Laa Laa Tells All... Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa
Written: Jun 06 '01
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Pros: good for young kids, soft, cuddly, interactive, cute
Cons: short attention length?
The Bottom Line: Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa is a great, soft toy for a young toddler, but be prepared for their short attention span.
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| carneys_ID's Full Review: Talking Teletubbies - Laa-Laa |
Some kids just adore the Teletubbies. Some adults just adore them so much that their kids just go with the flow. Such is the case with my children and their grandmother, my mother. Of course, there was always the general interest in the Teletubbies in my house, so she merely fostered that love by presenting my then only child (L) with the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa doll.
How It Came to Be...
L was about 18 months old and deeply interested in the TV. I, being the conscientious and over-vigilant stay-home-mother of one, tried to limit her TV intake to just an hour or two per day. One of the shows that I allowed her to watch, and indeed remembered to turn on for that elusive 1/2 hour of peace per day, was the Teletubbies. Like many kids, L soon began to think that Laa Laa was the tops, and therefore became her favorite, with Po running a close second.
Gramma heard about L's preoccupation with Laa Laa and being separated from her grandchild by four hours but still wanting to present a gift, happened upon the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa at a Fred Meyer store. Gramma was immediately entranced by the cuddly presentation and sweet little voice box and snatched it up as a gift for her only granddaughter. After a length time of living with the Laa Laa doll herself, Gramma was so fascinated by it that she bought another talking Teletubby (Dipsy) for herself, along with another Laa Laa for L. But that's another story...
Features
The Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa doll is about a foot high, including the "antenna". She is made of a soft, plush, canary yellow covering that is almost like a felt material, except for her feet which are of a spotted grey material made to resemble their shoes. She is very squishy and a pleasant cuddle for a young child. Laa Laa is posed with one arm bent at the elbow up towards her face and the other arm completely outstretched. Her body is that classic pear shape, being wider at the hips than at the shoulders (seen that in my mirror before!)
Her face is a hard molded plastic, but soft enough that I can mash her nose in with my thumb and not feel any pain. I imagine that sleeping with Laa Laa would not cause my child to toss her out of bed in the middle of the night because she had hard parts poking her soft toddler body. Laa Laa has friendly brown eyes, no eyebrows, a snub nose, dimples, and an open smiling mouth.
On her tummy is a soft, sparkley blue rectangle of plastic that is meant to be the "view screen" seen on all the Teletubbies' chests. It is firmly sewn into the chest and not "flappy" at all, therefore I don't have to worry about my child inhaling any stray pieces of plastic.
As it says in the name of the toy, Laa Laa talks. This magic happens when you push on (or hug) her tummy. While it doesn't take much pressure for an adult to trigger the voice box, for a young toddler, it can be a challenge to find the right spot. However, after they find it, they will want to push it all the time! The voice box is inserted in the back of the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa and is accessible via a three inch velcro-closure opening. The voice box is securely tied to the lining of the doll and operates on (I believe) two included AA batteries with a screw-shut cover.
What I Don't Like
I don't like the way the voice box is inserted into the body of Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa. The velcro-closure is very easy for a child to open. And we all know how quickly a small child can get into things that they would be better off leaving alone. I have taken a large diaper pin (which, I'm happy to report, my kids haven't figured out... yet) and pinned the two sides together. The girls can still reach in and finger the back of the voice box, but they can't remove it.
The voice mechanism is very loud when removed from the lining of the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa. Granted, the sound is not loud when inside the doll, but if you don't take steps to secure the box inside the doll, you may find the mechanism up against your child's ear one day while they sleep or play. When inside the doll, the voice is actually quite soft and you may have to listen several times to understand what is being said.
What I Do Like
I like the fact that the voice box is removable. This means I can pop Laa Laa in the washer when she's looking a little grimy and "well loved". With two kids, a child-to-be, two cats, a dog and a husband living in this house with me, things can get a little messy around here and peanut butter does end up in places you wouldn't expect.
I also am pleased that the voice mechanism battery lid is secured with a Phillips head screw. While this makes more work for changing the batteries, I don't feel insecure about leaving this toy with my child. The batteries also seem to be long lasting - we've had this toy for three or so years and have yet to change the original set out (knock on wood!).
I enjoy the fact that the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa is so soft and cuddly that it can be used as a lovey for my child. Laa Laa is getting a little soft and floppy in the neck and antenna, but it's simply a sign of love. She's soft enough to sleep with and not provide a step-stool out of a crib or playpen.
Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa says cute phrases in her lovely little voice. She's got a repertoire of five phrases that include: "bye bye", "eh-oh, Laa Laa, eh-oh!", "(singing) Laa Laa....", "Big Hug!", and "eh-oh, (giggle)". The voice box uses the same voice as is heard on the TV show, so your child doesn't peer at you quizzically and wonder if Laa Laa has a cold.
Pricing
The Epinions site says that Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa is selling for $20 right now. Since we received our Laa Laa as a gift, and several years ago at that (during the height of the Teletubbies Talking phenomenon), I can't comment on how much ours cost.
Why Buy This Toy?
If you are looking for a soft, cuddly little toy for your cuddly little toddler that also provides a bit of interaction, then be sure to try out the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa on your child. Do remember, though, that kids can be finicky and what they can't live without today may be tomorrow's cast off. (They will show a revived interest in it if you give it to another sibling, however!)
Conclusion
I like the Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa doll. My girls seem to have outgrown the Teletubbies a bit, so Laa Laa isn't seeing much love lately at our house. But with the arrival of A in the near future, and how quickly they grow, I'm certain that our Teletubbies Talking Laa Laa will find a use again.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Stuffed Toy
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
carneys_ID
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Member: Sara Carney
Location: Idaho - A very windy place, indeed.
Reviews written: 131
Trusted by: 55 members
About Me:
We have four beautiful children on earth and now three angels in heaven.
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