What we say:
Our panel of mum testers loved Philip the Pelican as he provided hours of entertainment for their little ones on long car journeys and in the pram. We love that the little fish in the Pelican’s mouth doubles as a teething toy, and the fact that the handy clip means that it cannot be thrown on the floor when out and about.
What they say:
“Keep your little one engaged and entertained for hours with the Lamaze Phillip the Pelican. This friendly bird has a surprise peek-a-boo mirror in his beak that is revealed when you squeeze his belly. Phillip also includes a tethered fish teether that encourages put-in and take-out play. Bright colours, contrast patterns, multiple textures, and fun crinkles encourage baby to explore. The Lamaze clip lets you hook Phillip to strollers, carriers and changing bags to take him along for on-the-go fun.”
Tested by mum Laura Wyer for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product in terms of its design. The vibrant colours, high contrast elements and various materials make it eye catching and engaging for little babies. My little girl loves the mirror inside the pelican’s beak and we have had lots of fun together playing peekaboo. For that reason it is a lovely toy to develop anticipation and two-way interaction. The toy is easy to transport and can be attached to car seats or prams, which means no tantrums after they have thrown it on the floor!
How did this product make your life easier?
I wouldn’t say this product makes my life any easier, however it brings fun and enjoyment to our lives. The great thing about a toy like this is that it occupies baby for a long time, giving you the chance to whiz round the house, attempting to complete various jobs. Also, the clip makes life easier as the toy is securely fixed onto the pram whilst out and about.
Would you choose this product to win?
I love the Lamaze range and am immediately drawn to their eye catching designs and characters. I love the fact that the fish is hidden in the beak and that it can be opened by squeezing the belly – great cause and effect. However, it takes quite a lot of pressure for the beak to open, which is hard for baby to apply himself. Therefore, even though I love the concept of this product, I may not choose it to win.
What changes would you make to this product?
I would make it easier for baby to apply pressure onto the pelican’s belly so that they can open the beak themselves. They are quick learners and would relish in the sense of achievement of opening the beak themselves!
Tested by mum Sarah Powell for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I loved a lot of the features in this product and would highly recommend it to another mum. To start with, the design (as always with Lamaze) is bright and bold, and it certainly attracts the attention of my little one. It is made of several different types of fabric, which adds to the sensory experience, including the crinkle fabric, which my baby absolutely loves. The main feature of Philip is his pelican beak, which opens when you press his tummy. This has provided plenty of amusement especially as there is a mirror inside. Also, loved that this sensory toy did not have a sound, a relief for mum!
How did this product make your life easier?
With a four-month-old who is really starting to explore the world around him, Philip the Pelican is a lovely product for him to play with. This makes my life easier as he is often distracted when engaging with it. The clip on the top means you can attach it to a pram which is genius and makes it a portable toy. Equally, the little fish can be used as a teether which is an added bonus!
Would you choose this product to win?
I definitely think that this product should win. Overall, it was unique as it had a different design to other sensory toys that we already have. The tummy opening the beak is a lovely feature. I also think that size wise, it is small enough to transport around, but big enough to entertain my little one for quite some time - excellent when attending appointments etc.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I could change one thing it would be how easy it is to press the tummy of the pelican. It is quite stiff at the moment, even I have to use both my hands. It would be great if little one could open the beak himself!
Tested by mum Bryony Care for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
It’s a really good size and the colours are so bright that it’s really engaging. The mirror in the mouth is a really nice addition to engage with your child when playing together, as they love the surprise of seeing their face. The hook clip is really handy to hang onto either the pushchair or car seat so that they can play with it when moving around - it does not require direct interaction.
How did this product make your life easier?
My son particularly liked the bright colours and the size of the pelican. He has really enjoyed chewing on the tail as he enjoys the soft texture. As there are no small or unsafe objects on the toy, I feel comfortable leaving the room while my son is playing with the pelican!
Would you choose this product to win?
Yes, definitely because of the colours. There are a number of soft toys on the market that can be quite bland in colour, this one is different. The textures are also really nice for children to play with as they create different noises.
What changes would you make to this product?
I think the fact that the mouth opens is a really good addition and one I haven't seen often, however you have to press down fairly hard for it to open and therefore my son was not able to play with the mirror independently. Considering the toy is based at 0+ babies I think it should be easier for them to press.
Tested by mum Lianne Price for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend Philip the Pelican to any mum if they want to keep little ones entertained. The little teething fish is lovely and encourages little ones to practice picking items up. The peek-a-boo mirror is also a nice touch as it allows them to see themselves. It's a nice sturdy toy that clips onto the bouncer or play gym easily!
How did this product make your life easier?
I love this pelican! It is such a nice size and is very bright. My boy found it easy to hold and move around and was kept entertained by the teething fish and the pelican’s lovely crinkly wings. I have never found a toy that has kept him so engaged and interested for such a long time, meaning I can get on with other things.
Would you choose this product to win?
I'm not sure I would choose this product above all others on the market, but it would come a very close second. The fantastic bright colours really capture my little one and I love the tail as well. The only thing was that it didn’t have a squeaker, and I prefer toys which make a sound so that they stimulate all my son’s senses at five-months-old.
What changes would you make to this product?
I would add a squeaker and also make the beak easier to open by applying less pressure to the belly of the pelican. This way, my son could do it himself without my help!
Tested by mum Lauren Scammell for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to all my mummy friends! It has made our car journeys a lot easier for us parents as well as more enjoyable for our child. The bright colours keep him interested, the sensory aspect keeps his mind busy and makes everything more fun! He also loves the teething fish that comes out of the pelican’s mouth.
How did this product make your life easier?
Our son doesn't like car journeys that much especially if no one is in the back with him. But now that he has a Pelican friend, he is happy. I simply clip Philip onto his car seat and my son is engaged for long periods of time.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would definitely choose this product because of the design and the sensory aspect!
What changes would you make to this product?
It is quite hard to open the Pelican’s beak because my son isn’t strong enough to press down on his belly. If I were to change one thing, I would make it easier for babies to press down and open it themselves. Also, the teething fish are perhaps a little hard, they could be squishier!