September 2009 New Specialty Toys — Infant & Toddler

Baby can push back on this little car and let it go to see colorful beads pop, pop, pop inside the car’s clear top. The cheery little car has a bright green “chassis” and blue wheels with teal tire treads. A smiling face is embossed on the front of the car. "The movement of the little car encourages baby to crawl after it," Peggy Barrett, PR consultant at Barrett Marketing Communications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

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.