Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Oribel Portaplay Convertible Activity Center (It Grows With Your Child!)

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My sister Laura from Southern Made Simple has a FANTASTIC activity center to show you today. Anyone out there who is expecting or who has an infant should definitely check this out. I know my girls would have loved this when they were babies and would still be using it now! You’ll have to read the review for yourself to understand how in the world older kids could still get use out of it. 😉 

Edit: Don’t miss the AWESOME product update at the end of the post! 

Before I had my daughter, I was warned by other parents that my baby would grow faster than the blink of an eye. They would tell me to savor every newborn moment because those moments wouldn’t last for long, and that babies most certainly don’t keep. I don’t want to say that I ignored people when they said things like that, but I typically chose not to really listen. Frankly, it just sounded depressing to me, and a hormonal depressed pregnant lady probably isn’t a good thing!

And then I had my beautiful baby girl. And she was a newborn for what seemed to be all of two days. And now? She’s 6 months old, crawling all over the place, is VERY vocal (especially when we are feeding her solids..she’s not a fan), and she’s into everything. Why didn’t anyone tell me that they grow SO fast? Seriously. Somebody could’ve at least warned me! 😉

All that is to say that babies really do grow and develop so quickly, especially during their first year. Each time I have had to pack and put away her clothing she’s outgrown, I’m amazed at all of the things she didn’t even have time to wear. I’ve even gone through and found a few of her toys that she seems to have outgrown because she has become too advanced for them. Most of them she hardly even got to look at!

Luckily, the folks at Oribel had the fact that babies grow very quickly in mind when they created the Portaplay convertible activity center. This play table has been a huge hit with my daughter and me since we took it out of the package! It can be used as a fabulous little activity center for babies 5 to 12 months, and then easily transforms to a multi-purpose play table that can be used for children up to 5 years old. I really appreciate that this is something that will grow with my child. I won’t have to put it away with her baby toys (and ugly cry while doing it) because she’ll definitely be playing with this as she gets older and changes developmentally. Hooray for functionality!

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The Portaplay came very neatly packaged and was insanely easy to put together. That’s really saying something in my opinion, because I typically skip out on putting things like this together and make my husband do it because I just know I’ll get frustrated with it. Fortunately that wasn’t the case at all! Once you get the table itself out and the leg height adjusted properly, you simply click the 5 learning toys and the swivel seat into place.

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They’re really easy to snap in, and they stay put nicely so that a baby or toddler could not pop them off on their own. When you get ready to transition the activity center into a toddler play table, you can snap out the seat and play toys and put the flat plugs and wooden center piece into place with ease. It took me roughly 3 minutes to transform the play center into a table, and I had no hiccups or issues along the way! The only thing that I feel it is missing is a locking system for the wooden center piece for the table. It just sits in place, and I feel that it would be pretty easy for a curious 3 or 4 year old to take out and play with.

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We currently have the activity table positioned at the lowest leg level for my daughter. Her feet don’t quite reach the bottom yet, so we stuck a little board underneath so she could stand properly. My daughter is absolutely on the petite side compared to other 6 month old children, so I feel that most other babies probably wouldn’t have much trouble reaching the floor.

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From the moment that I sat her into the swivel seat of the activity center, she lit up like a light with excitement. She went straight to work playing and gnawing on the learning toys. She also thought it was so much fun to spin around from toy to toy with ease. Since she’s teething, she really liked one of the toys in particular:

Portaplay1

Each of the learning toys encourages play in a different way and helps stimulate all five senses. The toys help develop hand-eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, and self awareness. They’re also easily washable, too! Just rinse with a little soapy water and pat dry. This is great since I have a little drool monster on my hands!

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My daughter has really been enjoying playing and exploring with the new Oribel Portaplay activity center. Before long, we’ll be transitioning it into a toddler play table. I don’t want to think about that just yet, but I am so glad that Oribel had growing babies in mind and created a play station that will grow with them.

Have I mentioned how great the Portaplay is yet? It’s pretty great, you guys. In fact, it’s SO great, it won 7 awards in 2015 alone, including the 2015 Kids Product of the Year from Creative Child Magazine. So cool! You can purchase the Portaplay activity center for just $149 from their website or from select retailers. They also have a few other really great products and will be releasing a super fabulous high chair in the very near future! I look forward to seeing the innovative children’s products that Oribel comes out with soon!

Update:

Big news from Oribel! I just got word that two brand new accessories are being released soon that will enhance play time with the already fabulous Portaplay system! Children will now be able to take a break from standing with the new Portaplay Child Stools, which are going to pair nicely with the new Portaplay Art Paper Roll Dispenser. Talk about a match made in heaven!

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My daughter continues to play with the Portaplay every single day. I was so pumped to hear about these new attachments, because just a few days ago I caught myself wishing she could sit down while she plays at the table. She is new to walking, so her little legs get tired easily. I should have known that the brilliant minds at Oribel were already on the ball with that! The paper dispenser is also going to be perfect for those little budding artists who love to use their imagination and get creative. It even locks into place so it can’t roll off the table. Again, the folks at Oribel are really on top of their stuff!

Oribel is offering a special discount code for those that may be interested in pre-ordering these amazing new attachments. Be sure to check out the details below and check back soon to see a full review these sweet new products!

Promo code: Oribel15 – gets you 15% off your entire order. Sweet!

Details:

  • Only available on US site
  • Only available for PortaPlay and accessories
  • Not available with other promotion
  • Expires on May 10, 2016

Special Lovey Contender: Goblin Kids Bunny Review and Gift Certificate GIVEAWAY!!!

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Did you grow up with a most special lovey? Perhaps it was a blanket that you carried around with you everywhere? Or maybe it was a favorite stuffed toy? For my husband it was a stuffed Wicket plush (yes, from Star Wars). Even at 32 years old, you can still see a little pain in his eyes when he recalls losing it at the airport one year while traveling.

For me, it was my doll Lisa. She was the last Christmas gift from my maternal grandmother to me before she died. I was only 3. Lisa was my constant companion for many years. She was lost in a flood in the ’90s. No, she wasn’t literally swept away, but the damage done to her was irreparable, so she had to go. I wish I had thought to take photos of her before letting go.

While I don’t need the comfort that Lisa provided me as a child any longer, now that I see how special Darah’s lovey is to her, I can recall its deep importance, and I want to make sure I do everything I can to keep him safe and sound, even if there is a lengthy season of her life where he will simply sit on a shelf, or even in a box.

And I am honestly gripped with excitement as I wait for Layah’s lovey to be discovered. For Darah, the attachment came rather early, around 9 months of age. Will it happen that soon for Layah? I don’t know! But every time I introduce her to a new friend, I really enjoy seeing how she responds to it. You never know which one will steal her heart.

Darah suggested that we get Layah her own special big bunny since a bunny is Darah’s lovey of choice. She suggested a look-a-like, but I could see that causing more problems than not, so I thought having something a little different would be ideal. But one thing was certain: it needed to have long, soft ears. Those are best for rubbing gently over baby’s eyes as they drift to sleep!

Meet pink bunny.

She’s from one of my favorite online toy shops called Goblin Kids. This store sells the kinds of toys you dream about getting for your little one. Unique, high quality, and classic. They are built to last and are constructed very carefully. These are the toys that you will hold on to long after the days of playing are over. They are meant for several generations of play, not just for several months.

Pink Bunny, who actually comes with a much more creative name, Cordy Roy, is from the London-based company Jellycat. She is 15 inches high, which is a really nice size! She is super snuggly soft and I have no worries about Layah chewing on her, as the standards used by Jellycat meet and exceed both American and European safety standards.

Would you believe that Layah was already in the midst of THE FLU when this picture was taken? That should give you an idea of how she lights up when she sees pink bunny. While it is too early to make the call, I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes her most special lovey.

Goblin Kids may have helped us find a real treasure, indeed. And I know they can help you do the same, whether you are hunting for a lovey for just for a special toy. They are a particularly great resource for Haba toys, wooden toys and educational toys. Definitely give them a look!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Goblin Kids! What a great credit to have on hand for an upcoming baby shower or kid’s birthday party!

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Lamaze Infant Development Toys Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Lamaze toys hold a very special place in my heart. We actually used a purple hippo Lamaze toy to help us announce our pregnancy with Darah.

We put the hippo, which we had picked up a a garage sale (it still looked in impeccable condition) and placed it out with our stockings on Christmas morning at my parents’ house. Our stockings are usually overflowing, so it isn’t usual for presents to be displayed all around them. I put the hippo in between my mom and dad’s stocking and put the ultrasound picture we had underneath it.

They actually didn’t figure out what was going on due to the baby toy, alone. My dad actually thought it was a toy for his dog! Ha! But the picture underneath helped them figure it out really quickly. That hippo is part of such a special memory.

It also became a toy for Darah, and is now a toy for Layah. And it is STILL in excellent shape. Lamaze toys, in my experience, really hold up well so they can be used by several different babies before they are ready to be retired.

Lamaze is a company that has partnered with child development experts to create toys that truly engage babies at developmentally appropriate levels. All of their packaging has color-coded age grades to make it easy for you to select the right products for your child’s changing needs.

Today I want to introduce a few of their products that were actually all featured on this What to Expect When You’re Expecting movie poster!

First up, meet Stretch the Giraffe. This fantastic toy has a lot of features that will engage your babies for months! The bright, colorful fabrics tend to attract attention, as do the ribbons, the clacking rings and the squeaks and crinkle sounds that are made when playing with the giraffe. Darah had a previous incarnation of this toy and she loved it. I know Layah will love her giraffe, too! Stretch retails for $14.99.

Next up, meet Hula Girl Travel Toy. She is meant to ride along on a stroller or carrier, and she moves right along with them! I love all the textures on this toy; it will be a big hit when Layah starts to grab things! It retails for $16.99.

Finally we have Octivity Time. This cute octopus is intended for babies 6 months and up, and has a mirror, a spinning starfish, clinky rings and other great features and textures for baby play. It retails for $19.99.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the 3 toys I reviewed in this post! Woo hoo!

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Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Eco-Friendly Toys in the Tub! Sprig Toys Review

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Today I want to introduce you to a fabulous toy company based right here in the USA! It’s called Sprig Toys and they make eco-friendly and fun toys that are built to last and that inspire creative play. I really love the story of how this company got started. It is the brain child of 3 toy designers who had been having fantastic success with their toy designs. But when they toured the plants where their ideas were being turned into toys, they realized that what they had created was having very harmful effects on the environment surrounding the plant. This was such a shock to them, and they decided to change the way they were designing toys altogether! I am always impressed when someone sees a real problem with something (even if it is working in terms of profits being made) and decides to do something about it!

Sprig Toys currently offers four different groupings of toys, including the following:

Adventure Series: a world full of vehicles, characters, and animals to take your child on a fun filled expedition on both land and water!

Sprig Hollow: a cast of wacky bee and butterfly characters on adventures in the sand, garden, or pool. Includes playsets, vehicles, and outdoor tools all in one!

Eco-Trucks: include a loader and a dump truck for playing in the sand!

Storybuilders: classic tales of princesses and working hard on Old Mac’s Farm. These playsets allow children to build fast and tell their own stories. Our Storybulding classics books are great on the go, a complete building playset and classic storybook all in one!

We have been playing with the Dolphin Explorer Boat  from the Adventure Series, and it is a HUGE hit, especially at bath time! I have absolutely no worries about harming the toys by having them in the tub, because they are made from a product this company calls Sprigwood. It’s a bio-composite material made from bits of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. It is completely safe for children. It also gets pigmented during the production process, so the toys, themselves have not been painted with anything. Having your child play with these toys, get them wet, and even chew on them will give no cause for concern! I can also tell that these toys are going to hold up well to repeated exposure to water and rough play (Darah is a site in the bathtub…she plays so hard in there!). As her other toys bend and break, Sprig toys are going to hang tight with her, likely until she outgrows them!

Overall, we are extremely impressed with Sprig Toys and would highly recommend them to anyone. The set we reviewed retails for $24.99 and can be purchased here or you can find your nearest retailer here.

Want to keep up with the latest and greatest at Sprig Toys? Follow them on Facebook and Twitterand stay in the know about new products and promotions!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Green Toys Fire Truck Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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When we were expecting Darah, I had many parents warn us that our home was about to become a plastic jungle, at least for the next 10 years. Tim and I REALLY didn’t want to see that happen. We didn’t want our house to be overrun with toys at all (um, yeah, totally FAILED that one), and we also didn’t want plastic junk everywhere made with questionable chemicals and that would easily break and have to be pitched.

 

So it may seem a little strange that I’m featuring a plastic fire trucktoday as an excellent toy of choice for your little. But this isn’t just any old plastic fire truck! It’s from Green Toys, and it is made entirely out of recycled plastic! milk containers! Even the packaging it comes in is made entirely of recycled and recyclable materials. It is the world’s greenest emergency vehicle!

It’s also SO much fun! Darah is a HUGE fan of fire trucks, always on the lookout for them when she takes a ride in the car, and always listening out for their sirens. We live a few blocks away from a big fire station, so she gets to hear those sirens at least once a day, much to her delight. Her Green Toys fire truck rarely even gets put away. It seems to now live in our hallway, which is the best place for “driving.” Her smaller stuffed animals and figurines are also getting extra play time, as they will fit on top of the fire truck, much to Darah’s delight.

I have given the truck a thorough inspection, and I am very impressed with the quality. It really looks as though it was built to endure many hours of play from children who love their toys, but aren’t necessarily the best at taking care of them, yet. I expect that our fire truck will endure quite a bit of rough-housing with Darah, but will still be in fine shape for the next child, or even for Darah’s kids later on. It’s definitely a winner!

Green Toys has an excellent line of eco-friendly toys, all made from recycled materials, and also all free from lights, batteries and other annoying things that play for your child, instead of encouraging imaginative play. The price points for the toys are a bit higher than their non-recycled plastic counterparts from other brands, but these are toys that are built to last generations, instead of having planned obsolescence, so I think they are worth it! The fire truck I reviewed retails for $27.99

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Green Toys Fire Truck! The contest will run until September 4th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me one other Green Toys product that would be welcome in your home!

My answer: The school bus!

Additional entries:

1. Sponsor love: Like Green Toys on Facebook

2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my blog.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Ebeanstalk: My Thoughts On This Online Shopping Destination for Kids

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I was recently asked to check out Ebeanstalk.com and see what I thought about this resource for children’s toys that are high quality, educational and fun.

In short, I’m really impressed! Toys are categorized and featured in ways that resonate with me. Recommendations are sorted by age, which I really appreciate. I’m not as keen on the “boy” and “girl” designation for toys, but that’s another post altogether.

You can also get detailed information about exactly why a particular toy is recommended by their experts. This can help you make wise decisions about which toys might be best suited to meet the developing needs of your child. I know I’ve mistakenly bought things for Darah that were too advanced for her in the past, and Ebeanstalk helps you avoid making those mistakes (or the mistake of buying something that works on skills your child may have already mastered!).

We know several tots who will be turning 3 this year, so the list of toys for 3 year olds will be really helpful. I’ve also spent a bit of time reviewing their list of birthday gifts for 2 year olds, since Darah just turned 2. I’m really loving the learn to dress monkey. Darah LOVES practicing putting her clothes on (I found the poor child laying on the ground last week after falling over because she had both legs in one leg hole of her shorts!). This toy would be so great at helping her start to practice buttoning and unbuttoning, which she would certainly love!

Perhaps the thing I liked the very most about Ebeanstalk is their Grow and Learn series. This is an absolutely outstanding gift idea for grandparents, I think. When you purchase one of these series, the child will be sent a developmentally appropriate toy every 3 months for the entire  year. Isn’t that a smart idea?! The prices vary depending on which package you are purchasing. I appreciate that they have different options for each age and each budget. If you don’t check out anything else, definitely give this a glance; I think you’ll be really impressed!

From remote control toys to beloved children’s books, Ebeanstalk.com’s selection of quality toys for children is impressive, indeed. I would feel very confident with my purchases when shopping there!

Disclosure: I received a gift card to Ebeanstalk.com in exchange for my honest opinions, which I have provided. 

The King and Queen of the Stuffed Animal Kingdom

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I was inspired to write this post after seeing Dear Crissy write about her toddler’s most beloved stuffed animal friends. Check out her post here.

Darah has a growing interest in stuffed animals. I completely support this interest, as stuffed animals were my very favorite toys to play with as a child. She very much enjoys playing with all of them, but there are two in particular that stand out from the crowd. They are her very best buddies, and I get physically ill at the thought of losing either one of them. I just wanted to show them off to you, today, and also capture them in my blog memory.


Bunny and Llama. Thank you for your service. You are trotted all over this house, all day, every day. You are Darah’s security toys and she turns to you for comfort and love, and you are always there for her, ready to give a squishy hug.

Bunny was a gift from her Pa Pa (my father) last Easter (so happy one year anniversary with us, Bunny!). Llama was purchased new at the Memphis Zoo (he was 70% off, lest you think I overpaid 😉 and I even blogged about it!). We gave her two choices of animals that day, and she didn’t hesitate one bit before grabbing Llama by the neck. She hasn’t looked back.

Both of these animals are repeatedly bitten on the nose by Darah. Is that her way of showing them that she’s the leader of the pack? 😉 Does your child have a most beloved stuffed animal?

Have you ever (gasp) lost it??? Tim STILL remembers his favorite stuffed animal (Wicket from Star Wars). He lost it when he was a teenager. Yeah, you read that right. Embarrassed, love? 🙂

Oompa Toys and the Alphabet Matcher Review

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Oompa Toys

Christmas has come and gone. It was a crazy event for little Darah, who was basically assaulted with presents! Don’t get me wrong; we are extremely grateful for the generosity of our family and friends. But Darah is going to be re-discovering her toys all year long as we have put most of them away, and on the suggestion of my BFF, will be pulling them out one at a time on “rainy days” when we could use something new and exciting.

The toys that got put away first were the annoying ones. Anything that made noise is just not in rotation for now. I can see where some of these toys do have their place (Darah does continue to LOVE her battery-operated drums), but overall, I think all the noisy toys are just that: noise. oompa toys logo
That’s why I’m drawn to the online toy store, Oompa. Their tag line is, “NO BATTERIES. NO BLINKING LIGHTS. NO CARTOON-THEMED TOYS. PERIOD.” The founder, mompreneur Milanie Cleere, started Oompa because, “I felt there was something unnatural about surrounding my daughter with so many disposable toys. I wondered if she dreamt of copyrighted characters or if her first words would be ‘Dora’ or ‘Mickey’. I wondered if she would ever learn to use her imagination. She did, after all, play with toys that with the push of a single button did and said everything for her.”

But finding a good selection of toys that were designed to last and that weren’t covered with characters from television wasn’t exactly easy. She finally found what she was looking for in Europe, where they seem to know what they are doing when it comes to making high quality toys that inspire creative play.

While I was researching Oompa, I was especially impressed with the statement they make about how they ensure that they pick truly safe toys to sell. Their process includes extensive interviews with company representatives and annual onsite tours of manufacturing facilities where the toys they offer are made. That’s some serious quality control, and as a parent, does give me some confidence that the toys at Oompa are totally safe.

alphabet toys for kids Speaking of the toys at Oompa, let me tell you about the one we got to try out. It is the Twisterz Toys Alphabet Matcher. Basically it works like this: “A child twists the rings on the toy to choose a letter, then attempts to find the five objects on the ring that start with that letter! Alphabet It contains three extra sets of rings, covering 24 letters and 120 images!” It is recommended for children ages 3 and up, but Darah is already enjoying it now. While she can’t yet match up images and letters, she can name some of the pictures and some of the letters independently. And she really likes moving the rings around.

One thing I really like about the Twisterz Alphabet Matcher is that it is really portable (especially if you aren’t bringing along the extra rings). It can very easily fit in a diaper bag or a purse. I think it is going to be an especially helpful toy to have on long car rides, as it can occupy a child for quite some time, all without making obnoxious noises that the driver has to endure!

The other thing I like about this toy is that it engages a child in so many different ways. As your child plays with the Alphabet Matcher, s/he will work on motor skills, logic, problem solving and spelling.

My first experience with Oompa was a very positive one. Now I’ve got my eye on the Caterpillar Box as a second birthday gift idea for little D!

Buy it!: Oompa offers a tremendous variety of toys for your little one, so you should definitely check them out. The Twisterz Toys Alphabet Matcher
is available for $18.99.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will get your very own Alphabet Matcher, courtesy of Oompa! The contest will run until January 19th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me an item that Oompa Toys sells that is really catching your eye. Their selection is HUGE, so just look in the What’s New section!

My answer: This bird puzzle. Darah really loves birds right now, and it coordinates with her room! Perfect!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Follow Oompa on Twitter
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my home page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary item for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post contains affiliate links.