Winkel & Sophie: Toy Review Tuesday


Teething bites. It would have been really nice to have had a longer reprieve between my colic abating and my acid reflux resolving itself and starting to cut my first tooth. Mommy has started to call me Mr. Crankypants, which is not a nickname I’m sure that I like – even if I have earned it.

I have been putting EVERYTHING that will fit in my mouth and biting down to massage my aching gums, but there are some items that I clearly prefer.

1 – Hands – My hands are ALWAYS in my mouth these days; it’s amazing how much of my fist can fit in there without any teeth in the way. I push them so far back that I gag myself, but that doesn’t bother me… I don’t discriminate against other people’s hands either – I spend a lot of time chomping down on Mommy’s hands, too.

2 – My Winkel – Made by Manhattan Toys, my winkel is a tangle of hollow plastic tubing with a cube-shaped rattle in the center. Amazon.com says “Stunning colors give this perennial favorite a lively look. Babies will be engaged and amused by the responsive rattle, and caregivers can safely refrigerate this pliable plastic toy to produce a soothing teether.

I never thought of putting it in the refrigerator, but I like manipulating it at room temperature. The tubes are small enough for me to grip comfortably and there are lots of spaces for me to grab on to. I can also fit my arm through the gaps and wear my Winkel like a bracelet. I’ve only recently started using this toy as a teether and sometimes it’s hard to get the tubes positioned correctly to get in my mouth – sometimes I try putting it in vertically, which just doesn’t work and ends up getting me frustrated. This toy is fun to play with and I like all the bright colors, but as a rattle it’s not great. The sound is very quiet – not loud and percussive enough to really get my attention. Mommy gives me my Winkel to keep me occupied while she is changing my diaper so I don’t wiggle too much.

3 – My Sophie – Sophie the giraffe is “full of discoveries and activities to awaken baby’s senses! Sight: The dark and contrasting spots all over Sophie the Giraffe’s body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby. She soon becomes a familiar and reassuring objet. Hearing: Her squeaker keeps baby amused, stimulates his hearings, and helps him to understand the link between cause and effect. Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is very flexible and has lots of parts for baby to chew (ears, horns, legs). She is perfect for soothing baby’s sore gums when teething and is completely safe. Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint. Touch: Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby’s small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to touch, just like baby’s mummy, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber (from Hevea tree) makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys,” according to Vulli. Ummmmm, okay… I guess they have to write all that to justify charging $20 for something that looks an awful lot like a toy for Henry – Mommy’s glad she got mine with rewards points!

vs.
Squeaky? Check. Rubber? Check. Made to be chewed on? Check. Seems like you could head to Petco and save yourself $14.

I do love my Sophie, though. As soon as I got it, I started nomming away. I can easily hold on to the head, the neck, or the legs, and I can chew on all of those parts, too.

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One Comment

  1. Hi Cole. Thanks for checking out my blog the other day.
    I have one of those winkel toys too, or something like it. It's really easy for my little fingers to hold on to it. It's my favorite toy.

    Hopefully you and your family are warm and healthy,

    Kaitlyn

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