This colourful toy was a hand-me-down from a friend whose children hadn't got any use out of it and I have to admit that it sat in a box for Lily's first few months as I had no clue what it was supposed to do. Okay so it was colourful, with multicoloured soft rubber spikes protruding from its plastic yellow ball but I couldn't quite see what it actually did. It was only when my brother-in-law visited this Easter and looked at it that he realised that the ball was missing a magic ingredient – batteries!! I am living proof that pregnant mushy brain syndrome continues long after baby has arrived!!
Once we had opened the ball up, inserted batteries and found the on switch, the ball's 'secret' was revealed. It started vibrating in our hands (quite powerfully!) and when placed on the floor began bouncing all over the place, making a vibration sound as it travelled across the living room floor in all directions. Much to Lily's fascination and the amusement of my one year old little niece!
Lily will sit in her bouncy chair or bebepod completely transfixed by the ball moving around the floor on its own and will often smile and lean towards it with her arms outstretched (trying to hold it as it bounces past her). We also turn the ball on when she is having time on her tummy (we are trying to get her used to the feeling of being on her front in preparation for crawling). I can imagine that when she is actually crawling, she will try following the ball around. I'm sure it will also make her laugh, like it does her cousin who finds the fact that the ball wriggles and bounces in different directions absolutely hilarious!
So how does the ball become a 'bumble ball'? Essentially the toy is powered by a motor box hidden within and accessed by opening the ball up. Two AA batteries are required to bring the ball to life. Movement is activated by turning on the ball's power switch - essentially a little yellow knob which starts the motorised action when pushed in and stops it when pulled out. Simple once you know!!!
My only criticism is that is is not a light toy. This was made apparent when Lily's older cousin grabbed hold of the ball and decided to throw it around the living room. I feared something might get broken or that the ball was heading for Lily and so it had to be confiscated in the end. As children of a certain age do seem to go through a throwing stage I guess this is the time when the bumble ball gets put away. Until such time I can certainly see Lily getting much amusement out of this toy.
© 2011 Sharon Marie Denman
