If You're Happy and You Know It...Happy Cement Mixer
Written: Feb 19 '03 (Updated Feb 19 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, Built for little hands, Rattling sound, Colorful, Affordable
Cons: Wheels could be improved upon
The Bottom Line: A great truck for a great price
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| tritter72's Full Review: Fisher-Price Happy Cement Mixer |
Almost a year ago, we purchased the Happy Crane Construction set for our son. As we saw the level of enjoyment our then-ten-month-old was getting from it, we started to build our collection of accessory vehicles slowly but surely. One of the ones we like the most is the cute little Happy Cement Mixer, manufactured by Fisher-Price.
Just Right for Baby
My son has loved cars and trucks for about a year now, and since we live in an area that is under constant development, he also sees his share of construction vehicles. Our Happy Cement Mixer just seemed like part of a natural progression.
The bright green truck body and bright red wheels are constructed of a durable, shiny plastic. Molded into the grill on the front of the truck, you'll find the features that give this truck its name: two eyes, a nose, and a big smile complete with tongue sticking out. Other molded features, such as headlights and windows, are included. This cheery truck also has a clear plastic mixer trimmed in yellow, which is filled with about 20 small yellow, blue, green, red, and white beads.
Recommended for ages 6 months and up, Happy Cement Mixer takes absolutely no batteries and runs instead on "kid power." In addition to running it on the floor like any other car, your little one can also spin the mixer. Doing this causes the beads to make a gentle rattling sound. There are no removable parts and no points or sharp edges, so the this construction vehicles is baby-safe.
I'm Happy to Report...
This car has lived up to a year of use and has come out completely unscathed. As far as durability is concerned, we really couldn't ask for more--no cracked plastic, no scratches, no broken parts. In fact, it still has that brand-new, shiny sheen.
At about 5 inches tall and 5 inches wide, Happy Cement Mixer is a nice size for little hands. Its chunky design makes it easy to move from place to place, and the wheels and mixer spin easily.
Versatility is important to me, and I love a toy that will span a range of ages. This one continues to be used by my son, and in fact I had to swipe it in order to look it over and write this review. The rattling action makes this toy a great lesson in cause and effect for babies, and toddlers will enjoy it for the fact that it is a construction vehicle.
What Would Make Me Even Happier?
My complaints about this simple little truck are few, but the main one concerns the wheels. Each of the four wheels spins separately, not being connected by an axle. They tend to be a bit wobbly, and this causes the truck to hook right or left when you give it a push. Although it is a baby toy, I don't think it is too much to ask for it to be a little better designed. After all, pushing a car and seeing what happens comes naturally to a little one, so why not have it work as well as possible?
Happy Cement Mixer is a darling little truck for a baby or toddler, but it does have "baby toy" written all over it. The chunky size, bright colors, and rattling action will probably not please a preschooler, especially those who are into realism. That's OK, though, because the price on this truck is right, especially for the use you'll get out of it if you buy it early on. I feel like we've already gotten our money's worth, and my son, now 21 months, is still playing with it.
So Happy Together!
As I mentioned earlier, we bought this toy to be used in conjunction with the larger Happy Crane Construction set. Now that my son is a little older, he understands that the different trucks all belong together, and he is in the early stages of pretend play. I'm very glad that we decided to complete the set by buying this vehicle, and we have gotten many hours of enjoyment playing construction together.
Whether your child uses Happy Cement Mixer alone or with Happy Crane Construction, it is an excellent addition to the toybox. It does fun little baby things, like making rattling sounds, while still being a feasible toy truck. I know the day will come when my son will want a more realistic vehicle, but for now we're still having tons of fun with this one.
Related Reviews:
Happy Crane Construction
Happy Dump Truck
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 5.99
Type of Toy: Car, Truck or Raceway
Age Range of Child: Other
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Epinions.com ID:
tritter72
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Member: Tammi
Location: Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 100
Trusted by: 91 members
About Me:
Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present. (Unknown)
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