Since our sweet 4-month-old boy is our last baby, we’re trying to soak in and savor every new milestone, skill, and smile he throws our way. I think I could never tire of watching him learn his current skill of grabbing items of interest and inspecting them. I love seeing his chubby little fingers grasping new objects and turning them over and around, with smiles and looks of awe. Throughout this stage of discovery, toys that pique his interest and encourage exploration are important to keep around. The Manhattan Toy Company is one company that I know I can rely on to keep him engaged and learning through play in this and every stage of development.
We already have quite a few of Manhattan Toy’s baby toys in our home (our boys have all loved the Classic Baby Beads!), so we were excited to learn about the Fall 2016 Collection. Chock full of furry forest friends, noise-making rattles, and innovative teethers, the collection is sure to keep baby’s job of play as enriching as possible. From the collection, we tried out 3 new toys- Click Clack Ball, Winkel (Red, White, and Blue), and Jellybean Animals.
The Click Clack Ball is just as its name suggests. It’s a hard, sturdy ball with brightly colored textured loops that click when rotated, plus beads inside the ball that rattle when shaken. It’s been the perfect toy for floor and tummy time, keeping his interest and encouraging movement and reaching. I love that it’s easy to clean and while it’s noise-making, it’s not too loud and requires no batteries!
Another of Julian’s tummy time favorites (and probably his favorite toy in general right now!) is the Winkel in Red, White, and Blue. According to Manhattan Toy, “Winkel™ is our #1 selling teether rattle toy! Colorful loops made from soft, pliable plastic are easy to grasp and hold, plus caregivers can refrigerate it for a soothing teether. The Winkel teether rattle is a must have gift for teething newborns. Made of pu tubing (polyurethane) this ultimate teething toy does not contain BPA or PVC and meets the CPSC and European requirements for phthalates.” It has been awarded the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award and the Special Needs Adaptable Product Award, and most recently, it received the Dr. Toy 2016 Classic Award.
I’m not sure if it’s because the Winkel is so easy for him to hold or that he absolutely loves gumming the tubing, but we don’t leave home without it! He especially loves when we put it in the refrigerator to help sooth his sore gums. We highly recommend the Winkel for every teething babe learning to grasp objects, and they have a variety of colors and variations available.
One thing our sweet boy just doesn’t love, though, is his carseat. I’ll be the first to admit that we’re probably a big factor in that, since he’s held just about every chance he gets (also, I’m ok with that!). When we saw that Manhattan Toy had the Jellybean Animals as part of their Fall 2016 Collection, I thought we’d give them a try. The first thing we noticed was how buttery soft these little plush animals are! Since they were soft and lightweight, I felt ok putting them on the carseat, but they’ve also been great to attach to the crib, his bouncy seat, and the Lillebaby. Plus, each of them has a chime and teething ring that pulls down and jiggles back up. We loved watching him work hard to grab the ring and then seeing his face absolutely LIGHT UP when the animal jiggled its way back up! The collection includes Stompy the Elephant, Jiggly the Pig, and Growly the Bear, as well as a trio of dinosaurs.
I’m sure it’s clear by now that we love Manhattan Toy for their products, but we also love their dedication to the art of creative play, quality craftsmanship, and the success of the national and specialty retailer. With safety in mind, they ensure that each product complies with all U.S. and European toy and safety standards. Plus, their toys are easy on the family budget, with many of their top toys in the $10-$20 range.
Manhattan Toy would love to give away one of their Fall 2016 Collection toys to one of our readers, so be sure to enter below for your chance to win one of your own (also, be sure to check here to find Manhattan Toy products local to you)!
