I recently made the decision to purchase an exercise ball to help with pregnancy related aches and pains. The exercise ball came highly recommended the first time I was pregnant, and was even suggested by a colleague to help soothe my newborn’s colic (if I bounced on it with her.) I found the exercise ball to be very beneficial and it has helped soothe my achy hips and pelvis. The only problem? My toddler thinks it’s a toy! She wants to bounce on it every chance she gets and won’t let me sit on it alone. I contemplated getting her her own bounce ball with a handle, but I still feel she is too young to balance on a ball and decided to just stick with using the exercise ball after she went to bed.
Ironically within a few days of having my exercise ball, I was contacted by the people over at Bounce-A-Long Buddies to review their latest bouncing toys – a horse and a cow. I knew immediately this was the perfect thing to get my toddler off my exercise ball and on to her own bouncing toy that was much safer. I’m not sure who would be more excited when it arrived – me or my toddler. I loved the concept and couldn’t wait to introduce her to her new buddy.
When Moo Moo and Trotter arrived I was a little unprepared. While I have an air pump, I did not have one equipped with a needle small enough to fill up the Bounce-A-Long Buddies. I had to wait until the weekend when I could borrow someone else’s pump or go out and purchase a new one. Once I had the appropriate tools to blow up the Buddy, it was only a matter of minutes before Trotter was fully inflated. My hubby passed a comment that without an electronic pump, inflating the Bounce a long would have been difficult, however the box specifically states that an electronic pump should be used, so we were aware of this (or at least I was!) When my toddler saw her fully inflated friend, she squealed and hopped on the horse. She has had him for about two weeks now and still chooses to bounce on him while she is coloring, eating, or watching TV. I’ve reclaimed my exercise ball and she now has her own bouncy toy to play with!
What I love about Bounce-A-Long Buddies – they are safe, unless not fully inflated. I found that ours is a bit underinflated so the legs buckle and the horse rolls. This is an easy fix and he just needs more air. I love that it keeps her body moving while she is watching TV. This is especially important during winter months when we cannot get outside and run around to burn off all that extra toddler energy.
What I don’t love about Bounce-A-Long Buddies – I wish it was easier to inflate, or included a needle with the packaging. But then again, when you purchase a basketball, it doesn’t come with the needle to inflate it, so I may be asking for too much.
The verdict – I would definitely recommend Bounce-A-Long Buddies. My toddler approves! They are suitable for children 3 and up, although my little girl is just a bit younger at 2 1/2. The buddies can hold up to 220 lbs, so if you want to join the fun, go right ahead! You can use the buddies indoor or outdoor, although we have only used them indoor. They are easy to clean and just wipe off easy with a damp cloth.
Bounce-A-Long Buddies are available in specialty stores nationwide and retail at $39.99. You can connect with Mega Marbles, the company that distributes Bounce A Long Buddies on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on their latest news!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.