Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Covers 3 stages of development, Helps develop skills, Rewards baby with music/lights |
| Disadvantages: |
You have to assemble it yourself |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
We were looking around last Christmas at what to get our daughter who was then 7 months. We had found lots of little things but wanted her to have something a bit special for a big present.
What does it look like and what does it do...
I liked the look of the Crawl 'n' Cruise Playground straight away. It was very colourful (Blue, Red & Yellow), it had flashing disco lights on the top. An inflatable ball that hangs on the front and 6 small balls that go into different holes to fall down and come out of the bottom holes. The balls were also in bright colours, made of tough plastic (my daughter chews away on these and has barely made a mark) and are ideal size for tiny hands to hold.
There is a mirror that swivels around - every baby loves mirrors! and a small button and turning wheel that when used makes the music and lights come on. (Although it only plays one discoey tune) There is even a smiley face with a turning ball for his nose.
There is an arm which can be moved up or down into position (this needs to be done by an adult as its to difficult for a child). On the arm is the disco lights and the point of this is that it is down for a crawling child so that they can crawl through the front and pull up to standing having a complete circle around them to hold onto, also everything is in reach. When they are older and can walk or are taller the arm can be put in to the higher position so that they can stand in the playground and don't have to crawl in.
The playground stands on the floor and it is quite large.
It has different settings depending on the child development. For example, there is a sensor setting for when the child is crawling so that the music and light go off when it senses the child is near. The other setting for the older child which allows them to fiddle with all the knobs and buttons to make the music and lights go off. You set this using a switch like an on off switch.
What ages does it appeal to...
Fisher Price recommend it for ages 6 months and up and having tested this I think it is better for a child around 8-9 months onwards. I have had several of my
friends children round and they all love it. Two of which was a four year old and another a 6 year old, both really loved it.
The child needs to be able to sit up by themselves and be able to put a ball into a hole. I found even though I thought this would be boring my daughter was happy to sit there and feed in the balls over and over again (sitting/crawling stage).
It is sturdy enough to help them to pull up and even has two handles to help. They then learn to move (cruising stage) around it and make the music work. Then when they are older they can stand up and bop to the music (walking stage).
It takes 3 'AA' batteries which are not includes but in a year we have still not had to replace these.
Any disadvantages/problems...
A disadvantage with the playground is that you have to assemble it yourself, we did not realise this and thought given the choice we would have purchased the display model! There is also only one tune which might get on your nerves after a while.
We had one problem with the playground. One of the bulbs for a disco light never worked. We were disappointed as it was our daughters main Christmas present, but of course at 7 months she wasn't aware. We emailed Fisher Price who immediately replied for our address details. A few days later they send a whole new replacement arm with an apology. We now have a spare arm in the loft should a further bulb go which is great.
I would recomend this toy as it grows with your child and even older children seem to love it.
Where to purchase it...
Mothercare, Toys 'R' Us, Argos & other Fisher Price stockists.
Thanks for reading!
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
