I’ll be honest: I’m generally disappointed with American toy offerings for my baby girl. I know that’s a blanket statement, but is anyone else sick of cartoon characters on EVERYTHING? Can’t they just make things green, or red, or any other combination of colors or designs without Dora or Cars or Thomas the Train or Elmo? Disney Princesses? GAH! I want an expandable tunnel for the baby to crawl through, but unless I want characters all over it, I can’t get it at my local Target.
Then I came across the coolest toy website chock-full of interesting European toys – Maukilo.com. Not a single annoying commercialized character! No batteries required! One thing my niece received for her first birthday caught my eye – and I knew I’d have to get one for Piper too. The Rody horse.
If you haven’t heard of it, the Rody Jumping Horse is an Italian inflatable jumping toy made without any banned phthalates – so it’s safe for little ones. It’s super strong vinyl that can withstand up to 400 lbs and can be inflated or deflated to fit your little one. Recommended for ages 2-4, but believe me when I tell you that my 12-month-old niece and 9 year old stepson both enjoy this toy equally. It’d make a great gift for a family with multiple kids – and you can buy a rocking base for the younger kids that helps its stability.
Now, I hear that these things are trendy – but they’re also a boatload of fun (and, technically speaking, that’s a lot of fun). I checked out a thousand YouTube videos of babies bouncing and I knew we needed one for the house. Maukilo generously offered one for us to review (yahoo!), and of course I accepted.
Piper isn’t quite old enough to enjoy it without our help, but she climbs all over it and loves when we hold her feet and bounce her up and down. She’s been really into bouncing lately – and she’s starting to figure out how to balance on it better. My niece is 14 months old and has it completely figured out. We say, “Go bouncy bouncy bouncy” and she jumps up and down and up and down, laughing the entire time.
Her 9-year-old brother has more fun with it than he would probably admit. He bounces around the house a few times every day – and really loves helping Piper bounce on it too. He tosses it around and tackles it, or her, or makes her tackle it.
Down in the Valley ipod 
When I see her (and him!) choose this toy over so many of the other beat-up plastic items in her bin, I want to shop more for creative alternatives to these battery-powered distractions.
Maukilo.com is drool-worthy. Besides the Rody and so many more of the Gymnic-brand toys, they have all kinds of really interesting European baby toys, kids furniture and kids room decor
. I cannot WAIT until Piper is old enough (and has enough hair) for their cute jewelry and hair accessories.
Maukilo carries unique, funky alternatives the American branded junk that fills most of our big box aisles, and they’d make awesome, appreciated gifts for any kids or families on your list this year.
Free Stuff Alert! – Contest Closed
The generous folks at Maukilo are offering our dear readers the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to use at Maukilo.com – just in time for holiday shopping. You can get your own Rody Horse (or anything else you want)! Be sure to leave a valid email address or you’re entries will be deleted.
To enter, you MUST:
- Visit Maukilo.com and tell us about a product that you think is unique or interesting.
For up to 4 additional entries:
- Subscribe to the Maukilo blog via RSS or email. Comment to let us know.
- Sign up for the Maukilo newsletter. Comment with your email address to let us know.
- Become a fan of Maukilo Toys on Facebook. Comment to let us know.
- Follow Your Mama via RSS, on Twitter or via email. Comment to let us know (only one entry).
Contest is open to US & Canadian residents only. You must leave a valid email address to enter. Contest ends November 10, 2009 at 12 p.m. Eastern. A total of five entries are possible. Your entries must follow the rules as stated above or your post will be deleted.
About the author: One day, Andi hopes to teach the men in her life that they, too, can pick things up and put them away after they’ve used them. Read more from this author.
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I want one of those haba marble runs. Bad.
My sister will be moving into her first house soon and she has three little boys under the age of 4 and the HABA Ferdinand Beanbag would be perfect for them
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I’m very interested in the Rody and the PlaSmart Plasmacar. The Plasmacar is a little old for my 18 month old but looks fun!
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I love the Rody horse and love that it comes in so many different colors — also all the different play food looks cool
I like the HABA Enchanted Forest Wool Area Rug
with Flowers, it looks like it would be fun for imaginative play.
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They have a bath toy set with no cartoon characters and a plain rubber duckie! I have been looking for something like that in every brick-and-mortar store and NO ONE has anything like it.
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I think the Chelona Car Mini Puzzle looks really cool
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the Walking Elephant Ride On Toy looks neat
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I love their selection of wooden toys but I would choose one of the building block sets. Playing with these is timeless!
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Peg puzzles are neato!
Clown Blocks Small Set 28 pieces
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I love the Haba play food! How nice to see play food that is not plastic and full of phthalates! My kids always “pretend” to eat their play food and put it in their mouths….and it would be so nice to have some made out of natural materials!
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Cookware and Dining Set made from 100% recycled milk jugs – 27 pieces from the Green Toys collection looks awesome!
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the sulki is super unique. i wonder who they get to carry that thing lol. i would hook it up to the dog and get him o pull my boy arouund. i love it!
i absolutely LOVE the Haba pushing car walking wagon
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I like the Haba Marble Run sets.
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[...] not one for the characters in general, but I do love the toys of my childhood. I’m not a huge fan of the distorted [...]
I love Haba toys. The little Nele Soft Doll is adorable.
Still think the Zhu Zhu Pets will dominate the toys this year
the kids bean bag chair mverno@roadrunner.com
I think the c9 wooden sportscar is great!
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the fish squirter is neat.
I think the Piratos Swing Seat would be awesome in my little girl’s room.
So neat!
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The towel dolls are really cute – I like Baby Pikos the Hedeghog !
The HABA Tumbling Band Game is adorable and really unique. Thanks so much.
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I would definitely get the Pink Rody Horse!
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conciertina and the shake rattle set look really great
The Beleduc Fish Body 5 Layer Puzzle is awesome!
I like the Farmers Family Wooden Figures 22 pieces. They would be great to use with our wooden building blocks.
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I love the pirate baby boy toys. Actually I love how the baby toys are sorted by gender.
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Love the chicken bean bag!
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We have a Rody horse and LOVE IT. I also liked the Plasmacars!
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I would select the Ball Track Building Set from HABA.
The Smillo Push Toy is cute
This has to be some of the coolest chairs and furniture I have seen! I love the HABA Magic Aircraft chair. Thanks for the giveaway!
I think that the piratos swing seat is interesting!
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I like the HABA Nino Stacking Lion
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My children would have so much fun playing with the Pyramid Block Set 67 pieces.
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I like the iBedoo Striped Squeaker and I think it’s interesting that European toys just look somewhat different from American made toys. I like the stripes and minimal features on this little guy.
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Drip Drip Jingle Jangle – set of 2 rainmaker and bell shaker
My son would love the Ball Track Building Set Large for HABA Balltrack
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The wooden peg puzzles are neat.
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The Fabolina 9-piece Picture Cube is pretty neat!
I love the 26 pc. Fantasy Blocks – very unique and colorful! My daughter would love to make a castle out of these!
What cool stuff! I have never seen the wooden strum violin anywhere else and my son would love it.
I like the castle stacking and constructing game.
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Wow they have lots of neat things!! We really like the Lavender and Pink Reversable Silk Skirt 100% Silk for dressup!!
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What fun stuff!! I think the Allegro Stacking Ball is really interesting.
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My son would love to recieve the Bruder MB Actros Tow Truck with Jeep for x-mas!
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The Egg Race Game looks like it would be a lot of fun
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I like this: Gymnic & Rody Hopping Ball Hop 45
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i think i would pick the wooden peg puzzles
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I like the HABA Geometry Pirates Game.
I like the small Haba Ball Track Building Set for my nephew.
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I LOVE the Wheely Cow! My daughter would love that under the tree at Christmas!
I really like the HABA Circo Clown Pull Toy! It would be perfect for my goddaughter! Thanks!
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I love the Shake and Strum natural wood violin with rattling sound.
I think the Gymnic & Rody Rody Max Jumping Horse is unique. It’s a bouncing ball shaped like a horse and looks fun. It should get a kid off the couch away from the video games and TV. It also develops balance and coordination.
I really like the Camping Light Terra Kids by HABA for my 7 yr. old son. Thanks!
I would love the Lucky Mushroom Tea and Coffee Set 11 pieces for my daughter .
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I love the Walker wagon! So cute :)
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Chelona Car Mini Puzzle :)
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The Mountain Push Bike is really cool. I like how kids learn to balance first with this bike.
I like the Kettler Thunder Scooter :)
The Splish Splash Play Mat looks great! Thanks!
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The Rody and the PlaSmart Plasmacar.
I really like the Coliseum Block Set 110 pieces.
I love the Plasmacars . Very unique looking!
My daughter would love the purple plasma car. Thank you!
I like the Kettler Sprint Push Bike.
Animal Upon Animal Game The Duell – wobbly stacking game is very neat and unique.
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I love the HABA Mia Beanbagwith Flowers.
The Antiquity Block Set 42 pieces would be a great toy.
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HABA Fiery Dragons Game looks fun!
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The “green” dump truck made of recycled milk containers is both cute and practical. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
I like the Buzzing Around Game
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I like the Plan Toys Walking Elephant Ride On Toyjust . Pretty cool toy.
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My favorite item is Dragon Cave Play Tent. It is very unique looking and my neice would love it. Thanks for the chance.
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My favorite toy is the Wheely Bugs. The Ladybug is adorable.
I like the Walker Wagon for my granddaughter.
My nephew would love the PlaSmart Plasmacar
I really like the Clara Coat Rack – very unique! Thanks for the contest!
I love the Pia Foldable Box Wide