wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
Play Circle by Battat - Home Vacuum Set
Not my favourite Battat toy, but it’s ok. I found the suction to be underwhelming to the point that it might as well not be there. Granted, I used heavier ‘tissue’ as opposed to ‘tissue paper’, but I feel like the light suction is a bit... +
Not my favourite Battat toy, but it’s ok. I found the suction to be underwhelming to the point that it might as well not be there. Granted, I used heavier ‘tissue’ as opposed to ‘tissue paper’, but I feel like the light suction is a bit gimmicky. I was also disappointed that the balls barely move, only in the middle where the air comes out, the balls at the edge are static. So I think less balls, or lighter balls would have a better effect.
I’m not really into this style of toy. If you want to do the vacuuming like mum (or dad, let’s be real it’s 2019) then just give them a real vacuum. I helped my mum by doing dishes when I was a kid! At the younger age of 3, this might not be realistic, but older kids can use a lightweight vacuum for sure. I get the feeling I’m sounding like an evil stepmother now, so I’ll move on!
In terms of looks, it’s cute and well-molded. The detachable ‘portable’ section is cute and the fact that you can take out the dust tray, but mostly kids just prefer to use it as one piece. They do use the portable vacuum, but never really remove the dust tray. It also makes a noise, that to me sounds exactly like a vacuum. The wheels are great and don’t drag on the floor or get stuck and it has a cute little hose to use too (without suction).
It takes 3xC alkaline batteries, which are not included and actually shockingly expensive. Even at the dollar store, 4 of these batteries (comes in packs of 2) set me back $6, so getting rechargeables might be a good plan if your child will use it a lot.
Not really my kind of toy, but if you’re looking for a faux vacuum that makes noise, it’s an ok one, especially if you get it on sale, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
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Battat – Pop-Up Pals
This is a cute, sturdy little toy and at the current price of $15, is cheap enough to make a nice gift or a last minute toy for a toddler (18 months+). I’ve probably been spoiled by other Battat toys, but I find this doesn’t stand out as much... +
This is a cute, sturdy little toy and at the current price of $15, is cheap enough to make a nice gift or a last minute toy for a toddler (18 months+). I’ve probably been spoiled by other Battat toys, but I find this doesn’t stand out as much and looks more like other toy brands you can buy. It has really simple construction and stickers that, mercifully, come pre-applied. There’s no assembly, it’s ready to go.
My one complaint would be that it is very loud. I think noise-sensitive kids (or parents) will really not enjoy this and since there’s no way to stop the noise, it occurs from using the switches, it won’t be right for everyone.
The figures that pop up are really adorable and I love that each one has a different switch type to figure out, I just wish it was a little less loud.
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Battat - Pup & Go Vet Carrier
This toy is so incredibly cute that it would make a great gift for any kid. The vet toys included are similar to those in Battat’s doctor kit, but better in terms of the colour and quality being on point. The rolling carrier is brilliant. Not only... +
This toy is so incredibly cute that it would make a great gift for any kid. The vet toys included are similar to those in Battat’s doctor kit, but better in terms of the colour and quality being on point. The rolling carrier is brilliant. Not only does it fit all of the tools and the puppy, but it has plenty of room for other stuff. The very first thing young kids do is stuff a bunch of unrelated toys in there, so this is good news.
It’s great quality, the mechanisms of opening and closing it are really smooth and what really surprised me was how brilliant the wheels are. A lot of wheeled kids toys are clunky and don’t roll well, so the kids end up dragging a heavy plastic thing everywhere, scratching up every surface. This Battat carrier rolls so smoothly! It’s even designed to turn totally in any direction, so if your kid turns around, the carrier will roll with them. I know it’s a weird thing to rave about, but honestly it’s just so well-designed.
Lastly, there’s the little puppy plush. He’d be cute on his own, but as part of this set, he’s wonderful. Not only do they have a ‘practice’ toy to play vet on, but he’s as good for cuddling at night as any other plush toy.
This set is rated for ages 3-7 and I heartily recommend it!
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CoverGirl TRUblend Pressed Powder
This is not the best translucent powder I’ve used, but it’s far from the worst. Given that it’s a drugstore brand and the pricing reflects that, it’s pretty good! I prefer colourless translucent powders and found this one was a tad too dark... +
This is not the best translucent powder I’ve used, but it’s far from the worst. Given that it’s a drugstore brand and the pricing reflects that, it’s pretty good! I prefer colourless translucent powders and found this one was a tad too dark for me, on par with having a light tan.
However, I was quite impressed with how well it blended. While my skin looked a tiny bit powdery, it didn’t sit on top of the skin or catch on the hairs and look awful, like some I’ve tried in this price range. The compact comes with a mirror and a puff (which does fit inside).
Speaking of the puff, that’s my one big complaint about this product. It works well (though I prefer a bigger puff, it’s small to fit in the compact), but it’s far too flimsy. After applying, I washed the puff, like I usually do, but when I pulled on it a little to squeeze out the water, the whole thing ripped apart.
My recommendation would be for Covergirl to strengthen the stitching on the applicator so this doesn’t occur, but you can always just use your own brush or puff. Overall, it’s a good powder at a fair price point.
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Battat – Deluxe Doctor Kit
This is the first Battat toy I really was disappointed in. Part of that is because mine came broken and overall the ‘case’ seems kind of flimsy. One of the toggles to keep the case shut wouldn’t work, so it would keep popping open and risk... +
This is the first Battat toy I really was disappointed in. Part of that is because mine came broken and overall the ‘case’ seems kind of flimsy. One of the toggles to keep the case shut wouldn’t work, so it would keep popping open and risk spilling some of the smaller implements.
My main problem here is that Battat offers a similar vet kit that is, in my opinion, better in every way. Most of the doctor’s tools are the same as the vet tools, just a different colour and since this set (sadly) doesn’t include a doctor’s coat, I would recommend buying the vet set instead.
You do get a reasonable amount of toys ‘tools’ in this, it’s just that mine came damaged and I just happy to think the Battat Vet kit is superior in every way!
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Levana Oma Sense Portable Baby Breathing Movement Monitor
I think this is a cleverly designed monitor that really goes out of its way to prevent false alarms and put parents’ minds at ease. There’s still some room for improvement, but it’s mostly minor. One thing that really annoyed me was that if... +
I think this is a cleverly designed monitor that really goes out of its way to prevent false alarms and put parents’ minds at ease. There’s still some room for improvement, but it’s mostly minor. One thing that really annoyed me was that if you don’t use a specific branded Panasonic battery, it voids your warranty. While it’s a minor issue, I really don’t approve of that kind of forcing people to buy a certain brand of battery. For that reason and the other minor problems, I did remove a star.
It works really well, though placement is key. You have to make sure it’s only used when baby is still (no car seats or cribs with vibration etc) and it must be placed above the belly button. If you’re getting a false alarm, pay attention to your placement. First, the alarm will attempt to ‘stimulate’ baby into moving through vibration and if it still doesn’t detect movement or breathing, it will set off the ‘emergency’ alarm.
I don’t mind that it doesn’t text to my phone (the device is self-contained), but I do think the emergency alarm could be a lot louder. Heavy sleepers or those with big houses, could easily miss it. That being said, if you have a noise-activated baby monitor (something most paranoid parents will have), it wouldn’t be an issue at all.
The other thing that might cause a problem for some people, is that it won’t work with all clothing types. It can be clipped onto a diaper, button up romper, or used on the pants waistband, but if you have a zip up romper or a one-piece that fastens at the back, for example, it won’t be able to be used. If you know you’re planning to have a device like this, it might be worth planning baby’s pajamas around the idea that you need to clip this above the belly button.
I was impressed by how small the device was. It looks bigger than it is, in the product photos. It’s really lightweight and didn’t cause any distress. I like that it comes with two batteries, but do wish it was rechargeable, given the price point. The buttons are well designed and easy to press, yet still stiff enough that they won’t accidentally be activated.
In conjunction with a noise-activated baby monitor, I think this is a great way to give yourself peace of mind, but make sure to follow the instructions well, especially if you’re getting false readings, as I found this to be very accurate.
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Viewstar Waterproof Bamboo Mattress Protector
The wording can be a little confusing on this, in terms of what’s waterproof and what’s not, so let me clarify. This will 100 percent protect your mattress, however, the protector sheet itself is not fully waterproof. There’s a layer of PUL... +
The wording can be a little confusing on this, in terms of what’s waterproof and what’s not, so let me clarify. This will 100 percent protect your mattress, however, the protector sheet itself is not fully waterproof. There’s a layer of PUL backing which prevents liquid seeping through into your mattress, but if you spill something or your child wets the bed, you will still have to wash this protector. Still, keeping your mattress from being affected is a big bonus! The top non-PUL soft side (the part that faces up) is also surprisingly water-resistant. The majority of the spill will bead up on top and only a big or forceful spill, will get absorbed. Neither will be able to touch the mattress, it really delivers on that promise.
The only reason I’m removing a star is I don’t like the sides of the protector. They are a really stretchy spandex type mesh material that feels odd and actually makes the mattress protector a bit big for my bed. However, I must praise the top material again, it’s so soft. So even though this is a bit big for my bed and wrinkles, the top is so soft that I don’t feel it at all and it feels for more cushy to sleep on than my mattress alone.
I do feel it’s really comfy and other than my dislike for the side material (a personal preference) I would definitely recommend it.
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Angelcare Baby Monitor (Ac527) with Video and breathing Sensor Pad
I love the idea of the sensor pad (really helps to put your mind at ease) and the sensor pad really worked well, but I was so disappointed in the actual monitor and camera. I’ve used the sensor pad before with a nursery unit (not the camera and... +
I love the idea of the sensor pad (really helps to put your mind at ease) and the sensor pad really worked well, but I was so disappointed in the actual monitor and camera. I’ve used the sensor pad before with a nursery unit (not the camera and pad) and found it to be really good, so I’d recommend that, but not in this set alongside the monitor.
I’ve used a few different baby monitors at this stage and I sadly have to say that this is the worst. The first thing I noticed immediately upon turning on was that it wouldn’t read my touches. I had to use my thumb and actually leave it on the screen for a few minutes to get it to read and even then it was spotty. When you have a newborn or toddler in the house, stress is high and I was honestly tempted to just smash the stupid pad into pieces. Trying to work it was incredibly frustrating.
However, even if the touchscreen worked perfectly (and it was far from perfect) this is not a user-friendly machine. All the icons are confusing and you need to look at the manual to figure out what most of them mean. Similarly, the ‘error’ symbols are also confusing and need looking up. Imagine this thing blaring at you while you try to flip pages and find what’s wrong, if that sounds like something you want...well then this delivers.
Considering the cost, I also find the screen is pretty low resolution. I will say that the night vision works well on it and it switches without issues. However, it’s lacking a lot of features that I’d expect at this price point. For example, the camera is plug-in, not wireless. You also can’t pan the camera at all or connect your phone to the monitor. There’s no way to record or take a screenshot and no mobile app at all. You also can’t speak to baby through the monitor, the voice is one way only.
I just found it was really lacking in features and those it did have were very low-end. It completely lacked any form of user-friendliness and the touch screen was beyond bad. For those reasons, I could not recommend this unit.
However, the sensor pad itself is great and you can buy it alone, so I would recommend that.
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Cuisinel Cast Iron Round Griddle 10.5"
Like the other Cuisinel stuff I’ve tried, this is great quality and while it comes pre-seasoned, they do recommend seasoning it before use. That’s because the more you season it, the more non-stick it will become, so extra seasoning is never a... +
Like the other Cuisinel stuff I’ve tried, this is great quality and while it comes pre-seasoned, they do recommend seasoning it before use. That’s because the more you season it, the more non-stick it will become, so extra seasoning is never a bad thing. However, you can use it right off the bat, if you so choose.
This large flat griddle style pan is perfect for pancakes, crepes and eggs, though really you could cook anything on it. It’s great value, considering it comes with a silicone handle as well. It’s a good size for general household use, not too big and not too small. While I love a frying pan for certain things, this flat griddle also has a place in our house.
Since using cast iron, I’ve really been thrilled with how well it cooks and happy that I’m getting extra iron in my diet!
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Purina Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats Crunch Chicken, Liver & Turkey Flavours
My cats go mad for the filled treats a little more than these, but these are more crunchy and help clean the teeth more, as well as being very low calorie. One thing I didn’t like is I felt like a lot of the treats were not formed properly and... +
My cats go mad for the filled treats a little more than these, but these are more crunchy and help clean the teeth more, as well as being very low calorie.
One thing I didn’t like is I felt like a lot of the treats were not formed properly and were really small. I like that they have different shapes and sizes, but they seemed a bit broken up and didn’t really match what was on the packet.
So I wouldn’t buy them again for that reason. They are so small that I have to kind of put a little bundle out, I can’t hand-feed them easily. Whereas if they matched the packet correctly I would buy them. My cats did like the flavour, I just think better quality control is needed!
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