If you have decided NOT to buy toys made in China. . .

[ThankfulMama]

What kinds of things do you buy? Do you have many toys?

We have decided not to buy DD toys made in China, but I'm wondering if she will "miss out" on any good educational toys as a result. We currently have some Haba toys, wooden blocks, a wagon, and lots of books (plus a few MIC items given by family/friends, but no plastic toys).

DD will be 1 soon and DH and I are struggling with what to give her.

What do you do?

[Funny Face]

[GoBecGo]

Out of interest, why not toys from China?

[lolar2]

If it's because you don't want to encourage the companies' labor practices in China, you can buy the same toys used.

[Mamanoley]

most likely

it's the cadmium and other toxic things they put in the paint and plastics

ETA: we are in the same boat you are as far as selection, we don't have a lot but we also have boys. For a girl I'd suggest a cloth dolly, scarves to play with, there are tons of amazing artisans on etsy and hyena cart. There are definitely options out there!!
Love haba btw

[lifeguard]

We have very few toys. Mostly some handmade, locally made wooden toys (blocks, cars, train, rocking horse), a few balls (ds' favourite), some crochetted toys/balls I made. I find if you look there are quite a few things where you have two options & often the second option is made somewhere I feel more comfortable getting items from (Canada, the US, etc.). I figure with the few toys we have I can afford to spend a little more on those items.

[GoBecGo]

I think etsy is amazing for toys, more expensive but well-made and long-lasting. If you get a few "classics" which will last through lots of kids and for many ages you should be good. That and plenty of time outdoors will make many magical years of childhood memories.

[Bobbys]

Shop arts and crafts festivals. I bought a beautiful wooden truck from a man who makes them himself at his home. It's gorgeous, works great and was only $10. I bought it from him at a festival. You can get all sorts of stuff. Be wary of antiques though because of lead paint issues.

[omelette]

In comparison to friends we have few toys although according to dh and I we have a ton (or at least it feels that way when you trip over them daily).
DS has never asked for more or not had anything to do.
We love wood and hand-made toys over here, we also have playmobil and lego. A few good quality toys and imagination is all you need.

[mamadelbosque]

I did that up untill ds1 was 2.75 - that is to say, last xmas. I still avoid MIC whenever I can, but I'm no longer 100% on it. It just got too hard at some point - dealing with just family was one thing, but now that he's of the age where he has friends, and b-day parties with friends, etc its just no longer worth the hassle.

All that said! Previously, I shopped more-or-less exclusively on Oompa, Rosie Hippo, Moolka & Mauliko - there are *TONS* of options. Wooden trucks, trains, cars, planes, blocks, bikes, beads, all sorts of stuff, not to mention various stuffies, dress up clothes, balls, etc. Lots of cool stuff! Good luck!!

[34me]

What about a play kitchen. Yu could make it yurself or search companies that are not MIC.

[ThankfulMama]

nak

thanks so much!

I DO want her to use her imagination, play outdoors (good outdoor toys???) and (try) not to be sucked into the commercial black hole. I also want safe toys. I see so many families who have tons of plastic, noisy toys and I just don't want that for her.

I'm just new at this and don't have anyone locally that I know for ideas. I just got to wondering what the "toy stash" of other like-minded parents looks like. . .

[reignbelle]

There are lots of non China choices. You may just have to work harder to find them. Etsy,the seed,waldorf supply sites ate some of my face places. We have lots of toys most are nonchina. Now that the kids agent licking eating the toys we do have some China stuff. Mostly outside junk plastic stuff and some Disney figures from my mother.

[lkmiscnet]

You might try IKEA too, though when I looked online, they don't seem to have a huge toy assortment. Depends on the age range...

[MangoMommy]

Little Tikes makes most of their stuff in the US, we have outdoor play stuff from them. (playhouse, sand table/water table)

This company makes wooden trains,etc here in the US.
http://www.woodentrain.com/

This company has lots not MIC
http://www.novanatural.com/

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by lkmiscnet

You might try IKEA too, though when I looked online, they don't seem to have a huge toy assortment. Depends on the age range...

Ikea has stricter standards on safety for their toys than most companies but they are MIC. Just FYI.

[mamadelbosque]

If your really set on avoiding MIC, you have to be very careful - theres a lot of very nice looking waldorf/wooden/cloth toys out there that you think must be made in germany/usa/britain/wherever, but are in fact, made in china. When in doubt, ask, but if you have to ask, chances are very good its MIC - most of the time, if not their shouting from the rooftops, yk??

[nia82]

We avoid MIC as much as we can. The websites listed are awesome, and maukilo gives a Mothering rebate (I think 10% off or so). We don't have tons of toys - I thought though we have plenty, but a weekend with my nieces showed us that DS has about 10% of their toys (they have no MIC either, just lots lots lots more money than us).
I'm looking for a playhouse and sandbox now, and I found a wooden one on Ebay (made in the US) and that little tikes makes their houses here. I wish we could get a wooden one, but they are super expensive, and neither DH nor I are handy with making our own...
I really don't like plastic overall... And China scares me with their ingredients and child labor. But sometimes there is no other option (most clothes are made there, and frankly most people can't afford Hanna Anderson stuff! - and we are pretty much middle class with a good income, but a mortgage and me staying at home, which still means you have to watch your expenses). So we just try to stay away as much as we can.
I would buy Haba, Hess and Co used in a heartbeat. Same for Lego. This weekend we have a huge garage sale on our AF base, I'm hoping to find used Little Tikes and Radio Flyer items. Craigslist in big cities is awesome too!

About Haba made in China: yes, few items are made there. I read their company statement about it though, and the things they make there are up to EU standards and even exceed them (no crazy chemicals), they also put an emphasis on fair working conditions and no child labor. Made in Germany is just really expensive (i know the cost of labor there, been there and done that ).

[ThankfulMama]

I really appreciate all of the input and recommendations!

There are some new sites listed that I hadn't been on before. Maybe I need to be more creative with making things and using things around the house for play too.

Sometimes I feel like I am not providing enough stimulation for her.

[MangoMommy]

Honestly, I'm all about things like pots/pans/wooden spoons, playing in my old tupperware box, spashing in the sink,etc I think those activities are the best! DD11 mo has a whole basket of plastic baby toys that have gather but doesn't play with them. Her favorites are actually some Haba velcro animals (MIC, ugg) but otherwise she'd rather crawl around and get into stuff. I do have a water table for when she's a little older, and we'll do some play with beans,etc once she is a little older too.

I do have some leftover duplo Legos from my older kids, she likes those (I just have to watch the smaller parts), plus some Thomas we already had (MIC)