Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center: Let the Good Times Roll!
Written: Oct 31 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Black, white, and red colors; double sided
Cons: Limited lifespan
The Bottom Line: Though only young babies will be entertained by it, the Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center was responsible for making trips much more bearable for my family.
|
|
|
| tritter72's Full Review: Kids II Inc Infant Development Car Activity Center |
In my last review, I mentioned the intense dislike my son used to have for riding in the car. Though many babies seem to love time spent in the car and even find it to be soothing, my son wanted none of it. His cries from the backseat made for a stressful driving situation, increased by the fact that he was in a rear-facing seat. I knew he was safest in that position, but it made both of us feel rather helpless and isolated. Determined to do something about it, my husband and I went to Babies R Us, where we found two products that gave us hope. One was for immediate use, and the other, which I reviewed previously, was for the baby when he was a little older. Though our days of using the Kids II Infant Development Car Activity Center are now over, I'd like to share my experience.
Safety Won Us Over
When we originally shopped for some carseat entertainment, we found many products that attached to the infant carrier handle. These toys looked like they would be very entertaining, but they weren't right for us. The problem? They were not meant to be used in a moving vehicle. When we thought about it, it actually made sense. The instructions that came with our carrier specified that the handle was not to be positioned above the child while in the car. This alone would rule out those nifty little contraptions we were looking at. Add to this the fact that those "carrier entertainers" could become projectiles in a moving vehicle, and you have two parents who just didn't want to risk it.
Just when we were ready to give up, we stumbled on the Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center. The product is made of cloth and attaches to the vehicle's seat, not the child's seat. We hoped that we had a winner and headed for the checkout.
Well-Designed with Baby in Mind
What is it about black and white? Maybe you've noticed that there is an abundance of products on the market for infants that sport bold black and white patterns. Well, from a developmental standpoint, this design is actually perfect for a little one. Since an infant's eyes are not fully developed at birth, black and white are particularly stimulating.
If I had any doubts about all of the black and white products on the market, they were allayed the day I brought home our brand new Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center. It had come packaged in a cardboard box, which I was opening absent-mindedly as I chatted with my mother. She was sitting on the couch, holding my son on her lap. As I took the piece of fabric from the package and unfolded it, my then-four-month-old literally jumped in my mom's lap. His eyes were wide open, as if the world had just suddenly come into focus. It was obvious that he was attracted to his new "toy," and I was pleased to see that this product did indeed have a lot of promise.
So, What Activities Are Included?
I encourage you to think of the term "activity center" in a fairly loose manner. Keep in mind that this is a product that is recommended for children from birth on up, so it probably isn't going to entertain older babies. It's more or less something to look at, which is a great idea when you think about it. Infants in rear-facing seats must get tired at looking at your car's upholstery!
The Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center is a large, 14 x 14 inch, soft piece of cloth which is decorated on both sides. Pictured above, you'll see the side that resembles a tic-tac-toe board. It features bold black, white, and red patterns including a dog, panda bear, elephant, bull's eye, checkerboard, and star. The top center square contains a non-breakable mirror, since studies have shown that babies love to look at faces. Located on the bottom three squares are plastic pouches which allow you to insert a picture of your own choosing (not included). This is terrific for parents who like to personalize their child's possessions.
The flip side of the Car Activity Center shows a large illustration of the dog and panda bear driving a convertible, with the elephant taking up the whole back seat (and more!). The lively scene includes the same black, white, and red colors and the same types of bold patterns.
Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center has a handle, also constructed of fabric, at the top. Where one side of the handle meets the activity center itself, you'll find a piece of velcro. This allows you to securely attach the activity center to the headrest on your vehicle's seat, or even to attach it to places other than your car. We often attached the activity center a kitchen chair and placed my son's bouncer in front of it. He loved the view, and it gave us time to do the dishes! If your vehicle's seats don't have a headrest, you can still just drape the activity center over the seat. Just be aware that you'll have to reposition it if you have to come to a quick stop.
When your child reaches the age/weight recommendations for a front-facing seat, you may no longer find the Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center to be useful. Besides the fact that is isn't as amusing for an older baby, you may find that it doesn't position well in your car. If your child's seat is in the middle, they may or may not have a spot directly in front of them for placing the activity center. Even for a child sitting in the left or right position of the backseat, the activity center may be too low and too close to really offer a good view.
The Verdict
When my son was younger and a little more passive, the Kids II I.D. Car Activity Center really helped us to solve our "car problems." My son enjoyed looking at the pictures, and we loved the fact that we could just flip the activity center over when he seemed to get bored. Bear in mind that once your child becomes more active, you may want to find something that he or she can manipulate in more of a hands-on fashion. (We settled on the Baby 500 Car Seat Toy.) For those early months, however, this product proved itself to be invaluable. The crying stopped, and we were all able to relax and enjoy the ride.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tritter72
|
|
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)
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.