It is nearly 5 years ago now that I had my first child Christopher, I was very lucky and had many gifts bought for him but one of the things I bought for him myself was the Playgro Wiggling Giraffe, that was in 2004 and now in 2009 the same giraffe is entertaining my 3rd child just as well as it did my first.

The Playgro Wiggling Giraffe is a simple toy designed to clip onto buggys, pram hoods, play gym bars etc.... it is an adorable stuffed giraffe with a pull cord attatched to a chunky claw like clasp. When the toy is pulled, straightening the cord, and the giraffe released it slowly winds the cord back in making the giraffe wiggle away until the cord is fully rewound. The giraffe itself is brightly coloured and eye catching, sure to grab the attention of young babies, he has a cute little face and is almost cartoony but still looks like a giraffe unlike many similar toys. The clasp is easy to fix onto whatever place you want it and works much like a big peg, it's made of chunky plastic making it easy for parents to handle comfortably.

I've used the giraffe for all 3 of my babies and they've all loved it, I would fix it to their buggy or car seat straps, onto the hood of their moses baskets, wherever it would possibly clip onto, they would happily just stare up at him when they were very tiny and as they got older enjoyed reaching out trying to grab hold or bat at it. The wiggling and slight buzzing sound as the cord rewound itself always made them giggle and was a great distraction if they became grizzly while we were out and about.

The giraffe is suitable from birth and will probably hold a little ones interest until around 12 months, Jack is just under 7 months and he still loves it. I may have bought my particular giraffe all those years ago but the exact same design is still available for around five pounds in toy stores, ours came from The Entertainer. I think it's a great testament to the quality of the toy that it's still working perfectly and is in great condition despite all the years. He's been tugged on more times then I can count but his cord is still intact, his winding mechanism is still perfect, he's just like the day we bought him.

I have had to give the giraffe a good clean a few times, especially before each new baby used it for the first time but a quick whizz in the washing machine cleans it up nicely, just a cool wash and preferably inside a pillow case or something because the clip can cause quite a racket. There is only one small problem i have found with the giraffe and that is on certain surfaces the clip isn't strong enough to stop it being pulled off, a hard tug from an overenthusiastic baby/toddler might see the giraffe pulled loose, not a health risk to baby in any way but frustrating for mummy or daddy and provides the opportunity for it to get lost

I would highly recommend this toy to parents of new babies or those expecting a little one in the near future, it has entertained all 3 of my children, is still perfect after all these years and I wouldn't hesitate to use it again if there is ever a baby number 4.