Best Baby Strollers

Busy moms need a safe place for baby to sit while they do any of the million things a mom does in a day. For me, the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has been the perfect seat for my son from infancy to toddlerhood.

The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker starts out very much like a typical baby bouncer. The cloth seat cradles your baby comfortably and features two recline positions. In the beginning, I used the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler rocker in the flattest position, and my son often fell asleep and napped in it. The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has a kickstand that keeps the whole unit stable so you don’t have to worry about your baby rolling out. My son enjoyed the vibration function as an infant, and I liked it because it helped him go to the bathroom when he was constipated. I took the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler rocker with me everywhere because it was so light and portable, and it really acted as a second pair of hands, holding my son while I folded laundry, showered, or tidied up.

When my son was older, I attached the included toy bar with its cute animal toys. My son learned how to reach by grabbing at the toys. I also found the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker’s more upright position helpful once my son started solids because he had reflux and needed to sit in a more upright position after eating to stay comfortable. As my son grew, I folded back the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker’s kick stand and let him enjoy rocking himself.

Now that my son is a toddler, I have converted the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker into a toddler rocking chair. My son loves to sit in the chair when he watches movies or reads books. He moves the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker from room to room and had no problem dragging it around to where he wants it.

My only complaint about the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker is that is can be quite prone to tipping when babies who are just learning to sit up and crawl use it in rocking mode. Several parents complained that their kids were able to tip the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker by leaning far forward. Of course, children learning to sit up don’t have enough control to stop the rocker from tipping, and can be topple the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker over if an adult isn’t there to stop them. I found that I put the rocker away while my son was learning to crawl. Once he could walk and climb in and out of the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker on his own, I got it back out.

The best thing about the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker, and the reason my husband and I chose it, is that it lasts throughout your baby’s early development. In the first months of infancy, the Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker was vital to my sanity, and now I enjoy watching my toddler continue to use it. The Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Rocker has stood up to my first child, and I plan to use it for my next baby and beyond.

If you are planning on taking a vacation with your kids in tow, travel toys are essential, especially if, like me, you hate the idea of your kids being glued to a TV screen for the whole trip. Whether you are driving in a car or flying in a plane, these travel toys are guaranteed to keep kids busy and parents sane.

Travel Magnadoodle
There is nothing new or fancy about the Travel Magnadoodle; it’s essentially the same travel toy you played with as a kid, only a little more compact. Kids of all ages love to draw pictures on magnadoodles almost as much as they like to erase them. You’ll love not having to keep track of crayons and paper.

Glove Compartment Games by Klutz Guides
If you are traveling with a kid who can talk, point, or listen, then you should bring along a copy of Klutz Guides’ Glove Compartment Games. Older kids will get a huge kick out of silly games, and younger kids will have fun watching mom and dad play with this wonderful, low-tech travel toy.

Monkey Magnets Jungle and Monkey Magnets Vehicles
Monkey magnets are like the color forms you used to play with as a kid only more portable. Each Monkey Magnets set comes with fun templates to follow, or kids can create their own special designs. Monkey Magnets are a great toy for “quiet time,” because most kids get so absorbed with them they don’t even realize they aren’t talking. All the Monkey Magnets come in a metal case that serves as a work surface and storage unit all in one.

Magnetic Travel USA Map Puzzle by Anatex
My cousin swears by this travel toy for older kids. Magnetic Travel USA is a clear map of the United States with channels around the edge of each state. Up to two kids at a time use the included magnetic wands to move small balls through the states from one coast to the other. I love this travel toy because it is educational and lets two kids play together at the same time.

Best Travel Activity Book Ever by Backseat Books
The name really says it all. The Best Travel Activity Book Ever really is the best. Kids from 4-8 will spend hours pouring over this book’s coloring pages, dot-to-dots, mazes, games, and more. The Best Travel Activity Book ever is a classic travel toy that will help your kids forget that the DVD player even exists.

Alex Car Valet
Get your hands on all the travel toys listed here and you’ll need a place to keep them all. The Alex Car Valet is the perfect storage solution for travel toys. The Alex Car Valet fits on the back of most car headrests. Kids can store all their crafts, stickers, snacks, and toys in one place, keeping the car clean. The cover of the Alex Car Valet also serves as a work surface, and when kids are done, the whole thing zips up into a nice little package. This travel toy keeper is a must have.

As the mother of a busy toddler, I know how much moms rely on engaging toys that stimulate their kids (and keep them busy for at least 10 minutes). Over the past two years, I have come up with a list of my son’s favorite toys. If you are looking for a birthday or holiday gift for a 2-4 year old, consider some of these choices.

Fisher-Price Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo Choo
My son got this for his first Christmas, and he still plays with it all the time. I like this toddler toy because it plays educational songs (and, gasp, they aren’t that annoying!) and encourages creative play. My son likes the Amazing Animals Sing & Go Choo Choo because, well, it’s a train, and that’s about all it takes. My boy loves moving the animals around the different cars and watching the train drive around the living room. This is a toddler toy that will continue to entertain into the school years.

LeapFrog Word Whammer Fridge Phonics
Thanks to this great educational toddler toy, my son knew all his letters before he was two. I like the LeapFrog Word Whammer because it endlessly entertains my son (and his friends of all ages) while teaching him valuable pre-reading skills. My son loves this toddler toy because it has a million parts to play with and sings silly songs. He loves following the Word Whammer’s directions to find letters and spell words.

Radio Flyer Retro Rocket
This was my son’s first ride-on toddler toy, and it’s still his favorite. The Radio Flyer Retro Rocket has fun buttons to push, a secret compartment under the seat, vibration, and lights. My son loves driving his “rock” down the sidewalk and pushing the buttons to make a noise whenever someone walks past him. I love the way this toddler toy looks like a vintage toy my parents might have played with. After two years of use, the only maintenance our Radio Flyer Retro Rocket has needed is new batteries.

Brio Jungle Safari Figure 8 Set
As I mentioned before, my son loves trains, so it’s no surprise that when he goes to visit Nana, all he wants to do is play with the Brio Jungle Safari Figure 8 Set. Brio recommends this product for children ages 3+, but with proper adult supervision, I think this toddler toy is suitable for children as young as 2. The Brio Jungle Safari Set comes with track, train cars, and adorable wooden animal figures. My son will push the train cars around the track for hours at a time, and I’m guilty of playing with this toddler toy too, even when my son wasn’t with me!

Melissa and Doug Cardboard Blocks
My husband loved playing with cardboard blocks when he was a kid, and my son is no different. Melissa and Doug’s cardboard blocks are very sturdy and durable—my son sits on them all the time. I love that my child spends hours in creative play. It’s true the blocks take up a lot of space, but it’s worth it for this must have toddler toy.