Most parents don’t have six hours to research tricycles. We do, apparently. So we figured we’d share what we learn.
What that looks like in practice: telling you when a toy rated “3+” actually frustrates most 3-year-olds. Or when the $40 budget option is 90% as good as the $120 premium pick. Or when a product has great reviews but breaks in ways you should know about before buying.
We’re Ben and Hannah Linton, parents to two kids under eight and one teenager. We’ve spent six years buying toys, testing toys, and watching our kids destroy toys. Some purchases were brilliant. Others ended up in donation bins within weeks. The difference usually came down to research, and we realized most parents don’t have time to do the kind of deep dives we were doing anyway.
Our Approach
We focus on toys for ages 0-8 (with select coverage up to teens) because that’s the range where we have direct experience. We test products with our own kids when possible. When we can’t test something personally, we rely on manufacturer specs, safety standards, and patterns from hundreds of parent reviews.
What we prioritize:
- Age-appropriate recommendations (specific ages, not vague ranges)
- Safety information from CPSC, ASTM, and AAP guidelines
- Honest pros and cons for every product
- Budget options in every roundup
- Real-world durability (not just first impressions)
What we don’t do:
- Recommend products we wouldn’t buy ourselves
- Hide negative aspects to protect affiliate revenue
- Claim every product is “amazing” or “perfect”
- Review products outside our kids’ age range
How We Make Money
We earn commissions when you buy products through our Amazon affiliate links. We also run display ads on the site. This revenue supports our research time and covers site costs.
But here’s the thing. We only recommend products we’d genuinely consider buying. If a product has significant drawbacks, we say so, even if it means you might not click through. Our credibility matters more than any single commission.
You’ll also notice we include budget options in our roundups. Not everyone can afford the premium pick, and we think that’s important to acknowledge.
Our Limitations
We’re not child development specialists or safety engineers. We’re simply parents who love researching things.
When we mention developmental benefits or safety standards, we’re referencing guidelines from organizations like the CDC and CPSC. We can tell you what these organizations recommend. We can’t give you medical or developmental advice.
We also can’t test every toy on the market. When we haven’t personally tested something, we’re upfront about it. We base those recommendations on specs, safety data, and review patterns rather than firsthand experience.
Why Trust Us?
Because we’re in the same position you are. We’ve got kids who need toys. We’ve got limited budgets and limited storage space. We want toys that work, last, and keep our kids engaged without annoying us. Want to know more about our research process, testing methodology, and how we handle affiliate relationships? Read How We Review Toys.
Get in Touch
Questions about a specific product? Wondering why we didn’t include something in a roundup? Want to suggest a topic we should cover?
Reach out to us on our contact page. We read everything, though we can’t always respond immediately.
Thanks for trusting us with your toy decisions. We don’t take that lightly.
Ben and Hannah Linton
Parents, Researchers, and Toy Break Survivors