Regarding the pudding hat, seems like I've also heard that kids wore these sort of donuts or bustles around their waists when they were first starting to walk.

Regarding play: hell yeah. This is why I don't like toys with batteries, because they do all the playing for you. Though I have to admit, my son likes the sounds they make. However, he doesn't know how to push the buttons to get them to make the sounds.

On the contrary, I have a school bell that he loves to play with. He can make that ring! He can suck on the handle and the bell itself. His other favorite toys: paper (I have to watch out for that), spoons, doors that swing, and keys.