[.uk] Fisher-Price Baby Playzone Basketball

Editorial Review:
Baby Playzone Basketball This is a fun, highly interactive basketball hoop that provides an opportunity for toddlers to exercise and practice their hand-eye coordination--it also delivers plenty of fun, colorful stimulation. Dropping balls through the hoop triggers the funny, spinning noise-making face in the middle of the backboard, as does dropping them through the holes on either side of the basket. These holes lead through tubes that lead to the base of the basket, providing endless toddler fascination as the balls disappear and reappear. A terrific toy even for those little ones not destined to join the (W)NBA. --David Stoesz

Baby likes it, but very tippy:
My 9 month old daughter got this toy for christmas. She is at the crawling/pulling up on everything stage. She also has the pull up ball blast which uses the same balls (which is nice). The problem with this toy is that she can't use it to pull up, which any child this age would naturally try to do on anything the right height. I had seen the picture preivously and it was smaller than I expected (but the perfect height for her) even a baby sitting up in front of it can put the balls in. However, in order for her to use it, I had to tie it to the corner of my coffee table so it wouldn't just fall right over on top of her. Pros: Baby seems to like, has 3 way volume switch (on/low/high) Cons: Easily tipped over

Great, but Could use Some Improvements:
This was purchased for our dd around 10 months of age. She did not seem to care that there was a net or holes to put the balls thru. The only thing that interested her was the music and the spinning dial that moved when you "slam dunk" the rim. Now that she's older (2 yrs old), she actually gets more use out of it now than when little. She's constantly trying to see what can fit into all the holes and definitely understand that there is a "reward" of music when you get the ball thru the holes or net. PROS - easy to assemble - bright colors - the rim/ net fits other various sized balls (such as nerf balls) - the balls fit other various Fisher Price toys (and vice-versus) - can be used for quite a while... as mentioned, we bought around 10 months of age and dd is now 2 and still uses - there is a volume control !! - songs/ sounds are tolerable CONS - a bit tippy for younger kids that tend to "pull up" on things - the balls tend to get stuck inside the tube ocassionally (nothing that a little tap can't cure, but it's still annoying when dd can't figure out where the balls went) - the rim/ net seem to come out of the toy often (even though we've "clicked" it into place as per the instructions) - balls are very easy to lose (they tend to separate from the toy when put into the toy closet) Overall, I was a bit disappointed with the design of the product, however I liked the concept and the overall durability of the product. For the price (on sale) I would say it's a pretty good buy and will provide many hours of enjoyment.

Don't bother...:
This thing makes fun sounds, but it's too complicated for a little guy (mine is 11 months) and too small for a bigger kid. Also, my son wants to use it to lean on and pull up on and it just falls over on him. Don't bother with it.

Dad and Son love it:
My husband recieved this toy from our son (then age 9 months) for Father's Day. They have played with it every day since then. We have had other toys of all kinds, but this is honestly the only toy he plays with day after day. At nine months, most babies can practice inserting the balls into the holes. Now that my little guy is walking, he can insert the balls, make "slam dunks", dance to the music, experiment with other toys down the tubes, turn it upside down and sideways to experiment with gravity and he giggles all the while.

Daddy and Baby love this toy!:
We got this as a baby gift when our son was a newborn. My husband is a HUGE basketball fan and would hold our son in his lap and play with this game. (I think he liked it as much as our son liked it!) Over the months, as our son developed, he became more and more adept with the toy. Now a toddler, it's his favorite toy of all time! I'm not sure that it would be great for a child older than maybe 15 months, but for the younger crowd, it's just terrific.