The Motherload’s Lifesaver Christmas Gift Guide

The Motherload’s Lifesaver Christmas Gift Guide

Whilst many of us will have have Christmas literally wrapped up for months, others… er, like ME, are starting to panic as we realise that this years top toys – you know, the ones the little blighters announce they will add to their Father Christmas list one week before Christmas and induce a cold sweat on their parent’s brow – are selling FAST. So we have not only compiled a list of this years top toys, and a quick review, but also where you can currently buy these hot to trot toys.. but be warned, stock may be low and you may need to run to buy! Note that stock levels, if provided, are all correct at time of publication. 

1. Luvabella™

RRP: £99.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

This is the doll of the season, without a doubt. She’s the most ‘lifelike’ doll ever, with cute joyful giggles and expressions and she is so affectionate! Luvabella™ comes with three accessories so that you can feed her with her spoon, offer her a soother, play with her Lamby, and put her down with her bottle for nap time – and with each, she’ll react naturally, just like a little baby would! The more kids play and care for her, the more she learns, almost like a baby sibling. You may have a heart attack when you mistake her for the real baby in the middle of the night, mind… 

Where to buy:

Luvabella has been pretty hard to track down but we have found stock in the following places – be quick! 

Click and collect only:
Smyths Toys, Leeds (12 in stock) 
Toys R Us (Various Stores, check your postcode for availability – 1 per customer only)

Online:
Amazon – Brown Hair, 7 in stock (note increase in price from RRP)

2. L.O.L Surprise Doll Series 2 

RRP: £5.99 – 59.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥

If your kids are anything like mine, the words ‘blind bag’ make their eyes light up in pretty much the same way as ‘Father Christmas’ and so it’s no wonder that L.O.L Surprise Dolls are so popular this year. Each doll comes wrapped in a gazillion layers, under each lies an accessory, or sticker set for the doll inside. When they peel away the final layer and open the ball to reveal their doll, don’t be alarmed if your little one suddenly starts squealing about seeing it ‘pee’, cry, or change colour – each doll has it’s own surprise. (Yep… pee. PEE). Fill up a bowl of water and get an extra fifteen minutes of joy as they check which talent their doll has been blessed with! 

From the small Lil’ Sis to the Big Surprise, there is tons of blind bag fun here for everyone. 

Where to buy:
Lil and Big Sis Dolls are still widely available in most toy retailers, including Amazon, although with an increase in demand prices may vary. 

The L.O.L Big Surprise has been a sell-out sensation this year! Lil’ Sis Dolls are still widely available (great for stocking fillers) but Big Sis is currently on in stock at:

Online only:
Amazon – lowest price, not Prime
Toy Game World – low stock

3. Nerf Nitro MotorFury Rapid Rally 

RRP: £49.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥

Clear the kitchen floor in readiness for Nerf Nitro MotorFury because this is THE Nerf toy of Christmas 2017. The kids power up the blaster motor with the acceleration button and unleash the cars with rapid fire action, whizzing into legs, chairs, kitchen cabinets, the works. They’ll bloody love it. What’s more – the blaster has a clip that holds up to 9 cars so they can load up and send the cars flying out of the blaster and into high speed stunts! This set comes with 6 cars, and THREE of them are special to this set – whoop! While you are buying, you may wish to get touch up paint, and plasters for your legs. Only joking…

Where to buy:
The Nerf Nitro MotorFury Rapid Rally is available in most retailers still, but we have found the best prices for you for this top toy:

Online only:
Smyths Toys – £10 off RRP, now £39.99
Very – £13 off RRP, now £36.99
Amazon – a WHOPPING £19 off RRP – now £30.00

4. Fisher Price Teach ‘n’ Tag Movi

RRP: £44.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥

This little robot is similar to last year’s pre-schooler hit, Code-a-pillar. The kids (and possibly you) will love playing ‘Movi says’, the robot’s version of Simon says, especially on Christmas Day when everyone else is asleep on the sofa. With three modes of play, Movi asks questions, encourages movement play and gives commands – all great for critical thinking. Not only is Movi cute, he’s also an educational toy – keeping everyone happy. 

Where to buy:
Despite Movi’s popularity this Christmas, this little robot seems to be available in most places but like the Nitro Rally above, we’ve dug out the best prices for you:

Online:
Smyths Toys – £5 off RRP, now £39.99
Toys ‘R’ Us – £5.01 off RRP, now £39.98

Collection Only:
Argos – £12 off RRP, now £32.99

5. Trolls Hair in the Air Poppy

RRP: £34.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Trolls Movie was the big box office of 2016 and I’ll bet my bottom dollar you have watched it about eleventy billion times this year too, right?  This Christmas, Hair in the Air Poppy will be a surefire hit with bright pink, bendable hair that can be styled into a variety of wonderful shapes, whilst Poppy sings, and lights up – just like she does in the film. The Kidload LOVED this and rated it a full 5 out of five stars, so it comes highly recommended. 

Where to buy:
While this sold out everywhere a couple of weeks ago most retailers appear to have limited stock in, with varying prices. We’ve hunted the best for you below:

Online:
Amazon – £16.85 off RRP, now £18.14
Toys R Us – £10.01 off RRP, now £24.98
Argos – £6 off RRP, now £28.99

Gift Guide

6. Hatchimals Surprise 

RRP: £74.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Hatchimals were the to-die-for toy in 2016, with retailers limiting stock after buying frenzies were reported and this year, they are BACK! The Hatichmal Surprise is the same premise of the egg cracking open, but this year you get not one, but two cute little surprise creatures inside that interact with each other with adorable sounds and lights. The kids will love teaching them to talk, walk, dance and play games meaning that this year’s Hatchimal offers plenty of play – and it’s a slightly cheaper price point for twice the fun! 

Where to buy:
We’ve found many stockists are limiting these to two per customer, due to high demand and with varying prices. Here’s the best:

Online:
Toys R Us: £10 off RRP, now £64.99 (limited to 2 per customer)
Tesco Direct: a WHOPPING £19.99 off – now £55.00
Amazon: An AMAZING £20.00 off RRP, now £54.99

7. Lego BB-8 

RRP: £74.99
MOLO Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Lego sets are THE top toy for most older kids (and er.. adult ‘kids’ of course) and this year’s top set has to be the incredibly impressive BB-8 from the new Star Wars Trilogy. The set contains over 1,100 pieces, and includes a display stand, plague and a small BB-8 figurine and features exceptionally detailed components, wheel-activated rotating head and opening hatch with a non-functioning welding torch. When we had a play with this, it was an incredibly faithful reproduction and the intricacy of the design will mean a Lego lover will be in heaven unwrapping this set this Christmas. Make sure you buy yourself a pair of slippers to avoid Lego-injury!

Where to buy:

We’ve found many stockists are limiting these to two per customer, due to high demand and with varying prices. Here’s the best:

Online:
Toys R Us: £10 off RRP, now £64.99 (limited to 2 per customer)
Tesco Direct: a WHOPPING £19.99 off – now £55.00
Amazon: An AMAZING £20.00 off RRP, now £54.99

8. Playdoh Kitchen 

RRP: £24.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (actually, Maggie’s rating was specifically ‘100 out of 5’)

No under ten’s Christmas list is complete without Playdoh and this year, the Playdoh Kitchen Magical Oven is the one to buy! My kids always use Playdoh to ‘make cakes and bread’ so this is PERFECT and the Kidload awarded it a full five stars when they reviewed it! With six tubs of Play-doh, lots of baking accessories, cutters and rolling pins, this little set will keep them amused for hours as they whip up a storm, ready to bake in the oven. And when it’s ready, the oven even makes a very satisfying ‘DING!’! Get ready to fake your best ‘oooh delicious’ 8,000 times on Christmas day and beyond. 

Where to buy:

We’ve found this has sold out with many of the major retailers but have found a couple of great deals on below:

Online:

Amazon – £4.25 off RRP, now £20.24. (In stock 21 December, will arrive before Christmas if ordered now and select next day delivery)

Collection Only, in select stores (check your postcode)

Argos – £5 off RRP, now £19.99

9. My Little Pony Canterlot & Sequestria Castle 

RRP: £79.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥

My Little Pony is a perennial favourite and any fan will be absolutely delighted with this castle that offers not one, but two worlds to play with. There’s a slide and elevator for characters to easily move between Canterlot to Sequestria and the Kidload loved that it was like playing inside the movie! With two figures and a whopping 32 piece accessory set, this will offer hours of play on Christmas Day and beyond – it’s on Bess’ Father Christmas list this year! 

Where to buy:

We’ve found many stockists are limiting these to two per customer, due to high demand and with varying prices. Here’s the best:

Online:

Debenhams – £19.99 off RRP, now £60.00
Amazon – £23.30 off RRP, now £56.69
Asda – £19.99 off RRP, now £60.00

10. Fur Real Roarin’ Tyler the Playful Tiger 

RRP: £134.99
MOLO Kidload Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Firstly, this gorgeous tiger caused nearly a family rift, he was SO loved by Bess and Maggie. He now has to spend alternating nights in their beds to keep the peace and as soon as you see Tyler the Tiger, you’ll know why. Tyler responds to stroking, touch and even roars! He has a little chew toy that he loves to wrestle with you, is ready for a cuddle and purrs when he is happy. Every time he is touched, or you are near he’ll respond with the cutest noises and has over 100+ sounds and motions making him as real as a toy tiger can get! 

Where to buy:

As one of the most popular toys of the season, Roarin’ Tyler doesn’t come cheap but we managed to track down three deals under £100:

Online:

Argos – £35 off RRP, now £99.99 (Collection available)
Smyths Toys – £35 off RRP, now £99.99 (stock may be limited in store)
Amazon – £35 off RRP, now £99.99

11. Pie Face Sky High

RRP: £26.99
MOLO Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Pie Face is basically a staple in most family homes now (especially ours!) and this year is it back, with an updated version! Pie Face Sky High is not only the cream in the face fun we all loved but now it’s combined with a carnival-style strength test! Obviously, let the kids have a turn first – one player stands facing the cream, and the other stands on, and the other takes the hammer to hit the plate enough to ‘pie’ the other. Be warned, it took a couple of goes for them to ‘get the joke’ (ours are 6 and 3.5) but once they do, this is utter family JOY. 

Where to buy:

We’ve found many stockists are limiting these to two per customer, due to high demand and with varying prices. Here’s the best:

Online:
Argos – £7 off RRP, now £19.99
Very – £6 off RRP, now £20.99 

Don’t forget the Sloe gin and mince pies and above all – have a very merry Christmas! 

 

 

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply