Recommend: Baby Einstein Stationary Entertainer

Price: $79.99

I/Jude LOVE this product! This is one of the few things I can currently put Jude in and he'll occupy himself for awhile! there are lots of fun things for him to play with chew on and learn with. There are lots of textures, colors, etc that just continue to catch his eye and inspire the senses!



Pros:
- gender neutral
- reasonably priced in comparison to other similar items.
- reputable brand
- 3 height adjustment and locks to keep the saucer from wobbling
- chair spins fairly easy
- 360 degrees of fun!
- Taller toys bend back and forth so he can bring them to his mouth and chew on them, other toys stay put and spin to encourage motor skills.
- Not like a traditional walker - it stays put for safety (we have a walker as well which we haven't really used much of yet).


Cons:
- the white 'tray' portion that goes around the outside of the seat (and that the toys are attached to) is very narrow. when Jude spits up while he's in this, it's hard to really get in the space to clean it out well.
- I might sound really lazy, but it requires batteries and we have yet to put them in there. The screw is super tiny and we don't have a screw driver that will fit in the hole. As a result there is a color wheel with buttons he can push that doesn't work.



Would I Recommend: Yes! We love this. Ryan uses it regularly, I use it and Jude loves it! The fact that Ryan and I both use it really says something as we typically disagree on which items we prefer. It's fun to see how every time he goes in it he seems to figure out how to use something else.

Do Not Recommend: Fisher Price Corner Tub Caddy

I was unable to find a link, picture, and price for this item on babiesrus.com (the store it was purchased from), but I was able to find it on amazon.com

List Price: $14.99

Pros:
-reputable brand name
-cute to look at. fun.
-good size for those smaller bath toys
-gender neutral

Cons:
-small, in my opinion (but maybe we have too many toys in the tub?)
-suction doesn't hold at all

The bottom line for me is that this item doesn't stick to the wall. It doesn't stick when there are toys inside and it doesn't stick when it's empty. I attempted to use it on several different occasions and never did it stick for longer than a minute. I personally am very disappointed in this item and would not recommend it.

Recommend: Jumperoo

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
Price: $99.99

Another item I just love.

Pros:
-It's full of things for the baby to look at and play with.
-bright colors
-There are a couple catchy tunes you can play at different volumes.
-Adjustable straps for height (3 positions)
-pretty easy to remove the seat for washing
-toys at varying heights
-seat spins 360 degrees
-toys on all sides
-some lights to catch your baby's attention
-helps promote leg use and muscle development


Cons:
-just too large to fit through doors
-awkward to collapse
-not very travel-friendly
-the dragonfly toy does not stand up like its shown in the pictures. it just flops to the side

Recommend: Absolutely!!!!

Recommend: Fisher-Price Rainforest Booster Seat

Fisher-Price Rainforest Booster Seat

Price: $30.99

When registering I really didn't know if a booster seat was something I would really need, but i figured 'what the heck' and threw it on there. I chose this booster seat in particular because it has a removable toy tray insert that has tons of cool looking toys. My dear friend Michelle purchased it for me and I was reminded just how cute it was. Unfortunately, it sat in it's box for several months before we were able to actually use it. We've been using it now for several months and we just love it. Trent is very entertained by the toys when he's not eating and the tray is great for his puffs. We've taken it to restaurants with us several times and it's been wonderful. You can fold it up a little so that it's easier to take from place to place, and you can use the seat straps as carrying straps.

Pros:

-great toys

-reputable brand

-easy to transport

-adjustable safety buckle

-height adjustable

-tray is dishwasher safe

-straps to secure to chair

-apparently you can remove the back and tray all together once your child is older and use the seat as a big boy booster seat

Cons:

-a little bulky for taking places if you are bringing the toy insert along

-you may not use your high-chair much (this is a joke con, but a serious one. at almost 9 months old we never use our high chair...only this booster seat)

Do Not Recommend: Baby Einstein Take Along Caterpillar

Price: $16.99

When I first saw this item I fell in love with it! It looked so cute and interactive that I just had to have it! Unfortunately after a little time, my opinion changed.

Pros:

- Adorable design

- multiple interactive options - educational

- brand name product with a good reputation

Cons:

- there are two pieces that hang down for the baby to grab on to. Whenever you push the handle back to get the baby out of the car seat, the dangling parts smack him in the head

- music box feature no longer works properly. We have only used this a handful of times and it's already not working after 3 months

- velcro straps that hold it to the handle are not adjustable 

- most of the interactive features are too high for the baby to reach (could change as he gets older)

- Sometimes when carrying my infant seat I try to grab it by putting my arm through the handle and holding it close to my body (as opposed to just holding it with my hand away from my body). This item gets in the way. 

- even though Jude looks at and 'plays' with other toys, this hasn't really caught his eye (could change with age).

Would I Recommend: No. While it's fairly priced, I just don't think it's worth it. I've seen plenty of other car seat toys that seem to be just as adorable in the same price range that could be much more practical. 

Recommend: Lamaze Plush Toys

Price: average range is between $10 and $20
When I was pregnant and registering I remember quickly browsing the toy section but not really giving toys too much thought – there were plenty of other things we needed more. After having Jude, we received a gift package from a friend with a collection of plush toys that I remember thinking were adorable and then got tossed in the toy box until he was able to use them. Recently Jude started to take blankets, his hand, anything and put it in his mouth. I thought it was the perfect time to introduce toys and went back to the toy box to pull out age appropriate items. This included a number of Lamaze Plush Toys. They were just as adorable when I pulled them out as I remembered them being when I first received them.

Pros:
- Available in a variety of shapes and sizes
- Bright colors and usually multiple features to stimulate a variety of your child’s senses (educational). For example: mirrors, multiple fabrics in different colors and textures, noise makers, etc.
- As with most children’s toys, they are typically labeled with the age group they are most appropriate for to make your selection easier.
- Smaller toys come with hooks to attach to strollers, car seats, diaper bags, etc to make it easier to tote around.
- Don’t require batteries (maybe a con for the items that do have some electronic parts?) – most of the noise features are not electronic (crinkles, rattles, squeakers etc)
- Seem to be well make – won’t fall apart easily

Cons:
- Because of all the noise parts and other attachments on them, they’re difficult to clean (when your baby puts them in their mouth it’d be nice to be able to clean first).
- Some of the smaller toys seem a little on the expensive side. I’ve seen the small toys for 14.99 and ones double their size for just over 20 dollars (when I’ve purchased them for myself, I always got the bigger toys for this reason). Considering the size difference it seems you get more bang-for-your-buck with the bigger options.

Would I Recommend: Yes! Jude seems to love them. Last night I put him on his tummy with a variety of the toys laying around him and he was very interested in what was happening.

Barbie agrees 100% with everything Alicia says. Trent absolutely loves his lamaza toys!

Skip Hop Outer Space Play Mat vs. Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Environment Play Gym

Skip Hop Outer Space Play Mat:
Price: $79.99

Pros:

- cute space theme

- mat easily detaches from hanging play-gym portion to be washed.

- each hanging toy does something different (one is a music box that plays twinkle twinkle, one's a rattle, one crinkles, etc)

- easily folds up to be stored or taken on trips

- hanging toys can be moved around and lowered closer to the mat when baby is sitting up. 

- Skip Hop makes a series of other space themed toys that "go" with the mat. 

- no batteries needed.

Cons:

- pretty expensive for such a simple item. There are no super "bells and whistles" that make it really worth 80 dollars. 

- tummy time pillow was never used.

- While I find the colors to be appealing, they're not your standard bring colors and black and whites that generally attract young infant's attention. 

Recommend: If it were on sale or you had a coupon I would without a doubt recommend this item. I personally love it and Jude can lay on his mat for an extended period of time entertaining himself. When I'm laying along side of him, he can enjoy it even longer as I make noises with all the hanging toys. There are many other play mat options though for much less, so do some shopping around before you pay full price. 

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Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Environment Play Gym

Price: $69.99

Pros:

-holds up well in the washer

-comes with an abundance of toys

-very interactive

-bright colors

-educational

-all toys can be moved around on mat, and can also be connected elsewhere for baby's entertainment

-comes with a mirrored toy that my son (and most babies?!) loved

-comes with a wonderful music box with lights and fun features

-music box can be detached and used elsewhere

Cons:

-music box is quite heavy

-we've had to change the batteries two or three times already (son is 8 months)

-the whale toy that is supposed to be use to help baby with tummy time and sitting up slides out from under baby. It's basically a waste

-batteries not included (3 AA)

-expensive

Recommend: I'd definitely recommend this item to someone who has a coupon! This play gym is among the most expensive play gyms on the market right now, but I think it's great. It's the only one I've ever used so I can't tell ya if the cheaper gyms are just as good.