He’s a bit of a one-man band actually – he rocks the mic and accompanies himself on the tambourine and drum. Elmo recognises which instrument you have handed to him and actually plays them (he will also play any of the other instruments in the Let’s Rock range).

Children over the age of 18 months can help take the pressure off the entertainer by having a go on one of the working instruments or by playing a Let’s Rock Guitar, Keyboard or Microphone (also in the range) which Elmo will recognise and start playing along with.

This hairy rock god is available for around £69.99.

Little babies can get their hands on the Musical Tambourine when they are as young as three months. This is a bit of a cross between a musical instrument and a rattle. On the most basic level, children can grasp the chunky plastic handle and give it a good shake to hear a pleasing rattling noise. A clever motion sensor, however, is hidden in the tambourine and as soon as it starts shaking, the toy will also let out different sounds, phrases and melodies.

Priced around £8.99, the musical tambourine also features flashing lights along the edge to acknowledge children’s early experiments with motor skills and encourage them to practise. A big star-shaped button in the middle of the tambourine can be pressed to set off even more fun tunes and basic 1-2-3 counting sounds.

At around six months, children can be the proud owners of a new Farm Animal Rattle. Those classic players, hen, cow and sheep, decorate the edge of the rattle in baby-friendly style. Little ones can listen to the sounds that the animals make and play a fun peek-a-boo game to learn about mother and baby animals.

Moving the pieces on the edge of the rattle and pressing the buttons activates lots of fun features and learning opportunities hidden within the toy.

Once again, the toy is packed with interesting phrases, funky songs and energetic sounds. This one has a motion sensor too, so many of the sounds and songs are activated to reward your child for shaking the rattle, plus flashing lights encourage them to keep on exploring too. This one is priced around £9.99.

When children reach the age of one, a slightly more complex musical toy can keep them amused. The Caterpillar Concert is priced around £15.99 and can be squeezed up or stretched out, concertina style, to create music. Five piano keys on the side of the caterpillar produce a variety of music as well as opportunities to learn colours and numbers.

The bright flashing antennae on the caterpillar make him seem like a happy little fellow who is bopping along to the music, whether it’s produced by the child or the music button. Two modes of play – learning or music mode – encourage your child to learn or play.

Lulla-Baah Timmy, from Vivid, will sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star when you squeeze his tummy – and then he’ll fall asleep, which should encourage your little one to do the same.

With a glow-in-the-dark blanket for extra comfort, Lulla-Baah Timmy is priced around £14.99 and is suitable for ages two and up.

Based on the popular TV show and featuring the much-loved voice of Peter Kay as Big Chris and Tin Top, the album is released as a collaboration between Chapman Entertainment and Union Square Music.

Hoping to race its way into the charts, Ready, Set, Go features 20 songs, including many popular favourites from the hit pre-school show, such as ‘Yes, Yes, Yes’, ‘Motorman’ and ‘The Winter Rock’. Singing along to the lively songs and the catchy ‘Roary the Racing Car’ theme tune during the school run could be a great way to fuel up on energy for the day ahead.

Roary is a long-standing favourite who appears on Five’s Milkshake! and Nick Jr after zooming onto our screens in 2007. Teaching children valuable lessons about friendship, safety and motor racing, Roary is a loveable character, and according to Greg Lynn, Managing Director of Chapman Entertainment, this album is being released due to popular demand.

Each guitar uses Active Graphics Technology to let you play along to some of the most famous rock tracks in history, and you also have the option of entering Freestyle mode and creating your own tunes.

The guitars have built-in speakers and can also be plugged into the Paper Jamz amplifier (sold separately).

The six new designs each come with three preloaded tunes. From left to right (as pictured) you get: Aliens Exist, Dance, Dance and Turning Japanese; Shine, Machinehead and Plowed; One Way Or Another, Middle Of The Road and Hit Me With Your Best Shot; Here It Goes Again, Get Free and Check Yes Juliet; Invincible, Woman and Devour; and Rock And Roll All Nite, Louie Louie and School’s Out.

Paper Jamz guitars weigh just 500g on average and are priced around £24.99 each. They are suitable for ages eight and up.

Read our review of the brilliant Series 1 Paper Jamz here.

Halilit has aimed to provide what many parents will have thought impossible – a baby drum that doesn’t make a dreadful noise. This one, priced around £10.99, aims to hit a more pleasing note by having a professional-grade skin on it.

Youngsters from the age of 12 months can strike it using a special pair of safety beaters (i.e. ones they are unlikely to be able to do damage to themselves with, or to anything else in the house) and enjoy the quality sound.

The drum, which was designed by professional musicians, is 17.5cm in diameter and decorated around the outside with bright and funky graphics. The lightweight and durable drum should provide noisy toddlers with some long-lasting musical entertainment.

The Spring Roller is a colourful musical toy designed to roll easily along any surface. As the electronic toy rotates, a motion sensor triggers a variety of fun songs, in three different musical styles: pop, Caribbean and country.

When a baby does eventually catches up with the toy, there are some interactive elements on the side of it too, such as a flying bee with sound effect and a ball to spin. Discovery disks on the side of the toy also hide some cute characters.

A central button can activate the music too, and sets lights flashing at the same time. The Spring Roller is priced around £19.99.

Chicco has created a soft toy bunny for babies of six months and over to snuggle up to. There’s a happy expression on his gentle, embroidered face and the majority of his body is made in soft tones and natural rabbit colours.

He also has three eye-catchingly bright buttons on his tummy, and when little ones press the buttons they will discover that each one has a special textured surface for them to explore.

Not only that, but (powered by two AAA batteries), the buttons activate a variety of happy tunes and funny sound effects to keep babies entertained.

The Musical Bunny Rabbit is priced around £14.99.

The Learn & Groove Musical Table has enough variety to hold children’s attention for a long time as it has 40 different songs for little ones to enjoy.

In Music Mode, children can explore songs, melodies and nursery rhymes, some of which involve real instrument sounds. They may also feel inspired to get moving to a variety of upbeat funky dance tunes.

By flipping a page, the toy can be turned over to Learning Mode, which is packed full of ways for children to learn. There are lots of different buttons to press, and things to move, spin, turn, twist and manipulate as they learn about numbers from one to ten, counting, shapes, colours, opposites and letters.

Don’t be surprised if you even hear your baby coming out with a French word or two, as the clever toy even has a go at teaching some basic words in English (with a British accent) or French.

Babies of six months and older can play with the table on the floor, as the legs detach in order to allow little ones to reach the buttons and keys and enjoy the sparkling lights. When the legs are attached, older tots up to about 36 months can stand up to enjoy the fun.

The Leapfrog Learn & Groove Musical Table is priced around £34.99.

Players pick a tune card and then play it by stepping on the keys on the large musical play mat. Which team will be the first to correctly name the tune?

The game comes with 50 tune cards, a scorepad, a timer and full instructions, as well as the play mat (which requires two AA batteries).

For four or more players aged eight and up, Play That Tune is priced around £19.99.