Duel Days: Zadyball-Your baby’s first & favorite toy

Zady®ball is a handmade toy that is easy for young babies to hold on to, and will quickly become a favorite! They are soft to hold and cuddle, and have lots of knotted fabric strings to grab and rub. As your baby grows, Zadyball just becomes even more fun! It is great for soothing sore gums while teething, easy to throw and catch – especially when you are learning how, and machine washable – a MUST for any baby toy!
Zadyball is available in many different colors, styles and personalities. You are sure to find one that is perfect for the baby in your life! (text taken from the Zadyball site)

Mika’s view: I bought our first Zadyball when Wyatt (now almost 3) was about 6 months old.  Made of soft flannel with a nice and squishy stuffing, it became an immediate hit with all the kids for its chewability and throwability (without breaking anything in the house).  At that time, the choices were much more limited than they are today, but we got a nice striped one with the awesome chewy strings.

After about 6 months or so of daily use, one of the side seams did split (it looked like where the opening to stuff had been handsewn shut).  As a seamstress myself, it was easily enough remedied, but for someone without even basic sewing knowledge I can see where that would immediately delegate the toy to the trash bin.

Once that seam was fixed, the ball went back into heavy rotation, where it is still played with all the time!  We’ve lost a couple of strings over time, but I think that is to be expected with the amount of play this toy receives I know I see it being played with at least 3 times a week .

For Christmas Ema and I were discussing toys to get our infants (both almost 1 at the time), and Zadyball immediately came to mind.  Both of the babies were at the perfect age, so we went with it!

I got the Monkey ZadyCreature for Ree.  This one had the soft body with the strings, but it also has crinkle material in the ears which I thought she would love.   She really does like it, and chews on this constantly.  Well, when she can keep it away from her brothers of course!

Ema’s view: Mika had shown me the Zadyball when Wyatt was little. I thought they looked like a really cute idea. Of course with new-mom-brain and everything, I forgot about them after Bodi was born. Bodi loves cords, so I wanted to get him baby-safe toys for Christmas that had strings for him to play with. Enter the Zadyball. It was perfect! Strings to chew, and a ball to squish. I ordered one for him and wrapped it up. While the new styles are cute, I like the ‘old’ style zadyball with a ball and strings. Bodi didn’t play with it much on Christmas day, and he doesn’t play with it as often as I think he should (hee) but when he does discover it in his toy box, he LOVES it.

Bodi loves to carry it around by the strings. He really likes that its easy to throw. Mama loves that while the bell makes an audible jingle, it is not loud or annoying. Its been a great toy for Bodi and his older sister (she’s 8 ) to play with. The toy is so soft, I don’t have to worry about her throwing the ball too hard and injuring him. They will sit on the floor and roll it back and forth to great giggles and wiggles!

I do wish I wold have remembered this toy when Bodi was younger…he would have really liked a Zadyball mini to cut those first teeth on. But, since the Zadyball is so versatile, I don’t regret buying the one we have now. I see it getting use for years to come.

Final thoughts: This is a toy that every kid in your house will love, from infant to teen.  There are a lot of really neat options, but like Ema, I like the Original Zadyball the best!

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