December 2012 New Specialty Toys — All

The Black Capped Chickadee is a pretty little bird with a pretty “chicka-dee-dee-dee” song. It ranges throughout Canada and the northern United States, including Alaska. The scientific name for the Black Capped Chickadee species is Poecile atricapillus. Black Capped Chickadees can be found anywhere in the woods or even residential areas. They usually flock together. Those flocks are likely to be mixed groups, having other species of small and chirpy birds. They settle on tree branches, woody shrubs, in parks in residential areas, marshes and even weedy fields, which they choose for nesting. They sometimes even use woodpeckers’ abandoned nests. Their nesting season extends from the beginning of May to the end of June.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

It's so easy to decorate ceramic beads with stickers. Just peel, stick and string. Includes 17 ceramic beads, 225 stickers, seed beads, 7 cords, ball chain, elastic, beading needle and easy instructions.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy 100 Best Toys

Children will have the best seat outside the house with the ultimate solution in stroller support and style, recommended and used by medical professionals. This stroller cushion provides soft, stylish support for baby's back, head, & neck. High-quality memory foam conforms to infant's head, decreasing resistance and the risk of flat-head syndrome. This product is recommended by medical professionals, and offers a reversible, two-sided design. In addition it is compatible with most stroller harness systems and is machine washable. Launch date: May 2012.

Swingin' Smart bucket swing seat protector has easy Velcro attachment to bucket seats and chains. The washable fabric safeguards against germs. The soft padding warms or cools seat. The rings keep toys close and secure. This product comes in a convenient, re-usable tote for take-along ease and storage. "This is the only swing protector on the market that not only gives you 360 degree protection, but also covers the swing chains which are dirty, hot, and can pinch fingers," Heather Prattas, president / QueenBee at Baby Beehavin, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2012.

My Natural Eco Teether is a perfect choice for teething, as it soothes and stimulates any infant’s sore gums. Its fun animal shape is easy to grip, and will keep babies entertained. This 100 percent toxin-free teether is made in the USA, and features a sustainable, plant-based bio material made from corn. Launch date: October 2012.

Meet the OgoBILD BITs. Part of the OgoBILD construction line, the BITs are flexible, secure and safe to play with. With imagination, the BITs come alive and are seeking adventure. Launch date: 2012.

The Construction Set includes nuts and bolts, wheels, pieces of different length and a screwdriver. 84 pieces in all made from Plantation Birch Wood. There is no limit to what kidscan make. Develops mechanical aptitude and stimulates the imagination.  Packaged in a durable flat box with a handle for easy storage. Launch date: June 2012.

The FunPod was created by a mother in the UK. The parents enjoyed spending time in the kitchen. The designer/parent Kim wanted her daughter to participate in cooking activities safety and she needed the freedom to move about the kitchen without a child on her hip. Heralded as socially responsible by a leading obesity expert in the UK, the FunPod encourages children to learn all about the whole food experience and can encourage parent and child bonding with quality time spent preparing meals. Children form their habits and opinions between the ages of one and four so this is an essential time to be giving them a healthy food education. There are 5 settings accommodating the average height of a 12 month baby up to a toddler of 6 so at whatever level, the top of the FunPod™ is always at chest height for safety reasons. Manufactured in a durable, high quality FSC MDF (recycled material), selected for high durability. Product exterior is non-toxic commercial laminate chosen for water resistance and easy of cleaning. Launch date: January 2011.

The interactive Polar Bear plays 12 Christmas carols on request, and 12 more by heart. Kids can sing along, or just smile as they listen to his tunes and witty banter. Wood piano with moving piano keys. Battery operated. Approximately 9" wide. Launch date: January 2012.

Don't tell baby that they are only 1.5 ounces. Edushape's Edu-Weights look like barbells, but are really rattle/shakers designed to stimulate babies and encourage development of their fine/gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, auditory sensory stimulation and visual stimulation. Specifically designed with high contrast colors, pattern and different textures. For ages 3 months and up. Launch date: June 2012.

BABY GROWS UP GIFT SET: Our 'life bottle' set transitions baby from bottle feeding to sippy cup to water bottle by simply attaching the appropriate accessories as baby grows up. It includes an eco-friendly and virtually indestructible stainless steel thermal bottle that will keep liquids warm or cold for over 6 hours - perfect for baby play dates, toddler travel and preschool lunch boxes. Eco-moms will love that it's sustainable and every mom will appreciate the tremendous value the Baby Grows Up set offers versus purchasing separate baby bottles, sippy cups and water bottles. Launch date: October 2012.

Introducing sleek, light weight thermal food containers that are free of the bulky plastic that other containers have. Keeping foods hot or cold for 6+ hours, they are perfect for lunch boxes or even for Mom. Virtually indestructible, they're great for at home, at daycare, on play dates or traveling. The 12oz/350mL stroller pack or purse friendly size is designed for little hands to hold and little fingers to snack from. Launch date: October 2012.

You don’t have to be an engineer to create with nanoblock. With these micro-sized building blocks, 3D structures are constructed like never before. Watch as the beautiful Lady Liberty takes shape with over 700 assorted size and colored pieces. Includes detailed color instructions. Launch date: September 2012.
— As of 10/01/2012 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com.
— Joe Berardoni Jr., owner of Puns Toys in Bryn Mawr, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that nanoblocks are one of their top selling hobby items.
— Rebecca Goblish, owner of Picayune Toys in Dunwoody, Ga., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that for older kids, nanoblocks were her best-selling construction toy.
Awards: 2015 TDmonthly Magazine Top Toy Award

This great Indoor Play tent comes in 2 burlap and 6 canvas fabrics. Tent poles can be ordered in many colors or stained. Support poles are 57" tall to the top point. The tent is 40" deep and can go from 30 to 36" wide. Easy to assemble, this tent is for indoor play. Made in the USA. Launch date: 2012.

Comotomo Baby Bottles feature innovative and sensible design to most closely mimic natural breastfeeding. Little ones will love to hold onto the skin-like, soft and squeezable body that is like no other bottle in the world. Parents will appreciate the wide-neck design for brushless, stress-free, cleaning. Our bottles are equipped with innovative vents smartly designed to prevent colic, while completely eliminating annoying leaks. Launch date: January 2011.

SnoozeShade is the on-the-go sleep solution for babies. SnoozeShade is the leading black out blind for strollers, pack 'n plays and car seats blocking out sun, rain and bugs. It blocks 94% of light to create a dark and cozy sleep environment for babies, and protects them from the sun with SPF 50. SnoozeShade is easy to assemble with Velcro straps, which is especially great for traveling! It has becoming the hottest new baby product for moms and dads on-the-go. Launch date: January 2010.
— As of 09/13/2012 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 25 reviews on amazon.com. Pros: Protects babies from sun but lets fresh air in; doesn't make stroller interior too hot. Cons: One user said after time the Velcro detached from the mesh.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages enjoy playing the Zither Heaven ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The red ukulele features a 15-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. Launch date: February 2012.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven soprano ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages have fun playing the Zither Heaven soprano ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. Zither Heaven's soprano ukulele features a smaller body with a 14-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. The frets are closer together making it easier for a young child to play. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. Zither Heaven's soprano ukulele is sturdy and easy to carry, making it the perfect choice for the smallest of children. Launch date: February 2012.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages enjoy playing the Zither Heaven ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The yellow ukulele features a 15-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The ukulele includes a tuning wrench and song booklet. Launch date: February 2012.

The quality and solid construction of a Zither Heaven ukulele puts this instrument in a class of its own. While reasonably priced to appeal to beginners and children, experienced musicians of all ages enjoy playing the Zither Heaven ukulele. The precise action and proper placement of the bridge enables chords to be played at the bottom of the neck as well as the top of the neck without losing its tune. The blue ukulele features a 15-inch vibrating string length. The neck is made of solid hard maple with nylon frets and nylon strings. Zither pins are used for the tuning keys. The ukulele includes a tuning wrench and song booklet. Launch date: February 2012.

Kids will be amazed as they watch their puzzle come alive with the Puzzle Double! Discover It! Floor Puzzle Bugs. Taking the concept of a traditional puzzle to a new level, this Discover It! puzzle includes five fun, 3-D lenticular stickers. When kids finish piecing together the beautiful 30-piece, talk about puzzles, they simply add the stickers to their matching place in the scene and watch the puzzle come to life and move and change. Additionally, after assembling the puzzle kids can turn it over for a fun coloring activity (crayons not included). Puzzle Doubles! Discover It! puzzles will provide children multi-dimensional ways to discover and learn! Puzzle measure 24" X 18". Ages 3+ years. Launch date: 2012.

All aboard the Animal Express Train to learn about animal shapes and colors. Animal Express Train has three play modes- Learn the Color and Animal Shapes, and Find It! that are played by simply inserting the plastic animal shapes into their proper slots. Mode three allows children to control the train by using the infrared remote control to move the train forward and backward. While the train chugs along it plays melodies, the wheels move and the nose blinks. The animal shape pieces can be stored in the handy storage compartment inside the train. Animal Express Train also has an automatic shut-off feature that preserves the battery life of the required three "AA" batteries for the main unit (included) and two "AA" batteries for the remote(not included). Launch date: 2012.

Our count and learn ATM machine will guide children through the grown up world of banking. With three play modes and five different coin values it encourages kids to go to the bank, count coins and determine values. Kids will have a great time inserting the ATM card and entering the PIN number to deposit and release their coins. Requires two "AA" batteries (included). Launch date: 2012.

Step Ups! 4-In-A-Box puzzles area great “starter” puzzles and will help little hands develop their fine motor skills. Step Ups! Puzzle sets contain four puzzles depicting fun characters that young ones will easily recognize. The puzzles progress from 2 pieces to 4 pieces to 6 pieces to 8 pieces, giving children the opportunity to grow with the set as they grow and develop. The 8 piece puzzle brings the characters from the other three puzzles together in one animated scene with lots to discuss and talk about. Step Ups! Are a great way to help toddlers begin building their tactile and problem solving skills. Each puzzle measures approximately 12.5” X 8.5”. Launch date: 2012.