Momist toy cell phone.

One of the gifts Madame got for her birthday this year was the Parents Magazine Play & Learn Record-A-Voice Cellphone. It's a toy cellphone, with buttons that make beeping sounds and a ringer that goes off when you shut the phone. It also has this recording feature, where you can record a something that your child can play back by pressing a button. It's kind of a cool idea and she does enjoy it, but my problem came with a marketing slogan on the packaging (pictured above).

"push a button and HEAR MOM'S VOICE"  (their emphasis)

Shouldn't "Parents" magazine do better than this? How about dad's voice? Or grandma & grandpa's? Or maybe they're just marketing to us stay at home dads, as our kids would probably like to hear mom's voice while she's away at work.

Somehow I'm doubting that though.

Comments

[Mark]

I can't tell you how many times I've noticed "mom-centric" notes on baby products or books that aren't really gender focused. Cause, you know, of course moms are the only ones who really matter so of course if it's "mom-tested" then it must be good.

[Ahmie]

I'm a stay at home mom, but I completely understand where you're coming from. My hubby is a VERY involved dad when he's home (and took 6 weeks paternity leave to be home with me from a few days before labor started onward). Big wigs that discount his parenting contributions annoy me. Actually, most gender stereotyping annoys me greatly (our 15 month old son plays with dolls and toy cleaning supplies as well as Legos and blocks and trucks). I was cringing the other day while looking at Toys R Us for a baby vaccuum that actually sucks (they don't seem to sell one) - I had to look in the uber-girly section for such toys, with all the *cringe* pink and flowery scented crap. Sexist AND insensitive to people with chemical sensitivities, all at the same time! YAY! *drips sarcasm*

As for a review of this particular cell phone toy, we bought one for our son. I think it may be going back, since we wanted it specifically for the record feature (so he could hear DADDY'S voice), but the recording doesn't last through more than one or two plays with the location of the record button and the way it erases the recording the first time it's bumped.

Sorry, I'm not good at this "short and sweet" blogging type writing ;)