Retailers across Greater Toronto, and even online sites, are sold out - although Toys R Us just received a new LeapPad shipment on Monday, which went directly to 11 stores only (listed on their Facebook site).
Otherwise, the LeapPad - basically a durable, kid-friendly tablet, like an iPad - and Fijit Friends, which are dancing / talking robots that resemble the Teletubbies, have proved the big sellers this holiday season.
"The LeapPad is on fire," said Liz MacDonald, vice-president of marketing and store planning for Toys R Us Canada. The store had sold out before the last-minute shipment arrived.
"I bought one for my 3 ½-year-old niece and it's just so intuitive, she just loves it."
Figit Friends sold out in early December at Toys R Us and are nowhere to be found at Walmart, either.
"It's this great little toy and one of those things that just took off," added McDonald.
So what's a parent to do? Well, in the case of the LeapPad, Mastermind Toys co-founder Jon Levy said there's an alternative that has gotten great reviews.
His stores sold out of LeapPads in November.
The Vtech InnoTab "is very comparable," said Levy.
"Both (it and the LeapPad) have been through the roof in popularity," he added.
Among the other big sellers at Mastermind stores this season are , remote-controlled inflatable clownfish and sharks that fly or "swim" around.
(And not that anyone is giving City Council credit for boosting their popularity, but last October, a Toronto councillor brought one in during a debate about banning shark-fin soup and let it fly around council chambers. "We laughed because it probably came from our store, "said Levy.)
Levy also said new twists on old favourites are selling well, including Dance Charades, "which plays like regular charades but instead of acting it out, you have to dance."
Lego is always a big hit, but another big seller has been a frozen-treat maker.
The Zoku, which can make multi-flavoured popsicles in mere minutes.
"You keep it in the freezer, and bring it out onto the counter to make popsicles," said Levy. "You make the coolest, most unique popsicle you can. It's seven minutes to freeze solid."
MacDonald said some of toys' popularity is driven by advertising as well as recommendations from toy councils and parenting magazines, though it's often word-of-mouth that proves powerful.
"Once kids talk about it, they get one and they tell their friends, that's the magic."