Best Toy Design 0-2 yrs | Junior Design Awards 2019
First toys can be stylish, educational and last way beyond the newborn years - especially if you choose carefully. These are the best baby toys according to our judges...
WINNER: PLATINUM BEST TOY DESIGN (0-2 YEARS)
WHO: Moluk Oibo Grasper
WHAT: A set of elastic, stackable, rollable, squeezable, easy-to-grip sensory toys for babies and kids of all ages. Essentially, each individual toy is a sphere merged with a cube, that combines the action and fun of a ball with the educational benefits of a building-block. Great for learning about geometry / training hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Oibo is made from 100% food-grade silicone rubber, free of BPA, phthalates, lead, and latex.
WHY: These extremely tactile and highly graspable stacking balls were a huge hit with our big judges and our little judges. Lots of babies attending the JDA19 judging days, made a bee line for these brightly coloured toys which they loved grabbing, chewing and throwing. Having watched the experts demonstrate exactly how to use them and how much they loved them, our judges said:
These balls or are they blocks (?!) were such a huge hit with the babies that visited the Junior offices and were the go-to toy when any little ones needed distracting while the judges did their work. A great example of customer choice shining through!
I really like this. Simple and you know that this is going to stimulate the imagination as well as the senses!
WHERE: Moluk
WINNER: GOLD BEST TOY DESIGN (0-2 YEARS)
More like this
WHO: Done by Deer - Tiny tropics Activity Gym & Play Mat
WHAT: A free-standing, height adjustable activity gym that can be used on the floor, in the cot/playpen, over a baby nest or at changing time. Easy to fold up and carry, or store away it includes play mat, rattles, mirrors, crinkle sounds, tags, shapes and textures. Made in two subtle colourways with a fun but minimalist feel.
WHY: This activity gym and play mat really is a thing of beauty. Our judges loved the forest green colourway, the co-ordinating super cute, patterned animals and the sleek curve of the weighted arch that can be cleverly adjusted to suit the reach of your baby. Truly a piece of design you’d be pround to have in your living room or any room of the house for that matter. Our judges said:
I will be recommending this to anyone looking for a fun but stylish activity gym. So lovely to look at and I love the fact that the carry handles make it so easily portable.
There is something so restful about the deep green of this set and I really like the quirky animal characters and the option of fastening them to either the arch or the mat to give baby a variety of stretches and points of interest. Gorgeous!
WHERE: Done by Deer
WINNER: SILVER BEST TOY DESIGN (0-2 YEARS)
WHO: Matchstick Monkey - Mini Monkey Teether
WHAT: A small, soft textured silicone teether containing BioCote Antimicrobial Technology to keep it more hygienically clean. A variety of textures help soothe the baby's teething pain while chewing and the ergonomic design makes it easier for babies to hold. It comes in eight bright colours and is suitable for the dishwasher, steriliser and fridge. It is also BPA free and FDA approved.
WHY: Everyone loves this little monkey who is brilliantly designed, not only to look incredibly appealing to babies and parents but also to be so easy to grab and hold onto. The bright colours mean they’re hard to lose track of in change bags and the Antimicrobial Technology means a little more piece of mind - something every parent could do with! Our judges said:
This teether sets the standard in terms of cuteness and gripability. I’ve watched several babies enjoying a good chew!
Lightweight for little hands, comes in fun colours and a sweet design. It's a favourite in our house!
WHERE: Matchstick Monkey
WINNER: BRONZE BEST TOY DESIGN (0-2 YEARS)
WHO: TenderLeaf Toys - Running Rabbit Ride-on
WHAT: A cute, unisex, four wheel, ride-on bunny rabbit with non-slip rubber trimmed wheels, made from sustainably sourced solid rubber wood. Suitable for children aged 3 years and above. Made from wood that come from sustainable forests as part of an Indonesian government scheme to replant and replace the Rubber Wood trees which are used after all the rubber has been harvested.
WHY: Again, the proof was in the pudding when it came to this product. So many of our judges’ children wanted to ride on this adorable little rabbit that has been rigorously tested to avoid tipping over when being used. It looked like a smooth ride too! Our judges said:
A really sweet design and good to hear it has been made sustainably.
A perfect heirloom piece.
WHERE: TenderLeaf Toys