IKEA has some awesome little stuffed animals!
Archive for the 'toys' Category
With the “gift giving season” upon us, many parents (myself included) are thinking about all the cool toys which are available for purchase to give to our little ones. I’m concerned with the safety of toys, but also the risk of indulging too much in consumerism. How do we know when our kids have enough toys?
Can you have a lead-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free, worry free holiday season?? God- I hope so. With all the ability to test, research and procure we are bound to have a safer gift giving season. In my house, it means I am researching the toys we give my daughter, limiting what we are giving her, looking for wooded toys, buying US and European and hoping our generous relatives follow suit. We’re in the same boat with everyone- you can’t have total control over what other people pick out for them. So I have hit the internet to check out where to look for reviews and tests, who is carrying the good stuff, and maybe even how to get a deal!
Check out: Fawn and Forest~ one of my favs with lots of natural and eco friendly products, even many handmade. They have a bunch of giveaways with purchases with month too!
Etsy’s Natural Kids section features handmade clothes and toys that are carefully, naturally and lovingly made. You’ll be dealing right with the creator so their standards are especially high.
Palumba~ a beautiful selection of all natural toys and gifts
Oompa Toys~ Lots of nice wooden toys, they have a link that you can see where all the manufacturers of the toys they sell are made.
Craftsbury Kids more handmade, high quality toys and items for kids.
Want to support us? Click on Earthy Birthy Mama, Nubius Organics, Baby Earth or Wild Dill on the right for your safer all natural toys and we’ll get a percentage of the proceeds! (albeit a small one but everything helps support the site!)
Last but not least~ Cool Mom Picks for a great safe toy gift guide and a bunch a deals listed, too! Click above.
Where to go if you’re worried: HealthyToys.org will be available on Dec. 3rd with loads of info on dangerous/safe toys. Consumer Safety Product Commission, Recalls.gov and the CDC Lead Program are all sites that will have recall information.
Still worried about that toy your kido got from your aunt in the midwest- which he/she loves and will flip if its suddenly “missing”? Buy a lead testing kit, they can be found at most big hardware stores and online.
Sound advice: remember always buy for your child’s age group, some toys are meant for older kids because they are age appropriate but many times it’s for safety reasons.
This is a great little toy that my daughter loves to play with:
This is part of her jungle play mat, and it can be moved from arch to arch high up above her or closer down to the ground. It has a little capsule which spins and rattles. Her mom really likes elephants, so I have a feeling that my daughter will really like them too!
| My wife and her mom just bought a “Rainforest Jumperoo” by Fisher Price for our daughter and she absolutely loves it. This morning I returned to my task of Daddy Daycare after a week off while my wife transitioned jobs, and my daughter was crying so much I was a bit worried she had forgotten me! I figured I’d let her try out the Jumperoo and see if that cheered her up. That was about 30 minutes ago and she’s been smiling and having fun ever since - and so I feel quite relieved! Note - I have no relation with Fisher Price at all, my daughter just really likes this thing! |
I think its especially cool because it gives her a chance to try out standing up. When I hold her up to stand, she really loves that.
