Should I buy it?

[WishUponAStarbar]

Maybe doesn't belong here but this is the busiest section of mumsnet.
Looking for presents to buy DD for her first birthday, I don't want to buy lots as she loses interest in things quickly, alot of her Christmas toys are abandoned.
I've came across the "wobbel board" it looks good, can be used with all ages and apparently helps the child use their imagination. I've found one for £80 although some are £120. My mum says it's a waste of money for a piece of wood. But the reviews are good and it's something that will last? Does anyone have any experience with one of these? Is it a waste of money or is it better than buying toys with lights and sounds which she already has lots of. I feel it would be worth it but willing to hear others opinions.

Argos does one much cheaper.... would this do www.argos.co.uk/product/7237216?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|acid:444-797-0832|cid:598623051|agid:28645072765|tid:aud-484139255901:pla-341635061657|crid:96089191165|nw:g|rnd:9547249675636541963|dvc:m|adp:1o9|mt:|loc:9046513&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoJSfoNTZ4AIVqLXtCh1CHw8NEAQYCSABEgK0EPD_BwE

My daughter would love it. My son would have been bored very quickly

P.s obviously the arm span an issue but fraction of the price

I know she's only going to be 1, she doesn't know anything. It's not that I'm expecting her to open it and be thrilled, it's more that currently I am in a position where I am able to spend money while also saving.
She currently has a money box at home which any birthday or Christmas mobe y goes into (so far only Christmas obviously) and also I have sold on some of her baby things so all money goes into that money box. She also has a savings account in which I have a direct debit going into every month.
My way of thinking was that at this moment while I'm fortunate to be able to afford things maybe I could buy the more expensive things now and she can grow into them, I'm not going to be splashing out for her birthday as she had alot of toys for Christmas, she has already the basic stacking toys, number blocks, giant Lego, books, ball pit etc etc. So I just thought that maybe this would become a toy that would last. My brother bought my nephew a tablet for his first birthday but I really don't want to be buying something like that. I want her to be active, she also loves the slide at soft play and I figured this would be handy as I have little space right now.

I will consider the cheaper options and also I will check put grimms rainbow! Thanks for the advice guys!

@JuniperNarni are they quite large? I'm just thinking space wise, if I had my own way and enough money i would turn my house into a soft play area
I'm staying at my mum's just now, but I am moving out soon. I have hit my saving target pretty much and so that's with was maybe going to buy this wobbel board as I have enough money now. Whereas in a year or 2 I may not be able to justify spending that much on a toy.

@HebeMumsnet I've looked at these too! I would like to get one, or a dolls house or something. I think she will get use out of it too. There are always some going second hand on Facebook so maybe I'll have a look! Thabks

A plastic tea set and food. I took the pointy cutlery out and left just the spoons to begin with at that age.
Cups of tea and plates of cake were passed round by her first birthday and it lasted, and was played with, for years.

And a doctors set although she might take a few months to grow into that one.

My Dd got a pram for teddies, it folded small and was used ALL the time until ds was about 6. It cost £15 and could be used in the house or outside.

The wooden kitchen was also a huge hit with both mine, lots of great wooden vegetables that had Velcro and could be cut up.
Train set also brilliant.

Incidentally the pram/pushchair was navy blue so not remotely “girly”.

(So that £15 lasted for 10 years)

@GookledyGobb I've just checked out jackalilly and they have a toddler one for £50, which one do you have? Dont know if it would be worth gettin that one as it's cheaper or is the size significantly smaller than the standard?

I think they look great but they are big and take up a fair bit of room. How about something for outside as the weather will be getting better. A sandpit or water table?

@PoohBearsHole she has a train set which she loves. She doesn't need presents as such but I was thinking to just get one, and in the pictures there's a lot playing with a train set on the wobbel board.
We're not having a party for her, just taking her to soft play so though this one present would be good but I'm going to look into the wooden kitchen. There's someone selling one excellent condition close to me so may go see about that. I wasn't sure if a wooden kitchen was for when they're a little older but if it's been a bit with your younger kids then I'll maybe go for it

@Wallsbangers I would love to buy her outdoor toys, but we live in a flat with no harder, although right next to alot of grass (across the road) I was contemplating buying something like that, or I came across a folding 6 in 1 slide that maybe I could take outside with a picnic and set up on sunny days. But I didn't know if that would be a bit wierd? As it's a public area?

They're brilliant, mine have always loved them.

We have one and my 2 year old absolutely loves it, just because some adults don't have imagination to use it doesn't mean kids don't!

absolutely! we have one. both my 5 year old and 1 year old love it. much better to buy ethical wooden made toys than plastic crap thats bad for the environment. wobbel boards and similar have purpose and can be used in many ways

We had a brio set and it is still used now! Ikea also do them but it’s something you can add to relatively inexpensively but they stand the test of time. Dsis has one that is nearly 25 years old and her dc’s they categorically said although they loved their cousins dearly (big age gap) there was no way they could have the brio 😂

Yes!!! We got the ‘wobbel starter’ for Christmas last year because it was the cheapest one and we all love it, planning to get the ‘wobbel 360’ for Christmas this year. Also if the kids don’t play with it you can sell it on for almost as much as you got it (try the Babipur BST page on Facebook)

(Would just like to add that I also play on it, it’s great exercise but also just really fun)

We found the wobbel board amused them for a few months then became clutter. It's big, bulky and heavy to move. Great if you have a spacious playroom. It had rave reviews when it came out, but like any craze kids get bored after a while. Sure they can use it to make a bridge or a tunnel, but they can do the same with a bit of cardboard, piece of curved wood or plastic. Kids are naturally inventive.
I was tempted by the rainbow (so pretty) but don't think it's worth the price. Same with the Triclimb: a few wooden rungs on a tiny climbing frame, that will be outgrown by the time they're toddling. The ad makes out it has many uses (tent frame etc) as if children can't make a tent from a clothes horse or box!

Honestly, I think Babipur is a rip off. They charge extortionate prices for bits of wood, that cost very little to produce. They sell you an image: wholesome, eco friendly, organic cotton clad kids in lovely airy play rooms, or walking in the sunlit woods with happy smiley parents. It's a very middle class, expensive image.

Have a look on Amazon at the Montessori range, lovely natural wooden toys without the price tag!

Maybe for when she's 2? I can't see my nearly one year old having any interest in that, save for maybe three minutes.

For what it's worth, he's only getting a wooden push shopping cart with fake wooden produce in it for his birthday, from me. No other gifts, and I can well afford them. I just don't get the need when they're babies and have no concept of the idea. £150 could be better spent on days out with mum doing fun things together.

This was posted on the Babipur Hangout page about half an hour ago (a FB group that promotes Babipur products under the guise of being a chat page. Any posts not supporting Babipur or suggesting cheaper alternatives are immediately shut down by Admin).

OP I'm not sure you'll get unbiased opinions now the Babipur crew are on board 😂

Babipur is just a shop selling branded items like many others 🤷 sure you can get cheaper, unbranded elsewhere. Toys are no different to any other product in that respect. You will quite often find the same products cheaper on Amazon or whatnot, but a lot of people buy from independent retailers because they want to support them, same as with other products.

And onestepsideways surely the name of that group is a bit of a giveaway that it is a group hosted by a company, and so will be about products sold by that company? I mean,they're mind of hiding in plain sight there, not some sort of guerilla marketing. 🤦😂

We have one and it's used all the time (had it over 2yrs). We also have the Tri Climb which I think is more versatile and fun! These products cost more as you are paying for something that's handmade, wood that is sustainable and ethical businesses.

*This was posted on the Babipur Hangout page about half an hour ago (a FB group that promotes Babipur products under the guise of being a chat page. Any posts not supporting Babipur or suggesting cheaper alternatives are immediately shut down by Admin).

OP I'm not sure you'll get unbiased opinions now the Babipur crew are on board* 😂

I mean, you realise that the group was created by the owners of Babipur? So of course they wouldn't want people linking to cheaper alternatives