Life
Much like the Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle Me Elmos and Furbies before them, this year’s hot Christmas toy is Fingerlings. And of course, like any hot toy, they’re sold out everywhere. Of course you can buy them on eBay for thousands of dollars, but really? Who can afford that? Your kid may have been begging for one of these tiny interactive robotic toys for months, and it’s just not going to happen. If you’re looking for a similar robotic and interactive toys you can actually find and purchase for a reasonable price, here are seven alternatives to Fingerlings for you to browse through.
Fingerlings are quite mesmerizing. In case you don’t have kids old enough yet, or you’ve been hiding out from toy commercials this year, Fingerlings are tiny monkeys, unicorns, and sloths that cling to your child’s finger and interact with your child’s voice and movements. They will blow kisses back to your child, and if they’re rocked, the fingerling will fall asleep. And the best part, they even fart and burp, because of course they do. Unfortunately, these toys are selling out like you wouldn't believe, not because parents are lining up to get them for their kids, but because jerks scalp them by using special software to get them before anyone else, and then sell them for a ton of money.
So, thanks greedy jerks, but at least we have some alternatives to the real thing, right? Plus, isn’t it such a blessing to be able to buy any toys for our kids at all? That's the holiday spirit.
1Furby
It’s back! And better than ever. They’re a little bit smaller than the originals and are easier to get to sleep — you just put the sleep mask on. And because it’s 2017, of course there’s an app for that. There’s a Furby Connect World, where the Furby gets updates and learns new phrases, as well as an entire online world to explore.
2FurReal Friends
These electronic plush pets are so close to having a real pet, it's uncanny. Some of them even poop — how fun. The barking beagle Charlie's collar even translates his barks into human language, so you know what he wants. (If only that was a real thing.) The most popular pet, the tiger, has more than 100 sound and movement combinations and it responds to your touch and your voice. There are pigs, tigers, cats, dogs, bunnies, and polar bears, so there's something for almost every child's favorite animal.
You can purchase FurReal Friends on Amazon, Toys "R" Us, Walmart, and Target.
3Hatchimals
This toy is triple interaction. First with the egg, your child has to "love" and care for the egg until it's ready to hatch. And they'll know what kind of Hatchimals will hatch based on how they're feeling and responding in the egg. And now there are twins in each egg with two different personalities for double the interaction. Your kid can raise them from a baby to a toddler and they sing, dance, tell jokes, say I love you, and bicker with each other.
Purchase your Hatchimals at Target, Walmart, and Toys "R" Us.
4Little Live Pets
These stuffed electronic pets are just as snuggly and interactive as a live pet. They move and feel like real pets, get fed by a bottle, and like tummy rubs, snuggles, and naps. Your kid can even officially "adopt" their pet with the adoption certificate that comes with the toy.
Little Live Pets can be found at Toys "R" Us, Amazon, Walmart and Target.
5Bizzy Bubs
Bizzy Bubs are little babies that crawl, talk and interact like a real baby, but miniature-sized. They babble, play, and bounce, and each of the six different babies have their own unique personality and storylines.
You can purchase Bizzy Bubs on the product's website, or on Amazon.
6Zoomers
These Zoomer toys move and react like their real furry counterparts. Their changing eye colors let you know what they're feeling. There are several different animals to choose from, including unicorns, ponies, chimps, kitties, puppies, and hedgehogs. There are even character-based Zoomers from Paw Patrol.
7Teddy Ruxpin
Y’all. Teddy Ruxpin was my favorite toy when I was a kid, until he became possessed and turned on in the middle of the night without his tape inserted and scared the bejesus out of me. But before I thought he was possessed, his stories from the cassette tape would lull me to sleep. This Teddy Ruxpin has had an upgrade, a Teddy Ruxpin 2.0, if you will. He has stories built-in, and you can download more (for a price, of course). His eyes react to what he’s reading, whether it’s happy, sad, mischievous, shocked, or concerned, and there are even star, heart, and snowflake eyes. Kids interact with Teddy by squeezing his paw or foot to switch stories or turn it off.
Grab a Teddy Ruxpin for your kid at Walmart or Amazon.
If none of these toy options work (or even if they do), remember, you could always write a note to your child from Santa saying the Fingerling wasn’t ready to fly on the sleigh yet, and that’s why it won’t arrive until after Christmas — when it's ready to fly (and you can find one in stock). I’m sure Santa won’t mind if you blame him.
Check out Romper's new video series, Romper's Doula Diaries:
Watch full episodes of Romper's Doula Diaries on Facebook Watch.
