Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing Review

THE GOOD: This was very easy to put together! Everything just snapped in place and then there are screws for safety in case the snap-system fails. Awesome. Simple. Great! I used this many times to be able to wash dishes, make dinner, or just to nap when I was spent! As a single mom in the military, it was a God-send! I lived in a small apartment, so space was an issue. Press a couple "buttons," and the legs moved together to fit perfectly in between a bookcase and the wall. Switching from side to side and forward/backward swinging is a push of a button, and a great idea. My daughter loved both, but slept with fwd/bkwd the most. The aquarium is great with or without the lights, and the sloshing sound it makes is so soothing that one time I fell asleep next to her! (I grew up near the ocean.) We used the tray once, and all she did was grab the fish toys and try to rip them off the bar to put them in her mouth - she's a strong girl!

THE BAD: However, I had one BIG peeve with this as soon as I used it: It had big signs all over the box about the misic, lights, and "6 SPEEDS!" I have no idea what they are talking about. I had just received a new stopwatch, so I tried it out on this. Every setting is the same: each one allows the music to play for 7 minutes and 48 seconds... every time... no difference! Then, a friend and I tested the so-called speeds. There was no such thing. Every setting is the same speed. So basically, F-P figured they could charge parents a hundred buckaroos for a fancy six position switch instead of a single 'on' switch that would have done the same thing. AND what baby goes to sleep in 7 min 48 sec?! All the other toys, swings, mobiles, have a 10 - 15 min range. Whoever was in charge of THAT function needs to correct their mistake!

UGLY: I recommend you get it from a friend, yard sale, thrift store, Goodwill, etc. Check it over to make sure all the functions work, but don't pay full price for this. It was really great but there's some false advertising involved! Tray dishwasher safe, fabrics & fish mobile machine washable; 3 D-cell batteries.