The Papasan Cradle Swing, by Fisher-Price, is a cradle swing that features a motorized mobile with a  large dome mirror, soft clouds, and sweet lambs that entertain the baby from above.  This swing offers three seat positions, as well as both head-to-toe swinging motion, and side-to-side motion.  The Papasan Cradle Swing also features ten musical tunes and three nature sounds to both entertain and soothe baby as she swings.  This swing offers six swing speeds, volume control, and conveniently folds up for storage.

Pros:

• On this swing, not only does the whole mobile rotate, but each individual sheep and cloud moves, to keep baby interested.  There is also a mirror on the underside of the mobile to capture baby’s attention.
• The motor, on the Papasan Cradle Swing, is extremely quiet, as compared with competitive products.
• There is a volume control for the music, or it can be turned completely off, to give parents a break.
• The swing has the option of either side-to side motion or front-to back motion, making it very versatile.
• There is a removable toy tray that fits over the baby’s lap for play time, but it is easy to remove for nap time.  This tray feature also adds another dimension of versatility.
• This cradle swing has a soft, plush cushion and a head support pillow to allow baby to relax in optimum comfort.
• The Papasan Cradle Swing is stylish and blends in with any home decor.
• The seat-belt/harness has elasticized leg openings, so they comfortably fit any baby.  There is no need to be concerned about your baby’s chubby little legs getting pinched by the harness in this cradle swing.

Cons:

• The mobile and music shut off automatically after seven minutes.  This means that the parent has to get up and press a button to get the mobile and music turned back on.  There is not a continuous play mode.  Many people find this frustrating.
• The 2 arch way toys, on the toy tray do not make any noise, they just have a couple of movable flowers each.  If your baby is mainly interested in toys that make noise, he may not be very stimulated by these toys.
• The rattling lamb, in the center of the toy tray, is only attached to the toy tray by a strap, so it often falls off the tray into the baby’s lap, usually requiring a parent to put it back on the tray.  Many people feel that it would have been better if this toy had been mounted to the toy tray.
• The seat has only two positions reclined and upright.  The “upright” position is really only less reclined, but not very upright.
• There have been reports of the swing motor smoking and even catching on fire with repeated use.
• The swing does fold up for storage, but it does not get very much smaller.  You should not get this swing if you intend to store it between each use, as this is a bit tedious.  It is best when it is set up in one location where it can be used regularly.

Baby’s Loved Ones Toy has a smooth wooden ring that links three soft photo frames together, and is made by Sassy.  Baby’s Loved Ones Toy features different brightly colored, textured fabrics on each photo frame, which create tactile interest, while the pictures create visual interest for baby.  This toy can hold up to three 4″ x 6″  photos of baby’s friends and family, and has a clear cover to protect each of the three pictures.

Pros:

• The wooden ring, that hold the photo frames together, also works as a handle for a baby’s little hands.
• Helps baby to recognize family,  friends, and learn the names of the people in the pictures, as well as learn to identify facial expressions (Daddy is happy).
• Small enough to carry along when traveling. The small size makes it conveniently fit into a purse or diaper bag.
• The materials of the Baby’s Loved Ones Toy are easily washable, which is great if baby chews on it.
• There are colorful leaf tabs on the pages that assist baby in turning the pages.

Cons:

• The Baby’s Loved Ones Toy holds only three 4″ x 6″ pictures, less than some similar products made by competitors.
• The felt-like material may pill if chewed on by baby.
• The actual size of the window for viewing pictures, in one of the three frames, is quite a bit smaller than the  4″ x 6″, so you may have to pick and choose photos that are compatible with the size of the viewing window.
• There is no support inside the second and third frames, which can allow the pictures inside to get bent, if handled too roughly.  This can be remedied by cutting two pieces of cardboard in the appropriate dimensions and placing them under the pictures within the two frames.

Baby’s First Toy 6 Piece Gift Set  includes 6 vibrantly colored rattles  and teethers that are designed to soothe the sore gums of a teething baby, as well as encourage development of  motor skills, all the while teaching to entertain himself.  Baby’s First Toy 6 Piece Gift Set is made by Sassy.  This toy set features a Flipper Gripper Rattle, Gummy Guppy, Coolin’ Droolin’ Teether, Bird Wrist Rattle, Lively Links,  and Bee Wrist Rattle.  Each of these toys is made up of bright colors, patterns, and different interactive features, each designed to encourage baby to develop different motor skills.  For example, the Gummy Guppy Teether builds awareness and muscle strength of the lips and tongue which are necessary for speech.  The Lively Links help encourage the development of baby’s grasping reflex, while the rattles help baby to understand cause and effect.  This is a great  learning toy set for newborn babies and older.

Pros:

• Wrist rattles are ideal for travel, as they are small and attach to baby’s wrist, which helps to avoid dropping on a car ride.
• All of the toys are very easy to clean.
• Toys are a great size to bring on road trips for baby to play with in a car seat.  They are also small enough to conveniently store in a diaper bag or the seat- back pockets of a car.
• All toys are suitable for a small baby, rather than just one or two of the toys in the set, as is the case with some of the competitors products.
• Coolin’ Droolin’ Teether can be refrigerated or frozen to provide additional soothing to a teething baby’s sore gums.
• The Lively Links can be used to hang other toys from  car seats, mobiles, cribs, and strollers.
• All toys are light-weight and easy for even very young babies to hold and play with.

Cons:

• It has been reported that there is a potential that the Coolin’ Droolin’ Teether  can begin to leak if it is handled too roughly.  Although, Sassy only uses distilled water in this teether, this may be a big negative for some parents.

The Garden Bug Wrist Rattle/ Foot Finder Set is a set of 4 brightly colored, smiley faced, patterned and rattling interactive toys. The set includes 2 wrist rattles (rattles that attach to baby’s wrists), and 2 foot finders (socks with garden bug characters), and is made by Lamaze. This set encourages the development of hand-eye coordination and exploration. The bright colors and cute garden bug characters make this set visually stimulating to baby, and the rattling sounds create auditory interest.

Pros:

• These toys are ideal for taking on road trips or in the strollers, as they Velcro on to baby, so they can’t be dropped.
• Toys are small and fit easily into a purse,  diaper bag, or a pocket, so they can entertain baby anywhere.
• Both the rattles and the foot finders are made of soft fabric that is comfortable against baby’s skin.
• This set is machine washable on delicate cycle, so it is very easy to keep clean.
• The bug characters work well for a baby to chew when teething.
• Great for babies that are not yet able to grasp and hold a non-attaching rattle.  As baby develops more grasping skills, she can hold these toys rather than wear them.

Cons:

• Using all four of these toys at the same time may be overstimulating to some babies, so may be better to use only one of the foot finders or wrist rattles at a time.
• The socks (foot finders) are made of t-shirt material, rather than normal sock material and have the potential to stretch out while on baby’s feet, making them fall off when baby kicks.  They may stay on baby’s feet better if put on over other socks.
• The size is quite small and does not contain stretch elastic, so the size may limit use to very young and small babies, unless used as hand-held rattles.
• The rattles are not very loud, which some people find does not stimulate their baby as much as louder rattles do.

The 8 Piece Bath Squirties Gift Set in Vinyl Zip Bag is a set of 8 colorful,  squirting animal bath toys, and is made by Elegant Baby.  Included in the set are animals like elephant, monkey, penguin, sheep, cow and more.  This gift set also comes with a vinyl zip bag for easy storage. This set is sure to make bath time fun time.

Pros:

• These toys are made of a soft, durable plastic, that are easy for small children to hold, squeeze, and chew.
• There is no overwhelming plastic odor that is given off by the plastic used in this set.
• These bath time toys are very portable due to their small size and handy vinyl carry bag.
• The bath squirties are easy to clean.
• This set is  made of bath time toys that are appealing to children from babies to toddlers.

Cons:

• Paint on some of the  squirty toys seems to scrapes off easily and could be dangerous if a baby ingests the paint chips.
• These toys are all smooth, there is not a texture difference between them, so that may not be appealing to all children, especially those that are interested in tactile differences in their toys.
• When used in the tub, these toys can grow mildew that will squirt out with the water.  This can likely be resolved by soaking them in a bleach/water mix for a few minutes every couple of weeks.

The Soothe and Glow Seahorse is bedtime toy for babies, made by Fisher-Price.  The Soothe and Glow Seahorse is the perfect size for a baby to hold.  The seahorse  has a light in the belly that light up when hugged, and plays 5 minutes of music or ocean sounds to help baby fall asleep.  The light and music are easily turned on by the light pressure of even a small child’s hug, or a parent’s gentle pressure.  The music is comprised of 2 ocean tracks, and  8 gentle classical lullaby selections.  After 5 minutes, the music and light gently fades away, so as not to disturb a sleeping baby.  Most important, there is a volume control on the Soothe and Glow Seahorse, as well as an ON/OFF switch, for times when parents need a break from the music of the seahorse.

Pros:

• Toy is very cute, comforting, and colors are soothing to most babies.
• Outer cover comes off of the mechanical parts of this toy, so it is safe to wash (preferably by hand).
• Since there is a volume control, the songs can be set to play loud or soft.
• Songs are calming and pleasant sounding to both babies and adults.
• Light is very comforting and interesting to most babies.
• Music and light can be easily turned on and off by gently squeezing the tummy of the toy.  Toy can be turned on by most babies that are 4+ months old without assistance.

Cons:

• There are only 2 volume settings, some have reported them as very soft and very loud, and nothing in between.
• The volume control is very difficult to reach without taking the whole toy apart, as it is on the front of the machine, in the stomach of the seahorse.  You have to wrap your fingers around the machine inside the stuffed toy in order to reach.
• The head of the seahorse is a little bit too heavy for many small babies to be able to hold on to.
• The Velcro in the back of the toy doesn’t always stay closed very well, allowing the mechanical portions of the toy to potentially hang out.
• There is no option to play the music with the light off.  Some children may be so interested in the light that they have trouble going to sleep.

Mortimer the Moose is a cute, cuddly toy  moose with many interactive features for baby, and is made by Lamaze.   Mortimer has a soft plush body that is perfect for baby to cuddle up with at bedtime.  Mortimer the Moose  has textured antlers and rings on his tail that are ideal for teething babies.  This cute toy also has brightly colored hooves that rattle, crunch, chime,  and squeak when baby grabs or shakes Mortimer’s legs or feet, creating auditory interest.   There are many bright colors, patterns and textures on this toy that help to develop baby’s eyes as well as tactile and touch senses, making this toy perfect for  newborns and older.   Lastly, Mortimer comes with a Lamaze link so he can be attached to a crib, stroller, or car seat with ease, making it a cinch for Mortimer to keep baby company on any kind of outing.

Pros:

• Great all-in-one toy for developing babies:  a cute stuffed animal that is soft and cuddly for baby to hold ; a crinkle-noise maker (two hooves crinkle when squeezed);  a rattle bell (2 of the hooves have jingling bells); a chew toy (the antlers and tail rings are made of soft, textured plastic, perfect for soothing the sore gums of a teething baby); the tail rings can also serve as handles for small hands to grasp or carry Mortimer; the scarf-like legs of Mortimer also make crinkle noises when manipulated; the body of the moose has a squeaker toy inside, so when the body is squeezed,  it makes a squeaking noise;  and has a Lamaze link, making it easy to hang this toy from any surface be it crib, car seat, or play pen.
• Toy is brightly colored and attracts babies’ attention.
• This toy provides a lot of interest for baby without being “overstimulating”, which could frustrate, overwhelm, and confuse a small child.

Cons:

• Mortimer is a fairly large toy that may be difficult for some young babies to manipulate all of his interactive features.
• The antlers are large and can cause baby to choke if he is able put the entire antler in his mouth.  It may be wise to pay attention when baby is using Mortimer the Moose for teething to avoid choking if baby is able to put the entire antler in his mouth.
• May have to watch the family dog, since this toy makes a squeaking noise when the body is squeezed, the dog may want to play with Mortimer too.
• If it is necessary to wash this toy, it should not be put into the dryer as the fur will pill.

The Rock-A-Stack is a rocking cone and 5 brightly colored graduated rings that fit on the cone, made by Fisher-Price.  The Rock-A-Stack is a toy designed to encourage both motor skills and cognitive abilities, as they learn to stack the rings in the proper order.  All of the bright rings are made of safe, washable, soft plastic that work well for teething babies.  This is a toy that is best suited for children from 6 months to 2 years.

Pros:

• Because of the stacking order of the graduated rings, the child learns logic as well as developing memory, and problem solving skills.
• The rings and base are light in weight, easy for a small child to carry around with them.  More importantly, if they are dropped, they are light enough that they will not cause injury to a baby’s feet or toes.
• A great learning toy for many stages of development, as it can teach colors, coordination, and balance, in addition to the other skills of logic, memory, and problem solving.
• The toy is very easy to clean, durable, and not too large to take along on road trips.

Cons:

• There have been some issues (in early 2009) with blue dye rubbing off of the blue ring and getting on things, including the baby.
• For some babies, the task of choosing progressively larger rings may be more frustrating than fun, so this toy may not be for everyone.
• The rocking bottom of the cone is hard and can cause injury if used as a weapon.
• Do not let children chew on the rings unattended, as there have been cases where small pieces were broken off, causing a potential choking hazard, as well as jagged edges that can cut little fingers.

The Duplo 5380 Building Set is a 71 piece deluxe building brick set, made by LEGO.  The Duplo 5380 set comes with 71 brightly colored LEGO bricks, a figure to help inspire role-playing fun, a wagon base, and building plate.  This set has a new container to allow for easy clean-up and storage, and a transparent lid that allows young architects to display their creations while they are put away.  The LEGO Duplo 5380 Building Set is best suited for children from 18 months-5 years.

Pros:

• Set comes with a good assortment of shapes and sizes of blocks, as well as one small building plate, one  wagon base, and one man action figure.
• Because it is made by LEGO, it is easy to buy more compatible pieces to expand the number of bricks, building plates, wagon bases, and even people action figures.
• The pieces in this set are large enough for a young child to handle.  The pieces snap together easily, and can be easily removed with a little effort.  The pieces hold together tight enough that they do not come apart without taking them apart.

Cons:

• This set only has 71 blocks, not enough for big building projects.
• The blocks in this set are brightly colored, but plain.  This set is really made for youngsters that are most interested in building.  This set may not be appropriate for children that are more interested in blocks that have animals, flowers, or other designs on the blocks.
• The house building plate is very small, and there is only one wagon base.  If your child likes to build lots of cars or large houses, the set may need to be expanded by purchasing additional pieces.
• This set only comes with one man action figure, so if your child really likes playing with  little people, you may need to purchase more people figures to go with this set.

The Learn and Groove Musical Table is an interactive musical table complete with over 55 songs and musical activities to keep baby “learning and grooving”, made by LeapFrog.  A variety of play instruments encourage baby to press, slide, push, pull,  open and close, helping develop fine motor skills.  All of the activities in this fun toy are designed to provide both auditory and visual stimulation, aiding in the development of  a baby’s motor skills, memory, and problem-solving skills.  The Learn and Groove Musical Table also provides opportunities for a baby to learn shapes, colors,  the alphabet, and much more.  There is also a switch that changes the language from English to Spanish to provide baby with an early introduction to foreign language.  This toy is best suited to children from 6 months to 3 years, and will grow with your children with the addition of plastic legs, to accommodate a standing toddler.

Pros:

• There are two modes:  verbal teaching mode and musical mode.  This creates a great toy that appeals to young babies that cannot yet speak or totally understand words, as well as toddlers that are learning to master language.
• Over 55 songs and musical activities to keep baby interested for long periods of time.  Because of the variety of activities, children are less likely to get bored and lose interest.
• The songs and sounds made by the Learn and Groove Musical Table are high quality and not annoying to parents.  The variety of songs is also very good to keep all members of the family happy while baby is playing with this toy.
• Teaches about the alphabet, shapes, colors and counting in both English and Spanish and easily switches between languages with the flip of a switch.

Cons:

• There is a potential that older children may us the table with legs as a stepping stool to climb on to higher places like the kitchen counter or a book case, causing a falling hazard.
• Stabilizing feet may have been removed from recent models, making the table less stable, and more likely to tip over if a baby uses the table for support to stand or, especially, if a child tries to use the table as a stool.
• There  is a model of this table where the legs are not removable, so this may need to be looked into prior to attaching the legs, especially for children that are not yet able to stand on their own.