Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym ~ THIS Music Grates on My Nerves!
Written: Aug 21 '06 (Updated Aug 27 '06)
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Pros: ● Colorful & Stimulating
● Durable
● Easy to clean
● Gender neutral
Cons: ● Annoying music
The Bottom Line: The Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym is a fun, durable toy if you can put up with the Wheels on the Bus music.
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| marybatson's Full Review: Sesame Street Grow and Go Play Gym |
Why is the mother of a 5-year old reviewing an infant play gym? In short, I need to make room in my closets thus; all baby items are being delegated to a yard sale. Anyone need some gently used baby items?
The Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym is a play center for infants and toddlers 0 to 24-months. It is manufactured by Fisher-Price, and made of heavy-duty plastic. This gym has 2-modes of play: infant mode, and toddler mode i.e. the reason for the “Grow N’ Go” in the title. In infant mode, the toy functions as a gym where babies lie under it, and bat at the toys above. In toddler mode, it sets up like a roadway, and Elmo drives around the track.
In infant mode, there are 6-separate toys: a rattle, a horseshoe, Big Bird, Ernie, a mirror with Grover & Zoë on the back, and Elmo in a bus. The bus glides on a track on top of the gym. Elmo is activated when a child bats at the toys from below. Elmo has a flashing light that alternates from red to blue, and the song Wheels on the Bus plays while he travels back and forth on the track. Big Bird, Ernie, and the mirror hang under the track on heavy-duty links. The links have a locking mechanism, so they can’t slide off and hit baby in the face. The toys are removable, and can be moved around the gym for added variety. The toys are stationery, and do not have moving parts. The rattle, and the horseshoe hang from the sides, and do not activate the bus when touched. They are designed for the first stages of infancy. They have moving parts, and tactile planes to interest baby.
In toddler mode, the legs of the gym form a roadway, and Elmo drives around the track. There’s a mode switch on the back of Elmo, slide the switch to track mode, and press the button on top of Elmo to activate the bus. He goes, and goes, and goes… The Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym measures 16 1/2" wide x 23 1/2" deep x 23" High, and weighs only 4-pounds. It's easy to transport, and a breeze to disassemble, and reassemble. All you do is guide the legs into the slots, and snaps them in place. To disassemble, release the locking tabs, and remove the legs.
Assembly:
I remember like it was yesterday. It was the first toy-like item my husband and I put together for our newborn child. Emotional tension, and strife can often fill the moments while assembling new items, but this was special, and we embraced it. It took about 20-minutes in total, and both a flat head screwdriver, and a small Philips Head screwdriver is necessary for the job. The manual includes photos, and well written instructions that are easy to follow. Three AA batteries are required, and they are not included. The battery compartment is located in Elmo’s bus, and a screwdriver is required to replace the batteries.
Our Experience:
The Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym was a gift, and as it was not something I would have purchased for my wee one, I trusted and appreciated the gift giver. We didn’t have a gym in our arsenal of baby equipment, nor did we have much cash, so we gave it a whirl.
My first impression of the Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym was that it might be too hard a surface for a newborn. The soft play gyms appealed to me more, as they offered stimulation for tummy time as well overhead fun. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the colorful gym intrigued my son. He was two-weeks old when we tried the gym the first time. He just gawked in amazement. In no time, he was kicking the toys on the side. He liked the horseshoe best. It has 3-hanging shapes with lots of tactile feedback, so I removed it for him to explore further. About 6-weeks later, William was kicking at the overhead toys. The music scared him, so we switched Elmo off. It was another month before William kicked, and pulled at the toys and actually enjoyed the reward of flashing lights, and music. This gym stimulated, and entertained our son for 20-minutes a day. He’d wiggle, and giggle when he saw it, and short of the annoying Wheels on the Bus music, it was a super activity.
I liked that the Sesame Street Grow N’ Go Play Gym was easy to clean. I just washed it down with soap and a cloth. Roadway mode didn’t entertain William as much as I thought it might. Elmo would jam in the tracks, and it annoyed him. My only warning is that this gym is not designed to help children learn to walk, or play with in a standing position. It’s not intended to support the weight of a child, and can tip over. It's quite a portable toys as well. One might image this gym rather cumbersome for car travel, but it's a cinch. It can be disassembled, and reassemble in a minute tops. Overall, I’m very satisfied with this product, and it looks new after 6-months of play.
Fisher-Price Headquarters
636 Girard Avenue, East Aurora, and NY 14052
Telephone: 1-800-432-KIDS 8 AM ~ 6 PM EST Monday through Friday
www.fisher-price.com
Additional Fisher-Price Reviews:
Activity Center
Kick & Learn Piano
Symphony Star Beads
Farmer Says See ‘n Say
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker
View-Master Thomas & Friends Gift Set
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): (Gift) 34.99
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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marybatson
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Member: Mary
Location: Phoenix
Reviews written: 169
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