Product Review: Baby Einstein's Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym

One of the first toys that we purchased for our AppleBlossom was the Baby Einstein's Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym. At first she would cry anytime she was put down aka out of Mama's arms, yet after a while she started looking around. It was at about ten weeks old that she was interested in playing or batting around. Her favorite part is the octopus with it's rattle, scrunchy-like tentacles, and now (15 wks) the orange handle.

Let the ocean adventure begin! This soft activity gym features a musical aquarium toy with Baby Einstein ocean characters, classical melodies, and dancing lights. A whale shaped prop-up pillow accompanies baby on this underwater adventure during tummy time, which comes to life with the crisp and colorful real-life scenery of the sea on the play mat. Tummy time is enhanced by the animal peek-a-boo flaps with real-life imagery, and the ability to reposition and attach toys to loops on the mat or loops on the whale pillow. The soft octopus toy is sure to be baby's favorite to take on-the-go. Additional toys include a large fish shaped baby-safe mirror, one set of ocean discovery cards featuring real-life images of 4 underwater animals, a Baby Neptune™ rattle, a water-filled teether, and 8 links to re-position toys.
© The Baby Einstein Company. All Rights Reserved.

Baby Einstein is a trademark of The Baby Einstein Company, LLC. EINSTEIN is a trademark of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

AppleBlossom enjoys the different musical tunes that play when I set it on rattle mode. She will rattle the canopy and the music will play, it is so much fun to watch her enjoy the cause and effect. Recently she has discovered the fish shaped mirror. Each time she sees it she seems shocked, but then grins with glee of her face changing expressions where she can see. Another feature that she loves for the tummy time while on the whale is being able to grasp the peek-a-boo flaps. I believe she likes the texture in her hands, more than the actual game of peek-a-boo at this time, but that may change.



What I like about this, was at first it was some where for me to watch her and give my arms a rest, but still have her near. Now, she uses so much energy and fills the room with squeals while I eat breakfast a few feet away and she plays. In the future we will be able to point out colors and animals and a few textures for stimulation. I love how this will grow a bit with her and each week seems to give her something new.


When we purchased this gym we felt that we would like another hanging toy, and thus also purchased an Orca Melody Maker. After time though, I needed something to hang on the pack 'n play up stairs and she needed something else to bat at, so I replaced the hanging orca with the Infantino Peek-a-boo Rattle frog that was a gift.

She loves to bat at and hear the rattles so it works well. I think when she gets into pulling that the Melody Maker will be more appropriate, but for now I'm the only one doing the pulling. With that said she does love the three sounds from the melody maker, two tunes and bubbles.

And then months later, she still enjoys it!

Product Review: Taggies Soft Blocks from ebeanstalk

Something we have discovered is that picking a toy is not easy. There are so many variables to choose from and there is a website called ebeanstalk dedicated to selecting good, safe baby toys and toddler toys. But they need help from Mamas like me to help pick the toys. Thanks to ebeanstalk, the toy they provided for review is called Taggies Soft Blocks, it is one of their many unique toys.

Taggies Soft Blocks are great learning toys because each feature tons of tactile elements, colorful images, silly sounds and, of course, TAGGIES galore! Easy-grab, un-stuffed blocks can be squashed into a diaper bag. Clever hook & loop links attach all blocks together for play in the stroller, highchair or car seat. DIMENSIONS: 8.75" X 4.25" X 8.5" PACKAGED

When I opened the box to find these Taggies soft blocks I was ecstatic. AppleBlossom likes them too. There are so many colors and textures! I love the different animals and the shooting star! Two blocks have a bell inside and the other two blocks have the crinkly material, both are great noises that really catches her attention and curiosity. Already she is grasping the tags and rubbing them between her fingers. These blocks are the first Taggies-type product she's been around and already I can tell they are a big hit. When she is more into holding the blocks I can easily see toting a couple around in the diaper bag, and they are no problem at all in size for that either.

Introduce your child to the different textures and sounds of the Taggies Soft Blocks. Encourage them to pass them from one hand to the other, to shake them and throw them.

Once you find out which block is your favorite, be sure to stuff that one into the diaper bag or clip onto the stroller or car seat. Or, you can link them all together and take all of them

As your child gets older, you can teach them the different animals and see how quickly they learn. Ask them to pick up the lion, the sheep, etc.

These could not have come to us at a better time and I am loving the idea of seeing her grow with them. From naming the animals and colors, to feeling the varying array of textures and materials, hearing the bells versus the crinkles I'm so excited about the activity and learning with these blocks. After seeing this in hand I highly recommend them and would gladly get them for gifts. I'll give you more updates as she grows in her usage with them in the future too!

Age: Newborns+ (Target Age: 3 months)

Target Age

Children grow and learn at different speeds. This item can be enjoyed by younger and older children depending on their interests and abilities.

The Target Age is the time most children START enjoying this toy, game or book as determined by our Child-Experts.
Please be aware of small-part warnings when choosing toys for younger children.

Brand: International Playthings

We got these right about when AppleBlossom turned three months, and she was curious about them, but it was not until she was almost four months that she really just started to love them. They were around and she would play with it if you shook it or held it to her, but now she'll grab them on her own and squeal about them too. *grin*

Product Review: Lamaze Spin and Explore Mat

The Spin & Explore Mat puts a unique spin on tummy time play, an important developmental phase for all newborns. Babies gently and comfortably spin round on their tummies, stretching and building upper bodies while exploring lots of squeaky, crinkly, tactile fun. DIMENSIONS: 14" X 17.25" X 6"

Another gift that we received when AppleBlossom was born from some coworkers of my husband was the Lamaze Spin and Explore Mat. You gotta love this ladybug! The leaves near the earthworm and the wings of the butterfly crinkle and they are definitely the favorite parts for AppleBlossom, yet more and more she is finding another interesting piece. She cannot squeeze it, but she loves to hear me squeeze the birdie who will then chirp for her. Also she loves to hear the bumblebee buzz his rattle. Then it almost goes without saying how she is enjoying the mirror. At first she would just be still and look, now she grasps the mat and kicks with her legs and pulls herself round. It is so fun to watch her learn and grow!

Place your infant on his/her stomach on the Spin & Explore Mat for tummy time. At first take off the spin seat. This will strengthen neck muscles and improve head control, which makes this a great baby toy.

Get down on the floor with your child. Your baby will love to see you at his level encouraging them to pull and tug at the different colors and animals. This will develop fine motor skills, as well as visual abilities.

When your child starts to hold their head up better put the spin seat on the mat and they will have fun spinning and exploring all the crinkles and textures on the mat.

Play peek-a-boo with your child by showing him/her how to hide the toys in the pockets or how to lift up the butterflies wings.

At about 5 or 6 months when your baby can sit up remove the spinner and it’s a great play mat they can still explore and play with.

I absolutely love the intelligent design of this toy with making the birdie squeak/chirp and the bumblebee rattle/buzz as they do in real life. I find that highly educational and praise the design. It is far less confusing that such toys that have purple zebras and such.

Age: Newborns+ (Target Age: 3 months)

Target Age

Children grow and learn at different speeds. This item can be enjoyed by younger and older children depending on their interests and abilities.

The Target Age is the time most children START enjoying this toy, game or book as determined by our Child-Experts.

Please be aware of small-part warnings when choosing toys for younger children.

Brand: Lamaze

You can buy your own at ebeanstalk.com. It's another Expert recommended toy!

Little People aka PlayMobil

Something that I remember vividly from my childhood was playing with a group of toys we called Little People. They were literally little people that had fixed clothing and sometimes removable hats, and they did everything that real people do. Well now, since I have started looking at toys again, I have discovered that they are available for purchase in learning stores and more recently also on Amazon.

They are German toys, that were discovered my by parents and older siblings when they lived in Germany at preschool age, and boy did my childhood benefit from that! They are the best thing to practice your imagination skills with. Now even more so because there are so many more scenes and setting available.

Check out the official US Playmobil website, and see what all is available, and then check out the prices on Amazon, definitely worth a gander. (They are also available at various stores like the Learning Center).



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_t?url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games&field-keywords=playmobil&x=0&y=0&tag=creatmadne-20

Oh, and what excites me is that when we were in the store the other day, there were some Playmobil toys for ages 1 1/2+. I do not have to wait until age 3 or older for my kid! Woohoo!!