Another One of Mom’s Favorite Crazy Toys
We keep getting unique and slightly strange gifts from the Manhattan Toy Company but every single one is a hit in this family. One of these is a “flying saucer” toy, which although I am really not sure the purpose of, still keeps entertaining our toddler. It is either the color, texture, or shape, but this is a great toy to pull out of your purse or diaper bag when you just need to “borrow” a bit more time (and possibly quiet) from your child. Anything that stands the test of time, rough handling, and grubby hands, is a winner & favorite in this family!
Drum Baby Drum
Yesterday we spent some time at a friend’s house. We always love visiting their house because they have three kids, so everything is very “kid friendly.” 
I am always amazed at the wonderful toys they have and last night by far the favorite for both babies, children, and adults was the LeapFrog Learning Drum which they just received. It is a “counting drum” which lights up, speaks, and plays music. It is always difficult to get the family to leave after a full day of play. But last night was especially difficult, as all of us wanted to take this toy with us!
Great Books for Inquiring Little Minds
We are always on the look-out for great kids books. As I have explained elsewhere, books are one treat that we all can’t live without. As all of our friends know this, we recently received two great kid books as gifts that are fast becoming new family favorites. The first is a picture book from Priddy called First 100 Words.
This book has so far proven durable, colorful, educational and very entertaining for our toddler.
The other set of books is Baby Einstein Alphabooks 
which are 26 individual little books for each letter of the alphabet. Hopefully, both of these will stand the test of time, as we love the lessons they teach for inquiring little minds.
Best Baby Gifts
What are Mom’s Favorite Baby Gifts?
I admit it, every time I find out a friend is pregnant, I start panicking about what gift I will buy for them. But over the years, with more and more friends having kids, I dedicated myself to trying to research and track down items that my friends and their babies would use, that would last, and that would be unique. So my top Mom’s Favorite Baby Gifts are listed below. For Mom’s Favorite Guide to all the Best Baby Gear click here. For even more of Mom’s Favorite Baby items click here.
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5. Mozart Magic Cube
Our whole family loves this toy. When we received it as a baby gift, we were confused as this didn’t seem like a “baby toy.” But boy, as our little one grew this toy was one of the best baby gifts we received. |
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4. Tiny Love Gymini – Black, White & Red
We received this as a gift, and it stood the test of drool, vomit, and other fluids. Every baby that we have given this gift to (and their parents) love this baby “gym.” |
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3.The Baby Bunch 0-6 Month Bunch Gift Set We love this beautiful “bouquet” of organic cotton baby clothes!
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2.Personalized Children’s Books These books are amazing. They are personalized children’s books with the name of the newborn baby written into the story. This was a very special gift that we have received and now have given several times! |
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1. Hand-crafted quilts, clothes, and cuddly toys from
This is a great company with great and really unique baby gifts. They have shipped things all the way to Australia for us!
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Oh-Boy, we like this O-Ball
When my parents gave this to our son we looked at them with the face of “okay…” But now that summer is here, this is fast becoming mom’s favorite toy – because it is an indoor-outdoor ball that can get wet, doesn’t bring in dirt, doesn’t break anything (famous last words), and can easily be tossed, kicked, or rolled by a baby, toddler, child, or adult. So to my parents – kudos for being more hip than mom – and finding this new cool toy, the Oball, from Rhino Toys.
