More Great Toys for 1 + Year Olds!

Yup, another post about toys!!! You know you have a problem when you tell your husband you will happily go out and grab something for the both of you for lunch and stop at three toy stores along the way. I just can't help myself, im addicted (my poor husband).

Below are a bunch more great finds:

Bruin Stackable Cups: by far Frankie's favorite toy (of the month really). Who knew there were so many things you could do with stacking cups! Obviously, he loves when I stack them and he knocks them down, but even better, he finds it funny when we both put a cup over our mouths and yell into it and he recently realized that if you put a small plastic ball into one the cups and shake it, it makes a really loud noise that for some reason is hilarious to him! Where to buy: Toys R Us - $10

Summer Bath Bubble Machine: A true gem! We all know that all kids love bubbles and some brilliant person came up with idea of making a bubble machine for the bath - as if bath time wasnt fun enough ;) Small note, buy an extra bottle of bubbles, the one they provide is small and you go through it quick! Where to Buy: Lil' Niblets or Toys R Us $15

(again not my child)

Jump Start Trampoline: I bought this for my nephew to keep at my parents house probably about 5 or 6 years ago and well its still standing (shocking considering I assembled it) and now everytime we go to visit my parents, he just loves to play on the trampoline. It is for ages 3 and up, but he holds onto the bars when he is jumping and I stand right behind him making sure he doesnt let go. Do yourselves all a favor and have Masterminds assemble it for you! Where to Buy: Masterminds $70

Alex Rub a Dub Stickers for the Tub: I just got these for Frankie the other day and he loves them. Each letter is made of a light foam and once they are wet, they stick to the tub wall. Where to Buy: Indigo $14.99

Kidz Delight Tech Trio: I have been on the ultimate search to find a tv converter that looks similar to the one's we use and finally I found it. It still makes noises when you hit the buttons, but at least it doesnt have a head and eyes on it! The Smartphone and iPod are great, you click on the icons as if you were on the real deal and they make noises and light up. Where to Buy: http://www.overstock.com/ $35

Bruin Electric Keyboard with Mic: Now this is a fun toy!!! Frankie will put his mouth right up to the mic and sing. Has a great keyboard and a lot of pre-programmed songs. Where to Buy: Toys R Us $30

Little Tikes Discover Sounds Sports Center: My sister-in-law gave this to me a little while back (I thought he would love it, but sadly he was too young for it) and he recently figured it out, well part of it.  He has learned that when you put the basketball through the hoop, you will hear cheers and music starts to play. That's when he starts to clap and then starts dancing to the music (no joke). He has yet to figure out the baseball part ... in due time. Where to Buy: Toys R Us $40

Playskool Cookie Monster: I love to buy this as gifts because it is such a fun toy for 1 year olds. I brought this toy out when a bunch of kids were at my house and they all surrounded it. Besides the fact that he is so super cute, he talks to you and counts when you feed him cookies (sadly he only counts up to three so not the best for older kids). When you feed him, the cookies end up in his knapsack so you dont lose them. Where to Buy: Toys R Us $35

B. Parum Pum Pum: Words can not express the love I have for this toy. This toy has provided hours of fun for Frankie because he just loves musical instruments and this one comes with a whole bunch of them. He has learned how to take off and put on the lid (which he does at least 16 times a day), he loves to walk around with the lid and the drum stick and make noise and he likes to share the shakers with me. Now if he could only learn how to put all the items back into the drum ;) Where to Buy: Oink Oink $50

GoGo Caterpillar: I found this toy at The Baby Time Show and brought it home for Frankie to try. You push the caterpillar's back down and then he just takes off - no batteries to replace!! I was actually quite shocked at the power this guy has once he gets going! Now that Frankie is walking, he likes to chase it. Where to Buy: http://www.discoverytoys.com/web/guest/home $25

Just in time for Hanukkah and Christmas

T.

xo

My Top 13 Favorite Books for Babies and Toddlers

When Frankie was born, my siblings bought him a ton of books to fill our very empty bookshelf in his room. I read in multiple mom books and magazines that you should introduce your child to books at an early age, so when Frankie was only a few months old I tried reading to him, but wouldnt even last past a few pages before he started to squirm or cry. I gave up for a little while and then after a few months went by and he was able to sit on his own, I put a bunch of books infront of him and he started flipping over the pages. Now he hands me the books to read to him. Here is a list of some of our favorite books:

Peek-a-who? by Nina Laden: This is by far Frankie's favorite book. Obviously I know this one by heart, but he just loves when I bring out this book. This was a hand-me-down from my sister and I hope she never asks for it back. It has a mirror at the end and when he flips the page, he kisses the mirror

You are my cupcake by Joyce Wan: We were given this book as a gift from a very special friend and I was instantly drawn in by the animation. The book is beyond cute and has all our favorite names we call our kids

Noisy Peekaboo Books by DK: A new find and an AMAZING one at that. I think I have bought all the editions. These make an amazing gift. Each book is about baby not being able to find something and you have to open each flap to find where the missing object is and under one flap when lifted makes the noise of the object. Frankie loves going through all the flaps and then finding the one that makes the noise

Clap Your Hands: Elmo in 3D, what more do I need to say :) A puppet book where you clap Elmo's hands with every page. I haven't given this to Frankie yet, I am saving it for the plane but I can only imagine his reaction. I bought this book for my neice a few years back and she loved it.

Touch and Feel Farm and Touch and Feel Zoo by Dwell Studios: Who knew that Dwell Studios makes books and great books at that. There are a few more, but these two are touch and feel but with different textures than the usual touch and feel books

123 Sesame Street 12 Pack: A cute collection that comes in a great case with 12 little mini board books with all different Sesame Street characters

My Belly Button by Melanie O'Brien: This was a fun find at the Baby Time Show. Every time you flip the page, the babies belly button appears on each page and you push the belly button and she giggles and giggles and giggles which makes Frankie giggle - too cute

Rocker Babies Wear Jeans by Michelle Sinclair Colman: A fun rocker book! This book totally suits me because Frankie is always in Rocker clothes. We got this one as a gift and it is just the cutest book. It incorporates Rocker with Baby

Up, Down, Round and Round! by Justine Smith: So much to do inside this book, pull things, move things and best of all there are big pop out pictures

Baby Boo! - This is great for babies and for toddlers - another amazing hand-me-down from my sister. Great baby expressions and you can really have fun with this book through being animated with your baby. At the end there is a little mirror which again, Frankie loves to kiss

Little Puppy - Finger Puppet Book: I love the finger puppet books, the reaction I get is hilarious. It's as if he cant figure out how the puppy is moving. The puppet goes through to every page and is fun for the kids

Barnyard Bath by Sandra Boyton: A great bath book. If these bath time books are not in the tub when he gets in, he cries. This one comes with a wash cloth and teaches children about bath time

Bath Time by Sandra Boyton: Another fav that I know off by heart "hey hey what do you say, its time to take a bath today ..." Frankie always hands me this book to read to him in the bath (2 or 3 times hence why I know the book off by heart). At the end the you squeeze the piggy's nose and it makes a funny noise and Frankie kisses him.

If anyone has any book recommendations, feel free to post them on my Babylish Advice Facebook page or comment below. I hope your kids love the suggestions.

T.
xo

Great Toddler and Baby Apps

By popular request, here are some of Frankie's favorite apps (in no particular order):

1. Old MacDonald HD by Duck Duck Moose:  Such a fun app! While the Old MacDonald song plays, your child touches (or if your child is like Frankie, he will just hit) the animal they are signing about and it does something fun or funny

2. Wheels on the Bus HD by Duck Duck Moose: The same app as Old MacDonald but with the song Wheels on the Bus

3. SoundTchLite (free): By far one of Frankie's favorite apps, so good i uploaded it to my iphone as well. There are a whole bunch of animated animals, instruments, trucks etc on the front page and when you touch one of them, real pictures come up and make a noise. If you keep touching the same picture, a new picture will come up.
4. Elmo loves ABCs: I love this app!! It is really for slightly older kids however Elmo talks to you and Frankie lights up when he Elmo comes on. When you push the arrow button on the bottom of the screen, it plays different scenes from Sesame Street

5. AlphaBaby Free: if your child is anything like mine and loves to hit the ipad than this is a great app for them. Every time you touch the screen a letter or number pops up and a voice says it outloud

6. Baby Einstein: Great for the airplane - its really for iphones but i put it on my ipad and just hit the 2x button to make it full screen. Fun games and Baby Einstein videos to watch

7. Elmos Monster Maker: I think this is such a fun app! Fun furry faceless monsters that talk to you and you put funny faces and accessories on them. Once you are done you can play with them

8. KidsSongs: Such a fun app with your childs favorite songs. I tried the free one but there was only one song, well worth it to buy the full version. You can touch all different parts of the scene and it will move along with the music

9. BabyFirst TV: This app has a bunch of different animated "shows" dedicated to little kids. Keeps them entertained for a little while.

10. Talking Baby Hippo (free): If you say something to the Hippo he will repeat what you say in a funny voice. Try hitting the hippo (not sure that is a great lesson but i think they are too young to learn that) and he does funny things!

11. Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Animal Sounds for Baby (free): a great app to learn about animals and has fun songs while you touch the different animals

12. Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Where's Puppy's Nose (free): you touch differnent parts of the puppy and a voice tells you what part you just touched - great for learning new words. Also there are some fun songs!

13. Treehouse: you have to subscribe monthly to get the programs, but great for the airplane when they want to watch some of their favorite shows - sadly there is no Wiggles :(

If anyone has any recommendations about apps, please feel free to post them on my Facebook Babylish Advice page or comment underneath. I hope you all like my suggestions - Frankie surely does

T.
xo