Want to grab the year’s hottest toys before they fly off retailers’ shelves? Toy Insider Senior Editor Marissa DiBartolo welcomed Fox 5 New York to the offices of The Toy Insider to show off toys parents and gift-givers should grab now before it’s too late. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for our complete rundown of the best gifts for the holidays, check out our complete holiday gift guide.
TEDDY RUXPIN (WICKED COOL TOYS)
- Parents and grandparents will remember everyone’s favorite storytelling bear from the 1980s.
- Introducing the new 14-inch Teddy Ruxpin animatronic bear.
- Teddy Ruxpin enjoys telling tales and singing songs with friends, making him the perfect companion for both little ones who love hearing stories, as well as older children just starting out on their reading journey.
- He has colored LCD eyes with more than 40 different animations, and an animatronic mouth that syncs to Teddy’s speech.
- Touch sensors allow kids to control the story and songs.
- Teddy features three original pre-loaded stories, including seven sing-along songs.
- There are two Modes of Play: with or without the free Teddy Ruxpin app (app is secondary). View the digital books to read along with Teddy using the storytime app, or kids can enjoy listening to TR’s stories without the app, anytime anywhere.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $99.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
HATCHIMALS SURPRISE (SPIN MASTER)
- New Hatchimals are arriving from Hatchtopia and they can’t hatch without kids’ help.
- Experience a whole new hatching experience! Kids can tap and rub the egg to help their Hatchimals hatch in just a few minutes. Then, watch the creature pop up and out of the egg! What’s the big surprise? There are twins inside!
- Choose from Giravens or Peacats, and discover if you have identical or fraternal twins.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $69.99
- Available: Mass retailers
- Fingerlings baby monkeys come to life with endless ways of play and realistic sounds to let kids know how they are feeling. Kids can wrap them on their finger to have a new friend at their fingertips.
- These silly critters have happy monkey sounds, blinking eyes, heads that turn, hands that grip, and a curly hanging tail.
- Kids can swing them, pet them, kiss them, and even rock them to sleep.
- There are six different Fingerlings to play, share, and collect.
- Ages: 5+
- MSRP: $14.99
- Canadian MSRP: $19.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
- Super squeezable and collectible, Soft’n Slo Squishies are based on the latest trend from Japan as a slow-rising and soft collectible.
- They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and produce a fun transformation that’s different every time.
- If kids are lucky they may even find the secret limited-edition Soft’n Slo Squishies with a special holographic seal.
- Soft’n Slo Squishies Sweet Shop features favorite high-end bakery products, including slices of cake, cinnamon buns, ice cream cones, and super squishy s’mores.
- Ages: 8+
- MSRP: $5.99-$14.99
- Canadian MSRP:$7.99-$21.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
- Nintendo Switch, the new home video game system from Nintendo, provides single and multiplayer thrills at home or on the go.
- For the first time ever, the mobility of a handheld is now added to the power of a home-gaming system, with unprecedented new play styles brought to life by the two new Joy-Con controllers.
- At home the system rests in the Nintendo Switch dock, which lets users play with family and friends on a TV in the comfort of their living room.
- By simply lifting Nintendo Switch from the dock at any time, the system instantly transitions to handheld mode.
- The portability of Nintendo Switch is enhanced by its 6.2-inch screen, which displays bright, high-definition gameplay at the park, on an airplane, in a car, or at a friend’s apartment.
- Ages: 9+
- MSRP: $299.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
L.O.L. SURPRISE! TOTS (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)
- L.O.L. Surprise Tots are collectibles that have seven layers of surprise hidden inside.
- Each layer reveals a hint of which fierce, fashion-forward L.O.L. Surprise doll kids are unboxing. Seven surprises include: a secret message, stickers, a baby bottle, shoes, an outfit, a fashionable accessory, and the L.O.L Surprise doll.
- Feed or bathe the doll with water to reveal her surprising water feature. The playset (ball) can also be used as a hangout, bath tub, doll stand, and a purse to carry for on-the-go fun.
- Final layer reveals the doll. Each character is completely different and packed with personality – from rockers to divas to merbabies.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
LUVABELLA/LUVABEAU (SPIN MASTER)
- Luvabella is a loveable, life-like baby doll that comes in a variety of girl and boy doll options in different ethnicities.
- Children can care, nurture and play with Luvabella and Luvabeau using the doll’s interactive accessories and pacifier.
- From feeding time with her spoon, play time with her Lamby, to nap time with her bottle, Luvabella will respond with natural reactions. Kids can watch her laugh, blink, purse her lips, and more.
- Feed her with her spoon and she’ll begin to chew and learn new food words.
- Ages: 3+
- MSRP: $99.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart
FURREAL ROARIN’ TYLER, THE PLAYFUL TIGER (HASBRO)
- Kids can bring home an adorable baby tiger to love, play with, and care for as their own.
- Make a noise or give a loud jungle roar and Tyler will roar back in response.
- Kids can enjoy playtime with him using his play chicken.
- Tyler features more than 100 sound and motion combinations with sensors on his forehead, back, and muzzle allowing him to respond to touch in fun ways.
- Kids can pull him up close to snuggle thanks to his posable back legs, or nuzzle his cheek and he’ll respond with expressive eyes, sounds and tail movements.
- Ages: 4+
- MSRP: $129.99
- Available: Amazon, Target, Toys “R” Us, Walmart, hasbrotoyshop.com
