Infantino Comforting Play Collection

News flash: I just had a baby a month ago, and though I shrugged off the traditional baby shower (second child, same sex as my first), I was a bit sad not having some new toys and things for Jude.  However, I was excited about being contacted to participate as a Test-Drive Mom in a campaign with Mom Central Consulting for Infantino, who sent me some items from their Comforting Play Collection.

Infantino is a brand I know well, from my older son's infancy. I love their smartly-designed toys and baby items, which are both appealing to infants and the adults who love them.  Some baby toys are, well, just so babyish, however Infantino items just seem a bit more hip in their colors and style.

I was sent a nice selection of items from the Comforting Play Collection, and though Jude is still a little young at 1 month old to enjoy many of them, I can say that he does seem to respond to ones that play music, like the Soothing Snuggle Pup and the Tag Along Chimes.

My older son enjoyed the wrist rattles as a baby, so I'm hoping that Jude will too.  Something new to the baby repertoire around our house are the foot rattles, which look like little booties with rattles attached, perfect for when baby discovers his/her feet.

I also like the Soothing Hand Squeezies, which are a unique item.  They're designed to fit over baby's hands like mittens, but provide a squeezable pad in the palm, meant to simulate a finger.  I like that they won't slide off, but leave the fingers free for chewing or sucking (definitely important for my little guy).

The Comforting Play Collection overall is less-stimulating than some baby toys out there.  I can see that the Sweet Bee Scented Pal lavender-scented companion and the buckwheat-filled Ouchie Pals can be soothing to babies who are tired or having a fussy spell.

I also like that many of these items are made with natural materials, for example the stuffing inside the Hug & Tug Wooly Pal is pure wool.  As a mom who tries to maintain a natural lifestyle, this product appealed to me.

The Tag Along Chimes have always been a hit with babies I've known, including my own.

They're especially nice hanging from a car seat handle, and the chimes are not so loud to be irritating to adults.  In fact, they really are quite nice and soothing, even for me.  We still have some Infantino Tag Along Chimes from Soren's babyhood, which are now being utilized for Jude.

Another item, the Soothing Snuggle Pup, makes sweet, calming sounds, from soft music to a heartbeat. It can be attached to a crib, stroller or car seat.

One of the items I'm not personally crazy about is the Sweet Serenade Crib Toy, not because it's not a pleasant, soothing item, but 1). I'm not one to put toys in my child's crib (wanting to separate play time from sleep time) and 2).

It doesn't fit around the rail of my crib (the strap is too short).  But the music is pleasing, and I have played it for Jude while he was relaxing on the floor.  However, other parents might like using items like this to sooth their child to sleep without a bottle or breast.  Though I am concerned that an older child might get tangled in the cord that is used to start the music (you pull it at the bottom).  You'd have to take this toy out once the child is old enough to start messing with that.

I'm also not one to use the Binky Buddy, since my sons were never big on pacifiers.

However, it's a personal thing, so other parents may love something like this which keeps track of the always-disappearing binky and keeps it within baby's reach.

Items from the Comforting Play Collection would be a great addition to a baby shower gift; the products would be nice tied to the front of a larger present or tucked into a diaper cake, as I'm intending to do for my sister-in-law's upcoming shower.  I think a "Pals" gift set would be a nice little gift too, including the Sweet Bea Scented Pal, Ouchie Pal, and Hug & Tug Wooly Pal, since these toys will take a while to outgrow. Even my older son would use them, especially if he has a boo-boo.

I'll be working as an Infantino Test-Drive Mom over the next few months, so stay tuned for more posts about their products.  You can connect with Infantino via Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.