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. 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. 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. 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.

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). My oldest son particularly loves hearing the pet slurp when he feeds it the bottle, and he belly-laughs every time it fusses about the broccoli.

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.

The Munchin Rex (Blue Version) is a baby dino pet with personality that responds with more than 35 sound-and-motion combinations.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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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. It’s hard to discern the different sounds and motions that the dinosaur makes, and yet my son is filled with excitement as he waits for them.

That said, 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 (6 and up). 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 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. The furReal Munchin’ Rex comes with a bottle, a broccoli treat, and a caveman cookie—each of which can activate the dinosaur’s sensors. The boys bring it with them in the car and on walks, and my husband and I are able to tune it out and keep on chatting, undisturbed.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. 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. All in all, the Dream Puppy offers a more realistic experience, which can be a plus for kids who love dogs.