Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33 in Baby Product
• Brand: LeapFrog
• Model: 10002
• Dimensions: 14.00" h x 10.00" w x 6.75" l, 1.75 pounds

Features

• Play soothing classical music at night or play songs and learning games during the day
• Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Learning
• Perceptual Skills--bright colours and flashing lights stimulate shape and depth awareness
• Reasoning Skills--interactive play helps children connect action with reaction, symbols with sounds and words with meaning
• Motor Skills--children develop fine motor skills as they physically press buttons to choose a shape, song or kiss
• Learning Development--hug & Learn Baby Tad provides a positive and rewarding early-learning experience
• Manufacturer's Age Recommendation: 9 months and up
• Requires 2xAA batteries (included)

Amazon.co.uk Review
What better way is there to introduce a child to learning? Baby Tad is an adorable, soft and cuddly frog who talks and sings and teaches shapes, colours and songs at the same time. He comes brightly coloured with flashing lights, friendly smiley face and a high, chirpy voice and sings six well-known and well-loved songs, including "Hickory Dickory Dock", "If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Oh Where, Oh Where has my Little Dog Gone?", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep".

Turn him on and he'll say "Hi I'm Baby Tad, Lets Sing" and begin his enthusiastic play. In "Daytime" play mode, babies can press the smiley shapes on his bib has six buttons for a response. Babies are encouraged to press the button which is lit, and are rewarded with enthusiastic greetings and songs. Baby Tad also says cute phrases that babies will love at random times, such as "Peekaboo, I see you" and "Lets Snuggle". Press, or kiss the pink lip button on his cheek and Baby Tad kisses back, saying "mmmwahh, I love you!"

Possibly the most useful feature on the new and improved Baby Tad is the brand new "Night-time" phrase, a brilliant idea for babies who like familiar songs to go to sleep to. This mode is calming rather than interactive. Baby Tad can be programmed play up to six minutes of soothing classical music and lights, simply by pressing his hand, once, twice, and so on, up to six times for six minutes. He will announce "one minute to night night, two minutes to night night" etc: and the music then plays for the allotted time and stops without ceremony, a comforting series of tunes which will help lull little ones to sleep.

While using the toy, children can develop perceptual and reasoning skills; motor skills are also enhanced as children physically push a flashing shape, song and "kiss" buttons. Playing with Baby Tad also provides opportunities for exploration, creativity and social development, all necessary ingredients for children's learning. The toy is accompanied by an excellent parents' guide and instruction manual which is straightforward and easy to follow, has a handy volume control on the battery box and comes complete with three AA batteries.

This toy is recommended by the manufacturer for toddlers aged nine months and over. --Susan Naylor

Manufacturer's Description

With every cuddle, kiss and squeeze, Baby Tad engages and soothes your little one.

Babies squeeze the sun on the daytime hand to hear six happy, active songs and to play a fun learning game - flashing lights follow the beat and guide babies to the color and shape buttons on Baby Tad's chest. And this adorable friend's cheerful encouragement and cute laugh make learning a delight.

When it's time for bed or for a long trip, your baby just squeezes the moon on the nighttime hand to play up to six minutes of uninterrupted classical music. This music soothes even the most active toddlers. The Hug & Learn Baby Tad Plush features a volume control. The actual item may vary from the photographs and/or illustrations.

Music & Creativity Music helps develop a child's imagination and creativity — and provides a fun, rewarding learning experience. Music stimulates a newborn's brain, creating pathways for future learning, such as speech. Exposing children to music also enhances long-term ability to perform higher brain mathematical functions, and it encourages movement, self-expression and social interactions.

Customer Reviews

"Pick up Baby Tad"
This is a bright and colourful interactive character. From a very young age a baby is instinctively attracted to its large eyes and wide mouth. As you child develops he/she will find the flashing lights entertaining, and the music captivating.

Apart from its apeal to infants and toddlers, it has obvious teaching uses - shapes, colours and songs. More importantly it teaches large motor skills (to squeeze his hands) and fine motor skills (pressing a single shape) by rewarding the baby with light and sound.

Some less obvious advantages are Tad's mentorship and social graces. When activated he greets and introduces himself, and on switching off sais "bye-bye". When left alone for a while he asks to be picked up, which has helped me teach my little one to care for her toys. Not only is he polite and lovable, but he speaks to (not at) your child in a friendly toddlers voice. Pronounciation is also excellent!

I have not liked any similar toys as much - this one is simple and clear to a toddler, elegant and sophisticated, and develops the user in more ways than you would believe! It also has a usefull auto-off function. Do however remember(before you discard the guarantee papers) to check that you dont have any "hard" or "sticky" buttons because these may frustrate young fingers.

I can only encourage in the words of the little green frog...go on "Pick up Baby Tad!"

Baby Tad
Baby Tad was a pressie my son got at his christening and one of the best toys he has. It has 2 settings so he goes to sleep while listening to 6 mins of calming music, great for helping set a routine!. When he wakes he will play with the toy himself and it has a number if day time songs and lights that keep him amused. He loves it and I will hear him laughing away with it. If you can live with the frog's very american accent this is a great buy.

Your child will like this toy more than you do!
I have to admit, when this lurid green frog first arrived, I wasn't willing to give him house space, largely because he sings in a very annoying voice, with an American accent. However, he is still here, because my 11 month old daughter loves him, and I must admit that I can now recognise some of his finer qualities. She beams at him as he sings away, and the little lights that flash from the shapes on his bib seem mesmerising. In night time mode (once you get past the annoying "1 minute to night night" in that irritating voice) Baby Tad actually plays some really soothing bed-time tunes.
Be prepared for your children to like this toy more than you do!