Today, I'm in the mood to review one of Osam's toys: the Tulip Sound Book from SmartBear!
When my wife first brought it home, I assumed it was just another toy that made a slight sound when Osam shook it. But, to my surprise, each button I pressed was a delight, reminding me of the nursery rhymes I heard as a kid. The toy is simple enough for a baby, yet it offers various songs and produces unique sounds when shaken in sync with the melodies.
Tulip Sound Book
We have two colors at home: white-pink and red. It seems there are many varieties of the white tulip, distinguishable by the handle's color. Both toys have the same buttons: volume control, pause, and next track. The songs included reminded me of the ones I frequently listened to as a child. My wife even referred to it as the "national tulip." And I understood why after hearing the songs. Beyond the nostalgic melodies, the added fun comes from the unique sounds it makes when shaken.
When Osam was younger, the light from the tulip seemed perfect for visual development. Shaking it helped with muscle development, while the songs and sounds catered to auditory growth. As Osam grows, I believe he'll enjoy looking at the pictures and singing along with the tunes. Another advantage? The detachable feature makes it easy to store.
Melody Stick
The Melody Stick's basic button layout was similar to the Tulip's, but what made it stand out was its silicone leaf texture. It's safe even if Osam chews or sucks on it, providing a new tactile sensation. We have a version with lullabies, which seems perfect for bedtime.
Ice Cream Toy
This toy, named "Banana Pong Pong Ice Cream," had a slightly different button layout, including an intriguing "Merong(?) button". The sounds produced when shaken and the 'Merong' button sound differ, encouraging Osam to explore more than just shaking the toy. If you're unfamiliar with the song lyrics, there's a QR code included on the ice cream card. As mentioned earlier, I appreciate how SmartBear toys cater to auditory, visual, and tactile development in babies. I look forward to the day Osam and I can sing along with these toys, even though that might be a while away.
Osam's mom knit rabbit bells hoping Osam would enjoy playing with them. It's her attempt at rivaling the allure of the Tulip Sound Book.
During cleanup, I realized most baby toys using batteries are secured with screws, probably to prevent babies from accessing and potentially swallowing the batteries. For reference, they use AAA batteries.
Recorded on March 29, 2023.