January 2010 New Specialty Toys — Infant & Toddler

This cheerful table and chair set has a hidden bonus: lots of extra storage space. The cute, animal-bedecked chair features a shelf underneath the seat. The table also has cubbies to store arts supplies, blocks, and other toys. Editors' note: This set is both visually pleasing and very functional. Not only does it feature sturdy wooden components and attractive, hand-painted detail; it would also nicely support a coordinated theme for a child's room or play space. The only drawback, based on review by a young toddler, is that since the underneath storage compartments on the desk are set so far forward, children cannot sit very close or with their legs under the table because their knees will hit the cubbies.

This tear-off pad of bibs will keep baby clean and smiling! The brightly colored illustrations on this pad of bibs will brighten up any mealtime. Each bib is made of a waterproof, disposable material and can be placed around a child's neck with one of the included seals.

This gift set includes two fun SAMi books about eating and a washable nylon bib with a SAMi illustration. It's the perfect way to make mealtime into reading time!

This Little Princess 9" activity toy features rattle, squeak and crinkle sounds. It can hang from a crib or stroller. Launch date: 2010.

Bathtime In Flight Squirties are a whimsical addition to bathtime and will stimulate imaginary play. Each individual toy measures around 2"x 2"x 3".

This high-quality, colorful, easy to assemble Push & Play Mouse Wagon is designed to engage kids in hours and hours of wholesome play with lots of fun. It encourages walking and balancing, and there's a maze on both sides of the wagon. Kids can store their favorite toys in the large box and move around the house. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly wooden Geometric Stacking Puzzle is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. Created with a 2-year-old in mind, this all-wood puzzle features stacking and counting elements to help kids think and learn. Each of the four puzzle pieces contains one, two, three or four posts on which children can stack a circle, rectangle, square or triangle. Each shape is made with a different number of holes so it can only be put on the correct puzzle piece. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly wooden Cube Puzzle is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. Kids can take on the challenge of completing the snail puzzle, or the smiling butterfly, hedgehog or turtle. It's created to help develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The wooden posts are collapsible, for peace of mind. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly wooden Count and Bolt Caterpillar is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. It's designed to help 2-year-olds develop fine motor skills. It features a six-piece puzzle to string together, and kids can learn to screw in the five easy-to-hold bolts. Each caterpillar piece is numbered to help Mom or Dad introduce counting skills. Tots can learn colors and ABCs as well. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly Wooden Stack and Count Shapes is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. The Stack and Count Shapes is designed to help kids develop motor skills and learn colors and 1 2 3 while enjoying the whimsical and colorful smiling characters. The wooden posts are collapsible. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

Designed for kids 18 months and older, this environmentally friendly wooden 5 pyramid cubes set is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. It featuers numbers, colors, fruits and vegetables – some of the basic building blocks of education. The blocks stack almost 19" high or nest into the largest base cube. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

This environmentally friendly wooden Shape Sorter is made of wood from FSC-monitored sources, painted with water-based paints, packaged in a box made of recycled materials, and printed with soy-bean ink. The double-sided shape sorter comes with six fun shapes, all sized for little hands. Tina the Turtle's one side helps little ones hone fine motor skills by pushing a triangle, square and circle into her shell. The other side is for the more unique shapes: a carrot, mushroom and smiling lettuce. All the pieces fit right into the turtle and the handle makes it easy to grab and go. Tested to meet European and U.S. safety standards. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

The Clingy Cord is an adjustable, decorative elastic cord that secures sippy cups, bottles, blankets, toys, pacifiers, stuffed animals and other go-everywhere items to the stroller, high chair, car seat, diaper bag, shopping cart, etc., so when a child throws their belongings they don't hit the floor. The Clingy Cord eliminates the need to retrieve an item over and over again for a child and reduces the risk of losing belongings. It is designed to be soft, safe and durable. "It is the only one on the market that is completely adjustable to fit a variety of products. ... You can also add additional links to hold more than one object," Carolyn Carter, owner of CaitiMac Creations, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2007.

Parents can use one solid decanter to easily serve a balanced meal in a clean, simplified and relaxed way. It is BPA free and won a 2009 iParenting Media Award. "It is an easy to use, versatile food dispenser that can be used at home or on the go," Elizabeth Meuser, President, Baby Banquet, LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 18, 2008.

This portable, all natural bottle warmer provides for multiple feedings on an airplane or just while running errands. It provide a tepid temperature that increases the nutritional value of breast milk or infant formula. It also offers slow, natural warmth that increases tryptophan, which naturally produce relaxation and sleep. It can also be used with sippy cups. Awards: 2010 National Parenting Center; 2010 Mom's Best Award. Launch date: September 19, 2009.

The Mini Toywrangler, made for attaching and interchanging toys, pacifiers, bottles and snack cups, is designed to keep items within baby's reach and off the floor. It's ideal for carriers, car seats, high chairs, shopping carts, strollers, walkers, jumpers and activity centers. The plastic ring is medical grade and BPA free. Launch date: September 2005.

This six-pack of 2-oz. sizes of Grandma's Secret Spot Remover packs plenty of stain-busting punch.

Complete with two bunny rabbits and a fold-up house, this portable play mat with carrying handle features a bright palette and various textures throughout its meadow theme. Launch date: 2010.

Designed for ages 6 months and up, this 8-pack of utensils is made in the USA from recycled plastic milk containers. Free of PVC, BPA and phthalates, the plastic forks and spoons have rounded edges and are dishwasher safe. The packaging features recycled and recyclable materials as well as soy inks. Launch date: March 2010.

Designed for ages 6 months and up, this toy for bathtubs and mud puddles is made in the USA of recycled plastic milk containers. It floats, is equipped with a spout on the front for scooping and pouring water, and is free of BPA, PVC, phthalates and external coatings. It comes in packaging made of recycled or recyclable materials and featuring soy inks. Launch date: March 2010.
— In an April 2012 survey about bath toys, two of eleven retailers told TDmonthly the Tugboat from Green Toys was their best seller.
— Kristen Dolle, Manager of Playthings Toy Shoppe in Louisville, Ky. named the Green Toys Tugboat as a best-seller in the bath category when surveyed by TDmonthly in late Spring 2011.
— Want this? As of 05/06/2011, this product was available for purchase at Playthings Toy Shoppe.

Designed for ages 6 months and up, this colorful set of 18 oversized building blocks is made in the USA from recycled plastic milk containers. The lightweight blocks are free of PVC, phthalates and BPA. Launch date: March 2010.
— "Green Toys looks like a choice for parents that lean green and want a toy product that advertises no BPAs, no Phthalates and no PVCs. Really, a perfect first toy!" Jennifer Shuman, owner of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.
— Jeremiah of Z Recommends appreciated that the blocks are “chunky but hollow, making them lightweight and giving them built-in handles all the way around for little hands.” Jeremiah found the moderate size of the set perfect “for those of us who already have plenty of toys, but no oversized-Lego-style locking blocks for toddlers.”
— Reviewers on Amazon gave the Green Toys Blocks an average of 4 stars out of 5, praising the blocks for their large size and eco-friendly yet tough construction. However, some reviewers had trouble keeping the blocks attached to each other.

This marshmallow softy of a wild animal is designed to be incredibly squishy and huggable, made from organic terrycloth and canvas with natural corn fiber filling. It has canvas on the face and feet, and a knotted tail that makes it touchable and teethable for little kids. The polar bear is machine washable and measures 9" x 5" from head to rump.

This marshmallow softy of a wild animal is designed to be incredibly squishy and huggable, made from organic terrycloth and canvas with natural corn fiber filling. It has canvas on the face and feet, and a knotted tail that makes it touchable and teethable for little kids. The polar bear is machine washable and measures 15" x 8.5" from head to rump.

This marshmallow softy is designed to be incredibly squishy and huggable, made from organic terrycloth and canvas, with natural corn fiber filling. It has canvas on the face and feet, and a knotted tail that makes it touchable and teethable for little kids. The rhino is machine washable and measures 8" x 5" from head to rump.