At just £2 this toy stacks up both physically and financially. We have had loads of use from it in the last month with Baby CrazyEgg now reaching a corrected age of 11 months. There are many versions of stacking rings you can buy: soft; wooden; or with bells, flashing lights and music. This Asda model is the classic: simple, plastic, colourful rings over a red conical base. Of the three sets of stacking rings we now have (the others being respectively a soft and spiny set forming a dinosaur, and a traditional wooden version), this Asda interpretation is the current favourite since it best meets Baby CrazyEgg's needs.

To begin, a brief word about our other two sets: the dinosaur has found some favour as a soft toy, but Baby CrazyEgg is perplexed when his head falls off. It falls off unless you squash all the other rings down hard and then push and twist the head down onto the main spine. The fabric of this central spine also creates resistance for all the rings so they have to be pulled down to the base: they do not fall. These features render the dinosaur a model for the more advanced stacker only.

The wooden set is heavy. Baby CrazyEgg often likes to roll, grab a ring, reverse roll and chew or bash the rings together whilst lying on her back. If she drops the rings on her face they hurt. Even more alarming, the central spindle here, which is of an even 1cm diameter from base to tip and about 20cm long could do her some damage as she swings it wildly around. In fact this set, that we received as a gift, is only recommended for ages 18months plus, when co-ordination will be better and Baby likely more stacking-savvy.

Light, bright and chunky, the Asda set is therefore getting the most use currently.

With this model Baby will not be sidetracked into shaking, rattling, watching lights or listening to tunes. There are no distractions here: the gauntlet is laid down, the problem presented. Baby must work out how to remove the rings and then restack them; a task that will require analysis and then precision of hand-eye co-ordination if they are to succeed.

It could be considered a disadvantage that the Asda stand is conical and the holes of the rings vary in size so they will only all fit on in a certain order. The corollary is that Baby is deterred from developing any innovative stacking styles of their own: something which the wooden model with its cylindrical spindle permits. Alternatively the conical centre can be seen as extending the challenge as it leads baby eventually into an analysis and comparison of the size of the rings. For us, this is many moons away, giving us great value for money.

Another feature is the base which is curved on two sides so the ring tower will rock. This adds a frisson of excitement when it is placed almost out of reach and Baby attempts to attain it.

We have of course started preparing Baby for evenings of Quoits with this toy.

Baby CrazyEgg loves this toy. She will take off each ring, often in something of a frenzy, and then tests each one for deliciousness before rejecting or passing to Mum: "Here. Try this." We are still working on the stacking itself.

The only real downside I can see to this toy is that the round of applause Baby CrazyEgg receives for divesting the cone of its rings may be implanting a subliminal desire to possess traffic cones.