furReal Snackin’ Sam the Bronto Interactive Animatronic Plush Toy, Ages 4 and up

Product Information

The Munchin' Rex (Blue Version) pet's a handful, all right - unpredictable, huggable, and oh-so-loveable! She has over 20 years of experience, which has included contributions to Health Magazine and Well Rounded (acquired by Motherly).

The furReal Munchin’ Rex, which my son dubbed T-Rex, does provide laughter, and it also offers an opportunity to teach the art of problem-solving and empathetic care. The furReal Munchin’ Rex has a lot of tricks up its sleeves and, with 35 different sound-and-motion response combinations, engages children in playful and unpredictable ways. Though my 2-year-old boy was intrigued and did laugh at times, he doesn’t have the skills or attention span to fully appreciate all the interactive fun that the dinosaur provides. And though he loves seeing the dinosaur hopping and moving his head up and down when we wave at it, he originally was disappointed to find out that it didn’t walk, though.With sensors on her head and mouth, she responds to being petted, waved at, and fed (chomps on her treats -- or acts like she wants to spit them out! The furReal Munchin’ Rex is a plush toy, but unlike other (regular) plush toys, it’s designed to be played with—not just to display and cuddle. It seems expensive, but it’s actually comparable to other similar toys, and considering the entertainment that it can provide to children, I think it’s worth it. My 5-year-old son, on the other hand, usually plays with it for 20 to 30 minutes before moving on to something else or before moving it around manually to include it in other imaginative games.

The furReal Munchin’ Rex comes with a bottle, a broccoli treat, and a caveman cookie—each of which can activate the dinosaur’s sensors. When the pet is upset or cranky, my son tries to come up with solutions to make it happy—from hugging to feeding it to waving and being silly. We are currently delivering in NSW to Greater Sydney, Central Coast, South Coast and Newcastle as well as Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. This seems pretty straightforward, but my son had to practice; and before he figured out where and how strongly to press, he came to me every few minutes to turn the pet back on. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.My children, 2 and 5 years old, were instantly drawn to the furReal pet—it’s often the first toy they reach for in the morning. He even made a game out of trying to guess whether the dinosaur is cranky or happy—so we all appreciate the fun and interactive unpredictability that it offers. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.

This is a nice touch in theory, as it helps conserve battery life; however, for the sake of toddler play, I find it to be a flaw, especially since it can be tricky for tiny toddler hands to turn the dinosaur back on. That said, the Little Live Pets Snuggles does seem to provide more nuanced and diverse interactions: In addition to responding to sound and feedings, it will react to kisses and tickles.Because of the plastic hands and legs and the hard structure underneath the fur, the dinosaur isn’t as soft and cuddly as I had hoped (or as it seemed on the box)—but my son didn’t seem to mind. The boost of excitement that comes with the dinosaur’s responses wears off pretty quickly and is just not enough to hold kids’ interest—especially older ones. The Munchin Rex (Blue Version) is a baby dino pet with personality that responds with more than 35 sound-and-motion combinations. All in all, the Dream Puppy offers a more realistic experience, which can be a plus for kids who love dogs.

Both of my children, 2 and 5 years old, were instantly drawn to the furReal pet’s bright and vibrant colors—so much so that it’s often the first toy they reach for in the morning. All in all, my son loves caring for this cute baby animal and has even developed a sense of responsibility to keep it content (kind of like how I felt with my Tamagotchi). The best way to care for it is to prevent any stain from settling, which means brushing or wiping off any dirt as soon as possible.

Pushing a trolley around Tesco with it in, and then the bus home, the slightest movement made it say "I'm Stimky, are you". When it’s awake, the sounds that it makes are loud enough for the children to hear and enjoy, but quiet enough for adults not to be bothered. It provides a great deal of fun and caring moments that make it worth the cost (especially if your little one loves dinosaurs).