My three year old son decided in September that he wanted a go glo light alien for Christmas. I expected it to change many times and though he saw other things he wanted off Santa he remained firm this is the one gift he wanted.

The RRP for this toy is £19.99 but I spotted it on Amazon for £14.99 a couple of months before Christmas. I was hoping that he wouldn't change his mind but as it is the first present he has asked for I didn't want it to be the one toy I couldn't get hold of.

It arrived in a plain cardboard box but revealed the Green Alien from Toy story 3. For those who don't know what he looks like he is predictably green has three eyes and antae on his head, He wears a blue space suit with a planet logo on the top. The Alien is approximately 30cm wide and rather round which means tiny arms may struggle to cuddle him however my son does get his arms around him. The toy is a plush toy while the space suit is a soft velour material this face and hands are more of a more smooth material. The body is well stuffed which means it is that cuddly but does mean he can stand up on his feet.

To get alien to glow you simply press a button within the material on his left hand and his three eyes glow. The Alien light shines through his three eyes and gives out a subtle glow but strong enough that has helped my son find missing objects in his bed. He takes 3AAA batteries which are already included. The battery compartment is secured by a small screw.

When my son opened his gift he was delighted .It was worth every penny to see the excited look on his face. He loved it and managed to give it a big cuddle. Christmas night he was promoted to the top spot in his bed and poor Joe bear became second place in not a dissimilar fashion to woody in toy story became replaced by Buzz Light year. The initial problem I had with this Alien was that the light only lasted about thirty seconds. This meant that when he was settling down to sleep he would keep pressing the hand and every time it switched off he would then disturb himself to relight the Alien. After looking up the toy on Amazon to write a review I discovered that the alien light should stay on for 15 minutes. I have to admit I didn't read the instructions but really didn't think it necessary in a toy that you simply press the hand on and off to operate. I did investigate further and pulled out battery casing in the back of his neck .IT is held in by a piece of Velcro and it was quite difficult to remove as the casing was sewn into the material which while very awkward. I found a switch that was on try me mode but had an on and off switch. Remarkably with the switch of a switch the toy was transformed into the toy we had both been hoping for.

As time has passed his Alien does not hold the prised spot in the bed anymore, Joe Bear has now back in the previous position and during a recent stay in hospital he wanted Joe bear and not his Alien. I have not had to change the batteries but it did spent the first month on try me mode.

I do think that this has worked well as a bedtime companion. It now stands in the corner of his bed and gives a warm glow which for my son who has a fear of the dark is just enough so it doesn't seem to scare away all the monsters and other scary things that loiter in his room. It is not the soft squidgy toy but great company for your little one at night.

This toy is recomended for children three years old and over. This does seem very appropriate for this toy due to cognitve understanding needed to operate this toy.

The Go Glo Alien is currently £17.95 on Amazon with free Super saver delivery.