Knowing many children who are fans of Elmo, when I spotted the Fisher Price Elmo’s Restaurant, I was attracted to it right away. It has a working cash register, a burner that makes sounds, and Grover (on the reverse side of the restaurant) talks when you take a menu from his hand. There are other favorite Sesame Street character sounds to be heard as well. It sells for $74.99 at Amazon.com. A great addition to your children’s playroom, perhaps it’ll be something to add under the tree this Christmas.

Little Miss Heirlooms is currently selling this vintage Fisher-Price Perky Pot, which some of us might remember from our childhoods. The pot measures 7″ x 5 1/2″. It pops when you turn the crank. Hard to find, this toy would be a great piece for collectors, or even as a retro toy for a young one. You can purchase it for $45 at LittleMissHeirlooms.com (but be quick if you’re interested, as this is the only one currently in stock).

I remember playing with one of these at my grandmother’s house when I was a small child. So, I was delighted to see them make a comeback. In a day when my kids have portable video games and DVD players in the car, it is nice to have something so simple and yet so charming. My infant loves the musical aspect of it. My three year old seems fascinated by it as well. I have even caught my ten year old playing with it! You can purchase one of these toys for $29.95 at fatbraintoys.com. I’ve also seen them at Target. There are other fun retro toys in this line as well. I’m just waiting for the little record player with the colored “records.”

If you sign up for Fisher-Price newsletters, you’ll automatically be entered to win $100 in toys. The Giggle & Grow Giveaway means that 25 lucky winners will walk away with the best of what Fisher-Price online, Wal-Mart, or Toys R Us have to offer in Fisher-Price items. What a great opportunity to stock up for Christmas!

My sons, age 1 and nearly 4, enjoy playing with the Fisher-Price Little People: Racin’ Ramps Garage. My one-year-old loves pushing the elevator up and down and watching the cars race down the ramp and my 4-year-old likes to park his cars all over the garage. As a child, I love Little People and I’m glad to see the tradition carried on in my boys. To see them playing together (it’s actually big enough for 4 children to use all at once, as we discovered at our littlest son’s birthday party on the weekend) with a toy they can both enjoy safely is heart warming.

The toy is recommended for ages 2-4 and comes with a tow truck, a car, and some people to drive the vehicles. There’s a gas pump and an air hose but other than that, it’s up to your children to decide where the Little People world and their imagination will take them. You can get it for $39.99 at toysrus.com.

My nearly one-year-old loves the Sing and Sounds Peek A Block barn by Fisher-Price. He is very interested in putting things inside of other things so being able to put the blocks inside the barn, see lights flash, and hear songs is very rewarding for him. Not only that, but the blocks have farm animals inside of them, many that move, and things that rattle. I think it makes his senses happy without overwhelming him. Find it at amazon.com for $29.99. It’ll make an excellent birthday gift for any one-year-old.

Every once in a while, I come upon some gorgeous items that make me just drool with delight. The Fisher-Price Zen Collection Gliding Bassinet at Amazon.com is definitely one of those drool-worthy objects and it’s on sale for $189.99, a savings of $70. Happily, if you love it, there’s coordinating Zen Collection gear available as well. Made to beautifully coordinate with your décor, in lovely shades of green and dark woods, there’s a lovely canopy and storage space underneath. Music and soothing noises accompanied by rocking mechanisms make it soothing for baby. I’m also in love with the infant seat and its charming dragonfly mobile.

One of my favorite toys as a child was the Fisher-Price Play N Go Farm. Not only does Fisher-Price still make this classic toy, it’s also celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Under a special reissue of the toy by the company, it was redesigned to look more like the original. Now your child can have as much fun playing with the farm as you did, plus you know it’s safe as it’s made by Fisher-Price. Recommended for ages 1 and up, you can purchase the Play N Go Farm for $18 at Fisher-Price.com.

After having read all the great reviews, I was excited about seeing how my twins would interact with their first “big” toy. My parents bought this for their first birthday last week and I’m not exaggerating when I say that they have been playing with it for hours every day. Fisher-Price did an amazing job creating something interactive and fun enough to really hold a child’s attention for an extended period of time. Features include a window that goes up and down, a door that opens and closes, a doorbell, a light switch, and even a radio.

There are two settings: Learning Mode and Music Mode, giving kids (and adults I might add) hours of entertainment. And for you parents of multiples, this is a great one to bring home. It’s big enough that more than one kid can play at once and they can even play together. And even better is that it doesn’t take up a lot of space unlike some other big toys out there on the market. You can find this toy on toysrus.com for $74.99 or score yourself one for half-price on Craigslist. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I gave up on waiting for the cute garden exersaucer I had my eye on to be be released and bought this Precious Planet Jumperoo, which was the least hideous-looking entertainer I could find. If you can get past the giant monkey head on the seat, the toys are actually pretty cute. It is quite tall, so even on the lowest setting, my little one’s toes just barely touch the floor. She seems to genuinely enjoy it, though, and it should last her until she walks. We like the fact that it is easy to turn the sound function on and off. Her dad commented that it has a wide variety of songs, which makes it more tolerable to have on. My three year old likes to play with the toys on it, too.

The only real downside for me is the bulk. It takes up so much space. I feel like I’m always getting tangled up in it as I’m trying to get out the door with a car seat, diaper bag, breast pump, etc. After seeing some of the compact models they have at daycare, I’m second-guessing this purchase just a bit. You can check this out in most stores that carry baby gear, or purchase online for $89.99 at Target.com. It is very easy to put together, a giant plus.

We have a Fisher-Price Papsan Cradle Swing and I like it a lot. It is comfortable and our little one seems to enjoy it. The only thing I’m not crazy about is its appearance. When I saw this collaboration between Fisher-Price and the hip designers at DwellStudio, I was instantly jealous. This swing combines the features of other Fisher-Price cradle swings–side to side motion, a papasan-style seat, a plush head cushion, a three point harness, etc. with the hip modern look you would expect from DwellStudio. I love the blue/brown color combination. The swing also sports an MP3 dock, although I’ve never seen the point of the one we have on one of our bouncers. If they made this in the DwellStudio bird print, I think I’d be tempted to bring home another swing. You can purchase this one for $139.99 at Target.com.

This toy is a family favorite. My twins absolutely love this drum, and my husband has even admitted it’s his favorite toy in the playroom. This entertaining Crawl-Along Drum Roll by Fisher-Price lights up and has two modes of play. In the “Sit-At Mode,” your baby can hit the two bongos and get beats and sound effects as a result. You can then convert it to a rolling drum; this “Crawl-Along Mode” offers different songs and eggs your baby to push and crawl after the toy. Personally, I leave the drum in sitting mode and save the crawl-along mode for those times during the day when they seem to be getting restless and need a change of pace.

It’s amazing that day after day, my babies both still come back to this toy. And unlike other noise-making toys, this one has three noise levels—high, low, and off. So, when it’s time to take a nap, simply turn off the toy and avoid the accidental bump that will set off a song and wake up your little one.

I highly recommend this drum if you have a baby six months or older. It’s a great toy that not only teaches cause and effect, but also keeps the entire family—daddies too—entertained. Go to toyrus.com and buy it for yourself or a friend for just $17.99.  I promise you won’t regret it.

 
My sons and I enjoy having the Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer around the house. My first son especially loved bouncer chairs. He ended up with two of them—one for when he was smaller, and the Ocean Wonders version for when he was bigger. My newest son enjoys watching the lights and listening to the sounds of the bouncer but isn’t as taken with it as my first was. There’s a detachable toy bar (and a parent-controlled or child-controlled setting for the lights and noises) with teethers attached, vibrations, and a comfy seat for lounging or bouncing in.

Though it takes 4 D batteries, they last for quite some time (even with hours of daily use.) Bounce it with your feet while using your hands to get other household chores done. You can purchase it at Amazon.com for $46.92. 

My two-month-old loves the “Noisy Friends” Fisher Price book by Sarah Weeks. He has appreciated it since he started really exploring his world and smiling a couple weeks ago. He especially loves the first page, with the colorful bees on it. It is no wonder, though, that now that he is becoming especially alert to his surroundings, he is enjoying the other pages as well. They are done in vivid illustrations and the characters on each page are friendly looking, smiling creatures. There are several poems and 10 durable board pages in all and the froggy on the cover will give a squeak if pressed upon.

They say you should read to your children at least 15 minutes a day. I think this is a good book to start with for my baby and for yours; why not give it as a holiday gift for a child on your list? Snuggle up with your copy from Amazon.com for $9.95.

It seems like every Christmas, a new Elmo is released, and every parent scrambles to buy one for his or her child. This year, it’s Elmo Live, made by Fisher Price. When a child gives Elmo a tickle or a squeeze, he comes to life. While his head moves back and forth, this Elmo speaks, waves his arms, crosses his legs, sits, stands, tells stories and jokes, sings songs, and plays games.

Elmo Live measures 8.1″ x 11″ x 15″ and weighs 3.8 lbs. He’s recommended for ages 18 months and up. The best online price I’ve seen for this toy is $64.87 (with free shipping) at Amazon.com. The website says this is currently in stock, so if you’re planning to buy it as a Christmas gift for your child this year, you might want to act now. Just like every other year, I’m sure there will be a mad scramble for Elmo the closer it gets to Christmas.