Comments on: Baby and Toddler Holiday Gift Guide

By: Diana (Ladybug Limited)

Diana (Ladybug Limited) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:25:34 +0000

If anyone wants any of the Selecta stuff, they’d better act quick! Because of the CPSIA mentioned above by My Boaz’s Ruth, Selecta is pulling out of the US market as of December 31st…

This legislation affects way more than toys– my Etsy shop and virtually every other selling children’s products will disappear because of the costs associated with the new lead testing standards, which ironically, do nothing to address all the made in China toys…

For a comprehesive look at the CPSIA, see this page over The Smart Mama:
http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=23

By: My Boaz's Ruth

My Boaz's Ruth — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:58:28 +0000

Please take a look at the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act — if something isn’t done, as the law now stands, a lot of the richness and variety in products for the 12 and under age group will go away after 2/10/09 because of a desire to “do something” about recent lead recalls, etc.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:44:58 +0000

LOVE the balance bike! Last Christmas we bought our then 3-year-old a run bike. We let him ride it in the house and get comfortable and he graduated to a 2-wheel bike months before he turned 4. I cannot rave enough. He still absolutely loves the thing (even though it is officially his 2-year-old brother’s… I kick myself every day for not buying two! Absolutely worth it!) My oldest is very cautious and controlling … and he would be the 7-year-old afraid to take the training wheels off… but he is so confident and great on the balance bike. We take it on the trails and he rides/walks across logs and everything. We went with the Strider for the reasonable price and metal frame… and have no complaints. The seat post did break but the customer service is amazing! I give these as presents to nieces, nephews & close friends…. HIGHLY recommend the balance bikes.

By: MIdge

MIdge — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:10:48 +0000

Thanks for this post! We love the Sassy Earth Brights too, my 7 month old usually prefers it to other “chew” toys.

Why buy a bike with no pedals? Can’t you just take the pedals off a regular bike and put them back on when the kid is ready?

I do see some of these other toys in our future.

Thanks again.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:00:11 +0000

We splurged and got the kidlet a Carrousel push toy when he was 1. Two years later, he still plays with it. Sometimes it’s a vacuum, other times it’s a street cleaner or a lawn mower or some other gadget. And my dad says the speed of a steam engine is controlled by a spinning widget that works something like this, so it was an educational toy for me.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:50:10 +0000

I found a wonderful website that carries several of the items you listed. Its called Landbridge Toys

http://www.landbridgetoys.com

They have the best customer service. Its also Mom owned and operated!

Thanks
Mel

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:31:33 +0000

Skuut doesn’t have shock absorbers, other than by virtue of having inflated tires. If price is the deciding factor, any balance bike will suffice. But a kid will ride longer (especially at the park or anywhere not perfectly flat) if there’s some give in the seat.

By: jen

jen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:24:09 +0000

We really like the Sassy Earth Brights around here. Compared to other brands of wooden toys, they’re super cheap and are colorful and varied enough to interest our kid.

Why not go for the cheaper Skuut balance bike?

By: Ticia

Ticia — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:21:50 +0000

My only comment is the walker wagon will be used to push siblings in it, in addition to stuffed animals, so will the doll stroller. My kids all try to push each other around in the stroller running at full speed….. Yeah, I’m amazed that plastic stands up to it.