Toys and going "MIC-free" ... can we discuss - ?

[Aura_Kitten]

It broke my heart last night to get rid of so many of my dd's toys ~ all Made In China, all recalled, almost all Dora things, all gifts from her grandparents.

They were all her beloved playthings and "friends," and I know she will notice they're missing once she goes in her room to play (I did it late last night while she was asleep and all of today she's been @ daycare)...



So I'm resolving to buy only non-MIC stuff from now on, earth-friendly if possible but if not that's ok, I just want to cut down the risk to my children!!

I plan to go through my ds's things too, ASAP, even things that haven't been recalled if they were MIC they're going to go - I feel like I've lost all trust in the toy industry.


If you've done this... what do you tell your children?? How do you field their intense questions and their hurt over having to part with their belongings??

And, how do you replace what they've had to give up?

What toy manufacturers (Besides M & D) are safe or known to be low-risk?

Are there any reasonable priced, earth-friendly no- or low-dye wooden toys that your kids love?

A large part of our problem is that we are so low-income and almost everything my children have in terms of toys and playthings, they got from their grandparents (from Wal-Mart). I can't go out and replace everything with the expensive, European-made versions, I just don't have the money...

[AngelBee]

This is sucky, huh?

[TCMoulton]

Just wondering, did you send all of them back to Mattel for the rebate?

[dawn1221]

If they aren't recalled are they still giving the rebate?

I seriously considered taking all of my FP toys back to toys-r-us and getting throwing a huge hissy fit if they didn't give me store credit. I can always buy puzzles or something instead.

[BCFD]

This has been HUGE for me even before the recalls happened. I've been in many debates on a more mainstream forum about it....flamed even.

Anyway, I have a pretty hardcore new rule about no MIC toys being purchased and we are lucky to have 2 local Waldorf stores within miles. That being said, I just broke down last night and bought my daughter two things MIC. A doctor's kit (she is almost 3 and has been playing doctor for months now. I could only find the PARENTS brand at Target) and some Schleich horses (a German company that I believe makes a lot of their toys in Germany, but these horses were unfortunately MIC). I am steering clear of Fisher Price and Mattell. I also think that Step 2/Little Tikes are all made in the USA. Good news since we have a sandbox, playhouse, 2 climbers, watertable, and work bench....all made my Step2 or Little Tikes. We don't buy character toys, so that should cut out a bunch right there. My oldest DD was given the Dora/twins water doll thingie (the one with flippers) and we just put that in a box in the garage that will probably go to the Goodwill. I am purging a lot of their toys and it makes me sad.

ETA: I got my infant DD a Haba teething ring (it's birch wood).

[mama kate]

we staerted the slim down today - we don't have tons of toys in the first place - I'm ocd on puzzles/books so we have tons of them! So I bagged up a whole bag today & am planning on ordring some new things to replace some of the FP toys I'll be giving away. Its hard but DH & I talked about i t & really want to make a concerted effort to buy either US made or European made items from now on. Can you try selling some of the items you are getting rid of to replace some of them?

[muckemom]

Hmmm... I've heard about this.. so sad :

Ds only has wooden toys, but I know that he'd be really upset if I had to get rid of some of them.

[sonrisaa29]

Look into playmobil, I know they're made in Germany. They also do rigid inspections on their plastics, plus they have a lifetime warranty.

[annettemarie]

I used to be SO strict about this. But as we had more kids and more gift-giving occasions, I became a little less stringent and let them in our home. I am planning on slowly moving them out. We rotate toys, which should make it easier. But it will really bum my kids out. Nicholas loves his matchbox cars. I don't even trust the Melissa and Doug stuff now. I know they say they are safe, but how can we know? Everyone says their stuff is safe.

[Annelina]

I thnk that Melissa & Doug toys are also made in China. Selecta and Haba are manufacturers of non-toxic toys, made in Europe.

[sweetieberlin]

selecta and haba are great wooden toy companies made in germany!! really great toys!!

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by Annelina

I thnk that Melissa & Doug toys are also made in China. Selecta and Haba are manufacturers of non-toxic toys, made in Europe.

A mama on the toddler board emailed M&D--see this thread for their response:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=731300

[_betsy_]

Yes, wooden toys not made in China would be my ideal, but how to convince the ILs of this? They seem to think cheap plastic crap with batteries and lights and sounds are HELPING DD!

I think this Mattel recall may help me for DD's upcoming 1st birthday, but what about Christmas and all the other gift-giving events? I started an online wishlist that my mother has been happy to get stuff off of, but the ILs? They don't have or use a computer, and if it can't be bought at their local big box store, it doesn't exist to them. And suggesting they just give money so I can get the toys I want for her? Forget it! I'd be castigated as rude and ungrateful.

[libranbutterfly]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

Yes, wooden toys not made in China would be my ideal, but how to convince the ILs of this? They seem to think cheap plastic crap with batteries and lights and sounds are HELPING DD!

I think this Mattel recall may help me for DD's upcoming 1st birthday, but what about Christmas and all the other gift-giving events? I started an online wishlist that my mother has been happy to get stuff off of, but the ILs? They don't have or use a computer, and if it can't be bought at their local big box store, it doesn't exist to them. And suggesting they just give money so I can get the toys I want for her? Forget it! I'd be castigated as rude and ungrateful.

What if you had catalogs sent to their house, and maybe mentioned in phone convos how much DD liked such and such toy at a friends house?

[*Aimee*]

I gave away a bunch of DS plastic toys (none of it recalled) to friends. I told them why I was giving them away (dont trust MIC and dont like plastic) and then if they wanted them they could have them. But DS is only 14 months old so it wasnt hard. I did feel bad though because I went to target to get him these little cellphones that he loved but his old one quit working. Yeah, they were all RECALLED! They had a new batch there, but the magnet on the battery was coming out and choking kids or something. So I took it as a sign. And I'm sure M & D say they're safe, so did Mattel and I'm sure Mattel has more money to spend on quality assurance.

I buy DS toys from www.atoygarden.com They're super nice, well made, and not super expensive (like Oompa is super expensive I think ).

Our family knows how we feel about plastic toys. For DS birthday we got a lot of stuff that we wouldnt have ever bought him. We took them to the Women's and Children's shelter. Most people who were unsure got us books and if anyone asked what he "needed" I said, "nothing! But if you wanna buy him something books and wooden puzzles are great."

[Zach'smom]

What about toys for older kids? I would love to get rid of every mic thing he owns. But he loves his building toys. Along with his wooden blocks and lincoln logs he has legos and magnetics. He also loves his hot wheels cars. When he was younger it was sooooooo much easier to have only non-plastic toys.

[GuildJenn]

Originally Posted by Zach'smom

What about toys for older kids? I would love to get rid of every mic thing he owns. But he loves his building toys. Along with his wooden blocks and lincoln logs he has legos and magnetics. He also loves his hot wheels cars. When he was younger it was sooooooo much easier to have only non-plastic toys.

Lego is manufactured in Denmark - at least most of it; there are the odd special kits that aren't, just check the box.

[meowee]

I am glreefully going through the house getting rid of almost everything MIC. I finally have an excuse! I wish so much that I had been firm about this from the beginning.

I will let them keep their barbies and my little ponies (none of the barbie dolls were recalled, were they? just the accessories?) but everything else is being recycled/ trashed.

About toys: my parents bought some wonderful wooden, unpainted toys in Germany. I think they were affordable over there-- but how you would get them and whether or not they would be affordable here-- I don't know. There are workshops in Germany where wooden toys are made by disabled people... the toys are very nice quality.

Melissa and Doug is ALL made in china.