting, stacking and learning about identifying and matching shapes. This set includes a plastic shape-sorting box with a handle and ten colorful blocks.
Awards: 1995 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Classic Award Winner.
— As of 05/21/2012 this product had 4.1 out of 5 stars from 314 reviews on Amazon.com. PROS: Basic, durable baby toy that keeps children entertained. CONS: Lid does not snap on; May contain carcinogens.

Babies are mesmerized by seeing their own reflection in a mirror. This musical light up mirror offers babies an opportunity to see themselves plus much more. The large, distortion-free mirror is fitted on to the front of a durable tote bag that features three colorful, friendly light-up faces. The tote bag is designed for take-along with room for bottles, wipes and other accessories inside, plus links on the front for attaching additional toys, pacifiers and more. It also stores the rattling giraffe plush toy that comes with it. The lights and music are activated by a switch that both parents and babies can push.

The Poppin Shapes Aquarium is swimming with fun for toddlers. The easy carry, shape-sorting aquarium holds fish, a crab and a turtle, all with pop-out fins and limbs. The four colorful sea pals fit the shapes in the top and sides of the aquarium.
— Baby Loving Mama Emilie found that her sons loved to pop out the fins on the sea creatures and carry the aquarium around the house. She noted, “This toy is recommended for ages two and up, although honestly, I’m not exactly sure why. With its chunky pieces, a younger child would enjoy this.”
— The Shopping Mama Kate raved about the sorter: “It’s been great for my 3 year old to play pretend games and put on plays with the fish, turtle and crab.” The handle of her aquarium popped off too often but did not detract much from the fun.

Stuffed to be firm with organic cotton, this soft friendly teether is perfect to sooth a baby's gums. A rattle sounds when the toy is shaken. The Teething Toy measures 6" x 6" and is also available in Monkey, Ducky, Bunny and Lamby versions.

This 3.5" x 4.5" wrist and ankle rattle jingles when shaken. Soft baby velcro keeps it in place for continuous and drop-free playing. The toy is also available in Ducky, Cubby, Bunny and Lamby versions.

Flower Feelings are emotions brought to life as a garden of eight adorable plush characters, each with a distinctive facial expression identifiable by the feeling name embroidered on the back. Accompanying the toy is a full-color booklet describing the individual traits of each emotion, along with playful questions and answers designed to help children recognize feelings in their own life. A sing-along CD about the Flower Feelings is included in the package, along with lesson plans for home or classroom. "The colorful and engaging plush allow children a tangible way to embrace their feelings while the activities and song included in the kit provide many ways to create a positive setting in which children can express their emotions," Ei Kids President Daniel Nix told TDmonthly.

The Zoomer is an innovative balance training bike designed for children ages 2 to 5. Also called a walking bike, the Zoomer allows kids to learn balance and agility on their own and at their own pace, eliminating the need for training wheels when learning to ride a traditional pedal bike. "Our high-quality, brightly colored bikes are the most affordable balance bikes on the market," Boot Scoot Bikes LLC President Katherine Stirling told TDmonthly.
Awards: Placed in the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio, 2009

Designed for handheld bead play, this 6"-diameter infant toy features blue hubs and white wires woven throughout the sphere that display multi-colored, sliding beads.
RECALLED JUNE 10, 2010: The CPSC and Rhino Toys recalled about 5,500 Beado toys because the wires can detach from the hubs due to insufficient adhesive, allowing the beads to come off and pose a choking hazard. The recall involves Beado toys with model no. 1501 and date no. 02910 04323A. It was sold at specialty retailers from March through May 2010 and should be returned to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.

Four ladybugs and a caterpillar have a tea party in the forest. Made of easy-to-clean, phthalate-free covers and high-density foam, these bugs are safe and comfortable for children to climb, rock, toddle or play on. "The quality is second to none," Lynn Toves, Wee Blossom marketing and sales representative, told TDmonthly.

The Gymnic Line’s Hop Ball is made in Italy from super strong, soft, latex-free vinyl, for long-lasting use and durability. It can be used indoors or on smooth, safe outdoor surfaces. The Hop Ball is designed to promote children’s body coordination, balance and lymph circulation while simultaneously providing a fun workout. It is free of phthalates.

Four ladybugs and a caterpillar have a tea party in the forest. Made of easy-to-clean, phthalate-free covers and high density foam, these bugs are safe and comfortable for children to climb, rock, toddle or play on.