Fun with Jungle Junction - Toy Review

If you've got a pre-schooler it's likely you'll be familiar with Jungle Junction, one of Disney Juniors most popular shows! And if you anything like me you've probably spent a day or two with the catchy theme tune stuck in your head! (Yes I have been caught singing it at the bus stop!)

If you're not familiar with Zooter, Ellyvan, Bungo, Taxicrab and the rest of the Jungle Jungle gang then here's a quick catch up...

Jungle Junction follows a group of part animal, part vehicle characters as they embark on fun, fast moving adventures around the jungle. The BAFTA nominated animated series encourages children to recognise signs and symbols and 'help' the friendly characters find their way!

Now children can create their own Jungle Junction adventures at home as Flair have launched a range of fantastic new Jungle Junction toys and play sets!

We were sent a selection of the new Jungle Junction toy range to review, here's what we thought of them...

Zooter Plush Toy

This cute and cuddly soft toy comes with inline wheels attached just like the loveable character from the show! Suitable from 10 months this is an ideal toy for younger Jungle Junction fans! The bright colours catch their attention and the soft ears are ideal for little hands to grab hold of. The facial features are all embroidered on so are safe even when little monsters decide to have a chew! Elizabeth is 14 months and loves cuddling up to her new pink fluffy friend and her older brother Ben likes to show her how it can race across the floor! This is also available in Bungo and retails at £9.99.

Pull Back Ellyvan

Perhaps my favourite character from Jungle Junction, The Pull back Ellyvan is a favourite with both my children! Suitable from 12 months this friction powered vehicle also has opening doors inside which Ben loves to hide smaller toys, and a movable trunk that Elizabeth enjoys turning round and round to create a clicking noise which always makes her burst into giggles! The moving parts and pull back mechanism encourage her to explore and discover! This chunky toy is a great size for a toddler of Elizabeth's age to handle while also being sturdy and quite light if she should drop it! (Which she has done a few times!) We have had hours of imaginative play with this and I am sure we have lots more to come! This at £7.99 which I think is a really good price for a great quality toddler toy.

 

 

Wheel Around Fun Set

When Ben saw the Wheel Around Fun Set he got very excited! He at this point decided that all the other toys were 'baby' toys for Elizabeth but this was for him! And he was right, as due to the small parts this set is only suitable from age 3+. The set includes 3 small wheelie characters, (Ellyvan, Zooter and Bungo) a selection of Road signs, a scenery playmat and stickers! Ben loves racing the characters around the play scene with Bungo holding the signs and directing the others! This set really encourages imaginative play and I was amazed at how may different scenarios Ben came up with from just this small set!

The only negative this I have to say about this, is that the playmat is made of relatively thin card and like many young children mine can get a bit over excited sometimes which did cause this to get ripped. We popped some tape on it and are still able to play with it so it wasn't really a problem.
 This great little set retails at £9.99 and would make a great gift for any three or four year old!

 

 

Taxicrab bath Squirter

This cute and fun Taxicrab bath squirter is one of five that can be collected! Also available in Hippobus, Ellyvan, Zooter and Toadhog, they're suitable from 12 months and provided lots of splashy bathtime fun for both Ben and Elizabeth! At just £3.99 each these are a great pocket money buy!

 

 

 

Also available in the range are the Jungle Playset, Hippobus and bettlebugs playset and Roadsigns with Bungo and Zooter, visit Flair's website   to find out more about these...

The Jungle Playset

Overall the whole range was a hit with the Mymummyspennies family! Ben loves the wheel around fun set and even after the playmat was damaged he still loves to make his own little roads and courses for the characters! While Elizabeth's favourite has to be the Zooter plush, as she has being carrying around with her everywhere!

 

 

I like the fact that there is a selection of different types of toys suitable for a wide age range and going from pocket money items to the larger playsets that would make an ideal birthday gift!

These are really fun toys that encourage imaginative play in both younger toddlers and pre-schoolers, and they aren't likely to break after a few uses (well not the important bits anyway!)

 

We were set these lovely Jungle Junction toys from flair in exchanging for this review, all opinions are my own.

PlayDuvet Review!

A giant Playmat and a portable playroom...

I was delighted to recently be given the opportunity to review a fabulous new product to the nursery market! I'd read a few things about this new 'giant playmat' after it's launch at the Excel Baby show last Autumn and was intrigued! Like most Mummies I had bought a playmat for my baby, which was fine for the first few months but as Elizabeth started to get mobile, she would roll off it all the time and it soon got left unused. It also wasn't very padded so although it was ok in the carpeted rooms, if I wanted to bring Elizabeth through to play on it while I was cleaning or cooking in the kitchen it didn't offer much protection from the cold hard floors...

When I heard about the Playduvet I thought this could be the answer!

It was created by a mum that needed a safe, soft, clean space for her 4 month old to play once she started rolling over, fearful of her hitting her head on hard, wood floors she could find nothing on the market thick enough to protect her, fun enough to stimulate her and big enough to stop her rolling off straight away, so she set about making the first PlayDuvet!

I loved the idea of the PlayDuvet, a Giant playmat which not only gives baby plenty of space to explore, it is also lovely and padded as you use it over a duvet!

The PlayDuvet arrived in it's own matching bag and I was very surprised at how compact it was! After seeing pictures of it in action on the website I couldn't believe how small it folded down! My first thoughts were how ideal it would be for travelling, whether taking it on holiday or just staying at the grandparents, it would hardly take up any space at all and would be very useful to have a safe 'playarea' for both Elizabeth and Ben when away from home!

The PlayDuvet is essentially designed as a double duvet cover so you just pop it on a spare double duvet, zip it up (the zip is hidden underneath away from curious hands) and .. Tada! You have a giant playmat that is not only lovely and padded to protect little ones from cold hard floors but is also covered with giant colourful squares which provide a selection of sensory play!

 

The squares are made from different textured fabrics and there are a variety of bright coloured patterns and bold black and white shapes to capture even the youngest baby's interest!



The 60cm by 60cm squares all have different features for little ones to explore, from the bright bold patterns, to the soft fleecy white shapes on black backgrounds with hidden crinkle and squeaky noises and the taggies in a variety of colours and fabrics, the playduvet offers lots to grab and hold a little ones attention!

 

There are elements to stimulate a baby's development right from the start. It would be ideal from birth as the thickness of the duvet provides a lovely soft, safe place to lie down and 'play' with your newborn, and as their vision develops the bold black and white shapes will capture baby's attention and provide focus during 'tummy time'. Another plus is it provides a comfy soft surface for Mummy to lie on while entertaining a young baby on the floor!

As baby develops and starts to roll the play duvet would provide a lovely large area for them to explore, and as they go on to sit up and begin to crawl this giant playmat offers a soft landing should they lose their balance and topple over!

Elizabeth was 13 months when we started using the Playduvet and I can see how useful it would have been through earlier stages of her development, I really wish it had been around sooner! However all is not lost as it's here now and is invaluable for older babies and toddlers too!

Elizabeth is currently at the stage where she is crawling confidently and taking some tentative steps, but she hasn't quite got her balance yet so often ends up on her bottom, the Playduvet provides her with a safe, soft landing each and every time this happens!

The bright colours and shapes caught Elizabeth's attention as soon as she saw it and she immediately crawled over to play with some of the 'taggies', she was delighted to discover the hidden noises under the soft shapes, the crinkles had her giggling away to herself when she crawled over them and it was Ben who first discovered the squeaks much to both of their delight!

Both Ben and Elizabeth enjoy sitting and playing with their toys on the PlayDuvet, It's so spacious that they can easily have a few things out at the same time, It's also great for staying organised as they keep everything they're playing with in their 'play space' rather than being dotted around various areas of the room. (Although I still manage to stand on the one piece of Lego that escapes!)

It's great for spending quality time as a family, plenty big enough for Mummy, Ben and Elizabeth (and even Daddy on a weekend!) to play a game together or snuggle up and read a story. Elizabeth finds it so comfy she'll often take a nap on it!

It really is a portable playroom! If I need to go and do some dishes in the kitchen or some ironing up stairs I can just pick it up (without the children on of course!!) and move it to wherever I wish, toys and all! Elizabeth can then carry on playing near me and I can get on with some chores!

It's also washable so unlike other playmats or gyms I have had where a spillage, sicky or a leaky nappy meant an hour of scrubbing, with the playduvet you just take it off and pop it in the washing machine! A waterproof cover is also available separately to go as an extra layer underneath and protect your duvet, this would be ideal for during potty training!

This is an product that I can see using for years to come, and is ideal for growing families! Perfect for playdates or even childminders the playduvet provides a safe multi-sensory envirnmont that encorages play!

Since having my children and being involved in writing reviews of baby and child items, I have come across many fantastic innovative products, but I have to say that this is the one I wish I had thought of myself! It just seems to tick every box, it's fun, it's entertaining, its good quality, it's safe, it's portable, it's washable, it promotes family time and stimulates child development! What's not to like?

So where can I buy it? And how much is it? I hear you ask...

The fabulous PlayDuvet and it's accessories (including waterproof cover, cusion covers and a branded luggage strap) can all be purchased from www.playduvet.com.

The playduvet on it's own costs £75 or you can purchase a Playduvet Bundle offer that includes the Playduvet and the complete set of accessories for just £99.50 (saving £11!)

Although this cost may seem a little high for a playmat, the playduvet is so many other things! Standard playmats that are usually less than a quarter of the size of this and can cost anything from £15 to £35, from my experience these are only really used until a baby starts to roll over (around four months), where as this 'portable playroom' will last (and be used) from birth to toddlerdom and beyond! So it's really fantastic Value for Money!

I find that when your having a baby you receive so many 'throwaway' or duplicate gifts, why not ask a few family members or friends to club together and get something you know you will use like the fabulous Playduvet?

Wild Sheep Baltic Amber Teething Necklace Review and Competition!

Competition now closed! And the very lucky winner is....   Bex (@OhNoItsBex)!!!

Bex please email mymummyspennies@gmail.com with you contact details so I can pass them on to the lovely peeps at Wildsheep to have your prize sent out to you!

Thank you to everyone who entered! And don't forget we currently have 3 more fabulous competitions running so you could still be a winner! Check them out here... http://mymummyspennies.blogspot.com/search/label/Competitions

Well as you may know My almost 10 month old daughter got her first tooth through today! It's been a long time coming as she first started to get teething symptoms back in April and at the time I thought those toothy pegs would be appearing any day! It was back then when I was first introduced to the idea of Baltic Amber. Another mummy revealed to me that when wearing his necklace her little one had actually had teeth come though without her noticing!

The idea of something natural that would ease Elizabeth's pain and discomfort really appealed to me and within a few weeks Elizabeth has started wearing her Baltic Amber teething Anklet. She has now been wearing this everyday for over four months and not only does it look very pretty and attract some lovely comments, I really notice the difference in her when she's wearing it, compared to when I forget to put it back on after swimming or bathtime! At the time I chose an anklet as I wasn't very confident about having something around the neck of such a young baby.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by another company that sells Baltic Amber Jewellery asking if I would be interested in reviewing one of their teething necklaces. As Elizabeth is now older and I could see the discomfort from her swollen gums was growing I thought it was an ideal opportunity to see how she got on with wearing an Amber necklace.

WildSheep is a family run business based in southeast Buckinghamshire. It was founded by a Brazilian and a New Zealander who decided to start WildSheep to sell baby products that are free from harsh chemicals and offer natural & organic alternatives for mums & babies.

WildSheep make beautiful Amber Necklaces with authentic Baltic amber beads and 50/50 cotton & silk thread. Each necklace is unique and knotted between each bead, so if the necklace breaks only one bead will come off and the remaining beads stay intact. The screw clasp will also release if excessive force is applied, ensuring the highest safety.

Genuine Baltic amber teething necklaces are a traditional European remedy for baby teething pain, which have been used for centuries. A natural analgesic, amber will help to calm baby without the use of over-the-counter drugs and remedies.

Wildsheep's well layed out and simple to use website features Amber necklaces for both mother and baby in a wide selection of colours and 5 different lengths. They offer the beads in 3 styles, Split, Olive or Baroque.

We were sent a 33cm Baroque Cognac Necklace for Elizabeth to wear. These necklaces are suitable for both boys and girls from 3-4 months of age onwards, and as teething can continue for 2 or more years, it is never too late for your child to start wearing Baltic Amber.

It arrived in a lovely organza bag with an informative leaflet which included information on how to care for Baltic Amber Necklaces and the healing powers of Baltic Amber.

The necklace itself was a lovely deep brown colour with smooth round beads. The clasp is made up of two plastic beads, one of which screws into the other, and it is strong enough to withstand a firm tug but will release if excessive force is applied, ensuring the highest safety. The beads were small and smooth, warm to the touch and are double knotted in between each one so if it was to break only one bead would be released.

Elizabeth has been wearing the necklace for a few weeks now (only during the day, with it being around her neck we remove it at night unlike her anklet which is secure inside the leg of her babygrow) and it doesn't seem to bother her, she doesn't try to play with it or pull on it as I thought she may. The colour of the necklace is lovely but personally I think it would would be more suited to a brown eyed darker haired baby rather than my blond, blue eyed daughter! I also think that this lovely bold Cognac colour would be great for Mummies who want to try baltic amber on their little boys but are worried that 'jewellrey' may look a bit girly!

As for the soothing and pain relieving properties, Elizabeth has been having teething symptoms for a few months now and she doesn't seem to have suffered much more in the last few days while her first tooth has been emerging through the gum. She has also been drooling a lot less! I like to think that the Baltic Amber has has a part to play in easing her pain and keeping her (relatively) calm!

I would recommend Baltic Amber teething necklaces to any Mummies looking for a natural alternative for teething pain relief. Wildsheep have a great selection on their website at great value prices! The necklace we were sent costs just £12.99 plus P&P which is really good value considering how much it could save you on teething gels and powders!

Check out their full range of gorgeous necklaces at http://www.wildsheep.co.uk.

Don’t forget to visit their Facebook page and “LIKE” them to receive the latest news about competitions, freebies and new products! 

The lovely ladies at Wildsheep have generously offered one Mymummyspennies reader the chance to win one of their beautiful Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces!

To enter:

-like both Wildsheep and Mymummyspennies on facebook
-pop over to www.wildsheep.co.uk register your details here for their newsletter http://www.wildsheep.co.uk/index.aspx?pageid=859715&flg=1 then take a look at their fabulous selection
- return here and comment below with your favourite product from their site and why (also stating a way of contacting you if you win)

(these three steps make up one entry)

For up to 4 EXTRA entries:

-Follow Mymummyspennies on Google Friend Connect or Networked blogs

-Follow @Mymummyspennies on Twitter

-Share this competition on Twitter
'I want to win a WildSheep necklace with @Mymummyspennies http://bit.ly/ndn4Ta'

-Share this competition on facebook
'I want to win a @WildSheep necklace with @Mymummyspennies http://bit.ly/ndn4Ta'

(please leave an extra comment below per extra entriy)

t's and c's

• winner will be selected by random draw
• open to residents of UK only.
• Facebook is no way affiliated with this competition.
• If the winner does not contact me within 3 days of their name being chosen another winner will be drawn.
• Competition will close 9pm 30th September 2011. 
• only entries that have complied with the rules of entry will be valid.
• The prize is a Baltic Amber teething necklace from www.wildsheep.co.uk, actual design is subject to change

We have a tooth!! Some Mummy Saving Products that have helped us on our teething Journey!

It's been a while getting here, but my daughter Elizabeth Rose had her first tooth through today!!!!

If you are a regular reader you will probably be aware that my daughter Elizabeth has been showing signs of teething for over four months now! I was starting to think she would be One before her first tooth made an appearance! She has had swollen gums, puffy red cheeks, temperatures and been gumming on everything on and off since May! But yesterday when she was 9 months and 23 days old her very first tooth appeared!

The teething experience with Elizabeth has been very different than with my son Ben, who is now 4. He first showed signs of teething at four months and the first tooth appeared 2 days later, then within 8 weeks he had 6 teeth! I'm not saying he didn't suffer, we went through plenty of teething gel, and nelsons teetha granules (and on a couple of occasions when he had a temperature calpol) but it all seemed so quick and relatively easy in comparison to the last few months with his little sister!

Since Elizabeth first started showing signs of teething I have been lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to try some fantastic and innovative teething products and write reviews for them on this blog to share my thoughts with you lovely readers!

Well we've certainly discovered some Mummy Saving Buys that are really worth Mummies Pennies!

Every teething product I have reviewed on here still gets used on an regular basis and I would recommend them all! I wear one of my fantastic Teething Bling pendants everyday (I now have them in two colours!) which Elizabeth loves gumming away on and playing with while breastfeeding. She wears the beautiful Dino-Daisy Baltic Amber Teething Anklet all the time and only takes it off for bath time and swimming! The NUBY Twisty Bugs Teether toy really entertains Elizabeth as well as giving her a variety of surfaces to chew on and is always on hand in the changing bag when we go out!

There are two more recent teething products that we have been sent to review that you'll be able to read about very soon. The fabulously natural and sustainable Hevea Panda Soother and the Baroque Cognac Amber Teething Necklace from Wildsheep.

Of course we have still had teething gel, Nelson's Teetha granules and Calpol in the cupboard but with the help of these other teething aids they have rarely been needed! I would like to thank the lovely companies that have given me the opportunity to review their products for helping us get to this point!

I will now start on the adventure of breastfeeding a baby with a tooth!! Any breastfeeding Mummies who can reassure me it not as bad as I'm imagining??