The Fisher Price Soothe and Glow Seahorse was given as a present to Freddy before he had even left hospital. Daddy and I were actually pleasantly surprised when Grandma turned up with this, as we'd being toying with the idea of buying either this or the Fisher Price Glow Worm once we knew whether we were having a boy or a girl. Available in either blue or pink, the seahorse is an adorable, interactive soft toy, suitable from birth upwards.

Measuring approximately 10 inches in length, the Soothe and Glow Seahorse features a cartoon-like smiling face sewn into a pastel blue, soft, plush body, shimmering fins and a rubberised area on it's tummy. The fact that the eye details are sewn on rather that being buttons, means that it's a lot safer as that they can't be pulled off. But this is not simply a soft toy, press on the tummy and it will gently glow and play a medley of tunes for five minutes before gently fading away. The battery compartment is neatly hidden behind a Velcro fastening at the back of the seahorse. Due to the weight of the battery compartment this is actually quite heavy, Freddy won't be able to pick it up any time soon (he is only 11 weeks though).

As I said Freddy and I were still in hospital when he received his Seahorse, and after a brief struggle removing it from the box, he had it in his crib from that very night. When the tummy is pressed it lights up with a nice gentle glow, which while bright enough to be noticed, it's nowhere nearly bright enough to disturb either Freddy or Mummy and Daddy's sleep. There are a total of eight different melodies played including Twinkle, Twinkle and Frere Jacques, and at top volume they do tend to pervade my dreams. As luck would have it, though, there are two volume levels and the lower is at a level where unless you are right next to the Seahorse it's almost inaudible. Interspersed with the lullabies is a sound that I can only describe as water bubbling, now at top volume this does make me desperate for a wee if I already need to go.

Freddy has found the Seahorse soothing right from word go, even in hospital he wouldn't go to sleep without it after the first night. An example is that I left him for a few minutes to go to the toilet and came back to find a midwife pressing the Seahorse's belly because it had finished and Freddy had started whining. As soon as the music started playing once more he quietened and went back to sleep. Freddy's bedtime routine now wouldn't be complete without this being played at least once.

As the Seahorse has been used extensively for the last 11 weeks, the batteries have needed changing on more than one occasion. Unusually for a toy, this came with a full set of 3 AA batteries, that needed changing about two weeks after the first use (they were cheap and cheerful batteries). I can testify that it would be very difficult for a child to get at the batteries, it was difficult enough for me and Daddy. Not only are there two screws holding the compartment shut, but to get at those screws you have to remove the whole light and sound unit from the body, which is no mean feat in itself. Since first changing the batteries they have needed to be changed once more, and so a set is lasting on average 5 weeks, with the Seahorse being played for an average of 10 minutes a night (sometimes a lot more and sometimes only 5 minutes). Although the care label states that this can only be surface cleaned, there was an occasion when Freddy was sick all over it. So we removed the hard plastic innards, hand washed the soft body and it came out good as new. Of course, I'm not recommending that you do this, but if it needs another wash we won't be hesitating.

Freddy absolutely loves his Seahorse, while it's not as brightly coloured and visually exciting as some of his toys, he will still smile and talk to the friendly face. He won't settle at night without it being played at least once, the five minute runtime is a good time span, it does mean that he does have a chance to drop off before the music stops and light fades and he enjoys chatting to it when he is awake. He's even been known to cuddle up to the Seahorse, even though that is a privilege normally reserved for Mummy and Daddy. Costing just £14.99 from Argos, this was a lovely gift, that Freddy wouldn't be without, and one that will last him quite a while as there will come a time when he can operate it himself. And so, the Fisher Price Soothe And Glow Seahorse gets a healthy five stars out five from me, and Freddy's most enthusiastic recommendation.