Most every adult has had the experience of being driven nuts by a toddler toy that plays the same song over. And over. And over. Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t referring to tykes in his quote, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds…”–but it’s an apt description nevertheless. My niece just started college, yet I still remember the opening drum riff of the Mickey Mouse marching-band toy she got on her first birthday.
So it’s no wonder that Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes is currently the top-rated toy on Amazon.com. It’s priced at well under $10, comes with seven sweet extended classical music pieces to keep baby busy or relaxed, as the case may be (and Mommy/Daddy sane). It has a carry handle and lights that sync with the music, and uses 2 AA batteries (included). It’s lightweight–only 3.7 ounces–and baby can toggle through the music selection by pressing an easy-to-use button.
Take Along Tunes features “baby-friendly” versions music by composers Chopin, Vivaldi, Mozart & Rossini, among others. Although the manufacturer recommends it for babies 3 months and older, many parents report using it even earlier.
Buy it here.
Susan Moss is an owner/partner in BabyNames.com and is a freelance bookkeeper in Chicago, Illinois.