One Step Ahead – “What’s Inside? Toy Box” review and GIVEAWAY

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.

When I was offered an opportunity to receive and review a toy for Abby from One Step Ahead, I didn’t even need to know what the toy was, I said “yes” without hesitation. I have long been a fan of One Step Ahead and the chance to try one of their toys was an easy decision!

The first thing we’d like you to know: we’re not like other children’s companies. For one thing, our parent company, Chelsea & Scott literally is a “parent company!” We were founded by two real life parents, Karen and Ian Scott, who wanted the best for their own children.

Frustrated by products that looked terrific in stores and catalogs, but didn’t live up to their promises, the Scotts traded in Fortune 500 careers to pursue their vision of a different kind of baby company.

A company that subjects its products to tough, hands on testing, by both professional merchandisers and an independent Parents’ Panel. One that does the comparison shopping upfront, and then offers only the top performers. One that tracks down innovative, hard-to-find helpers—and when they can’t be found, has its Design Team create them from scratch.

One that prides itself on outstanding service, so parents can shop with absolute confidence.

For three decades, One Step Ahead has helped new parents navigate the complex baby market. Then in 1989, Leaps and Bounds, a sister catalog geared to children, joined the Chelsea & Scott family. Today, we remain committed to bringing you what parents want: high quality products…ingenious parenting solutions…outstanding service…and the toughest guarantees in the industry.

We received One Step Ahead’s “What’s Inside? Toy Box” to review.

About the toy:

Ooh…what’s this? Babies love reaching inside our mysterious box and pulling out a new surprise. Includes eight textured, soft-sculpture toys, beautifully embroidered and appliquéd. The ultimate put-and-take sensory game: put the rocket in, take the octopus out! Encourages imaginative and deductive thinking, while teaching object permanence and providing tactile stimulation. For newborns and up. Imported. Exclusively Ours!

• This is a One Step Ahead exclusive! Our in-house Design Team invests thought and care into every last detail, to bring you high-quality products you can’t find anywhere else.
• 7″ cubed box features 3D lion and butterfly appliqués, embroidery, and ribbon fringe. Sides are stiffened with fabric to stay upright; the soft, plush top is slit so baby can reach inside without seeing the contents.
• A multitude of fabrics, including: corduroy, gingham, poly/cotton
• Toys include boat, house, lion, monkey, octopus, rocket, sausage dog, and sun
• Spot clean with a damp cloth

I was in love with this toy the moment I opened the box. Abby has nothing like it, the colors are bright and vivid and it was simply adorable. I was then even more pleasantly surprised when I reached inside and pulled out all the little stuffed toys.

Here are some shots when I first opened the Toy Box:

I couldn’t wait to give this to Abby to play with. Most of her toys are hand-me-downs from Jake so when she gets a new toy that neither of them have experienced, it is really fun for us!

I put all the toys inside the toy box and set it down on the floor and got my camera ready. It didn’t take much for her to go over to it and figure it out.

Check it out:

I think you can tell from the photos that this toy was a hit! She seemed to know right off the bat that there were things inside the box and reached right in and she LOVED what was inside, especially the monkey. She adores that monkey and carries him around with her now. I actually caught Jake stealing the “sausage dog” and putting it in his room. “But I like it” he said when I told him to put it back in Abby’s toy box.

From a parenting perspective, the “What’s Inside? Toy Box” is a wonderful discovery toy for babies. The “peek-a-boo” style combined with the different colors, textures and fabrics provides a great sensory experience. It is a great size for them to explore, and inside and out it is covered in things to stimulate and experience. It seems durable and has withstood a 5 year old standing on part of it and sticking his feet in it, and a rather big “kid” tormenting Abby by sticking a large stuffed octopus through the hole preventing her from getting at the toys. The box appears to be made of a sturdy cardboard covered in felt and other materials. The toys are soft and the perfect size for little hands and have stood up well to Abby’s 6 or so new teeth.

The “What’s Inside? Toy Box” is for ages newborn and up and I really recommend it for babies and toddlers.

One Step Ahead has generously offered one winner a “What’s Inside? Toy Box” of their very own!

To enter to win:

• Visit One Step Ahead and choose your favorite item that they carry besides the “What’s Inside? Toy Box.”
• Come back here and leave a comment telling us which item you picked.

To earn additional entries:

• Subscribe to our feed (one extra entry)
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link back here and to One Step Ahead (5 extra entries)

Please a separate comment for each additional entry. For the blogging extra entry, please leave 5 separate comments.

Giveaway ends on Thursday Nov. 13th at noon central time and is open to the USA.

And if you can’t wait to get your hands on one of these great toys, or find something else you just have to have from One Step Ahead (won’t be hard), they have offered a coupon code for What’s That Smell? readers:
Coupon Code - BLOGSAVE
Valid now through 12/7/08
15% off orders of $85 or more