Scotland's biggest baby & toddler event is happening this weekend at the SECC, 27th - 29th April. It looks to be a good day out - there are lots of exciting activities for babies and toddlers; expert advice and information; a free creche (boost!) and a load of interesting exhibitors.
I was at a Bloggers Breakfast last week with my daughter (toddler stayed with Granda & Nanny Jo - just as well as he would have caused mayhem!) to find out about some of the exhibitors and we were given a few products to review.
My daughter and I were given a fab soft toy doll, Oobicoo. The doll is 60cm tall (the average size of a six month old baby!) and is designed to wear out-grown baby clothes. Our Olwyn Oobicoo doll was an instant hit with my daughter, aged 1 year old. The doll is intended for age 3+ and this is due to the long curly hair of the girl version as it may be a strangling hazard. I felt that it was ok for my son (aged 2.5 years) and daughter to play with her under supervision.
As soon as we brought our doll home, my son was desperate to have a shot and immediately suggested we put her jacket on! We decided to call our doll Ruby, and here she is...
I think the doll will encourage my son to learn about dressing himself, how to do up poppers, buttons etc. He has been chatting away about Ruby.... he even told me that Ruby had done a poo (when really it was him!!). So she did become an instant little 'best friend', just as the marketing material for the doll suggests.
He had great fun with her for a couple of days, however, my son did get a bit bored of her and Ruby has been left snuggled in his bed untouched. This is probably a reflection of his age though.
The dolls retail at £44.99, and if I'm honest, I'm not sure I'd pay that much for one. Totseat, the company behind the Oobicoo dolls, are however raising funds for the Children's Immunology Fund through the sale of each doll and the dolls are manufactured from recycled and recyclable materials.
The doll's nose feels like metal under the fabric, and I suspect that the material will wear thin very quickly in that area. But that's perhaps just me being pernickety and I haven't had the doll long enough to discover if that is the case. I also wasn't overly impressed with the Oobicoo packaging. I appreciate that the use of a fabric pod means that there is less packaging, saves a cardboard box etc but I think a little sleeping bag rather than the pod design would work better. Our pod has been ditched by the toddler, whereas, I think if it was easier for him to use and put her in, then he would have been more inclined to keep it. If I've time I might make her a little sleeping bag!
My sister found the doll a little creepy, sort of like Chucky from Child's Play. She snuck up to the kids bedroom as I was getting them organised for bed at the weekend and stuck Ruby's head out from behind their bedroom door. What a fright I got! This has freaked me out a little as I was terrified of Chucky as a child!!
Despite the negative points that I've mentioned, I am genuinely very impressed with the doll and the concept... I'm just not convinced I would actually spend £44.99 on this product. That said, I think my children are possibly a little bit too young at the moment to appreciate Ruby fully and I'm sure in a year from now my son will be more interested in her.
What are your thoughts on the Oobicoo dolls.... good idea, or a little bit creepy?
