Lamaze Jacques the Peacock - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Lamaze Jacques the Peacock - Top Christmas Toys 2008
From Learning Curve

Customer Reviews

Great for Newborns!
The Lamaze peacock was one of the first toys we were given for our son. Personally, I think he's fun to look at. Jacques the peacock made me want to run out and see what other toys Lamaze has... unfortunately, I think I've already got the best one. From the first week (and I mean, less than one week of age here), my son was enthralled by the back of Jacques. This is really a great toy for newborns to look at - the red, white, and black high contrast back is very interesting and stimulating to young babies (they can't see in color yet).

I think this toy was a life-saver when my son was less than a month old, because he would get distracted by it hanging in his crib and he would actually agree to lay in there! Recently, he hasn't been as interested in this toy, perhaps because some of his others are easier for him to hold. We'll have to wait and see whether he decides to be interested again at some point. He's 3 months now, and just learning to hold things (and shove them in his mouth) - and this is a bit large and difficult to pick up right now. The toy does have a rattle, crinkle paper, and a squeaky thing, as well as a mirror (that you really can't see yourself in) that might be interesting to older babies.

Since the toy was so interesting early on, I still think he's worth the price. But, I'd say get this one EARLY - before the baby is born - and introduce the toy right away (but remember to show the baby the back, not the front, because it will be more interesting and easier to see early on).

not a hit with a 6 m/o
We bought this for our 6-months-old son. It's not a hit. The problem is that the tail consists of very hard and large pieces that barely bend. The kid has a hard time grabbing the toy and cannot really manipulate with any elements. Nothing here can be stretched, squeezed, rolled, pulled -- unlike, say, those long legs or necks or tails in other similar toys. Our son can't even stick any part of this toy in his mouth! So, he understandably doesn't want to play with it. The peacock looks pretty, but you don't really want to touch it. Our kid loves the elefant, the giraffe, and the monkey made by Tiny Love.

Great Toy
Our 3 month old daughter really loves this toy. She is really attracted to the bright colors and patterns and has started reaching out to the toy and trying to grab it. Great toy for young babies!

More : Xmas Toys for Birth to 24 Months

Product Description

This new Lamaze Play & Grow Peacock comes complete with multiple textures and sounds to keep baby entertained. Crinkly fabric, a peek-a-boo mirros, bold colorful patterns and soft fuzzy textures invite little ones to explore and learn. Jacques the Peacock comes complete with a Lamaze link, so you can snap it to a car seat, high chair, or anywhere else.

Amazon.com Product Description
Designed for use from birth on up, the Lamaze Play and Grow Peacock has bright colors and multiple textures and sounds that are sure to stimulate and delight baby. Developed in conjunction with child development experts from Yale University, this "first friends" toy comes complete with a Lamaze link for easy attachment to strollers, carriers, and diaper bags, so it's a snap to take the Play and Grow Peacock with you on play dates, errands, or trips in the car.

The Lamaze Jacques the Peacock offers: Different textures, mirror, and colorful patterns encourage exploration Soft velour body with several busy wings A Lamaze link clip for easy attachment to strollers, carriers and diaper bags

Multiple textures and sounds to keep baby entertained. View larger.

Stimulates Baby's Vision and Auditory Skills
When babies are first born, they see in black and white. This is why the Play and Grow Peacock strikes a balance between bright, high contrast patterns that help stimulate baby's vision, and bold solid colors that give baby's eyes a place to rest. Sounds like crinkle, squeakers and jingles also help stimulate and develop baby's auditory skills. Finally, large, friendly eyes on the Play and Grow Peacock invite baby to focus and stare at a single object, which helps calm baby while supporting healthy eye development.

Child-Safe Design
Whether they're playing in the crib or preparing for a nap, your little one will enjoy hours of delight with the Play and Grow Peacock. Safe and easy for little hands to manipulate, it features a soft velour body that invites snuggling and playing. And the busy wings have different textures and interactive components--like the mirror, which allows for both independent and parent/baby peek-a-boo play--to keep baby engaged as he grows.

The Play and Grow Peacock comes with a limited 90 day warranty.

Squeaker

Rattle

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks
From Fisher Price

Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks - Top Christmas Toys 2008

Customer Reviews

Solid All-around Choice
Got this for our 8-month old daughter(she's almost 10 months old now). She loves doing just about everything with these blocks EXCEPT putting them into the box through the holes(I assume that'll come later). She stuffs them into her mouth, throws them at daddy and bangs them together. Nice colors, very durable(hard plastic) and so easy to clean, when needed.

As others have mentioned, I do wish the lid would stay on a little better. I'll probably figure out some way to secure it but it'll end up being an ugly fix(eg duct tape) ;)

I also have some concern about the blocks when she's crawling around on the floor and she's left them strewn about. In particular, that she might slip/fall(rare now, but it happens) and land on one of the blocks. The blocks are hard plastic and even the rounded ones could hurt her if she fell back/forward onto one while sitting/crawling. I don't think this is really a problem specific to this product but would be something to monitor during use. I've learned to just put them away or at least swipe them out of her path as she crawls.

Bottom line: Would I buy this again if it were at the same price under same conditions and having researched alternatives? Yes.

He likes it!
My nine month old son likes this toy. The lid doesn't snap on so its easy for him to have fun without getting frustrated. Perhaps when he is older he will play with it more the way its intended. But for now, he is just having fun, which means he is happy and distracted from trying to grab buttons and other things inappropriate for babies.

My baby loves his blocks
My son is seven months and he is enjoying playing with the blocks. He is still working on his coordination though ... he loves the bright colors and the different shapes of the blocks.

Product Description

Ten bright blocks are ready for baby to drop into the open bucket or through the shape-sorting lid. Baby will love filling the bucket with blocks, dumping them out, then starting over again. Great for eye-hand coordination and other early skills. Then baby can move on to sorting and stacking and learning about identifying and matching shapes. Includes plastic shape-sorting box with take-anywhere handle and ten colorful blocks.

More : Xmas Toys for Birth to 24 Months

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube Top Christmas Toys 2008

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
From Munchkin

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube Top Christmas Toys 2008

Customer Reviews

My baby's favorite and mine too!
I love this Magic Cube. It was a gift from a friend, and is a fantastic toy. The musical selection is good, the quality of the tones is also quite good. It is the first interactive toy my four month old baby figured out how to use, though he tends to hit the sides with his feet rather than his hands. You won't regret this one!

The musical sounds don't sound like the real instruments, they just sound like a cheap toy. Also, I thought each instrument would play its own melody, how it would in a real orchestra. For example, the horn would play the background, the flute a lighter melody, then all the instruments would combine to create the true melody when the orchestra button is pressed. But really, each button plays exactly the same notes except with a different instrument. I was really disappointed, and my daughter prefers the music buttons from her Tiny Love Activity Center. The ones on that toy are really neat.

My favorite baby present!
This is my favorite baby present. My grandson learned quickly how to make the lights and sounds work and so did the Yellow Lab. It was a hoot to watch. MK

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
A true breakthrough in music education, the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube will be music to your baby's ears. Providing hours of interactive play for budding young composers of all ages, this award-winning toy is the perfect musical foundation for little ones.

The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube teaches how sounds combine to create baby's own Mozart masterpieces. View larger. The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube offers: Sounds from 5 instruments. Soft, rounded corners for baby's safety. Fun and entertainment for babies of all ages. Music Education in a Cube Fun, creative, and inspiring, the Magic Cube teaches how sounds combine to create eight Mozart masterpieces. With a touch of a button, this interactive cube lets your child add or subtract from any combination of five different instruments, including harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin. Each selected instrument button flashes along to the beat of the music. An orchestra button even plays all the instruments at once. Baby-Safe Design Designed with durable plastic construction, the Magic Cube features bright colors such as yellow, green, purple, and magenta. Made with soft, rounded corners, it's easy and safe for baby to hold. The 6-inch cube requires three AA batteries (not included).

More : Xmas Toys for Birth to 24 Months