Disclosure: I received a Flashlight Friend in exchange of an honest review. No other compensation was received for this post.
You may be familiar with Flashlight Friends like I was from television commercials. My children were very intrigued by their soft, cuddly exterior and flashlight feature.
Flashlight Friends are available in six characters – Pink Unicorn, Black Penguin, Green Turtle, Blue Puppy, Purple Panda, and Green Dragon, who is featured in this review. This product is recommended for children 4 years of age and above. I am guessing this is for the understanding of not looking directly into the light or shining the light into anyone else’s eyes.
My son is almost three and has stated that he is sometimes afraid of the dark so I have allowed him to be the primary tester with me. Flashlight Friends are not intended for use in a crib and an infant should not be left unattended with this product.
When I opened the box, there was Green Dragon and a small manual. Flashlight Friends need to be kept dry and can be surface cleaned with a damp cloth only. They can not be washed in washing machine or dishwasher and do not dry in the clothes dryer.
Flashlight Friends require three AAA batteries that are not included. To install the batteries, simply open the Velcro closure, unscrew the plastic cover with a small Phillips-head screwdriver and add the batteries. Then replace the cover, tighten the screw, and close the Velcro closure back up. There is a ribbon-like strap near the Velcro closure that allows the child to carry the Flashlight Friend like a flashlight.
I had placed Eneloop batteries in Green Dragon initially with my review, but I did remove them because they are rechargeable and it says NOT to use rechargeable batteries. I’m not sure what the reasoning is for this.
Green Dragon and the other Flashlight Friends have a flashlight that is turned on by tapping the light located on the Flashlight Friends tummy twice. Tap it once to turn the light off again. After the light has been on for 10 minutes, it will automatically shut off.
Flashlight Friends are to ease the fear of the dark, be used as a nighttime reading light, playing games, or for traveling. Each Flashlight Friend has a suggested retail price of $19.99 plus shipping and handling.
Overall, I think Flashlight Friends are definitely soft, comforting, and cuddly. They provide fun for children of either gender. The flashlight does not get hot and the automatic shutoff feature is great. The only negative comment I have with this product is that rechargeable batteries are not to be used with Flashlight Friends.
Flashlight Friends are a product of Idea Village and are made in China.
