activity cube for 9 mos?

[Melarina]

My 9 mos DD is really into fine motor activity. My mom says she needs a "busy box" - I think she means like an activity cube with different activities on each side.

I've looked but haven't seen many. I don't want one of the really big ones with a maze on top yet -- just a small one she can hold herself. I saw a Parents one at Target but then read reviews about it breaking easily - and DD is very strong.

Any suggestions? TIA!

[Piglet]

We have something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-6205-Playskool-Busy-Poppin/dp/B00005N9EE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1214853388&sr=1-1

It has been a huge hit with all 3 kids. When they are little, we would pop up the toy and as they got older, they would pop up the toy. Either way, they loved the surprise (like a mini jack in the box).

[mominmarch]

We got the bigger one (I can't find a picture of it, but it was around $120 and had the maze on the top) and to be honest, my DD was never that into it. We didn't give it to her until her year birthday, and by then she was much more into other things like her walker and various other toys. I thought it was going to be such a big hit and it really was kind of a waste of money for us. She was much more into the Fisher Price Piano and the Leap Frog Activity Table than the activity cube.

[Melarina]

Thanks so much for this advice! I think we'll hold off on the big cube and look at some smaller things that might serve similiar needs. Thanks again!

[pastrygirl]

I have the big one from Target (Parents brand Busy Zoo), and it made a GREAT surface for pulling up on! I wish I'd gotten that instead of the plastic activity table when my son was first learning to pull up/cruise. The activity cube would've been awesome for that.

As for playing with it... it's been hit and miss. Sometimes he was really into it, sometimes not. I ended up putting it away about a month before my son turned 2, and he doesn't miss it. He never played with the beads but he did love to spin the things on the side.

[wendibird22]

We have a FP activity table which we used flat on the floor before DD could pull up and now have the legs on it. DD loves to pull up, play with all the stuff and cruise around it. It is amazingly stable and sturdy. This is the one she has: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2654366

She's also getting great mileage out of her shape sorter, her ring stacker, her FP piggy bank.

[August Mom]

We have this Curiosity Cube and it's really neat. DD really likes it. It is smaller like you want and has lots of activities. http://www.learningexpress.com/childrens_toys/partNumber_ICE00132/proj.html

[bubbaray]

We don't have this, but our YMCA does and it ROCKS:

http://www.babyride.com/pm9197au.html

I wish we had gotten one for DD#1 -- both girls played with it lots at the Y after swimming lessons.

[Melarina]

These look great! And I had never heard of Learning Express -- looks like there's a store not too far from us. Thanks so much!