Pedalling Hippo - A Short Lived But Funny Toy. (Tomy Aqua Fun Hippo Pedalo)

Member Name: fergusa

Product:	Tomy Aqua Fun Hippo Pedalo
Date:	05/08/09 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny and quite Cute. Well made.

Disadvantages: Baby lost interest quite quickly.

I'm still working my way through the mountain of toys my son received for his 1st birthday. This is the latest one - it is a bath toy from Tomy called "Hippo Pedalo".

**What is it?

Hippo Pedalo is a plastic bath toy approx 7" long by 5" wide. It consists of a yellow Pedalo boat with a rudder and a blue hippo sitting inside.


**What does it do?

The toy has a couple of functions. Firstly, it moves along in the water (very slowly) allowing baby to follow it about, whilst it moves around the hippo sings a cute version of "O Sole Mio" (very funny the first few times you hear it) and pedals his legs. You have to press Hippo's tummy to get this sound/movement and it lasts for approx 30 seconds.

Secondly, you can fill up a small chamber at the back which will then make bubbles behind the boat as it moves. (This only really works if you don't have bubbles in the bath otherwise they just merge into those.)


**What is the play value/advantages?

The benefits of this toy as stated by Tomy are:
Builds bonds with baby/family
Builds water confidence
Can be used as part of bedtime routine
Creates fun and happy time

I think some of these are a bit tenous (my baby can make happy time with an empty cardboard box), but it is a funny toy for the first few times of use. It doesn't really have much educational value but may help children who don't enjoy bathing. My son enjoys pushing it around (and sinking it) so it does help to build water confidence.

It is also well made and does what it claims to do perfectly well.


**Any downsides?

I would say the biggest disadvantage is that it will only be fun for a limited time before it goes into the big box of "no longer played with" toys. It costs £9.99 new which is probably a bit much for the use it will get.


**Packaging

The toy comes in an acceptably sized cardboard open fronted box without too many fiddly fastenings.
It takes 3 x AA batteries (Yes - batteries in a bath toy - don't worry it's safe!!).

Summary: A Blue Hippo Singing in a Boat