At a glance:
Our panel of mum testers loved the educational element to this toy, which grows with your child. With French options, this toy is a great way to encourage your baby to pick up a second language. You can’t adjust the height, which can be frustrating for taller tots.
What they say:
“Choose between music mode that introduces songs and sounds of instruments, and a learning mode that teaches shapes, colours and more. Children can stand and play or explore on the floor. Press, slide, pull and spin colourful instruments and shapes to activate a variety of learning responses. Press any button in learning mode to explore the alphabet, colours, shapes, numbers and opposites. Flip to music mode and learn popular songs, tunes and real instrument sounds of the piano, drum, xylophone, trombone and guitar. Flick a switch and you can choose to learn in English or French! Includes classic children's tunes such as ‘Old MacDonald’ and ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’.”
Tested by mum Rowena Wood for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would definitely recommend this product to other parents. I love the colourful design and the educational aspect, and there is a variety of activities to keep your little one amused. I love that the tabletop can be used on the floor, with the legs then raising it into a table as your little one grows.
How did the product make your life easier?
The table helps keep my little one entertained due to the different activities it offers. Not only is it fun, it’s also educational. This toy grows with your child and it’s lovely to have a toy that doesn't have such a short life span compared to some others on the market.
Would you choose this product to win?
Definitely! I really like the variety of activities to keep your little one entertained, and feel that it offers a lot more for baby than other, similar products on the market.
What changes would you make to the product?
If I really had to, I’d say that instead of the legs being detachable, maybe they could fold underneath, which would save you having to store the legs when not in use.
Tested by mum Charlotte Adams for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would, as it has lots of different sounds, lights and colours, and is great for both younger and older children. It can be used with or without the legs, so can function either as a musical pad or a musical table. It is also very simple to use, so great for older children to use alone.
How did this product make your life easier?
My 17-month-old can play with this by herself, allowing me to carry on with other things. It has loads of different sounds and colours that she really enjoys, and is very easy to use. The French setting is a really good idea as well, helping to incorporate different languages into their vocabulary.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would! This product, above all the others on the market, looks much more sturdy. The French setting is unique, and the buttons and functions are really good for babies to explore their different senses like touching and listening. I think this product is amazing, and is definitely worth the money.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing I would change would be to increase its height. My 17-month-old is not very tall but still has to bend slightly to use the musical table, which could be slightly uncomfortable when using it for quite a while.
Tested my mum Fiona Murdoch for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, for several reasons. Firstly, my baby finds it very entertaining and easy to use, even at six-months-old. It's enjoyable to play with, as the songs are fun to sing along to and there are a large variety of sounds, stopping it from becoming too repetitive and annoying! It keeps him entertained for long enough to enable me to get on with other jobs. It's also educational, helping teach colours, numbers and the alphabet in English or in French! It's easily transportable, as the legs are simple to remove. When assembled it feels sturdy and looks very attractive. The angle of the legs means that it won’t tip over, which is good for toddlers and those beginning to walk or stand upright. It’s also really easy to wipe clean, though food can occasionally fall between the piano keys.
How did this product make your life easier?
Vtech's learn and groove provides plenty of entertainment for my baby. Without the legs attached my six-month-old is able to play with it lying on his tummy, his side, or sitting up in front of it. It is a safe toy and feels well made, with parts that are robust, large and well attached, allowing me to get on with preparing dinner or making a phone call while my son is entertained. The tunes are easy to sing along to, and my baby enjoys hearing me sing with them, and often tries to join in! These features mean I can often get on with things I need to do, while also being able to spend quality time playing with my son.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would! It has more longevity than other products, with my six-month-old baby as well as toddlers and children up to two or three years old all being entertained and engaged by it! There is a large variety of sounds, songs and educational features in both English and French, all of which ensure that neither babies nor toddlers grow bored with it, the added bonus being that it is less annoying to parents as it isn’t just the same one or two sounds all the time. It’s easy to transport, as it was so straightforward to remove and attach the four legs.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I could, it would be to make the narrow gaps between the piano keys easier to clean. It is a small criticism, but the spaces can become something of a food trap and are hard to get to with a cloth or sponge. If you are meticulous at ensuring your child has no food while playing with the table it won't be a problem, but it is amazing how many rogue raisins can slip by a mother's watchful eye and be pushed into the little gaps!
Tested by mum Sophie Quinn for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to a fellow parent, as it helps amuse the children whilst they get housework done or have a shower in peace, or if they just want five minutes of quiet time to themselves. It’s fun, musical and educational for baby to play with, and my son absolutely loves it! He’s been more than happy to have it as part of his toy collection!
How did this product make your life easier?
This toy really helps in amusing and entertaining my son while I get certain household jobs done. It has also helped his walking, as he can hold onto it and walk around the table to get to the activities that he wishes to play with. He was very excited when I opened it for him!
Would you choose this product to win?
I wouldn't choose this toy over all others on the market as while my son loves it, he has other toys that he sometimes picks over the table, such as his toy phone or his toy cars. That said, it is well and truly now a firm part of his toy collection, and does still see frequent use throughout a day.
What changes would you make to this product?
It would be useful if you could adjust the height, as my son is quite tall, and I find he often has to reach down and bend his knees to be able to play with the functions on top of the table. However, if he then sits down, he isn't quite high enough to see it properly.
Tested by mum Stacey Scourfield for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would, as the the Learn and Groove musical table is perfect for both a baby/toddler and an older child of around two years old. The table can be used on the floor when the baby is sitting or crawling, and the legs can then be attached for when baby is cruising or walking. The table is sturdy, well designed and feels safe. Assembly instructions are basic but easy to follow, and it’s really easy to remove and replace the legs for transportation. It isn’t too heavy, so is easy to move from room to room. It is also entirely plastic, which is easy to clean with a damp cloth.
How did this product make your life easier?
The Learn and Groove musical table keeps my seven-month-old baby entertained, and she enjoys playing with it together and independently. There are lots of buttons, switches, sliders, doors to open and close and pages to turn, which are easy for my baby to investigate.
Would you choose this product to win?
I like that this product can be used from a young age and that it feels sturdy and safe for both a baby and a toddler. It’s great that it can be used as a floor toy and as a table, and I think it would make a good Christmas or birthday present. I do feel there are baby walkers and other toys on the market that provide similar functions and perhaps a wider variety of learning opportunities, but such products are often more expensive than the Learn and Groove musical table. Overall, this product is good value for money and my baby enjoys playing with it.
What changes would you make to this product?
A bag to carry or store the in would be useful, and though I like the simple vocabulary and the choice of languages provided, I would like further learning opportunities, such as a wider range of shapes and colours.
Product Information
Suitable for babies from 6-months-old.