- Why I Bought -
I came across this pair of Fisher Price Lil Music Makers Fish Stix Maracas in a charity shop several months ago. I was keen for my son to have some musical toys and these seemed perfect. I liked the fish design and I know Fisher Price is a reliable brand, although these were second hand they were in good as new condition.

- The Maracas -
The set consists of two maracas that have an unusual fish design. The main body is made from solid orange plastic with a yellow stomach and a small Fisher Price logo. The fins and tale are made from purple plastic. The fish measure approximately 21cm in length. The shape of the maraca works very well as a fish body with a big rounded head and body that holds the rattling beads and then a long this tale which works perfectly as a handle. The fish also has a big smile and huge goggly eyes with the eye balls moving around to look in different directions. Overall it is not the most attractive fish but it is very eye catching and quirky. It certainly looks fun for little ones.

- Shake it! -
Maracas are essentially a rattle which I'm sure is why they are so appealing to babies. My son was around six months when we bought these for him and he instantly loved them. Strangely he loves it if we shake them in his face! He also loves shaking them himself. The rattling noise is quite loud and satisfying. He really likes the goggly eyes that move and I think the bright colours hold his attention too. He still plays with these quite regularly at nearly 14 months and they go really well with his xylophone and drum. This makes it a really nice group activity. I think they help improve motor skills and also help develop an interest in music. My only criticism is that they are quite large and chunky so can be tricky for little hands to hold and shake effectively. They are rather head heavy which can make it challenging, however my son soon got the hang of them so it isn't a huge issue.

- Age Range -
The age recommendation for these is 18 months plus. I don't see any reason why they can't be used with a younger baby as we did, although perhaps the size of them as I have already mentioned. There are no choking hazards etc. My son was certainly interested from around six months and is still interested at 14 months so I think we will get a couple of years use from them.

- Price and Availability -
These are available to buy on Amazon priced at £29.99 which I think is very overpriced. I think this is because they are not a current item and therefore they aren't widely available but they are still popular. I found a pair on Ebay priced at 99p plus £4.99 postage which is a bit more reasonable. I think we paid £2-3 for our pair which I am very happy with.

- Would I recommend? -
I would definitely recommend getting a pair of these fish maracas if you can get them for a reasonable price. They are fun, have an unusual and quirky design, are educational and most importantly my son loves them. The only downsides are price and availability and the size and weight of them.