Vanity: Looking for safe toys (and components) not made in china

11-08-07 | Self

[Freedom2specul8]

I hope no one minds the topic of this thread. With the holidays coming up, I thought this might be of use to not just me, but all parents, grandparents, families etc.. A list of ideas from others, and this thread could be an EXCELLENT reference guide.

As a new grandparent of a child less than 2 1/2 yrs old, I am looking for safe alternative toys and toy parts that do not originate in china. If the toddler puts it in his/her mouth, (aside from being big enough that he/she can't swallow it)...it needs to be a material that won't hurt him/her.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thank you for that link..

Here is what I’ve found so far...

Buy American: Toys Made in the USA
Has a list of ideas for older kids
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292056,00.html
Your World w/ Neil Cavuto
He notes: “ Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA — please check the label.”
He also gave these links

http://www.americanplastictoys.com
http://www.ShopForAmerica.com
http://www.ZebulonUSA.com
http://www.usmadetoys.com
http://www.unclegoosetoys.com
http://www.holgatetoy.com
http://www.maplelandmark.com

---

I found these websites

http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/toysngames.html

http://www.usmadetoys.com/

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks and bump to those!

[fetal heart beats by 21st day]

Thank you!
I love Legos.

[pandoraou812]

Check out Amish made toys. They have some neat ones.

http://www.squidoo.com/amishtoys/

I refuse to buy toys in flea markets because I've seen banned toys there. I plan to buy quite a few books for my almost 3 yr old year old grandson too. Dvd's of his favorite Thomas the Train are a must too. It makes my daughter able to get some cleaning done while he sits & watches a movie.

[Freedom2specul8]

Sometimes jokes really do fly over my head. ;-) (no dart pun intended)LOL

[Freedom2specul8]

Amish toys: That’s a fantastic idea!

DVD’s can be a blessing at times. No commercials to taint their minds, control over what the kiddos watch, and helping the parents out all at once. :)

[ShadowDancer]

I'm pretty sure this is Made in the USA

[elc]

We’ve also instituted a no-made in China rule this Christmas.

http://www.novanatural.com/ - This is a great one. I love wooden toys. We’ve ordered from there before and will be ordering my 18 m.o. daughter a play kitchen this Christmas.

Melissa & Doug and Waldorf are also good sources of wooden toys and there are lots of on-line retailers that sell them.

[Cagey]

I remember getting (actually it was Santa) my son a wooden train set by Landmark. It was made in Vermont and will last forever.

http://www.vtwoodtoys.com/

[BGHater]

Try some Books:

[ShadowDancer]

Yours are the sissy version.

[Freedom2specul8]

The amish toys link reminded me that we have a nearby amish community!! (it’s about an hour away from us, but worth the travel) Maybe you guys can find one in your area too.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=jamesport+missouri+amish+toys

[Freedom2specul8]

LOL True, probably built in independence mo, the use to be capital of meth in the US. :)

[pepsi_junkie]

DVD’s can be a blessing at times. No commercials to taint their minds...

Unless you count advertising other products made by the DVD producer as a commercial, as I do. Disney kills me. I buy a DVD for my daughter and there are something like 6 "previews" of other discs I can buy before the movie I actually did buy is available to watch. Oh yeah, you can't go straight to the menu and skip them, not an option.

[Freedom2specul8]

Excellent!

BGHater I recognize the style of those books at a little antique toy store in Eureka springs arkansas. The send via UPS too.

[pandoraou812]

I like them but make sure you are getting real Amish made toys. I made the mistake once of going to a store up in PA Amish country & everything in the store was made in China. I have bought Amish made toys from ebay but I’m a bit turned off on ebay these days. You could always google handmade toys made locally by where you live. If you see a workshop then usually they ARE making the toys. If its too cheap & seems too good of a deal then they are most likely importing them & removing the made in China label. I got one of my granddaughters a great little rocking horse & another his own painted tiny chair. Both were big hits but they weren’t cheap. Good luck! ~Pandy~

[ShadowDancer]

I probably won’t be much help, my nine year old wants the Aqua Dots.

[Cagey]

The only toys made in China I’ll give my kids is fireworks.

[Freedom2specul8]

I've not purchased disney products in a very long time....it goes back to these days:

The disney movie powder director convicted of .... (read the link) I hate to taint this thread. :-p

Luckily, I still have many classical disney books/toys purchased prior to that revelation.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks for the heads up!