US Japan Fam

Toy Fair New York 2019 - My Picks for Best Toys of 2019

3/1/2019

US Japan Fam's Picks the Best Toys for 2019 from Toy Fair New York

A couple of weeks ago I spent the day at Toy Fair New York 2019 and phew, it was a BIG day! This was my 3rd year in a row attending Toy Fair New York, which is only open to toy makers & distributers, buyers, and media. Since it's not open for you guys, the consumers, I always feel responsible and excited to walk the expo floor, booth by booth, hours on end, to find the new, exciting, and mind blowing products new to the market or coming soon. Many of these will be the hottest toys for Christmas 2019, and will be on all of your kids' wish lists! For the kids at heart out there, there are some great toys for you, too, as well as some non-toy products!! So, watch my Toy Fair New York highlights video below featuring my picks for the BEST TOYS OF 2019, and keep reading below that for some photos and details of a select few items from the video (some affiliate links are included, which provide our blog with a small comission from items you purchase - thank you)!

BEST ACTIVE TOYS:

Brightz CosmicBrightz - LED lights for your bike frame and wheels, $13 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Easy Rollerz Heel Wheels - for toddler through adult, turn any sneaker into a roller skate! $25 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Dexster Ezy Roller - stay tuned we have a personal review / video coming soon on this one!! You sit down on it, low to the ground, and move it with your feet (not pedals though). hard to explain, but so fun!! $120 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Flybar My First Foam Pogo - a foam squeaking pogo for ages 3 and up, $17 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Monkey Moves Card Game - play alone, with a partner, or on teams, using cards that show various yoga / acro yoga poses to make. $15 on monkeymovesgame.com
My Buddy Wheels by Yvolution - cute plushie covers for balance bikes! Coming soon, stay tuned on their Facebook page!
Pulse Lightup Skates - rechargeable light pulsing roller skates. Need I say more!? $80 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear - helmets, elbow and knee pads, and more - kids draw on them with dry erase markers and wipe off! $20 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link)

BEST ARTS & CRAFTS TOYS:

PixPerfect - create art gallery worthy creations with sequins! $50 for a kit on Amazon (affiliate link).
Spyrocity by Quill On - make very cool 3D pictures using wound-up strips of paper! $27.99 on Amazon (affiliate link).
TreeMendous Christmas Tree Ornament Decorator Kit - by the makers of the EggMazing Easter Egg Decorator Kit, it spins your ornament while you color, so fun, and comes out great!! $30 on Amazon (affiliate link) but on sale now for $16!!

BEST BABY & TODDLER TOYS:

HenBea Light Table - light up activity table that acts as a white board - use stencils, get creative putting colors together, etc! Not available in the US... yet... see it on henbeastore.com
Trail Master Wagon by Simplay3 - a 1 or 2 seater wagon, rickshaw style - fun for the kids, easy for the parent. The handle comes off and flips over for more compact storage. 2-seater for $130, single-seater for $110 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Vertiplay Wall Toys - stick these to the wall, little ones can play, make music, and more! $20 - $40 on Amazon (affiliate link).

BEST BOOKS & READING TOYS:

Ditty Bird Song Books - great board books with popular children's songs at the push of a button! $16 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Mark My Time Digital Bookmark - digital book marks with have timers, lights, and more! $10 - $20 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Quiet Books by Piqipi - great soft books for little ones with quiet activities on each page! A couple are listed for $55 on Amazon (affiliate link) but seems like the price will be lower once the line is released. You can see them on piqipi.com

US Japan Fam's Picks the Best Book Toys for 2019 from Toy Fair New York

BEST COMPOUND TOYS:

ORB Slimi Cafe - create desserts with reusable slime, squishies and other fun compounds. Hitting the US market on March 7, 2019!! See more on orbslimicafe.com.
SloFlo - a very cool new compound similar to kinetic sand and Mad Mattr, yet different. Very cool and worth checking out, hitting the market soon but get more info on playvisions.com

BEST COOKING TOYS:

Hapinest by Island Genius - created by a mom and dad team, this adorable baking set comes with a cute apron, easy cook book, cookie cutters, frosting bags and reusable coupler, and a patented rolling pin that makes cookies of the perfect thickness, and dough won't stick to it! $35 atislandgenius.com/collections/hapinest.

BEST PRETEND PLAY TOYS:

Densters Build Your Own Fort at Home - a set of clips that easily allows you to attach blankets to any chairs, doors, corners, you name it. $30 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Little Medical School Kits - how to be a pediatrician, veterinarian, etc! Great for aspiring professionals, or imaginative kids! $50 on littlemedicalschool.com
Pop-Oh-Ver Pretend Play - these canvas sets go over your chair to make a stove, ice cream parlor, or kitchen counter! $40 on Amazon (affiliate link)

BEST PLUSHY TOYS:

Cubcoats - an adorable hoodie that folds into a stuffed animal!! How cute AND practical!! $45 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link).
WowWee Pink Fong Baby Shark Singing Puppet - the faster you move your hand, the faster it sings Baby Shark! HA!!! Not on the market yet, but it should pop up here on Amazon (affiliate link) when for sale.

BEST TRAVEL TOYS & PRODUCTS:

ClypX Car Seat Belt Positioner - an alternative to the booster, this brings the seat belt to a safe position for your child. $40 on Amazon (affiliate link)
KidsEmbrace Character Car Seats - these are frankly the coolest car seats I have ever seen!!! WOW!!! From superheros to cartoon characters, $119 - $165 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Micro Luggage Easy - luggage with a built in seat so your child (or an adult!) can sit on it as you pull it through the airport - leave the stroller at home! $180 on Amazon (affiliate link).

US Japan Fam's Picks the Best Travel Toys for 2019 from Toy Fair New York

BEST VIDEO GAME & TECH TOYS:

Artie 3000 by Educational Insights - a coding robot for ages 7 - 12, you create the code and Artie draws. Not yet available but you can buy him soon on Amazon (affiliate link).
My Arcade Micro Player Arcades - the classic arcade games you know and love, for your desktop! $18 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Shifu Orboot Globe - augmented reality globe that lets you learn about the world with a handy app. $60 (on sale for $50) on Amazon (affiliate link)

US Japan Fam's Picks the Best Video Game Toys for 2019 from Toy Fair New York

OTHER HOT ITEMS (not toys):

iDecoz Phone Mirrors and Decals - hold your train pass, credit cards, check your makeup, you name it! $4~ on Amazon (affiliate link)
Para'kito - refillable mosquito repellant bands, $19 on Amazon (affiliate link)
Sunshine & Glitter Mermaid Sunscreen - 50+ SPF, biodegradeable (reef-safe), 80 mintue water resistant, non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen!! Your skin will glitter and be protected from the sun, SO AWESOME!! $19 on Amazon (affiliate link)

In case you missed my Best Toys for 2018 video from Toy Fair New York last year, watch it below, LOTS of gooooooood stuff!

5 Comments

Tiny Hideaways Kids' Teepee Tent

11/30/2016

5 Comments

If you hadn't heard, teepee tents are all the rage these days! Kids love what a fun secret space they make, and parents love how visually appealing and easy to store they are! We recently got our first one and I honestly don't know who loves it more, me or my kids!! HA!

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent

There are several of brands out there making teepees, heck you can even make your own if you love a good DIY project, but in the end I reached out to Tiny Hideaways and couldn't be happier!!

Here are some features we are loving about our Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent:

Visually appealing!
Comes in 4 color options, thick white stripes with pink, grey, navy, or turquoise.

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - they come in 4 color options!

Easy to assemble and disassemble!
Each of the 4 poles actually consists of 2 separate shorter wooden poles (New Zealand pine) connected by a plastic piece. Connect them all, feed through the slots in the tent canvas, tie together at the top, and you're done! 10 minutes tops! Spread the poles out and it's ready to play in! Here's my visual assembly guide. Pro tip: assemble WITHOUT your kids' "help"... trust me... it'll be quicker and safer LOL, look at #6 and you'll see what I mean...

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - how to assemble!

Easy to store!
Simply scoop it up and balance it in the corner of the room for quick storage (shown below left), or you can disassemble it in minutes and throw it in its canvas carry bag for transport (below right).

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - easy to store!

Built in Peek-a-boo Window

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - peek-a-boo window!

Door that closes with velcro and can be tied open

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - door with velcro and ties!

Good for a multitude of ages and uses!

Whether a play center for a pre-crawling baby, a creative imagination zone for a toddler, a reading nook and fun sleep over place for an older child, or even a discreet place to stash the toys when quickly cleaning up, the possibilities for a teepee tent are endless!! It is not waterproof or machine washable, however, so it's recommended for indoor use only.

US Japan Fam reviews and loves Tiny Hideaways Teepee Tent - great for all ages and uses!

The wooden feet are covered by the canvas, so it shouldn't scratch up hardwood floors. That said, it should be noted that the teepee does not have a way to lock open in place... when our kids are rough housing it does scoot and the legs can be pushed together so if you're not watching out it can come crashing down unexpectedly. So, especially if you have little ones, please use under adult supervision!

We are loving our Tiny Hideaways teepee, and think you will, too!! You can purchase one on Amazon (affiliate link) for $199 (currently on sale for $139), and you can enter to win one along with 7 other prizes in my $350+ value Unique Gift Guide & Giveaway (ending December 12)!!!

Enter to win one now!!!

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased

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Razor Jr. Kix Scooter

4/28/2015

2 Comments

I recently did a post for Mommy Nearest outlining the best first bikes and rides for toddlers and preschoolers. It was all through research and recommendations, but I hadn't had the chance to personally check any of them out yet, and was limited to being able to only list one in each category (push trike, convertible trike-bike, balance bike, scooter). Well, now I'm excited to be able to actually review one!!

Everyone is familiar with the brand Razor, it's pretty much THE top brand of scooters. But did you know they have a Junior line? That's right! Razor Jr. has a vast array of amazing ride-ons and scooters for little ones as young as 18 months, from 3-wheeled scooters with monster hands or chalk scribbling from the back to Twisti bugs and mini mopeds!

Photo credit: Razor Jr

Despite my son being under the recommended age of 3, we decided to go ahead and get him the Razor Jr. Kix Scooter. It has 2 wheels in the front, one in the back, an extra-wide slip-resistant deck, and tilt-to-turn design. It's made of high quality steel, aluminum, and plastic and does need some assembly if you order it online. For someone who is completely baffled by most Ikea instructions, I was really proud I could put this one together all by myself! It comes with all the screws and tools necessary, and took me about 10 minutes to put together before we were ready to roll!

US-Japan Fam reviews Razor Jr's Kix Scooter

Fairly easy to put together - I did it and that says a lot!!

My son couldn't have been more excited to take it for a spin, and asks to ride his "cooter" every day. He definitely needs a LOT of practice, but I'm really excited that this scooter will see him through at least a couple of years of scooting fun! And its storage footprint is MUCH smaller than the push-trike we'd been borrowing from a friend, so that's a big bonus (note: they do make a folding scooter which would be even easier to store)!!

He scoots along, then he'll put his feet on either side and kind of walk/run with it between his legs, and then I have him hop up on it and I push him until my back can't take that anymore haha! It's lots of fun and great quality!! The board is super grippy and wide enough for him to have both feet on it side-by-side, and the tilt-to-turn function is really great, though he doesn't quite understand how it works just yet. It's also very light which is great because I usually end up carrying it home after he's scootered out!

Here's Kenzo on his Kix in live action:

You can check out the entire Razor Jr. lineup on their website, find authorized retail shops and online retailers here, or shop for one on Amazon!

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

2 Comments

Sudsy Dough Moldable Bath Soap

4/2/2015

2 Comments

What if I were to tell you there was a new soap out there that was just as much fun as any bath toy, or actually, MORE fun!? Well... there is!!! Or, actually, there probably will be. That's right, Sudsy Dough moldable bath soap is running a month long Kickstarter campaign and if they get enough funding, Sudsy Dough will be out there in all its glory for your family to buy and enjoy!! Sorry, I'm a bit over excited here, let me tell you why...

US-Japan Fam is PSYCHED for Sudsy Dough moldable bath soap!

Photo credit: Sudsy Dough

What's so cool about Sudsy Dough:

It's a bath toy (moldable scented dough) and cleansing soap all in one!
Kids can squeeze it, squish it, shape it, build with it, and oh yeah, rub it all over to get nice and clean.
It's a moisturizing cleanser, infused with coconut oil and Shea butter.
It was created by a mom & dad (we LOVE those kinds of products!!)
It gets sudsy when wet, and dries to become mini bars of scented soap.
There's a surprise squirt toy hidden inside!
It's Paraben-free, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free.

Photo credit: Sudsy Dough

Amazing right?? So what are you waiting for?? Go check out their Kickstarter page... NOW!! :)

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Giveaway: The Calla Toddler Pillow

10/30/2014

58 Comments

We are a co-sleeping family. It started when my son was about 18 months (see my story on Mommy Nearest) when we realized bringing our son into our room and attaching his crib to our bed "sidecar" style meant a full night's rest for all three of us. Now, I couldn't be happier with our situation! Except... my son is a pillow thief!! About halfway through the night he'll roll or crawl his way into our bed and basically push me off of my pillow and use it himself. If I dare try to reclaim it, all hell breaks loose! So, I've been sleeping without a pillow half the night for a couple of months now. It could be worse. At least I'm sleeping! But it got me thinking: isn't he about ready for his own pillow?

Most pediatricians and professionals recommend waiting until a child is at least 2 years old before allowing ANYthing into the crib, from pillow to blanket to stuffed animal. I've adhered to this for the most part so far, but my son is 22 months old and I figure we're close enough! I did some research and got what I found to be one of the best toddler pillows on the market...

The Calla Toddler Pillow

So what makes the Calla Toddler Pillow so awesome!?

The cover is made of organic cotton, which is not only more durable but it's grown without herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or pesticides.

It washes and dries like new (no clumping).
It's hypoallergenic.
It's designed to last 3+ years without going flat or clumping.
Comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee - so go ahead - wash it, dry it, give it the good ol' toddler trial!!

My first thought upon opening it was, awwwww, how cute. It's like a mini pillow (13" x 18" - great for toddlers, or even as an adult's travel pillow). It was really soft and fluffy, a natural cream color (not all bleached and processed in appearance like most pillows), and there were no chemical smells or anything, phew! Also, the following were included and a nice reminder that the Calla Toddler Pillow is a family-business - love that!!

My only problem is now I have to find a pillow case that fits it. For now we have a regular sized pillow case on it, which is fine. I might try a t-shirt on it as well. I feel like a snug fit is probably safer.

Also, it should be noted that while the cover (i.e. the part that comes directly in contact with your child's face for 12 hours a night) is made of organic cotton, the filling is not. But that doesn't mean the filler is all chemicals and baddies. Quite the opposite. The filler is a special blend of Calla Polyester Cluster Fiber. It's hypoallergenic, washable and non-aromatic. Jeremy Mentz, half of the parenting duo behind the Calla Pillow explains, "Unfortunately there are no organic filling options for toddlers that are washable, hypoallergenic, and non-aromatic...so we did our best to match form with function. This might be a deal breaker for some parents, but we've found most parents (and their kids) appreciate the practicality."

So, what's my toddler think about it? As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words...

Sleeping like a baby on his new Calla Toddler Pillow!

And the best news? He slept on it the whole night!! My pillow is mine again!!! Hooray!!!

Oh wait, I lied, that's not the best news... The best news is that you can enter below for a chance to win your very own Calla Toddler Pillow (you must be 18 or over and a resident of the US to enter, giveaway will end at 11:59PM EST on Thursday, November 6 and winner will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail)! If you can't wait, you can buy one on Amazon for $49.99 (don't forget to add code "NU8IBVXP" for 15% off! valid through the end of the year).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

58 Comments

Toddler Faves: Melissa & Doug Take-Along Jumbo Crayon Set

8/12/2014

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This post marks the beginning of a new series which will feature my favorite things for toddlers, as I discover and fall in love with them! Unless otherwise noted (at the bottom of the post), none of the "Toddler Faves" posts are sponsored or in any way tied to the brand or any company.

Without further ado, my first Toddler Fave is...

Melissa & Doug Take-Along Jumbo Crayon Set

Why is this a Toddler Fave?

The crayons are very chunky, easy for little hands to hold, and seem nearly indestructible.
They're not wrapped in paper (which always ends up getting torn off and eaten, am I right!?)
They're triangular and lock into their individual spots super easily - even my 19 month old can put them all away (unlike the usual kind you have to stuff in a box and if even one is slightly askew they own't fit)
The case is visually appealing and practical - it's flat (about 1 inch thick) so it easily fits into a diaper bag or carry-on for a flight, not to mention it has a handle so your toddler can carry it around all proud-like!

I got our set EUC on the local recycle group I created on Facebook, but you can get it for $9.99 on Amazon, click the image below and away you go!

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Toy Fair New York 2019 - My Picks for Best Toys of 2019

Tiny Hideaways Kids' Teepee Tent

Razor Jr. Kix Scooter

Sudsy Dough Moldable Bath Soap

Giveaway: The Calla Toddler Pillow

Toddler Faves: Melissa & Doug Take-Along Jumbo Crayon Set

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