At a glance:
Our mums loved Twinkles the magic unicorn, which won bronze in our Toddler Toy category. They loved how interactive the toy was and how much she encouraged their toddlers to move. The unicorn is also easy to use on a number of different floor types, so you are able to pack it up and carry it with your round the house. The only downside our testers could find was how stiff the buttons were for their little ones.
What they say:
“Say hello to the mystical Toot-Toot Friends Kingdom Twinkle the magical unicorn. Press Twinkles light-up heart button to see her majestically trot, move her head from side to side and see a magical display with her flapping her beautiful wings. Place the included SmartPoint character Fairy Prisma on one of the two MagicPoint locations and take her on a magical journey around the Kingdom and hear her introduce herself, sharing the things she likes to do and sing 2 sing-along songs. Pretend to feed Twinkle with her pretend golden carrot to hear fun eating sound effects to make playtime even more magical.”
Tested by mum Danielle Overend for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
It’s a very interactive toy, but isn’t stagnant. It allows and encourages movement, as they have to move to follow and keep with the unicorn, however, if you turn that feature off, there is the option for calm play with the unicorn and the Princess Prisma, enabling fine motor skills and imagination. The unicorn and princess are very tactile. The unicorn is made from several different materials, which encouraged our daughter to feel around and discover play features independently.
How did the product make your life easier?
My daughter is almost 15-months-old and was not yet walking when we received the product, however, she was standing and loved the music, so we encouraged her to stand independently while the music played which she loved to doing. She also loves chasing the unicorn as it moves, and we have been able to incorporate this into encouraging her to walk as we chase it together, so it’s actually been hugely effective in encouraging her to both stand and walk independently.
Would you choose this product to win?
I think this toy is good for a wide range of ages and I can see our daughter coming back to it through different stages of play and development, as it offers a wide range of options. It is also a toy that older children seem to like to play with when they have been round, and its appearance is a bit of a showstopper!
What changes would you make to the product?
The wings feel a bit delicate, they have withstood the test of time so far, but with boisterous and younger children I can see these breaking.
Tested by mum Sophie Fluin for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product because it is interactive and eye catching, with sensory details such as the soft plush tail and mane. It is also well made, durable and easy to clean. This product captures the imaginations of little ones and offers something different from other toys.
How did this product make your life easier?
As a mum, this product makes my life easier as it is versatile on all different floor types, meaning my toddler can bring it anywhere around the house and have it still interact with him, almost as though it’s his own pet! The lovely songs also occupy my toddler, as he loves music and dancing around to the tunes that this product plays.
Would you choose this product to win?
Initially I would not have chosen this product over others on the market, purely because it does seem to be aimed more towards little girls. However, since testing this product, my little boy loves it and has had hours of fun chasing the unicorn, feeding her and dancing to her songs. The one thing that makes this product stand out is its versatility, as it's very rare to find an interactive toy that works on all surfaces.
What changes would you make to this product?
The one thing I would change about this product would be to make it more gender neutral. My little boy has loved playing with it, but I would not have picked this toy up initially.
Tested my mum Keiley Bayliss for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
This is a beautifully crafted product designed to encourage and enhance imaginative play. The presentation instantly had my little ones curious mind on the go. 'Twinkle' became a favourite with its motorised limbs and rainbow coloured horn, and Prisma added to the charm with her songs. I definitely commend the durability of the unicorn, as my little one can be quite rough.
How did this product make your life easier?
As cute and adorable as the product is, I had quite a challenge bringing Prisma to life. After a lot a different battery swaps and a little chewing of the toys limbs by my little one, she suddenly started to work. Cleaning the set is an easy enough job but transportability would not work if you don't really have a lot of space to carry it.
Would you choose this product to win?
I love its unique presentation and how the product makes my little ones face beam with joy. It's not a standalone set, so there is plenty more potential for imaginative play with the other compatible sets. A one-year product warranty is included with the set, which is good, because you never know when it will break.
What changes would you make to this product?
The stiffness of the buttons is one aspect my little one struggles with, and I have been given a few odd looks from friends and family due to where the power button is located on Twinkle. Also, maybe the volume of noise from the motor inside could be dimmed down and the legs could become foldable to take away on holiday.
Tested by dad Mike Gabler for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The toy needs no setting up and works straight from the box, and both the unicorn and fairy were an instant hit with my toddler. If you have a child that plays with dolls or makes her own scenarios and scenes with objects, this toy may be more suited for them. My toddler tends to play with toys for a short while then gives up on them, but will inevitably return to them at a later date and become their best friend. The toy is colourful, sturdy (she tried to ride it and it didn't break), and has good interaction, but also has the added bonus of being able to purchase extra figures to interact with the unicorn and each other, something I feel would benefit play with the toy immensely.
How did this product make your life easier?
The unicorn is a medium sized, battery-operated toy with lots of lights and sounds. It is brightly coloured and seems well made, and interacts with the (supplied) fairy figure, which sits in one of two places on the top. My one-and-a-half-year-old girl loved it on first use and for a few days after, but hasn't really returned to it since. As with any toy that holds your child's attention, if they can play with it without supervision, it can only make your life easier as a mum or a dad.
Would you choose this product to win?
If you are looking for an interactive toy that doesn't require any effort to set up or use, then I would recommend this toy. However, the long-term playability is still to be tested, and as it has sat there unnoticed for a week, I am not too sure what the outcome will be. Having said that, my toddler has two boxes of toys in the living room that are sitting silent, and all she plays with at the moment is her Toot-Toot Mining Train set.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I were to change anything about the product, I would make the unicorn more interactive and do more. While it moves and walks and makes sounds, none of these are different each time you press it, and therefore it becomes a little stale a little too quickly. If it could sit down and stand back up as well as walk, that would be much more impressive, but for the price point I guess it does enough. The toy also doesn't interact for long after placing the character on the unicorn and repeated presses of any of the buttons are needed to keep the toy going, which means the toddler looses interest quite quickly.
Tested by mum Laurie Adams for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, I would strongly recommend this product to a mum of girls. I loved the design. It’s brightly coloured, though in regards to storage - it would take a bit of space up in a storage box, but isn’t too big that it would make a living room look messy. This product isn't the sort of toy a child could carry with them around a supermarket, but for home it is a perfect size. It is super easy to clean this product, as it is all plastic except for the mane and tail, which is made out of a soft material.
How did this product make your life easier?
I will admit that when my child is sat happily playing with this product, it does enable me to get on with things around the house. It has many features that would keep a child entertained for a while, which is great keeping her busy, and letting me get on.
Would you choose this product to win?
I think this product has the potential to win against others on the market, and feel that this product justifies its price tag. It's a beautiful looking toy that not only plays music, melodies and sounds, but also includes a fairy that rides on top of the unicorn that you can sing along with. It also includes a carrot toy that you feed Twinkle.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I could change one thing about the product, it would be the age range. It states on the box that it is suitable for children between one and five years. I would say the age is more for two plus, but that's just me being really picky, as this is genuinely a really good product that children will love. Another criticism for the age would be that the product is quite heavy for a one year old to pick up and carry. My one-year-old could pick this product up, but had a bit of difficulty trying to do so.
Product Information
Suitable for ages 3+