Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Pounding Bench Toy with Mallet

I have a grandson who turned 2 at the beginning of this month and he really doesn't like baby toys. He has an older sister and he likes trying to play with her stuff but it's not age-appropriate so I wanted to find something that would get, and keep his attention. I searched through toys for hours one night and couldn't find anything I didn't think he'd get bored with after a day. There are so many gimmicky toys for kids that just don't hold up. I like solid, wooden toys when I can find them. I really like Doug and Melissa products and so do my daughter and son for their kids. I watch my grandson during the week and decided that my rough and tumble little guy needed something that made noise and he could be rough with. I thought of the pounding benches they had when my son was little and decided it would be perfect for him. So I did a search and found many different brands and price points. What stood out for me with the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench was that not only were they a brand I liked and trusted for well-built toys, they had perfected the pounding bench! One thing I was concerned with was losing parts. Those little pegs you pound in come out the other end and inevitably over time they would get lose. I don't like buying toys with a lot of pieces for that reason but Melissa and Doug's pounding bench was made so that the pegs could not be pounded out. Instead, the pegs on the left were connected to the pegs on the right so when you pound one peg and it goes down, the other side comes up. Genius! The price was great and it arrived in just 2 days. My grandson loves it! I keep it at our house so the noisy toy isn't foisted upon his parents and he can get all his frustrations out at our house. Two weeks after he got it the end piece that holds one of the sides up came out of its grooves and was laying on the floor. He's only 2 so I couldn't see how he could've pulled it out but there you go. It took a lot of work to get back in and my hubby will be using some wood glue to reinforce it. That was disappointing for the quality I trust in Melissa and Doug products but he's back to using it every single day and never grows bored. That's money well-spent. A simple wooden toy that amuses day after day.

Ground baby loved it

My 1 year old LOVES this!!! The pegs are easy for him to hit with the mallet and sturdy enough to get hit a million times 😂 Definitely his favorite toy!! Loves the colors and helps with hand eye coordination!

The media could not be loaded. This wood hitting toy is an absolute gem – a perfect 10/10 that exceeded all expectations! Not only does it boast vibrant colors that captivate a child's attention, but it also plays a pivotal role in achieving crucial learning milestones. The engaging design promotes sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination, making it a valuable addition to any child's developmental journey. What sets this toy apart is its versatility – it's not only a fantastic solo play option but also encourages social interaction, making it ideal for sharing delightful moments with friends. The durability of the wood ensures longevity, and the thoughtful design provides an excellent grip for tiny hands. If you're searching for a toy that seamlessly blends fun, learning, and socialization, look no further. This wood hitting toy is a parenting win and a solid 10/10!

The media could not be loaded. Great wood toy for toddlers. Comes with a hammer but it is easy for them to use their hands as well. The pegs have stoppers so kids cannot pull them out. The pegs do stick sometimes based on angle but never get stuck. The faces on the pegs make it a little extra fun. 8/10 as a toy for 13 month old.

My 15-month-old absolutely adores this toy we didn't give her the hammer because that is for older babies but she spends so much time poking the pegs down and figuring out how it works.

Kids are so easily entertained, and this Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench is a perfect example of that. Like many similar pounding bench toys, here you get a mallet with several pegs that can be pounding down. Unlike the pounding bench that I remember having as a kid, you do not have to worry about losing the pegs here because they are attached to a base sort of like a see-saw. When one peg is pressed down, the one apart from it goes up. I love it because kids can learn cause and effect. The colorful pegs are enticing. My kid start playing with this when she was probably 18 months old and loved it.Surprisingly, the paint does not chip much with repeated pounding. While you an tell that ours are used, it does not look bad by any means. Maybe some paint worn off here and there. It is extremely well made.The mallet is a bit meh. It's hard, for one, so it can be used as a weapon. It does have plenty of area so that it makes missing hard, but if there is anything that I would want to see changed with this pounding bench, it would be the mallet itself. I might also make it a bit easier to grip, perhaps with a more ergonomic handle. That is not a big deal, though, and I really love it. My daughter got a *lot* of use out of it.

I bought this for my one year old granddaughter for her birthday. She loved playing with it with me and will grow with the toy as she matures. It is sturdy and well built.