How to Find Zhu Zhu Pets

How can you find Zhu Zhu pets, the robotic hamsters that are one of the hottest toys this Christmas season?

Unfortunately, there are relatively few retails attempting to carry these. The big three toy retailers, Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us appear to be the only nationwide chains carrying them. It's possible to catch them in-stock. It's easy to check stock on-line, but this may not be reliable. Calling local stores repeatedly seems obnoxious, but it's the most reliable way to get one. If it's convenient, stopping by in-person regularly is even better. Just politely ask if they have them in-stock and if they know when they expect a shipment.

The online route is expensive, but by the time you spend hours and hours hunting for one, it gets easier to see spending an extra $30-50 to just get it over with. eBay and Craigslist are of course popular places to find them, but Amazon has some sellers with Zhu Zhu pets in stock.

Finally, use your network connections. Let your friends know that you're looking for them. Use Facebook and email to multiply your efforts.

Elmo Live and Five Other Top Toys for Christmas 2008

Elmo Live is predicted to be one of the hottest new toys for Christmas 2008. Even though it isn't released until November 1st, you can preorder it now on Amazon at the regular price of $59.99. There are already other sellers lined up to sell it at twice that price. I'm sure if you wait until December to try to find one, you'll be paying $100 or more if you can even find one.

Of course the Nintendo Wii and even the Wii Fit game are still massively hot sellers and are almost never in stock. The best bet to catch either one of those is to talk to the guys at your local Gamestop or other smaller video game store and find out when they get stock in and keep calling them. Sometimes they'll even call you when they get stuff in. Or Amazon can send you a text message when they get them in stock.

The Nintendo DS is easier to find on store shelves right now, but at only $129.99, it has sold out both of the last two years and probably will again this year. With more games like Brain Age 2, My French Coach, and Guitar Hero on Tour, it's been a great gift for grownups too.

The rest of the must-have list is full of life-like animated toys. Amazing Amanda, a very realistic talking baby, doesn't get very good reviews from parents but is on a lot of little girls' Christmas lists. It laughs, cries, plays games, talks, goes potty, gets sick, eats, etc. All the pretend baby goodness that you can stand.

KOTA the Triceratops Dinosaur from Playskool comes out October 13th and is supposed to be THE hot toy for preschoolers this Christmas. Part toy, part ride, it's over three feet tall. It has very realistic sounds and motions. It responds to voice and touch.

The Biscuit My Lovin Pup from Fur Real Friends is the ultimate fake pet. He knows how to sit, speak, shake, lie down and other commands.