Early Years Lil' Shopper Play Set
(International Playthings $24.99 Score:)

A charming little felt shopping bag that holds five fabric pieces of "food" created in a variety of textures. There's a yellow banana with pull down peel, crunchy sound and corded texture; a green lettuce with a happy face stitched on the center and green crunchy leaves and a rattle inside; a silky nylon red plum tomato with a green felt leaf and chime inside; a shiny blue vinyl milk container with a cow on the front and when you "open" the top there's a small mirror inside; and there's a textured orange that has a happy face and lifts up to reveal the "cut" fruit!  Good fun for tracking games with the littlest baby, for fill and dump games that sitting up babies will enjoy, and perfect for developing language. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.  We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sassy Rock and Roll Developmental Gym
(Sassy $49.99 Score:)

This rock and roll theme translates into a pleasingly bright mat that is done in a variety of interesting fabrics and textures.  The archs are easy to put together and there are several adjustable and removable rattles that hang down for your baby to gaze at in the beginning.  Our favorite is the rattle that sounds like an old-fashion chime.  Eventually your baby will be able to bat at them.  It comes with a mirror that you can place at the bottom of one of the arcs--this is ideal for tummy time play. There is also a mirror that you can put above the baby. There is electronic music...not our all time favorite but you don't have to use it.  Our parents also liked that the mat was light and easy to carry. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.   We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sassy Sensory Ball Set
(Sassy $9.99 Score:) Looking for something to play with your sitting up baby? One ball has interesting fabric textures to touch (and taste), another has another smaller jingle ball safely enclosed - with slates so that babies can pick it up and turn it, and the last ball has bumps all over it--also interesting to explore. This set can be used in so many ways! You can use them for first games of roly poly. You can also play peek-a-boo games by placing one of the balls under a blanket and then watch as your baby pulls it off! Balls are also great ways of encouraging babies to crawl!! For more activities take a look at our book Read It! Play It! with Babies and Toddlers. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Sassy Wonder Wheel
(Sassy $8.99 Score:)

This has become our new favorite highchair toy!  The wonder wheel moves with ease when your sitting up baby or toddler touches it.  Our testers loved putting it in motion and watching the little beads inside cascade.  The beads are safely enclosed and make a pleasing (but not overly loud or annoying sound) as they spin.  A perfect example of a toy being right on the mark in terms of developmental appropriateness and design without a lot of costly and unnecessary bells and whistles!  The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements.  We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Tolo Gripper Rattle
(Reeves International $10 Score:)

We're delighted that this previous Platinum Award winning toy is back in the market. What we wrote in 2000: This rollable rattle has four easy to grip handles and an hour glass shape inside with tiny balls that roll from side to side with a sound that is interesting without a jarring startle. This is a good one for two handed play as well as crawling go get it games.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2011.