Find out what our parent testers thought of the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe and what their babies thought too!
Tested by mum Melanie Barnes for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe to a friend/fellow mum?
It's fun, helps your little one with hand and eye coordination, very easy for them to use.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
It kept both my 18-month-old and 4-year-old entertained for at least 45 minutes, it's a game that they could both play together.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
Maybe more balls.
Tested by mum Deirdre Owen for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe to a friend/fellow mum?
My son loved this product. Bright and colourful, noisy and fun. Easy wipe clean for those sticky fingers.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
My son entertained himself playing with this and to hear his cackle laughter was hilarious.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
Although the product came with 6 balls there were only 4 colours. I would have liked more colours so we could play colour game with the balls too. Maybe patterned balls to help with describing, such as zigzag or spotty. My only issue was that the balls didn't always pop out and felt like they were stuck so I had to give them a bit of an adult push down in the giraffes neck which babies don't get. Mechanism at spitting them out seemed rather slow and frustrated my son when they didn't come out straight away. My son also thought that because balls go in then all foreign objects must get posted too. could see this breaking easily with lots of toys getting trapped in the giraffes neck.
Tested by mum Vicki Lee for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
Fantastic. My 2.5 year old loves this. Hours of fun. Pop the balls in the top and the shoot out along the floor. Also lights up with music. Lovely design and colours. Great packaging and well-packed. Not too small and not too high, so easy to play with.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
Keeps the babies occupied while I do the housework.
Tested by mum Rachel Thornhill for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe to a friend/fellow mum?
Attractive design that interests children from the moment they see it. A very simple concept, but perfectly executed. It comes apart in the middle so I can fish out all of the other toys that end up in there as a result of their curiosity. It also perfectly fits the plastic balls that come with other toys from ELC, providing even more entertainment! Plus it's a physical toy, so helping keep little legs moving.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
Keeps my 18m old entertained for a good 5 minutes, and his older brother thinks it’s fantastic too... so great for more than one child to play with together (which is quite rare for the 12-24m age group!).
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
The 2 levels of music don't seem to be that different, a quieter setting would be handy!
Tested by mum Carly Surman for the M&B Awards 2016:
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
My son absolutely loved this toy but unfortunately it lasted all of ten minutes. My son's face lit up when the music started and the balls popped out of the giraffe's feet. He kept clapping and smiling at the toy and I thought the product was amazing. The light was also a great added feature. However, within a few minutes the toy stopped working - my son had pushed the balls into the feet which broke the toy. The toy needs to be re-designed to stop it breaking when balls are inserted into the feet.
Tested by a mum Amanda Neville for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
My son liked the music and the popping of the balls but he couldn't work out how to put the balls in. It's reasonably priced for what you get. Great colours.
Tested by a mum Jemma Jones for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe to a friend/fellow mum?
We really liked playing with this toy. It’s fun to use and my little boy loves the music. It’s easy to keep clean, easy to use, simple to change the batteries, not so easy to hide away as it is big but my son really likes it and has played with it every day since we got it. It’s a winner in his and my eyes.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
It occupies my little boy for some time while I get to drink a cup of tea.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
The balls to come out a little quicker.
Tested by a mum Rachel Thornhill for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend the Early Learning Centre Drop and Pop Giraffe to a friend/fellow mum?
I think it's great. Smashing toy for my son's age group, encouraging motor skills, coordination and movement. He chases the balls around the kitchen and it makes him laugh. Nice and chunky with no fiddly little parts. And a fun toy to play with them too.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
Good on a rainy day when we can't get out for a walk, not many toys nowadays encourage lots of movement. Great that it can be taken apart as is usually filled with duplo and plastic fruit! And auto switch off is very handy, as when he starts playing with it again he doesn't have to switch it on and off again. And perfect for playdates!
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
It's quite loud on the quiet setting, and the music is a little bit annoying. It’s quite big too, so in a small house it can't be put away. But neither of these things detract from a fantastic toy.
Tested by a mum Lucy Casey for the M&B Awards 2016:
Why would you recommend this product to a friend/fellow mum?
The size, colour and quality of the giraffe were great. The balls did not come out quick enough so my children were trying to put their hands in to get the balls out. There was a really loud banging noise that came from the mechanics at the bottom. We had to turn it off as it was so annoying even though both my 14 month and nearly 4 year old wanted to play.
How does this product make your life easier as a mum?
This would have kept the kids entertained for hours if the speed was rectified.
If you could change one thing about this product what would it be?
Quieter and the ball to release quicker, as I was really concerned my children would hurt themselves as they kept putting their hands in to get the balls out.