Unusual toddler gifts

From mommyq.com (via kirtsy) comes this collection of, "The Coolest Toddler Gifts You Don’t Know About." Additionally, "you’ll feel good about giving these hip gifts because they’re educational too." Hm. Hip and educational. Perhaps… Let us see…

My Pet Lamp

Specifically this is the "Offi My Pet Lamp – Howee Pup." It comes from Hong Kong; personally, my guess would've been Japan, where they tend to dig weird looking stuff like this. It's made of "non-toxic plastic" (have you ever seen something advertised as being made out of "unsafe toxic materials"?) that allows your toddler to scribble on it using the included washable marker. Of course, no toddler would EVER use said washable marker on any substance other than the lamp. Never! Also, I have to admit that at first glance I thought this particular Pet Lamp looked kind of like a boobie. Looking at a slightly larger version of the image, I think it looks like a pup, albeit one from a distant planet, and the markers look like alien pup waste product. A bargain at $59.

Wheely Bug

Again, totally non-toxic dude! MommyQ says that these "ride-on critters are quickly becoming 'the' gift-to-give for youngsters." Also: "They may look wooden, but the leatherette seat has a layer of foam underneath so it’s soft." Like our political candidates! Sort of.

Cooking Utensils Set

I'm not sure how these are a gift you've never heard of, but in my opinion this one is the best of the bunch. One of my youngest son's favorite toys are cooking things; we have a wooden pizza kit that he loves and he has also been known to put all sorts of things in a real salad spinner. These are nicely priced at $16.20 (weird number, but whatever) and include "a frying pan, spatula, a pot with lid, serving spoon and saucepan." That's plenty for the budding Emeril, Rachael Ray, or whoever is popular these days.

Get their full list here. Personally, I'm going to stick with board games and those Melissa and Doug toys until somebody comes up with something better.

Image/Source: mommyq.com, via Kirtsy