Gift Ideas Blog

Ultimate Online Shopping Safety Tips

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I love Giving Gifts and Holidays!

I love Christmas and Holidays gift giving along with making birthdays, anniversary and other life event special. We show our love and care to friends and family via gift we buy. A few years ago during Christmas holiday, I used to make a plan to shop for everyone by November to get relaxed December but that did not quite work, as many of best deals for shopping happens around Thanksgiving holiday or event better known as “Black Friday”.

Why I love Shopping Online:

For a few years I used to get up by 3 AM in morning to stand in line and getting pushed all over and losing deals if I was late even for 30 minutes. I got tired, grumpy and was losing on my holiday gift giving spirit. Until one day I realized that I can do most of the shopping online, even during black Friday and cyber Monday deals. Thus saving me headaches of driving, waking up early and fighting rushed, angry shopper crowd.

Since then I also do shopping online for other events throughout the year for birthdays, anniversary, kids gifts, and so on. I still love in store shopping experience once in a while when I am meeting my girl friend for relaxed chai latte and showing off my new handbag that I bought cheap from online. I simply back in love with joy of gift giving.

Edit (2022) Since Covid has hit, online shopping has been more popular than ever, staying safe from online credit card fraud has also been more important to consumers. Here are some updated tips to shop safely online.

Side Note: I only use and recommend safe and reputable online shopping companies here. I or other writers are not part of these company so always double check the price and product before buying as sometimes vendors changes information without us knowing.

Online Shopping Tips

Over the years I have learned a few online tricks and tips that I want to share for best shopping experience and avoiding headaches later on. Here’s a list of tips endorsed by better business bureau, you should consult when shopping online. Print this page and keep it in a handy place so it will be easy to review before you order.

  • Trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable buying or bidding on an item over the web, or if you feel pressured to place your order immediately, maybe you shouldn’t.
  • Be knowledgeable about web-based auctions. Take special care to familiarize yourself not only with the rules and policies of the auction site itself but with the legal terms (warranties, refund policy, etc.) of the seller’s items that you wish to bid on.
  • Double check pricing. Whether the product is being sold as new or used, be suspicious of prices that are too good to be true. Also consider carefully whether you may be paying too much for an item, particularly if you’re bidding through an auction site. You may want to comparison shop, online or offline, before you buy.
  • Find and read the privacy policy. Read the privacy policy carefully to find out what information the seller is gathering from you, how the information will be used, and how you can stop the process. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, you may not want to do business with that site. If it does have a privacy policy, there will probably be a link to it from the seller’s home page, or it could be included with the Legal Terms.
  • Review the return, refund, and shipping and handling policies as well as the other legal terms. If you can’t find them, ask the seller through an e-mail or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing. See Legal Terms.
  • Check that the Internet connections are secure. Before you give your payment information, there are various icons and software programs that indicate that security software is in place. See Security.
  • Use the safest way to pay on the Internet. Pay for your order using a credit card. See Payment.
  • Print the terms. You should print out and date a copy of terms, conditions, warranties, item description, company information, even confirming e-mails, and save them with your records of your purchase. Record-keeping is important until you get your items delivered properly.
  • Insure the safe delivery of your item. If you’re concerned about the safety of your package if there’s no one home to receive it, ask whether you can specify that the shipper must receive a signature before leaving the package. Or, it may be safer to have the package delivered to your office. See Delivery.
  • Inspect your purchase. Look at your purchase carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact the seller as soon as possible if you discover a problem with it. Tell the seller in writing about any problem that you are concerned with, ask for a repair or refund, and keep a copy of your correspondence.

Other Important Keys to Note When Shopping Online.

1. Know your Merchant:
It’s a good practice to be familiar with the name or reputation of any company you’re dealing with. You can often find helpful information about online companies from Internet news sources, directories, and rating services. The Federal Trade Commission maintains a web site (www.consumer.gov) that provides many buyer’s guides, lists of tips, and links to helpful resources. (Keep in mind that Yahoo! recommends to all merchants within Yahoo! Shopping that they post relevant information about themselves and their business on an “Information” page. Yahoo! Shopping also provides a rating system, whereby customers are able to evaluate merchants. If you see this symbol Top Service next to a listing, it means that the merchant has provided “top rated” service to customers.)

2. Protect your privacy:
Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be used, and if they share it with or sell it to others. You can do this by checking the web site to make sure there is a privacy policy posted, and that you’re comfortable with the way your personal information is treated under that policy. Look for seals from privacy enforcement organizations like TRUSTe or BBBOnLine. Be cautious if you’re asked to supply personal information not needed to make a purchase, such as your Social Security number or personal bank account information. (We post a link to our Yahoo! Privacy Policy at the bottom of most Yahoo! pages. In our policy, written in collaboration with the TRUSTe organization, we explain when and where we collect personal information, and how we use it. We have recommended to merchants using Yahoo! Store that they post a similar policy on their sites.)

3. Get the Details:
Check for expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and other important information. Look for an email address to write to (or a phone number to call) if you have a question, a problem, or if you need help. (We recommend to all Yahoo! Store and Shopping merchants that they post all of this pertinent information on their “Information” pages and that they stay in touch with customers using the email and order-tracking tools that we provide. Look for such a page on any Yahoo! Store.)

4. Use a Credit Card and Safeguard Your Password:
It’s a good practice to pay with credit cards, because under federal law (and your credit card agreement) your liability for an unauthorized charge is limited to $50. When using a credit card online, look for an unbroken key or padlock (a graphical icon usually located in the bottom corner of the web page), or for a policy that indicates use of strong security technology such as SSL. This indicates that your credit card data is transmitted securely. Keep your passwords safe, and don’t share them with other people. (Yahoo! Shopping makes credit card purchases simple and safe, with one centralized Yahoo! Wallet and an SSL-secure password. We also offer the Yahoo! Visa Card, a credit card that guarantees risk-free online shopping.)

5. Keep Good Records:
Make sure to print or save electronically any records related to your online transactions. This will help you keep track of shipping dates, shipping and handling fees, and other details of your transactions. (Yahoo! Store allows for an automatic email confirmation to be sent whenever someone orders something. The system also allows for subsequent email updates, and always includes the URL for online order tracking. We recommend to all Yahoo! Store merchants that they use this tool. It’s a great way to stay in touch and allow customers to update their records.)

•  For an in-depth collection of links and web resources on this subject, please visit and bookmark our Full Coverage of Online Shopping Safety.

•  To file a complaint about a fraudulent business practice or to get free information on how to spot, stop, and avoid one, call the Federal Trade Commission, toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or visit www.ftc.gov and click on “Consumer Protection.”

Source: Yahoo Shopping and BBB online (Better Business Bureau)

For more gift ideas for birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, Valentine day, mother’s day, Father’s day, Baby shower or just because you deserve the best gift for yourself, check out our gift ideas with reviews, as we have shown pros and cons of each products.

Electric Rice Cooker Gift Idea

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Best Electric Rice Cooker, Stainless Steel

The New Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer is a three cup rice cooker. It has a micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology and is famously called fuzzy logic rice cooker type with more than basic automated features. The exterior of this rice cooker and is shiny, clean and clear-coated stainless steel which makes it unique in design. It has a automatic keep warm feature and a spherical inner cooking pan and heating system.

What is includes:

It weighs about 7 pounds and Accessories includes;

  • Measuring cup
  • Nonstick rice spatula
  • Spatula holder.
  • 450 watt motor and outer container
  • Rice inner pot

With its durable clear-coated stainless-steel exterior, the 450-watt rice cooker measures 11-1/2 by 9 by 7-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty. You can find out more small appliances and cookware gift ideas by reading best cookware reviews.

What we like about this electric cooker:

  • Measuring cup, spatula and spatula holder included
  • LCD display with timer
  • Non stick inner pot
  • Keep warm function without burning rice
  • Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology
  • 3 cup rice size, perfect for small family or occasional rice eater
  • Menu selections include white, sushi, porridge, brown, and quick cooking
  • Maintains and fluctuates temperature to cook perfect rice
  • It looks attractive and beautiful on counter top
  • Easy clean up
  • You can make variety type of rice, brown, basmati, sushi, jasmine, wild rice and even mixed rice
  • Distribute heat evenly
  • Setting up timer to when to start cooking
  • Retractable cord: Good for houses with small kids or pets
  • Spatula holder is added bonus
  • Can even make oatmeal, polenta and more stuff
  • Easy to use
  • Not too heavy to move it around
  • Great for every day use
  • Controls are easy to handle
  • Can cook rice pilaf with tofu and vegetables mix with rice

Things to consider:

  • 5 cups size might be small for large family and big for single person
  • It is not cheap in price or quality.
  • Note: Different type of rice need different amount of water, follow it for fluffy and al-dente rice

How much does it sell for and where to get best price for it?

This rice cooker has fuzzy, microchips inside, making it more pricier compared to basic rice cooker set. This cooker gets 5 star rating from most customer so it is worth the price for many. If you are small family, this rice cooker might just be perfect for you.

Usually amazon is cheaper, but it is always best to do price comparison. We have found varied prices on this rice cooker and best prices seems be as shown below;

Where Can I find the Best Price on The Electric Rice Cooker:

We have found Amazon to consistently beat other online places, you can find it below;

  Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

Melissa & Doug Multi-Level Solid Wood Dollhouse w/ Family of 5 Dolls

Melissa & Doug Wooden Dollhouse

Melissa & Doug brand makes many wonderful and creative wooden toys for infant to older kids. You will simply love this wooden doll house with family of wooden toys. In 1989 The Melissa & Doug Company started in the garage of the home where Doug grew up! Thanks to people’s support, the Melissa & Doug Company grew and was able to move into a real office down the road.  Melissa and Doug range of products include puzzles, preschool, play food, puppets, stuffed animals and gardening toys.

Doll House Details:

The Multi-Level Dollhouse from Melissa & Doug includes 19 pieces of hand-painted wooden furniture with working doors and drawers, five spacious rooms, two movable staircases, five working exterior doors and five wooden dolls!

What is Included:

  • Fully furnished wooden dollhouse comes with five spacious rooms
  • two movable staircases and five working exterior doors
  • Includes 19 pieces of hand-painted wooden furniture with working doors and drawers
  • Materials carefully crafted for years of pretend play!
  • Exceptional quality and value
  • Wooden Doll Family members including baby

Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 24.5 x 28 inches ; 19 pounds

The house measures 24.5 x 28 x 15.5 inches when assembled.

Shipping Weight: 20.2 Lbs

Who it is best for: Age 3 year and up

Easy Set Up; Superior Design Features

The dollhouse itself requires adult assembly, but this takes less than an hour thanks in part to clear, easy-to-follow directions. The set comes with a Hex key, but you’ll need a Phillips screwdriver on hand to finish the project.The completed dollhouse sports a cheery exterior with lavender and pink detailing. Its handcrafted, hand-painted appearance and all-wood construction give it a charming and timeless feel. Five working doors, lattice-style windows, and two balconies provide charming finishing touches. Turn the house around to view its five spacious rooms on three floors. Two wooden staircases connect the floors; they’re movable and removable, which gives the house’s configuration added versatility.The house measures 24.5 x 28 x 15.5 inches when assembled.Delightful, Imaginative Accessories:
The dollhouse’s five rooms are furnished with plenty of all-wood, hand-painted furniture: a living room set, complete with sofa, ottoman, coffee table, and two easy chairs; a kitchen counter and stovetop unit; a dining table with 4 dining chairs; a bedroom set including a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a cabinet, and an armoire; and a bathroom set with a bathtub, sink, and toilet. With working cabinet doors, softly rounded edges, and pink and lavender details, the furniture construction is charming, durable, and safe.

The dolls themselves — a mother, father, two children, and an infant Ealso echo the house’s folksy, handcrafted quality. They’re simple, functional, and durable, with their wooden heads, hands, and wide clog-shaped feet, sweet, painted on smiley faces, glued-on yarn hair, and real cloth clothes. The limbs are bendable, so you can position the dolls to sit perfectly in the dining chairs, on the sofa, and even on the little hand-painted toilet. A few minor drawbacks: the real cloth outfits cannot be removed, to the disappointment of our young child tester; and although they’ll definitely stand up to the play of young children, their yarn hair and twistable limbs might not last as long as the house and furniture will.

Durability and Care:
We found the Multi-level Wooden Dollhouse to be pretty sturdy, but care needs to be taken to make sure it remains in good working order. For example, it cannot be lifted by its roof, as this will pull the top section right off. We found that it’s best to carry the house from its bottom, rather than grasping any part of its sides, to make sure it stays intact. The painted exterior can also be relatively easily scratched, and an overly exuberant child could also damage the hinged doors. However, if just a little bit of care is taken with this beautiful house, it will weather time very well and can be passed down to future generations.

What we like about this Product

  • All wooden and hand crafted style
  • Long lasting, can last generation if properly taken care of
  • Multistory house with 5 bedrooms, furniture, staircases, doors
  • Wooden Family with kids to play with
  • Easy assembly with Philip screw driver
  • Hand crafted and hand painted
  • Timeless feel
  • Creative and imaginative play time
  • 5 working doors, lattice style windows for old time charm
  • 2 wooden movable staircases
  • Furniture includes hand-painted furniture: a living room set, complete with sofa, ottoman, coffee table, and two easy chairs
  • A kitchen counter and stovetop unit; a dining table with 4 dining chairs;
  • Bedroom set including a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a cabinet, and an armoire;
  • Bathroom set with a bathtub, sink, and toilet.
  • With working cabinet doors, softly rounded edges, and pink and lavender details
  • furniture construction is charming, durable, and safe.
  • The dolls includes — a mother, father, two children, and an infant
  • The limbs on dolls are bendable, so you can position the dolls to sit perfectly in the dining chairs, on the sofa, and even on the little hand-painted toilet.
  • Dolls are simple, functional, and durable, with their wooden heads, hands, and wide clog-shaped feet, sweet, painted on smiley faces, glued-on yarn hair, and real cloth clothes

Thing to consider:

  • Dolls clothes are glued and not removable as some kids may like to dress the dolls
  • Doll house is very sturdy but do not lift from roof, best way to carry is from bottom
  • Paint from outside can be scratched
  • Some yarn hair on dolls may get pulled off with rough play

Click here to buy and learn more about Melissa and Doug Wooden Dollhouse 

Additional Doll House Furniture

Additional Doll House Ideas

Click here for more Information on Doll Houses

Click here for more information on Melissa & Doug Toys

For more creative gifts ideas check out: creative Kids gifts

Nonstick Rachael Ray Cookware

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Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware Set, Orange

This Rachel Ray 10-pc. Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, Orange cookware from Rachel Ray of 30 minutes meal show from Food TV, offers a set is an great value, including all of the pots and pans needed to to cook in your kitchen for daily meals. The set contains most basic pieces that every cook will have to use everyday cooking. It includes saucepans for whisking a homemade sauce or cooking your morning oatmeal breakfast. The big stockpot is goof for soups, stews or boiling pasta. Most used cookware skillets great for pancake, and omelets. This set is hard Anodized set works like a non-stick cookware without the chemical Teflon coating. Cooking in nonstick cookware means you will use less oil and eat more healthier.

Rachael Ray Nonstick Cookware Set  comes in many colors and this orange color cookware, first enchants the eye before one can even realize how well you can cook with it. The handsome charcoal-gray, hard-anodized pots and pans feature shiny stainless-steel handles wrapped with neon-orange silicone easy to hold grips. It’ll come as no surprise that orange is Ray’s favorite color.

It sure looks great on your kitchen or even pot rack, As for cooking, hard-anodized aluminum heats quickly and evenly. In addition it also resists scratching, and is very durable. The interior nonstick finish allows food to glide off easily.

 

What is included in the Rachael Ray Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, Orange set?

14-piece cookware set. This set weighs about 19 pounds. Comes with limited life time warranty. The set consists of:

  • 1–quart covered saucepan with lid
  • 2- quart covered saucepan with lid
  • 3-quart covered saucepan with lid
  • 4-quart covered stockpot with lid
  • 6-quart covered stockpot with lid
  • 8-inch skillet
  • 10-inch skillet
  • 3-quart/10-inch covered sauté pan.

This set is good for any kitchen, with this 10-piece set of commonly-used cookware. Included are 1, 2- and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8- and 10-inch open French skillets; 4 and 6-quart covered stockpot for big batches of pasta and chili; and a 3-quart/10-inch covered sauté pan. The glass lids let you monitor cooking without losing steam or nutrients, and feature stainless-steel rims and handle with those same neon-orange silicone grips.

Every piece is oven-safe to 400 degrees F, so you can start a dish on the stove top and finish it with a hot bake-through. For the best care, washing the nonstick cookware by hand is recommended. An excellent gift, the set is covered by a lifetime limited warranty against defects.  For more information you can check out Cookware Consumer Guide.

What we like about Rachel Ray 10-pc. Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set?

  • 14 most commonly used cookware pieces
  • Hard Anodized with non stick finish
  • Soft and easy bright orange silicone handles
  • Oven safe (up to 400 degree F )
  • Glass lid allows easy viewing during cooking
  • Tight fitting lids keeps steams inside without sacrificing heat and nutrients
  • Easy to clean by hand
  • looks great with bridge charcoal pan and orange color handles
  • Can go from stove top to oven
  • non-stick finish without chemical coating or worry about peeling
  • Cooks quick and evenly
  • Chef celebrity product that quality
  • Durable
  • Not too heavy, good for cook with arthritis
  • Reasonable and affordable price for its quality
  • Comes in orange and blue color

What to consider:

  • Not dishwasher safe
  • Lids does not have vent for steam escaping

Is the cheaper to buy whole set or individual pieces?

At this time, this Rachel Ray set is being sold only as a set and not as individual pieces. Hence, we would not be able to compare price.

How much does this set sells for and where to get the best price?

This set sells around $200-$240 price range and we have found best prices on sometimes on Rachel Ray 10-pc. Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set, Orange (From Cooking.com) but Amazon always beats price for most product, so

Click below for best price on Rachel Rat Hard Anodized 10 piece Cookware Set

Buy Best Value : Rachel Ray Nonstick Hard Anodized Cookware Set

For more details you can check out cookware buying guide and other gift ideas here.

Top 5 Children’s Classic Books

If you ever wondered what Book are best for children and what to buy for your kids, look no further. Here are our list of Top 5 Children’s Classic Books that every kids and parent will enjoy to read.

Top 5 Children’s Classic Books:

polar-express

1. The Polar Express

The Polar Express. By Chris Van Allsburg. Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985. 32 pages.

What could be more familiar to young listeners than the Christmas Eve ritual of anxiously awaiting Santa’s arrival? Multiple Caldecott Medal Award recipient Chris Van Allsburg capitalizes on such shared experiences. His text invites readers to identify with the restless narrator “listening for a sound. . . the ringing of Santa’s sleigh.” Van Allsburg doesn’t stop there, and neither does his Polar Express as the drama of turning the page intensifies with every passing wolf-infested forest and ice-filled desert.

Van Allsburg temps taste buds with sensual similes like “candies with nougat centers as white as snow” and “hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars,” while his surreal masterpieces break out their frames to extend text. Emotions implied through words become unmistakably explicit through full-colored illustrations. Why read between the lines to discover the feeling of shock that overcomes the young passengers (as a result of the narrator’s loss) when one can experience first hand the children’s horror-enveloped faces by glancing at the accompanying pastel drawing? Similarly, the narrator’s wonder-filled features while receiving the first gift of Christmas juxtaposed with Van Allsburg’s manipulation of shadow and light articulate the tales sense of awe perfectly.

Van Allsburg’s use of perspective takes the reader beyond the confines of the Polar Express as glittering specks of light from the North Pole are detected beneath the majestic arcs of a passing bridge. This spectacular tale can be enjoyed by anyone who still truly believes, but its sumptuous wording- “thundered through the quiet wilderness” and “hissing steam and squeaking metal,” is most satisfying when read aloud by a fluent reader to younger listeners.

Click here for more information: The Polar Express

sidewalkends

2. Where The Sidewalk Ends

When I was growing up, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Giving Tree, and The Light in the Attic were a core part of my curriculum. They were the only readings that EVERY child loved! In high school, a teacher assigned us to do projects on our favorite poems (thinking we would chose ones by Dante or Chaucer) and all but 2 students did theirs on a Shel Silverstein poem. I intend to buy copies of each book for my children… or maybe just for me!

This book is a good-spirited masterpiece, with wonderful poems that kids of all ages will enjoy. Light-hearted, sometimes downright hilarious pictures accompany each poem, and the drawings are sometimes the plot of the joke. The poetry in “Where the Sidewalk Ends” ranges in length from two or three lines to twenty or more. This is a delightful book to read a few poems out of each night to your little ones before bed.

Click here for more information: Where The Sidewalk Ends

hungrycater

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I absolutely LOVE this book. As a child I would read this book on a daily basis and now as a parent I read it to my children every night. They love the colorful pictures and the caterpillar becoming a butterfly. I would purchase this book over and over again. I purchased the board book version, and am very glad I did. The book is very sturdy, and I think it will last a long time. The illustrations are cute, and the book has a very interesting design on its inner pages which I wasn’t expecting. I think little children will enjoy this book because it’s presented in a unique, fun way, rather than the standard pages of pictures that other books contain.

Click here for more information:  The Very Hungry Caterpillar

harold-purple

4. Harold And The Purple Crayon

This is an excellent book for reading to your toddler (or older!) at bedtime. It is a soothing and interesting adventure that gives the child a sense of control over his destiny. I attribute my kids’ early reading skills to the way they could follow along with the story while cuddled up next to me; soon, they were reading the book to their stuffed animals! There are several other Harold books by Crockett Johnson, and all are excellent.

I think this is one of those books that every child should experience. It’s picture based (as opposed to text based) so there’s a delightful interactive element and the child can rather tell his own tell about Harold as together they follow the purple crayon from page to page…inviting you and your child into the book to explore. So simple, it’s rather Zen. And lovely. Must, must, must for all.

 Click here for more information: Harold And The Purple Crayon

wildthings

5. Where The Wild Things Are

“Where the Wild Things Are” is the story of a boy who does something naughty, gets sent to his room and then begins imagining (or dreaming) a world where “Wild Things,” or large roaring monsters with yellow eyes and sharp claws, roam. This is where it gets fun to read with lots of emotion – rolling your eyes and showing your claws and roaring like a Wild Thing. Max becomes KING of the wild things, but in the end he wants to go home, and when he does, the reader finds out that his mother (or father, who never appears in the story) still loves him despite his “wild” behavior.

This story is filled with emotion and is a lot of fun to read. It holds the attention of my 18-month-old AND my 6-year-old. There is a section of pages where there are no words and the reader can fill in the story with their imagination. My 3-year-old loved the story so much we planned a “Wild Things” birthday party for him where he got to be Max for the day! As a parent, there’s nothing better than a book you love to read that the kids love to hear, especially since you’ll probably be reading it over and over and over…

Click here for more information: Where The Wild Things Are

Also see: Ultimate, Thoughtful and Useful Gifts For Kids – Only Guide You Will Need

Top 5 Baby and Toddler Toys

Here are our top 5 collection of baby and toddler Toys. Generally these toys are great for 0-24 months old babies and toddler. It is great for boys and girls.


1. Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes

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I received this toy for my baby shower. This is such a great toy! We call it the “Magic Toy” because whenever my son starts getting cranky, we simply press the button and the lights and music take him to a happy place! Love how easy it is to throw in the diaper bag and bring it along for instant entertainment! Highly recommended.

Its a simple toy that plays 7 different, fast paced, classical melodies. I would prefer the melodies where slower but the makers thought “younger audience” = faster is better.  Anyway, the toy does a good job of entertaining my toddler on car rides. She enjoys listening to the music and flipping through the selections, all through the push of one button.

  • Large easy press button toggles through 7 high quality classical melodies
  • Colorful lights dance across the screen to each song
  • Colorful Baby Einstein caterpillar handle is easy for little hands to hold and take anywhere
  • Off/Low/High volume switch
  • Promotes auditory development and music appreciation

Click here for more information: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes


2.Baby Einstein Bendy Ball

My daughter (6 months old) loves this ball and has for a couple of months now! It’s colorful and noisy which is great for curious babies. The only things that give this 4 stars and not 5 are the fact that the plastic is hard and sometimes when she shakes it I’m afraid she”ll hurt herself if she knocks it into her head. It is also not as easy for her little hands to hold as the O’Ball, which is soft and rattles–I prefer that. But overall, we’re fans. Came in a Baby Einstein gift set we were given, so we didn’t set put to buy it, but am happy we have it.

  • Soft, flexible plastic make this ball easy for little fingers to bend and squeeze
  • Recognizable Baby Einstein caterpillar character on center band
  • Colorful rattle ball inside for additional sounds and visual stimulation
  • Attractive, fun toy to play with

Click here for more information: Baby Einstein Bendy Ball


3. Vulli Sophie The Giraff Teether

This is one of my favorite baby gifts. Soft and easy to grip it is also easy to get into baby’s mouth, unlike many other teethers on the market. My daughter loves her giraffe and reaches for it again and again. Leaving aside that it is a more environmentally friendly and less harmful toy for your baby two things I didn’t think about until I had one. First, your baby will bang toys around so you’d rather have baby smack her head (or your head) with a soft toy. Second, some toys don’t fit into baby’s mouth even when baby is teething. This toy first. Worth every penny and a great gift for expecting moms. You can see our review here: Vulli Sophie The Giraaff Teether Review.

  • Phthalates and BPA free
  • Facilitate baby development
  • Numerous parts to chew and play safely
  • Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint

Click here for more information: Vulli Sophie The Giraff Teether

Note: If Current product is out of stock, we have suggest similar toys for Teething


4. Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube

The MOZART MAGIC CUBE, truly IS magical. Press the “Orchastra” side of the cube, and various Mozart melodies are heard. Press each individual instrument, and it goes silent, leaving the other instruments to play. You can touch the individual instruments again, and hear them come back on. The lights flicker as the music plays. The batteries are a little difficult to change — but otherwise, this toy is pure magic — for anyone of any age!

I was a little skeptical at first. But this cube is a lot of fun! There are instruments on each side that can be turned on and off while contributing to the main song. You can have a piano solo, and then add other instruments on top. Well built cube, should last a long time!

  • Toy cube provides musical foundation for little ones
  • Interactive cube teaches how sounds combine to create 8 Mozart masterpieces
  • Made with soft, rounded corners
  • Includes harp, French horn, piano, flute and violin instrument sounds
  • Recommended for budding young composers of all ages

Click here for more information: Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube

(Note: we will recommend similar products, if products are out of stocks)


5. Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks

This is another toy that can grow with your child. My daughter started getting interested in this as one of her first toys, just holding the shapes. Then she figured out how to fill up and dump out the shapes. Now she’s learning how to get the shapes in the right holes. She also likes using the bucket to haul other stuff around in. We’re learning colors and shapes! My little one loves this toy. Right now she’s exploring everything and improving her dexterity – along with mouthing everything. Soon, she’ll be interested in figuring out where the shaped blocks belong through the lid. She’s also dropping everything in sight – another developmental milestone. The bucket, top, and blocks are durable and colorful. She enjoys playing with them and I love watching her do so! You can’t go wrong with this buy.

  • Baby can sort and stack and learn to identify and match shapes
  • Shape-sorting lid and 5 different shapes help build early identification skills
  • 10 colorful blocks are easy to grasp, hold and store inside bucket
  • Carry handle for take-along fun
  • Interactive learning aid

Click here for more information: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks

You can find more educational and fun toys that will teach a child a new skills in fun way, see; Bestsellers in Baby and Toddler Toys here. Bestselling Baby and Toddler Toys

Also see: Ultimate, Thoughtful and Useful Gifts For Kids – Only Guide You Will Need

Top 5 Infant Carseats

Little babies are precious, very first thing they need when you leave the hospital is infant car seat. We have picked the best and safest infant car seat to choose for your little precious.

1. Chico Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base

Rating: 4.5 Stars

chico carseat

This is a great infant car seat. As stated in the description, you’re able to keep your baby in a much safer rear-facing position for a longer period of time. In the event of a crash, what this means is that your baby’s body won’t take the brunt of the impact, the seat will do most of the work.

Originally, I was considering more flashy and expensive European car seats, but then I spoke with my neighbor. Part of her responsibilities in working for our local police force involves helping parents properly install their car seats. She let me know that many of the infant car seats on the market aren’t worth the hype, but she highly recommended the Chicco Keyfit 30 for the reasons I stated in the paragraph above.

Indeed she was right. Not only is this clearly very well constructed, including neat details such as bubble levels on the base, but it’s also stylish and functional as well. Most importantly, it’s a snap to install… PROPERLY! And that’s a feature not many other car seats can boast.

Key Features:

  • The easiest infant car seat to install
  • No.1 rated infant car seat in America
  • 5-point harness adjusts with one hand
  • Full body inserts for newborns 4-11 pounds to protect smaller babies
  • Seat interior lined with EPS energy absorbing foam for increased impact protection

Click here for best value on : Chico Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base


2. Graco  Classic Infant Car Seat

Graco’s top-rated  Classic Connect 30 LX infant car seat is a favorite of moms and is consistently a top pick of respected consumer magazines. It is for infant who weighs from 4 lbs to 30 bs weight. The SnugRide Classic Connect 30 LX has been rigorously crash tested to meet or even exceed all United States safety standards. So, that it will give you as a parent a peace of mind when it comes to carrying your baby.  What I like is that this infant carseat  is compatible with all Graco Classic Connect strollers, so you can make your own travel system with carseat and stroller. It comes with infant support headgear for smaller baby and removes easily to create more space for a growing baby.

The SnugRide Classic Connect 30 LX comes equipped with a LATCH-equipped stay-in-car base, for extra-easy installation of all Graco Classic Connect infant car seats. Has security harness, comes with rotating canpoy visor to protect your baby’s eyes. Cover is machine washable.

Key Features

  • LATCH-equipped, stay-in-car base simplifies transporting your baby
  • Easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate installation guesswork
  • 5-point harness to help keep your child secure
  • 3-panel rotating canopy to shield baby from bright light
  • Machine washable seat pad
  • Compatible with all Graco Classic Connect strollers, so you can create your own custom travel systems

Click here for the best value on Graco Classic Infant Car Seat

3. Britax  Infant Carseat

I do love this car seat. It is incredibly safe, despite the recall, and feels very sturdy. The straps do not require re-threading as your child gets taller. You just move the straps up a notch on the back to accommodate the extra height. This seat has been a perfect fit from birth (8.5 lbs) to 1 year at 22-23 lbs. The seat actually still fits him because it accommodates a lot of length. The head support (wing-looking things) adjust in height as well as you adjust the straps so we still have at least an inch above his head. We are moving on to the next seat as winter is here, and he cannot fit in there anymore with bulky sweaters.

The downside to the height is that it doesn’t fit in a ton of cars. I had read this before purchasing it, and it is definitely something to consider. I have fit it in an Explorer, Suburban and Lexus RX. But, it is one of the larger car seats that I have seen. It is also fairly heavy even before you even get the little on in there.

From a safety standpoint, it receives excellent reviews, and I have heard nothing but rave reviews regarding Britax as a brand. We had a car seat technician install it for us, who raved about the Britax brand, and she indicated that they make the seats fool-proof, which I can appreciate.

  • True side impact protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion
  • Anti-rebound bar stabilizes child seat by minimizing rotational forces associated with front and rear collisions
  • Quick-adjust head restraint and no-retread harness easily adjust the harness shoulder height and head restraint without disassembling the harness
  • 30-pound weight capacity for safety and comfort through the first years
  • Ergonomic carry-handle designed to contour to forearm to allow for more comfortable carrying of child in carrier

Click here for best value on: Britax Infant Carseat

4. Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat

This is a different version from Graco Sungride 35, from above. Overall, a great seat for it’s intended use!! The fabric is soft, and it comes with infant head support. Having it comes with 2 bases helps. The straps are sturdy and adjusts easily for a growing baby. It also comes with Canopy to hide baby’s eyes from sun rays. This infant carseat has limit up to 35 lbs and 30 inches of height. With the included and convenient stay-in-car base, you can install it once and then just connect your car seat with a moment’s notice. You can also pick up a second stay-in-car base for another parent or caregiver to install in their vehicle. It comes in gender neutral color great for a baby boy or baby girl. This car seat features a machine-washable seat pad, which is a great bonus for busy moms like you: it means that it’s easy to clean, must for any baby product.

Key Features:

  • Compatibility with most Graco strollers lets you create custom built travel systems
  • Convenient, stay-in-car base with seat belt lock-off and adjustment dial to help insure secure installation
  • Engineered and crash tested to meet or exceed U.S. standard
  • 5-point harness with front adjustment helps keep Baby secure
  • 180° Rotating Canopy with peek-a-boo window helps shade your child from any direction

Click here for for best value on:  Graco Snugride 35 Infant Car Seat

5. Safety 1st onBoard 35 Infant Car Seat

You can start your little one off on the right road with the Safety 1st onBoard 35 infant car seat. It has 17% more leg room than most infant car seats and a harness specially designed to fit tiny travelers. This car seat is best for small  4 pounders to a tall 35 pounds. With easy Carry Curve handle makes for comfortable transport between the car and wherever you need to go.  Side impact protection. Adjustable stay-in-car base. 5-point harness system with up front harness adjustment. Removable, washable pad. Meets or exceeds Federal Safety Standards. The car seat is light weight but it is durable and safe for infants. With it’s easy to carry handle making it easy to carry in and from the car to home or wherever you are going.

Key Features:

  • Rear-facing 4-35 pounds
  • 17% more legroom than most infant car seats
  • Side impact protection
  • Removable, washable pad
  • Meets or exceeds Federal Safety Standards

Click here to find best value on: Safety 1st onBoard 35 Infant Car Seat

Also see: Ultimate, Thoughtful and Useful Gifts For Kids – Only Guide You Will Need