Leapfrog Toys - Leaping Around the Playground - It Swallowed Her Arm!!

Leapfrog's Learn-Around Playground with tube topper. Leapfrog is known to make some of the best toys and educational items for infants to teenagers. They have over 100 interactive learning toys and books. I have always enjoyed their products, although a bit pricey, usually well worth the money.

My daughter's father purchased this Learn Around Playground for her well after 6 months (the recommended age). I was excited that it was 'LeapFrog.' I knew it would be a great toy and she could learn a lot from it.

This specific toy is an 'all-in-one' activity center. With all the stages; sitting, crawling, standing and walking, it seems the ideal toy for any child. Overall the toy teaches colors, shapes, songs, textures and rhyming words.

As babies they can do less, but as they advance to toddlers they can do lots more including learning the alphabet, numbers, counting, etc. Too many to list. Point is, it seems a very ideal toy and one I was very happy to have.

That is, until about 4 months ago, when my daughter decided to drop her binky down the tube where the balls go. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, if the binky had gone through and come out at the bottom. Well, not so much in this case! There is a little lever where you put the ball to drop it, so when the ball hits that lever, it makes a noise as the ball goes down.

Really neat! Unless your child's hand is stuck because of that lever! First time wasn't too awfully bad. After showing her why she shouldn't do that, she obeyed for awhile.

Yes, she did it again! This time, I could not get her arm out. She had it further down than normally. I beat on the toy trying to get it apart without actually having to use a tool, but to no avail. I tried to get my finger in there to move the lever out of the way so I could just pull her arm out. Once again, no luck!

My father finally came to my rescue and while I watched the lever he pulled on her arm and it easily came free. She was upset of course, but what child wouldn't be? Needless to say I decided to hide that toy for awhile, maybe until her arm is too big to fit in the hole.

I realize most parents probably just don't let their child put their arm in there, but I don't know of a parent that can have their eyes on their child every second of every minute of every hour. If you can, please fill me in on the secret!!

I hope this helps parents who are looking into purchasing something like this for their baby. Your child may not do it, but this is just a precaution. It's an excellent toy otherwise, very educational!