droolicious : cars

Drive Around Town Play Mat

Lisa Estall — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:18:00 GMT

This Driving Around Town Play Mat will provide hours of entertainment for kids. It measures 47.75" x 59.75" so plenty or roads to zoom little cars about. What makes this play mat unique is that it has parking spaces at each location, so realistic in a way. What's also good about the mat is that it doesn't bunch up...

and crease when my my son is on it because it's made of 10 oz phthalate-free vinyl.

The mat comes in a reusable zipper lock bag for storage. Price is $24.95 and sold at My Lullabug.

Star Baby: How Does Kingston Get Around?

SunnyChanel — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Kingston, the 2 ½-year old son of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, was spotted with mom at the BNP Pribas Open (part of the ATP World Tennis Tour). How does young Kingston get around (when not be carried by mom)? In his Cars. His Disney Cars Clogs that is. Here Kingston sports a pair of Croc-ish Disney Cars Toddler/Little Kid Lightning Clog. You can pick up a pair of these red hot slip ons here for $11.91 from Amazon (regularly $19.95).

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Bajo EMT Ambulance Toy

AmandaHill — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:00:00 GMT

I am neither the first nor the last to notice the adorable products that Bajo puts out. This EMT Ambulance toy being one of them. It's a wooden car toy just waiting to be played with by a tiny hands.

Check it out at Oompa.

MediBuddy AKA Mom's Buddy

Cathy Hale — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Toddlers are cute, precocious and active. That being said, they are also accident prone. Bumps and scrapes can be resolved easily with the MediBuddy First Aid Kit. This handy little kit includes colorful crayon bandages, knee & elbow bandages, sting relief pads, gauze pads, burn relief cream, antibiotic and more. The little packs are so convenient, you can carry one in the car, the diaper bag, your purse, etc. Retails for $5 at BabyEarth.

Scalextric Cars Micro Set Coming in July

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Just a few years after Cars raced into our hearts, Scalextric is gearing up to release a slot-car version of the Disney/Pixar favorite. Due in stores this July, the Cars micro set pits Lightning McQueen against Chick Hicks on a scaled-down version of tracks from the Piston Cup Speedway and Radiator Springs. If our currency conversion is accurate, the price looks to be around $69 U.S. -- keep an eye on Scalextric's website for the latest. [Toyology]

Star Kid: A Tiny Trump Takes a Taxi

SunnyChanel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:25:00 GMT

Barron William Trump, the almost three-year-old son of Melania Knauss-Trump and Donald Trump, is probably much more accustomed to limos and town cars than a New York Taxi Cab but that won’t stop him from slumming with this toy. At the 18th Annual Bunny Hop benefit at New York City’s FAO Schwarz, the young Barron picked up a Officially Licensed N.Y.C. Taxi Cab and Sign Set. This die-cast car comes with a sign that says “Don’t even thing about parking here.” You can pick one up from the NYC Webstore here for $11.50.

Beep And Build In The Bath

Lisa Estall — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:39:00 GMT

I am looking for bathtub toys and came upon The Beep and Build. I know my son would love this. This toy is a 3-D car puzzle and comes with an oil can that squirts water.

I think this can provide hours of bath time fun in our home and will encourage my kid to take his bath! The Beep and Build is recommended for kids age 2 years and up.

You can find it at Fao Schwarz for $14.

Rainbow Rollers

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:30:00 GMT

Start your pretend engines and guide these wooden beauties to the finish line.

Wooden Rainbow Rollers from Alex Toys, $29.99, teaches tots about speed control and helps improve hand-eye coordination. The race begins at the top where kids have to ease the cars down the descending tracks. Too fast and they'll crash, too slow and they won't go. Maybe this will teach them the concept of safe driving before the weather warms up and the “real” battery-operated cars come out.

CES 2009: Road Mice - Muscle Car Computer Mice

Chris Ford — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:00:00 GMT

One of the cool things about a show like CES is checking out all of the smaller vendors - the people with an idea and a product to sell. One of those was this company that was selling what they called "Road Mice." Computer mice in the shape of cars is definitely a novelty, but if your kid (or his father) is a gear head it might make a good gift.

Road mice come in both cordless and wireless versions, and have LED headlights and a click wheel that light up when they're being used, and each mouse has an individual VIN number that you can register online at roadmice.com. You can also buy what they are calling an insurance policy on each mouse - for $19.95 they will replace the mouse if it is lost or stolen.

There are all kinds of models of American cars to choose from, and depending what you pick it will cost $49 or $45 (for the cordless) and $35 for the wired mouse. To check it out or to buy online check out RoadMice.com

Formula 1 Goes Wooden: Playsam Racer F1

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Chris posted about Playsam's eco-friendly, smooth-wood Streamliner F1 back in April, and if you're looking for a racetrack-ready counterpart to that sleek sportscar, the Racer F1 is ready to cross the checkpoint.

It's solid wood, beautifully finished and, well, just a wee bit expensive at $82: Get your pit crew to Fitzsu to nab one.

Wheels for Less Than $15

Erin Behan — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:22:00 GMT

My go-to gift for kids fascinated by city life (whether they live in one or not) is this Vilac Mini Taxi ($12). The French-made toy boasts a heritage of beech wood and has soft, easy-rolling rubber wheels. Add Miroslav Sasek's classic This is New York ($12.21) for a lovely gift set that both kids and parents can enjoy.

Big Deal: Disney Princess and Cars Rug On Sale At FLOR

Chris Ford — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:58:00 GMT

I'm a big fan of the interchangeable carpet tiles from FLOR, but one design that they have that is almost never on sale is now on sale. The six tile Disney Princess rug and the six tile Disney Cars rug are now 44% off.

Each rug is 3 feet by 5 feet and is compatible with other FLOR tile colors too, in case you'd like to use it as a part of a bigger floor covering design. I've had FLOR tiles in my home now and I love them. Now I have to make sure my daughter doesn't see these or she'll be bugging me for her own princess rug.

Disney Area Rugs - Princess or Cars by FLOR, $59.99 (was $99.99) at the sale page of FLOR.com

Remote Control? Try Lazer Spot Control.

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:47:00 GMT

Remote control toys are awesome — unless you’re a parent. Then they’re a pain even when you’re only debating which kind to purchase. Should you get the cheap one so if it breaks you won’t get frustrated? Or should you spend a little more money to have something that will work better? Even if you spend more, will your kids be able to work it? Blargh!

Lazer Spot Control R/C Racer eases some of that decision. Instead of a remote with joysticks, buttons or triggers, kids point a laser (yes, a frickin’ laser beam) at where they’d like the car to go. Doubtful? Check out the demo.

Available at Leaps and Bounds for $44.95.

Do You Drive A Jalopy?

Meredith Broussard — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Most jalopies are gas guzzlers... but not this environmentally correct, kid-powered tow truck jalopy.

This sweet ride is a replica of a 1938 tow truck. It's made of heavy gauge steel with rubber 9.5" tires for easy pedaling. But the best part? The hoist in the back, which features a hook and a crank-it-up chain.

Just think of all the fun things your kid could tow around the house or backyard with this tow truck! I'm sure my kid would go for the stuffed animals first, then the rubber dinosaurs, then the baby push-toys... maybe even a friend or two. Who knows?

Yellow 1938 Jalopy Tow Truck, $199 (includes free shipping!) at pedalcars.com

Photo courtesy of pedalcars.com

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Plan City Adventure Set From Plan Toys

Chris Ford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:31:00 GMT

Plan Toys are really awesome. They're all made from recycled rubber wood trees, stained (as opposed to painted) and fun to play with. Every kid I think who was at ABC with their parents probably stopped by the Plan Toys booth at one point and played with their stuff. My favorite is the Plan City Adventure Set.

The Plan City Adventure Set is a play set that you can buy in parts, and the great thing about it is the tracks build out into four different levels. I can really see lots of parents and kids playing with this together. All of the parts are compatible with other Plan Toys products, and they're also compatible with Brio and Thomas the Train toys too. In the Plan City Adventure Set they drive cars and not trains (as you can see from the picture) but it you're a train family you can get trains too.

Plan City, Table $220 and Adventure Set is $190. Check out all of the great stuff at PlanToys.com.

New DVD Set Rolls Eight Disney/Pixar Classics Into One Box

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:11:00 GMT

You won't find anything in the way of new features or bonus material inside the just-released Disney/Pixar Ultimate 8-Movie Collection, but if you're tired of renting Pixar's Oscar-lauded flicks on family movie night, the set is a convenient way to score some of the best CGI films in recent memory in one shot.

The box includes Toy Story 10th Anniversary Edition; Toy Story 2; A Bug's Life; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; The Incredibles; Cars; and Ratatouille, but unfortunately doesn't pack the shorts and documentaries available on the films' previously released DVD versions. Given the release date, there's also no WALL-E, but at least you can still catch that one in theaters.

$110 (coming soon) from Amazon.

Tummy Shield Is A Seat Belt For Pregnant Moms-To-Be

Chris Ford — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:59:00 GMT

Here's something I came across for all of the Droolicious moms-to-be out there. The Tummy Shield is an Australian seat belt contraption for pregnant women that supposedly keeps the baby-to-be safely in-utero while mom is traveling in the car. Which, all things considered, seems like a pretty good idea to me.

The way it works is, there is a seat cushion that the mom sits on with a buckle that goes between the legs. Then you put the shoulder strap seat belt on as normal, except you buckle it to the center between your legs, preventing the lap belt from going across the pregnant middle. It's kind of hard to explain, but you can see how it works from the photo, and there is also step by step instructions here.

It's an Australian product so I don't know anything about if it has passed U.S. safety tests or not, and I'm not vouching for it personally, but it looks like something new-moms-to-be might want to check out.

Check it out at Tummyshield.com.au (via InventorSpot.com).

Earn a Road-trip Peace with Killy Keeper Car Toy Tidy Bag

Heather Kuldell — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Sigikid’s Killy Keeper, aka Killy the soccer goalie, guards your car from toy messes -- well, at least in theory. The Car Toy Tidy Bag secures to the back of a car seat and has many pockets for the toys, books, snacks, drinks and other road-trip necessities. While it probably won’t stop all the “Mom, I needs” and “Dad, I’m so boreds,” keeping a few fun things within arms’ reach of the kids may help the trip go just a little smoother. In theory.

Available at Moolka for $54.99.

7 Days of Traveling Helps: The Ultimate Game Book

Erin Behan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:01:00 GMT

How much would you pay for peace and quiet in the car or on the plane? $13.57 sound pretty good? That seems a small price to pay for this Klutz travel kit that comes with a book filled with just about every travel activity known to humankind, such as games, lyrics, crafts instructions, and a 100-page activity book with dot-to-dot, crossword puzzles, mazes and more. Accoutrements include colored markers, game pieces, and embroidery floss for friendship bracelets. If you're still skeptical, check out Amazon, where the kit gets pretty amazing reviews--and only costs $13.57.

The New Future Car by Bajo

elizabeth leach — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Introducing Bajo’s new line of jumbo wooden vehicles sold exclusively at Oompa Toys. All of Bajo’s products are made in Poland and painted with child safe, non-toxic lacquer, in bright, eye-catching colors.

Check out the jumbo Future Car (above), the Volkswagon Beetle, tow truck, fire engine, and convertible cruiser. The Beetle comes in red, violet, orange, hot pink, and green. The yellow tow truck can hoist and tow several other Bajo vehicles. The red fire engine has a moveable ladder, blue discs, and a bell that rings. No batteries required! Sold at Oompa.

Need a Lift? Try the Pick-Up by OFFECCT

SunnyChanel — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:11:00 GMT

My kid likes anything and everything on wheels; shopping carts, strollers, automobiles. All big, metal and not very conducive to scooting around the house in. Enter the Pick-up minitruck by Offecct. It’s made of sturdy foam and is upholstered in 100% wool. The pros? It’ll save your wall paint, furniture and your baby’s bones from incurring irreversible damage. The con? It costs $520. I think my first real car, a 1972 Dodge Dart, cost about the same.

Bye-Bye Batteries, Hello Hydro Power

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:10:00 GMT

Why is it that all the really cool innovative stuff always launches in Europe? But lucky for us this hydro-powered, radio-controlled car made it’s way from the Nuremberg Toy Fair to New York.

Touting a battery-free toy future, Corgi International has partnered with Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies to develop a new range of toys that will be branded under the H2Go name. First up is the H2Go radio-controlled car that comes complete with a high-tech hydro refueling station. You add the water and sunlight. In four minutes the car is ready to roll. But this is a bit of a tease for now. You’ll have to wait until late 2008 for the H2Go auto to hit the stores. Corgi, how about something for the adults? We don’t need a hydro SUV right away. Maybe you could start with a Miati-sized sports car?

Nick Lachey's Diamond Hot Wheel

Chris Ford — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:21:00 GMT

Never one to turn down some media attention, Mattel's die-cast toy car brand Hot Wheels and singer/Jessica Simpson's-ex Nick Lachey have teamed together to raise some money for charity. Oh, and also to promote the 40th Anniversary of Hot Wheels.

A diamond encrusted, solid gold Hot Wheels car has been made to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Hot Wheels (which is actually the Ruby anniversary, but anyway...). The car is valued at $140,000 and will be auctioned off in late 2008 on behalf of Nick's favorite charity, Big Brother's Big Sisters.

Hot Wheels Official Web Site

Droolworthy: RoomMate KidCars for a Vroom Vroom Romper Room

Mir — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:01:00 GMT

If I were designating a large room just for the kids' delight and had a bottomless budget, the first thing I'd do would be to fill it with a dozen or so of these KidCar cushions by RoomMate. Each one is a bold color, shaped like a vehicle, and ready for lounging or "riding" into mischief. The bottomless budget part is key, though -- each of the five designs ranges from $200 to $300 apiece at Zwello.

7 Days of Bath Toys: Sassy Floating Car Wash

editors — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:34:00 GMT

Sassy Floating Car Wash - $14.99

Sassy has thought of everything but the attendant in this floating car wash and that makes this one of those toys that’s almost as fun for you as it is for your kiddo. Your vehicles on the road all have different exciting extras; one car has holes to create a sprinkler system, the truck has a dipper, and the other car is a squirter. The autos convoy over the roadway and get a wash with the squeeze shower that made one happy tester squeal with laughter, and become determined to be able to work that part of the car wash without the help of an adult. So we can also give this toy credit with improving her skill set, since when we began our car play she wasn’t strong enough to squeeze the fountain out by herself, but after lots of practice, she is now a proud and independent car washer. After the wash your ride can cruise through the buffer and hop on the ferry to float away to the water bound location of your choice. Staten Island? Martha’s Vineyard? Mackinac? It’s your dream, baby, and when your little one is all washed up, you can hang the entire toy up with the handy hook that goes right over your shower head. Store the vehicles and ferry in the mesh basket for tons of fun with no mess. - April Peveteaux

Ages 9 months +

Buy it from Amazon.