August 2009 New Specialty Toys — Infant & Toddler

Velcro fasteners attach this trio of smiling bugs to baby’s infant carrier handle. Rich primary colors and high-contrast black and white geometrics are designed to catch the eye of even the youngest baby. The bold patterns and symmetrical faces and bodies allow baby to focus, helping baby feel calm. The bee and dragonfly have shiny fabric wings with top stitching, and the ladybug has ridged corduroy wings. The wings crinkle to the touch, designed to to delight baby and encourage exploration. The dragonfly, bumble bee and lady bug can be moved to different spots on the carrier handle to give baby a different perspective. Each bug makes its own soft sound. When a toy is positioned to the side of baby’s head (and field of vision), it can be shaken to help baby seek the source of the sound. "This toy encourages visual development: it has high-contrast, geometric patterns, faces and bright colors and can be hung at a distance to fit baby's developing vision," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Baby can take the wheel with this key set. A black-and-white-striped “key chain” holds the three keys in tonal colors — colors close to each other on the color wheel — to help improve baby’s visual acuity. The keys offer raised ridges, bumpy dots and key-shaped indentations to encourage tactile exploration. A variety of dynamic car sounds can be heard when baby pushes the three colored buttons on the key chain. The keys also make clacking sounds when shaken. "This toy offers visual, auditory and tactile stimulation and encourages baby to engage in pretend play," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Bright, bold colors, high contrast, symmetrical animal faces, and real-life photographs of people baby loves make these photo blocks an ideal toy to stimulate baby’s visual development. The set has four blocks that stack to make a house. There are two cubes, a rectangle and a triangle for the roof. "Babies love to look at faces, even as newborns, so these lightweight photo blocks will capture even the youngest child’s gaze and imagination," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

These books are filled with bright, bold images and made from sturdy “wet-proof” material designed to stand up to eager hands, teething and readers who drool over the pages. The colors, geometric designs and symmetrical elements can calm baby and help little ones focus. The words imitate baby’s first babbling sounds, including “baba,” "dada” and “mama,” and encourage baby to experiment with language and refine his skills. A soft, plush block featuring images from the books reinforces the sights and sounds. "Engaging baby early in language is fundamental, as both communication and language development are significantly shaped by experiences. By 9 months of age, babies can recognize specific words up to two weeks after hearing them read repeatedly from a storybook," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

This large, soft-framed, true-reflection mirror is designed to encourage baby’s developing vision by providing a sight pleasing to baby — the human face. Framed in a bold geometric pattern, the mirror can be hung from crib rails at an angle so that a newborn can gaze into it while lying down, or it can be attached flat against the rails to accommodate a sitting baby. It also stands on its own outside the crib, providing tummy-time enjoyment or entertainment. The symmetrical bee has bold, high-contrast stripes. A red, black and white ladybug provides high contrast visual stimulation and includes a tracker ball in its center to aid in the development of visual perception. Textured leaves attached to the bottom edge offer peek-a-boo play as baby lifts them to find geometric patterns underneath. "Although babies have limited vision at birth, they show a clear preference for bold patterns, bright colors and faces. This mirror is well-suited to provide just the right amount of stimulation without overwhelming baby," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

When these four soft farm friends are bopped on their heads, they make music and animal sounds. Each animal has its own song, so when baby hits one and then another, the music changes. The hook-and-loop straps can be wrapped around a stroller bar or carrier handle, or attached to a car's headrest or a crib rail. The Fun Farm Activity Bar is for children ages 3 months and up. Launch date: 2009.

The Spintacular Play Center attaches to smooth surfaces with strong suction cups, making it usable on highchairs and stroller trays. Featuring five spinning balls and three spinning bug-beads, the Play Center also includes a top piece that clicks as it spins, and a center wheel that climbs up and down the center pole as it turns. The Spin-tacular Play Center is 100-percent kid-powered, with no batteries required. "The kid-powered characteristic of this table-top-friendly toy allows for children to explore their own ability to create fun," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

These sneaker-styled socks come in a gift box of 6 pairs.

Kids will do more than just turn the pages with this cloth book: They'll button, zip, lace, buckle, snap items, and more. Between covers, there's page after page of activities to develop important motor skills. The book can be zipped up and carried about for car trips and overnights to Grandma's.

Confeeti socks are 3D Animal socks that simply pop out at you. Designed for comfort, quality, and style, these socks come in individual pairs or in gift sets of three. This particular pair features a puppy design.

Confeeti socks are 3D Animal socks that simply pop out at you. Designed for comfort, quality, and style, these socks come in individual pairs or in gift sets of three. This particular pair features a kitten design.

The colorful, simple bungee  combined with durable, plastic, removable rings is designed to make it easy to interchange favorite toys, pacifiers, bottles and cups, while keeping them off the ground and within easy reach. The ToyWrangler is created to attach easily to infant carriers, car seats, strollers, highchairs, shopping carts, walkers, and more, so that parents no longer have to search for bottles, pacifiers and toys on the floor while shopping, in the car or out to eat. "This is a patented design and is safe and interchangeable to attach to virtually anything baby can sit or play in, and can attach almost anything baby can eat or play with!" Kristy Awald-Stafford, owner and designer of LuvLoo, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

These Chunkee Monkee Mittens are adorned with a monkey theme while helping to keep hands warm. Matching hat available.

Sporting a bright green look, Kate's Moss hat gives a hip and modern appearance while safeguarding a child's head and ears from the weather.

With a pretty pink flower accented with purple, this hand-knit hat fits well with little girls while keeping the head warm and safe from cold weather. Matching mittens available.

Suitable for ages 6 months and up, the Fishing for TAGGIES play set includes three rattling fish, a soft pond with a large mirrored bottom, and a soft fishing pole with a jumbo hook-n-loop hook for easy fish-catching fun. The base mirror encourages self-recognition and makes a game of fill-and-spill play extra engaging. Featuring the TAGGIES vibrant colored materials and ribbons, this distinctively textured game is designed to stimulate baby’s senses. Launch date: 2009.

Parents can keep babies entertained and protected from the sun as they ride in the car with the Monkey Tunes Window Shade. A funny monkey spins around as the music plays and lights blink. Even when driving, Mom or Dad can control the monkey’s actions with a remote control that attaches to the car's visor. The shade attaches with strong suction cups and plays a variety of different songs. It is suitable for ages 3 months and up. "[The] detachable mobile allows parents to control the level of stimulation. When in the car, mom or dad can use the visor remote to control lights and sounds if baby begins to be fussy," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Baby Activity Birdhouse includes five sides of fun. Each side features a new activity, including find the owl, peek-a-boo birdie, slide-along bugs, put-and-take pocket bird, and a mirror on the bottom. The birdhouse chimes as it swings from the included link. "This easy to take-along toy is truly packed with baby-exploration, including seven activities total," Nicole Tiedemann, PR account executive for International Playthings LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The bright green inchworm’s segmented body offers many different sights, sounds, activities and textures. Baby can gaze at the smiling face, with its high-contrast eyes and soft, teethable antennae. The symmetrical face is designed to have a calming effect on baby. The activity center has a baby-safe mirror outlined in black and white stripes, and the inchworm’s multi-textured features foster tactile exploration, which encourages brain development. A convenient snack segment flips open and can be stocked with small snack foods to encourage development of baby’s pincer grasp. Babies can push a leaf to hear “moving” classical music, including the “William Tell Overture” and silly sounds. A bumblebee on the base clicks when baby dials. It has high contrast stripes and bright orange silky wings that crinkle to the touch. The toy attaches to all strollers using Velcro® straps. Launch date: July 2009.

This aquarium crib toy features a bold, bright spectrum of colors to help baby develop visual perception. A school of fish in a variety of silky, nubby, fuzzy, smooth and bumpy textures enhances baby’s tactile experience as the reaches out to touch them. Classical music and tonal sounds encourage development of listening/hearing skills. This crib toy offers pleasing sounds to encourage motor and cognitive processing. Adjustable elastic straps make it easy to attach to a variety of cribs with different rail widths and to put the action at the right height for baby. It can also be used for floor play when baby is old enough to sit up. "This toy stimulates baby's vision and tactile development with many colors, patterns and textures," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant for Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

This 100-percent organic cotton dress with water-based ink is made in USA and sweat-shop free. It is a limited edition. Launch date: June 2009.

The 100-percent Silicone Bottle has no open pores to harbor bacteria, thereby ensuring baby is getting nutrition as pure as nature intended, without the harmful leaching of harmful chemicals. It is BPA Free, phthalate free and latex free. This bottle won a 2009 Top Gear of the Year Award from Shape You. "[The] 100-percent Silicone Bottle collapses as air is released, giving baby a bubble-free feeding, reducing the likelihood of colic, reflux and spit-up," Nicole Strand, in sales administration at Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The pottyPOD is designed to help create a hassle-free potty experience that makes potty training easier for parents and their child. The soft, cushiony seat provides comfort while the rigid base provides strength and stability. "The pottyPOD is the anti-microbial potty on the market!" Nicole Strand, in sales administration at Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2009.

This soft, tan- and cream-colored mouse is made from the sustainable resource bamboo. It is 8" tall. Launch date: 2009.