I had rather forgotten about this toy, which both my oldest and middle daughter enjoyed. We were cleaning out our garage today and I came across this in a box of other musical instruments. My youngest, who will be one in another week, went crazy for it. The set includes a number of fun, colorful insect-themed instruments, which all stow away in a drum. The great thing is that none of them are too loud, so you can give your child free reign to make music. You can purchase the set in Target stores or online at Target.com. It retails for $19.99.

Here is a great deal on a high-quality musical instrument that both boys and girls will enjoy. The Today’s Tot Marching Drum comes with a drum stick and a strap for marching. This is sure to be a big hit. Available in red, blue, or green, this toy is on sale for just $8.20 (down from $49.99!) at babyage.com.

Here’s an interesting idea: Christmas music just for babies. Lovely Baby CDs has released a Baby Christmas CD. Creator Raimond Lap, a Dutch composer and international music expert, has put together a collection of holiday classics, plus four original Christmas songs, to make baby happy while entertaining the entire family at the same time. You can listen to samples and purchase this CD at LovelyBabyCD.com, where it’s currently on sale for $14.99.

Recently my son and I listened to Rockabye Baby!’s Lullaby Renditions of Queen CD at bedtime. My son is a big Queen fan, and his favorite song is “We Will Rock You”. While he wasn’t enthralled with the lullaby versions of Queen songs (Bohemian Rhapsody was particularly good), I thought they were nice and relaxing, and that they would definitely help put a baby to sleep (they almost put me to sleep lying there listening to the CD!) This would be a wonderful way to relax baby while relaxing Mom or Dad at the same time. You can purchase this CD and many other lullaby renditions (including Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, and Green Day) for $16.95 at RockabyeBabyMusic.com.

If you’d like to help your child develop his or her computer and literacy skills in a safe, no-cost environment, check out the offerings at pbskids.org. Whether or not your child has watched the many educational programs that PBS offers, there are tons of activities here that are sure to capture the imagination. When my oldest daughter was in preschool, this was a favorite resource for printable coloring pages and online games. I am thinking that my little daughter will enjoy it now, and the site has really come a long way since my older daughter used it. Children can now watch short videos, listen to music,  read blog posts from favorite characters, and more. I highly recommend this site for all children. You might catch yourself enjoying it too.

I’ve never been particularly talented musically, but I’ve tried to encourage my kids to rise beyond my own musical mediocrity by providing them with many opportunities to experiment with music-making. I just recently came across this Lollipop Drum from Remo. The colorful colors make it very inviting–as if young children need encouragement to pick up a drum! This drum is designed to be used by the very young, with an easy to hold handle and a fun rubber mallet.  Unlike electronic “musical” toys, this one is one that moms and dads will be able to stand. You can purchase one for $24.99 at oompa.com. It would make a fun gift for a birthday or holiday.

This CD of 14 new, original lullabies and childhood songs by Steve Stapley and Lynda Hayes is very soothing, for babies, children, and even adults. Created with a real orchestra and no computers or synthesizers, Sleepy Old Town makes the listener think of old time children’s music and stories. This children’s collaboration between Stapley and Hayes is very appropriate, as they are married with two children of their own. You can purchase this CD for $12.95 at cdbaby.com, or download the CD through itunes at SleepyOldTown.com.

It’s very rare that I come across a children’s animated DVD that appeals to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, but that’s exactly how I’d describe the Bumblz series of DVDs. Targeted to the age 0 to 6 group, Bumblz is a friendly bee who, along with his friends, goes on adventures and learns life lessons, all along with a great musical beat. Usually when a DVD says it’s for such a wide age group, I’m skeptical. But my 5 year old sat with me and watched the DVD “The Pirate’s Treasure” and was mesmerized, paying close attention to not only the story but also the words to the songs (after each story, the DVD includes sing-a-longs with the words displayed on the screen). The music is catchy, and the stories really do provide lessons that kids will remember. The animation is beautiful as well with its eye-catching colors. This is truly a series that you’ll want to buy for your child no matter what the age and that, I think, he’ll want to watch again and again for years to come. You can view the entire Bumblz collection of DVDs and CDs at Bumblz.com. DVDs range in price from $10.99 to $12.99 and CDs are $9.99 to $11.99. They are also available at Amazon.com.

I’m a huge Springsteen fan, so I was excited a few years ago when he released this family-friendly disc of Pete Seeger folk tunes. My kids love this collection, and it is a favorite car CD for the whole family. In fact, our copy has been played so many times that we need a new one. My older daughter already knew a lot of the songs from music class. Songs like “Erie Canal,” brought back childhood memories for me as well. This CD also calmed my very fussy nephew on a long ride to the airport which otherwise would have been miserable. You can purchase a copy for $14.99 at Amazon.com.

It’s common knowledge that many babies love the sounds of ordinary household appliances: the vacuum cleaner, fan, perhaps even the dishwasher. Niko Chainopoulos of Babysounds has come up with an ingenious idea: record these sounds and put them onto a CD especially for babies. Called “Sweet Dreams: Soothing Sounds for Babies,” this CD has nine tracks consisting of about seven minutes each of sounds of appliances including the vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, dishwasher, washing machine, breast pump, running shower, and fan. The concept behind this CD is that while in the womb, babies hear these sounds on a daily basis. Therefore, these sounds tend to calm fussy babies, it is said, since they are used to hearing them before birth. I’m not sure if this really works or not, but it is a unique idea. If you’d like to try it yourself, you can purchase the CD for $14.97 or download the MP3 for $9.99 at CDBaby.com.

This looks like an ordinary, everyday teddy bear - but wait, looks can be deceiving. It’s actually an MP3 player designed specifically for babies and children. Designed to accompany your child to crib or bed at naptime or bedtime, the Lulla-Bear is a soft, cuddly friend who plays 90 minutes of pre-loaded songs and sounds. Lullabies, nature sounds, and play songs are all part of Lulla-Bear’s repertoire. With Lulla-Bear’s built in, stored USB cable, you can connect him to your computer and upload more songs to his playlist. It has a 512 MB memory capacity, is PC and MAC compatible, and takes three AA batteries (included). The sound quality is excellent, too. This could be the perfect solution if your child is a reluctant napper or becomes fearful or anxious at bedtime. Music soothes the soul, and has often helped my son get to sleep when nothing else would. You can purchase Lulla-Bear for $49.95 at StoreCrowleyJones.com.

When my oldest daughter was three, one of her friends had a toy accordion. We loved it, and I searched high and low before finding one for her. She never used it quite as much as I had hoped, but it was still a lot of fun. I need to dig it out for our middle daughter. Of all the loud “musical” instruments my kids have had over the years, I find this one  very easy to tolerate. It doesn’t take much for it to actually sound pretty good, which I thinks also gives them a sense of accomplishment. You can purchase this particular Schylling model for $22.99 at fatbraintoys.com. It makes a unique gift that is sure to bring a smile.

Trunk is known for its great vintage concert tees for little ones, and this Bruce Springsteen Born to Run shirt does not disappoint. Made from 100% cotton, it is machine washable and available in sizes from 2-6. I’m a giant Springsteen fan, but I have to say I find something a little ironic about paying $40 for a shirt celebrating a champion of the blue-collar worker and underdog. You can purchase one at lalaling.com.

The number of children’s musicians most parents can tolerate are few and far between. There are exceptions, however, such as the Laurie Berkner Band. Featured on Noggin, Berkner’s songs are catchy little ditties that parents will find themselves humming along to in the middle of a busy day. Most of her songs have messages for kids as well. On Rocketship Run, for example, there’s “Fast and Slow,” telling kids it’s ok to be fast or slow, that everyone is different. “All Around My Room” features Berkner singing about all the imaginative things a child can pretend in his or her room. Berkner’s sweet voice is soothing to parents and children. You can purchase Rocketship Run for $13.99 at Amazon.com.

Most kids love playing in the tub, and squirting toys are often a favorite. They certainly are at my house. This Rock & Roll set by Elegant Baby offers a unique twist on the traditional rubber ducky squirter. The set features five toys shaped like different musical instruments. They might just spark a whole new level of imaginative play at bath time. You can purchase the set for $15 at giggle.com. It would also make a cute gift, especially for a music lover.