The Gymini Super Deluxe- Lights & Music is an activity gym designed to excite babies with plush hanging toys, lights,  a large mirror to encourage baby to turn his head to look in the mirror, music and lights that encourage a baby to reach for the lights.  The Gymini Super Deluxe- Lights & Music is made by Tiny Love.  This Gymini Super Deluxe comes complete with a bright and cheery floor mat, with has a jungle motif, for the baby to lay on while looking up at colorful arches that suspend a variety of toys for baby’s amusement and learning.  The hanging toys include  a large mirror , and several cute jungle critters, like the springy-legged monkey, rattling giraffe, and  jitterbug elephant.  The floor mat has a music box  built in that plays Mozart and several classic nursery tunes.  The music and flashing lights in the flowers on the mat are triggered by pressing a corner of the mat.  The ear of the elephant, on the mat,  makes a fun crinkle sound when touched.  All of these interactive features help baby to develop his large motor skill including lifting and  turning his head to look at the mirror and flashing lights, reaching to grab hanging toys, kicking, and rolling over.  Fine motor skills are also developed by encouraging baby to grasp the rattling giraffe, springy-legged monkey, or the crinkle-winged parrot, and press the corner of the mat to trigger the music and flashing lights.  The Gymini Deluxe is best suited for children from 1 month to 1 year.

Pros:

• The floor mat is washable.
• The whole gym folds down flat for storage.  When folded flat, the gym will fit easily into the bottom of a suitcase for bringing along on a trip either in the car or on a plane.
• The floor mat is soft and provides adequate cushioning even on a hard wooden or tile floor.  It also has some interesting textures for baby, like the elephant’s ear, giraffe’s tail, and the zebra’s mane.
• Hanging toys are detachable, so they can be taken out of the gym for washing or travel.  Also, other toys can be hung from the gym to keep baby interested.
• Additional toys that are compatible with the Gymini Super Deluxe are available to be purchased separately from Tiny Love.
• Interactive items, like the different textures and flashing lights, on the floor mat make tummy time interesting and fun for baby.

Cons:

• There is a pink piece of plastic on the stomach of the purple elephant that can be pulled off by a baby and potentially cause a choking hazard.  It may be wise to either remove this piece or supervise baby while he is playing with the hanging elephant.
• The quality of the sound of the music is a bit tinny and can become irritating to adults, as there are only two settings.
• The mirror is a bit warped, distorting the image that a baby sees of himself.  Some people find this annoying.
• Some babies (especially very young babies) get overwhelmed by having all of the dangling toys hanging from the arches at the same time.  Some people have found that their baby is more comfortable if some of the dangling toys are removed.
• The gym does not come with toys that encourage kicking, like some other activity gyms do.  A hanging set of chimes can be purchased separately and added to encourage baby to kick at the chimes (but they do not come with the Gymini Super Deluxe).
• Some people find the ON/OFF button in the floor mat is difficult for a baby to activate.

Product Detail:

• Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 30.7 x 1.6 inches ; 0.3 ounces
• Free Shipping: When Purchased From Amazon Link  > > >
• Ships: Usually Within 24 Hours
• Special Shipping Information: Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses.
• Gift wrapping is not available for this item
• In Stock: Yes

Customer Review:

I purchased The Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe- Lights & Music for my daughter when she was about 4 weeks old.  Initially, she just laid on the mat and stared up at the animals suspended above her, she was clearly fascinated.  At 3 months, my daughter started taking notice of her reflection in the mirror, and reaching for the various suspended toys.  She was also really interested in the flashing lights on the mat during tummy time and would stare in amazement as the lights danced around in the flowers.  Now she is 6 months old and is still loving this toy.  She is now playing with the elephant ear on the mat a lot more.  She loves that crinkle sound.  She also in interested in batting the rattling giraffe and pulling the monkeys legs.  I love watching her develop skills right before my eyes.

This activity gym has been great for my little one, it keeps her entertained for hours at a time, and it has features that appeal to her at different stages of development as she grows.  She never seems to get bored of her activity gym.

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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.

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Octoplush is a soft, multi-textured, developmental plush toy, made by Baby Einstein.  The Octoplush has colorful stitched satin patches on velour legs that promote baby to develop tactile skills by touching the different textures, and later are a great learning foundation for teaching colors, as each leg says the color name when squeezed.  This plush toy also has a built-in music box that is activated when the Octoplush is gently hugged.  This toy comes complete with a language selector for either English, Spanish, or French, and has a volume control.  The Octoplush is best suited for children 3 months and older.

Pros:

• Buttons on the octopus’ legs say the name of the color and can be set to say them in English, Spanish, or French, so this is a great starting point for both learning colors, as well as a foreign language.
• The volume control really helps to keep from annoying parents when baby is playing with the octopus.
• Octopus head is easily squeezed by a baby, to activate the music.
• There is an ON/OFF button for when baby is cuddling with the octopus, and no sound is needed, or parents need a break.
• Toy is on the small side, so it is great for young babies, and will not be overwhelming.
• Color words are printed on the underside of the octopus’ feet in all three languages, so you can reinforce the words that baby is hearing from the octopus.

Cons:

• The color spots are difficult for a baby to activate by himself.
• Octopus is an odd shape and a bit top-heavy, so may not be easy for a small child to carry around the house.
• Octoplush may go off by itself if not turned OFF when it is not being used, this could get annoying, and depending how frequently this happens, could waste batteries.

Product Details:

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 11 x 11 inches ; 15.7 ounces
• Free Shipping: When Purchased From Amazon Link > > >
• Ships: Usually Within 24 Hours
• Special Shipping Information: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Gift  Wrap Is Available
• In Stock: Yes

Customer Review:

I received the Octoplush as a shower gift before my son was born.  It wasn’t until he got to be about 3 months old that he took any real interest, but since then, the Octoplush is his favorite toy.  He loves to listen to the music and touch the different fabric textures on the toy.  This octopus is even his favorite bed time friend.  My son is not old enough to be interested in learning colors yet, but I love that this toy will help to teach them to him.  I also love that it will provide a good starting point for him to become familiar with both Spanish and French.  I am really excited about the way that this cute toy appeals to my son at many different development levels, and will continue to make learning fun for my little boy.

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The Musical Inchworm is an interactive, brightly colored and patterned, plush toy, made by Lamaze.  The Musical Inchworm  has a soft velour body and features  fun jingles, crinkles, rattles, and squeaks, as well as interesting textures to touch and chew on.  When the Inchworm is hugged, he plays “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands”.  The vibrant colors and patterns create visual stimulus, while the jingle, crinkle, rattle, squeak, and music provide auditory interest and stimulation.  The different textures and fabrics help baby to develop tactile sensations.  The Lamaze Musical Inchworm is suited for children from birth on.

Pros:

• The underside of the inchworm has a ruler that measures up to 24 inches in length, and can be used to measure the length of the baby and see how much he has grown.
• The ties of the legs and antennae can be used for a teething baby to chew on, and provide some relief.
• This toy makes several different sound effects, which encourage a baby to manipulate the inchworm to hear the sounds.  This also helps baby to understand the relationship between cause and effect.
• This toy is a great developmental toy, providing visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation all at once.
• The inchworm is soft and serves as a great bedtime cuddle buddy.

Cons:

• The inchworm does not come with a Lamaze hook, so he really can’t be clipped on to strollers or car seats.
• It is difficult to make the music, as the head of the inchworm has to be squeezed harder than a baby is likely able to do.
• There are not many places that are easy for a small baby to grab on the inchworm, and it is too heavy for many babies to be able to lift to their mouths by one of the little knotted legs.
• The music is very quiet and a bit tinny in sound, but it plays in short intervals, so nobody she get annoyed with it.

Product Detail:

• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.2 x 6.1 inches ; 12.8 ounces
• Free Shipping: When Purchased From Amazon Link  > > >
• Ships: Usually Within 24 Hours
• Special Shipping Information: Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses.
• Gift wrapping: Available
• In Stock: Yes

Customer Review:

I got the Musical Inchworm as a shower gift before my second child was born.  I was excited about it; it seemed to be well constructed, brightly colored, and made a variety of different sounds.

My daughter started to take an interest in this toy at about 2 months old.  She liked the look of “Inchy’s” smiling face and she got a big kick out of the different sounds.  As she got older, she really grew to love the squeak sound and the crinkle sound, and could make them on her own.  Now, at 6 months old, “Inchy” is her favorite toy.  She sleeps with him in her crib, he comes with us on car rides, and on visits to friends.  My daughter just loves this toy.

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Baby’s Photo Book is a vinyl photo book for introducing baby to family and friends, and is made by Baby Einstein.  This baby photo book has storage for up to five 4″ x 6 “pictures and one wallet-size picture.  This photo book also features a water-filled handle that doubles as a teether for soothing the  gums of a teething baby.  There are large colorful tabs to make turning the pages easier for baby, and the vinyl flaps on each page keep the photographs in place and protected.  This is the perfect first photo album for introducing baby to people that are important in his life.

Pros:

• The book is durable and can withstand being beaten on and chewed by a baby.
• The matte finish on the vinyl photo sleeves, does not create any reflections or distortions of the photos, and allows baby to get a good look at the important people in his life.
• The vinyl of this book makes it very easy to clean.
• Helps baby to recognize family friends, relatives, and to learn the names of the people in the pictures.
• Small enough to carry along when traveling, as it easily fits into a diaper bag or purse.
• Each vinyl slot has a little extra tab that wraps around the photo, and keeps it safe and dry  in case baby chews on the pages.
• There are colorful tabs on the pages that assist baby in turning the pages.

Cons:

• The Baby Einstein Baby’s Photo Book holds less 4″ x 6″ pictures than some similar products made by competitors.
• The edges of the book are somewhat sharp.  Even though they are rounded, it is possible for a baby to scratch his delicate skin on the edges of this book.
• The book is design so that the pictures will not fall out, or little fingers pull them out.  However, to keep the pictures in, the sleeves are very tight, which makes putting a picture in the sleeve quite difficult.
• The slot for the 4″ x 6″ picture on the back will have Baby Einstein written across his face, meaning that there are really only four usable 4″ x 6″ slots for photos.

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The Sleep Sheep On the Go- Four Soothing Sounds from Nature, by Cloud b, is a soft, plush sheep.  This soft, plush, compact sheep is the perfect soothing bedtime baby toy, complete with four nature sounds that are very comforting  to babies, including  harmonious whale sounds, gentle stream, spring showers, and ocean waves.  There is a Velcro tab on the sheep’s back to secure him to a crib or stroller.  The sound box has an ON/OFF switch, is removable, and has an automatic sleep timer that turns the sounds off after 23 or 45 minutes.  This is the smaller ” on the go” version of the Sleep Sheep, and measures only 8 inches tall rather than the full-sized 12 inches, making it more convenient to actually take “on the go”.

Pros:

• Sleep Sheep is soft and comforting, making it a perfect toy for a fussy child to snuggle up with.
• Sounds are repetitious, comforting and familiar, so it distracts babies from any other sounds going on in the house during nap time.
• The sounds time out after 23 or 45 minutes, allowing enough time for a baby to fall asleep, but not wasting large numbers of batteries from staying on all night.
• The controls are very user-friendly.  It is easy to change between the four different sound types, as well as control the volume level or turn the sounds on or off.
• The Velcro allows for easy attachment to cribs, car seats, strollers, play pens, anything.
• The sound “machine” is removable from the body of the sheep, so the sheep can be washed and the sound machine put back in once the sheep is dry.

Cons:

• The travel (“on-the-go”) model does not have the heartbeat sound like the full size model does.  This is an important and comforting sound to babies, especially newborns, so many people are upset that the smaller Sleep Sheep does not have that sound effect.
• There is not a continuous play mode, only two settings for 23 and 45 minutes.  This may not be ideal for babies that need constant sound while they are asleep to avoid waking up.
• There are no womb sounds or mothers heartbeat, which many people feel are essential for an infant sound machine.
• The sound machine is not held in the side of the sheep very tightly and can potentially fall out, which may disrupt the sound, or cause other falling sounds, all of which have a potential to wake a baby.

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The Knock-Knock Blocks are a set of 16 soft, super light-weight building blocks with doors and windows that open to reveal smiling characters or a mirror inside.  The Knock-Knock Blocks set is made by IQ Baby.  The set consists of 8 triangular blocks with striking black and white patterns that help a newborn eyes to develop, as well as creating visual interest for babies looking at them from in their cribs.  There are also 8 vibrantly colored  square blocks, with fun colorful graphics. The square blocks  are covered with  fabrics like satin, corduroy, and cotton, to create varied textures and tactile interest.  Each of the 16 blocks makes sound when squeezed, either jingle, crinkle, or rattle, to enhance baby’s auditory stimulation, and teach baby about cause and effect.  This building block set is most suitable to be played with by children 6 months  and older.

Pros:

• Blocks are soft, making them even safer than the normal harder bricks.  There is no danger of injury if they are thrown or swung at someone.
• Block set is brightly colored and patterned, as well as having characters inside the windows and doors.  A great toy for inspiring young imaginations.
• Blocks come with a zippered carrying case that makes it easy to either store the blocks, or travel with them.
• Blocks make different sounds, and many of them have doors or windows that open, all of which encourages interaction and learning for baby.
• Require very little storage space when stored in the zippered storage pouch that comes with the set.

Cons:

• There is a potential that the opening doors and windows could get torn off with repeated use.
• The blocks do not stack as well as hard blocks, so may not be ideal for older children that are really into building.
• The size of the blocks may be too large for small, young babies to be able to hold and manipulate.
• Colors may fade in the washing machine.  It may be more preferable to hand wash these blocks to limit color fade.

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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 baby 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.

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The Busy Ball Popper is an air-powered, ball-popping baby toy, made by Hasbro Playskool.  The Busy Ball Popper comes complete with five brightly colored balls, silly sound effects and 8 happy tunes.  To enjoy the fun, simply pump the plunger, put the balls on the spiral track, and watch them pop out of the top and either roll back down the track, or spill over onto the floor.  The experience is heightened by the addition of the fun sounds to accompany the “popping and dropping” fun.  The sights, sounds, and continuous action of the Playskool Busy Ball Popper encourage lasting play and stimulate motor development skills.  This is a toy that is ideal for children from 9 months to 3 years.

Pros:

• A great toy for teaching cause and effect, because the action will not begin until the red plunger is pushed, and the music will not play until the balls begin moving.
• Creates a great repetitive situation for teaching certain words to children, like “ball”, “push”, “stop”, “out”.
• Also an ideal toy for fine-tuning motor skills related to putting the balls in the track, picking them up from the floor, pressing the plunger, and potentially even catching the balls as they are blown out of the top.
• The balls are the perfect size for small hands to grasp, and place into the track.
• Toy that appeals to most children from 9 months to 3 years and is a toy that children of different ages can play with together.

Cons:

• For parents, the music is a bit loud and can become irritating.  Also, the balls tend to fall all over the floor and need to be repeatedly picked up.
• The funnel can get knocked off and even though it goes back on easily, it may disturb the child’s fun.
• Because the balls tend to roll away when they spill out onto the floor, they can get lost.  This toy does not work right without all 5 balls, so you may consider purchasing extras from the Hasbro website.
• The balls are not meant  to be chewed on, and teething babies can damage the balls to the point where they will no longer work in the ball popper.
• One of the older models (from 2007/2008) had a hole (where the balls come out) large enough for a small child to stick his arm into, so this could cause injury.  There is supposedly a newer version that has a cover over this hole, to keep a baby from getting his arm stuck.  You may want to check into the model that you are getting when you order.

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The Count and Compose Piano is a  learning baby toy that combines visual, auditory, and language development all into one toy made by Baby Einstein.  Babies are introduced to melodies, different instruments and numbers with this cute little piano.  There is a screen that has colored, flashing lights  that move along to the music, to create visual stimulation, and a rattling roller drum that helps to promote a baby’s fine motor skills. The Count and Compose Piano has three different play modes:  counting mode (numbers 1-5 in English, Spanish and French), baby composer mode, and instrument key mode.

Pros:

• Classical music is pleasing to the entire family.  It is loud enough to interest a baby without driving parents crazy.
• The convenient size and light weight make this toy the perfect size to play with at home or put into a diaper bag for travel.
• There is an OFF button, so parents can take a break if the sounds get too irritating.
• Buttons are easily pressed by little hands.

Cons:

• Speaker is on the bottom of the piano and causes the sound to muffled.
• The is no indication what keys play what notes or a guide that shows how to actually play songs on this piano.
• Piano does not actually count, it says the number on the button that is pushed, i.e. when the button marked 3 is pushed, the piano says “3″.

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