Buy Hot Toys for Christmas

Have your kids started bugging you to buy Fijit Friends, FurReal Friends Cookie My Playful Pup, Lalaloopsy Silly Hair dolls, or the Lite Sprites Lite Wand? If they haven't yet, they will. These are some of the hottest toys for girls.

Girls love dolls, and little girls will be thrilled to find Disney Princess Toddler dolls or a My Baby Alive doll under the tree. (I can't believe the longevity some of these toys have! I had a Baby Alive that I loved feeding and changing when I was a little girl -- back when I thought feeding and changing diapers was "fun.")

Barbie toys are always popular for Christmas. This year, stores are showcasing the Barbie Hairtastic Printables Doll, which feature hair extensions that you can print designs and colors on with a laser printer. Also from Barbie, the Barbie Sisters Go Camping camper is a feature-packed playset.

The Easy Bake Oven is back -- minus the light bulb -- to delight a whole new generation of young bakers. The Easy Bake Ultimate Oven is electric, and features a larger cooking chamber than the classic version. Walmart picked this as one of their Top 20 Toys this year.

Two toys will be battling for the title of top preschool toy this year: Let's Rock Elmo, and Rock Star Mickey. Both are characters that kids love, and they both sing and dance.

The new Elmo toy for Christmas is always highly anticipated, and this year's Elmo doll is expected to be a big seller. Let's Rock Elmo comes with a few instruments of his own, as well as some extra ones that you can buy separately to access more songs or for multiple kids to play along.


Rock Star Mickey is also picking up on the musical Rock toy trend, decking Mickey out in cool sunglasses and Rock star clothes. He's got slick moves, a few pre-programmed songs, and an instruction mode where he teaches kids his dance moves. Rock Star Mickey is smaller than last year's Dance Star Mickey, but he also costs less. (Retail price is around $55.)

Need help deciding which toy to buy? Read this Let's Rock Elmo review and Rock Star Mickey Review.

Two learning tablets for kids hit the market: the VTech InnoTab, and the Leapfrog LeapPad Learning Tablet. If you're wondering which one to buy, here are a few points of difference.

The LeapPad comes with a camera and video recorder.The VTech InnoTab does not have either, but it can play videos and display photos that you load onto it.

The VTech InnoTab can play mp3's. The LeapPad can't.

The Leadpad is backwards compatible with other Leapfrog cartridges. The InnoTab is not compatible with cartridges from other VTech products, like the Mobigo or V.Smile.

To learn more about the other differences, as well as what content comes with each read these in-depth toy reviews:

* VTech InnoTab Review
* Leapfrog LeapPad Review

On the heels of Transformers: Dark of the Moon Transformers are hot for the holidays. The most popular Transformers toy this year is the Transformers MechTech Ultimate Optimus Prime. This humongous robot comes with interchangeable weapons that can attach to other MechTech weapons and to the Transformers in both vehicle and robot mode.

If you've got younger boys, they might prefer the Cyberverse line of Transformers that fit in the playsets and vehicles.

Another popular Transformers toy is the new Transformers KRE-O line, where kids can build the Transformer figures from scratch.

Younger Transformers fans can get in on the action with the Playskool Transformers Rescue Bots and the Transformers Robo Power action figures, which are easy for little ones to transform.

If you've got a young Jedi, get him the Star Wars FX Ultimate Light Saber, which features realistic light-up and battle clash sound effects.

Nerf guns have gone high-tech, and you'll find the Nerf Vortex guns and blasters will catch boys' eyes, whether they see it at their friends' house, on TV, or in the toy aisle.

Lego sets are hotter than ever. From the uber popular Lego Ninjago line, to Lego Alien Quest, to Lego Star Wars and Lego Harry Potter, builders and collectors have a lot to wish for this holiday season. Harry Potter fans will definitely want the latest Hogwarts set, Lego Harry Potter 4867, also known as "Battle for Hogwarts."

This Lego Hogwarts castle depicts the final battle between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter, complete with an exploding bridge. The interior of the castle includes Professor Trelawney's classroom, the Gryffindor dormitory, and more.

Also on brick-o-phile's lists is the 1238-piece Star Wars Millennium Falcon. Kids young and old alike will be wanting this one for Christmas. If you've got generations of Star Wars fans in your home, building this set is a fun activity that adults and kids can do together.

A big "wow" toy for boys is the LEGO Ninjago Fire Temple 2507. This large Lego set comes with 1174 pieces, and features a temple that splits in two to release the Fire Dragon.