The Thomas the Tank Engine brand, love him or loathe him, is known for quality construction, durability, and somewhat pricey compared to counterparts like Brio. But for this piece of the Thomas toy line, it falls short in every way.
First, a few things to note: My son got this for his 3rd birthday and he absolutely loves it. But like most toys, it’s the ones that drive parents nuts that your kid seems to love the most. He can’t stop playing with it and that is probably why I know it sucks so much.
The concept is a good one: make a Thomas train set with snap together tracks and put it in a compact and portable case complete with a nifty carrying handle fit for little kids hands. Unfortunately, this Thomas Take Along Roundhouse Playset from RC2 Brands does not get much better than a “good idea on paper”. Read the rest of this entry »
Looking for a new household pet for you and your kids to play with and snuggle up to? How about a mini-tiger? These “Toygers” are, according to their website, “…a designer cat. It is designed and bred with the demands of modern apartment life as a human companion foremost in mind. Glittered, pelted, dramatic pattern appeals to both the high-tech glamour and nature-loving, wild dreams of city-caught people while the laid back, easily trained character of these cats make them a joy to live with.”
Apparently that cuddly red monster in your kids rooms may want to kill them. There is a story out of Florida of an Elmo doll that has been threatening the kid of the house with the words, “Kill James”. The kid, named James, obviously is terrified and so is his mother who complained to the company.
It happened after Melissa Bowman changed the batteries in her son’s Elmo Knows Your Name” doll. If you ask me, that name has monster to kid molestation written all over it.
If you recall, not only does Elmo want to kill your kid, Bert works for the Taliban. Recently, Elmo was spotted chilling with Chucky at the local Sesame Street Gun Shop.
Read more of the story here. And if you want to see more Lindsay Lohan/Marilyn pics click here.
That’s right, I said “Mega Bloks kick Lego’s ass*.” But note the asterisk.
I realize that to some, this statement may represent toy chest blasphemy. If you’re offended or think I’m nuts, you a) don’t have kids, b) you have a baby that’s too young to play with building blocks or c) your kids are older than five. See, Mega Bloks’ superiority is tied to timing.
I grew up on Lego. And clearly, for dexterous, imaginative minds, there’s nothing better. But for little hands just discovering the utility of opposable thumbs, learning how to apply pressure and with imprecise eye/hand coordination, even Lego’s most juvenile offering - Lego Quatro can prove to be frustrating. Mega Bloks on the other hand are all about “margins of error.”
In a past Master Debaters article we asked noodad.com readers to give their opinions on circumcisions for their sons. Whether you’re a lawsuit-filing Intactivist bent on trimming circumcision from the litany of routine procedures for newborns, or you celebrate the cut like new mom and pop diva Christina Aguilera, the decision to circumcise (or not) is highly contentious. Don’t stress about the issue too much, though, because your decision to circumcise your son isn’t necessarily the last word on his foreskin. Read the rest of this entry »
There is a lovely time in your young kid’s life where diaper changes become a throwdown. This typically occurs between the ages of 8 - 14 months and during this time, every time you lay your kid down for the diaper change, they squirm, roll, kick, and fight their way free.
I have a family of squirmers. My daughter (now 5) when she was in this stage, would contort her body in a twisted shape. My son (now almost 3) was a kicker. He would not let you hold his ankles and would frequently end up stepping in his own poodad. Now, my wife and I are on our third. This little guy (10 months) is a roller and a kicker. It is almost as if he channeled the powers of his older siblings and formed a super contorter. He will kick you in the forearms with one leg, while prying your grip off his body with the other leg. He will then roll away before you can get a firm grip to stabilize him.
This is clearly a problem. These are extreme times, my friends. Times where ordinary toys do not give you enough time to make a pit stop. You need to constantly change the game if you expect to stay one up on your opponent. Here are 10 household items that have worked to distract my kids enough to get a diaper change in. Hopefully, they can help you. Read the rest of this entry »
NSA (Noodad Service Announcement): Valentine’s Day is less than 3 weeks away. Don’t let it sneak up on you…do your shopping now.
And if your a busy guy who’d prefer to let your fingers do the shopping (I’m not talking about the 5 finger discount!), Red Envelope can help.
A ReviewDad favorite for many years now for its vast selection of “I’d NEVER have thought of that” gifts, stellar web site, great customer service (with honest-to-god helpful live chat) and somewhat reasonable prices, not only can Red Envelope help but it stands to become the chief weapon in your gift-giving arsenal from this day forward.
V-day is tough…I mean, do you want to be THAT guy who does the dozen roses thing EVERY year? You don’t and she doesn’t want you to be either. Other options include what? Undies and chocolate. BORING. Let’s face it, she doesn’t want to wear it and the chocolate isn’t much of an incentive! And none of these represent much in the way of upside for you. Read the rest of this entry »
On a Saturday filled with errands, my wife and I decided to stop for lunch at Subway with the kids. From a marketing perspective, Subway has done a pretty good job differentiating themselves from the generic sandwich shop market by being the healthier option. “Eat Fresh” certainly keeps Subway above the “Mmmm…Toasty” and “Funny name, great sandwiches” that Quiznos and Schlotzsky’s provides.
We bought our daughter a turkey and cheese sandwich with apple wedges and an apple juice. That’s no comparison to the 5 piece chicken McNugget Happy Meal with french fries and a Hi-C orange drink.
My son got a salami sandwich with no cheese (milk allergy) and even though the meat was greasier than his sister’s turkey, compared to a hamburger, we were feeling pretty decent about our healthier choice for them. Read the rest of this entry »
Say you are enjoying a nice and spicy curry dish. Maybe you downed some habanero pepper poppers or ate a few dozen buffalo wings. That edible inferno may have tasted awesome going in but you know that eventually it will burn on the way out.
What is a guy who is about to literally burn his ass do? Use Ring of Fire wipes of course! “A great gift for those that like it hot, the Ring of Fire After Curry Wipes are cooling and moisturised and are sure to douse those flames!”
Meet “My First Spider-Man”, Playskool’s gateway super hero action figure for the toddler set. Press the black spider in the center of his torso, and Spider-Man’s eyes light up as he enthusiastically shouts different messages such as: “Ready to be a super hero!”, “Target practice time!”, and, of course, “I’m your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!” He’s got an oversized head, hands, and feet for easy handling by your toddler. Perhaps the coolest selling point is the web blaster feature. Two white plastic webs slide into holes in Spidey’s wrists, and there’s a button on his back that launches them when pressed. The danger in this toy isn’t from the force at which the webs launch (they pack about as much a punch as Ron Jeremy after take six), but rather from where the webs are left around the house once your kid has completed a round of crime-fighting with Spider-Man. Read the rest of this entry »
The Thomas the Tank Engine brand, love him or loathe him, is known for quality construction, durability, and somewhat pricey compared to counterparts like Brio. But for this piece of the Thomas toy line, it falls short in every way.
In a past 
There is a lovely time in your young kid’s life where diaper changes become a throwdown. This typically occurs between the ages of 8 - 14 months and during this time, every time you lay your kid down for the diaper change, they squirm, roll, kick, and fight their way free.
