droolicious : safe toys

Kinderware: Soft, Funny-Looking Doll for Babies

Erin Behan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:02:00 GMT

This doll harkens back to a time when dolls were handmade from available materials. It's crafted from fleece, which is balled up and strung on a cord. The result is a soft, colorful, pliable doll that's easy for even small children to easily grip. Like any good doll should, after you look at it for a while, it really starts to grow on you. Somewhat ironically, the doll is meant to evoke a sense of Americana, but is handmade in Bolivia by Aymara Indians. Hey, at least it's made under fair-trade practices. Buy it for $25.99 at Oompa Toys.

Imaginative Play: Dragon and Cave

Erin Behan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:47:00 GMT

Once all the blinking and battery-powered toys get thrown in the corner, chances are the kids will head for toys that spark the imagination, and Kinderkram's wooden dragon and cave playset is certainly on my short-list of imaginative toys. The photo doesn't really do the hand-painted wooden set justice. It stands 11 inches tall and the cave is two separate pieces. The dragon has mobile wings and a fire burst that can be slid in and out of his mouth. Buy it at Blueberry Forest for $85.95.

The Yummiest: Knit Donuts

Cathy Hale — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:08:00 GMT

Soft, safe and adorable, these knitted donuts may be the cutest baby gift in the entire universe! Garnished with sprinkles and frosted to perfection, you can buy a fabric box of five for $35 at Arte Bebe. These delightful treats are made through fair trade practices, which makes them extra tasty. Not into sweets? They also sell knit fruits and veggies.

(Want to keep them all for yourself? I don't blame you.)

Pull Toys with A Mind of Their Own

Erin Behan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:33:00 GMT

My son's absolute fascination with pulling on things (computer cords, phone cords, the vacuum tube) gives me a pretty good idea of where the original pull-toy makers were coming from. What I like about these pull toys--made in a small Estonian factory by craftsman Heido Peterson--is that they zigzag back and forth as they are pulled across the floor. It's the hinged body that creates this back-and-forth motion. The animals (there's also a dinosaur, elephant, crocodile and snake) are crafted from Baltic birch word, painted with water-based paints and recommended for ages 3 and up. How much? You know that when the craftsperson is named and the phrase "small Estonian factory" comes into play, they won't be cheap. Think of it as your splurge. Find them for $70 at Design Within Reach.

Antics Ant Blocks Go Marching Into the Playroom

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

New from Uncle Goose, Antics Ant Blocks aren't your everyday wooden cubes: Each of the set's 16 blocks features a creepy-crawly design -- from parading ant soldiers to an enemy spider to the queen and her eggs -- that grows into an imaginative scene no matter how you place or stack things.

Made in the U.S. from sustainable basswood and kid-safe inks -- $20 from Wild Dill. [Via Cool Mom Picks, which is also offering a pretty sweet coupon code through mid-January.]

Sculpture or Toy, or a Little Bit of Both

Erin Behan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:30:00 GMT

I'm rather taken by Naef's Rainbow stacker. If it hadn't been listed on a kids' website, I might never have guessed that it's meant for children. But in fact, the toy has won two design awards in Germany. The parts can be stacked in a variety of ways (limited only by imagination) and each piece also acts as a tuning fork. All that for $175 at fawn&forest.

Hand Made: Wooden Fire Engine

Erin Behan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:49:00 GMT

I had a chance to visit a new flea market in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill and I ran across a booth by the company Greenjeans. The shop and gallery showcases a variety of items, from functional art to sculptural objects. What caught my eye--and the eye of about four kids gleefully playing with the displays--was this firetruck. Created by Maine-based toymaker Frank Ridley, the 15-inch-long firetruck ($39.95) is made of untreated Maine pine and maple. The cab detaches from the flatbed, and the five little people (one in the cab, four in the back) are removable. The crane also raises and lowers.

Ridley's log truck ($49) was also a big hit with the kids in the booth.

For Your Little Builder

Erin Behan — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:38:00 GMT

We all like to feel good about what we buy, so consider this. The above beech wood toy is made by handicapped people and completely devoid of nails, screws, staples or any other pointy object. So in one purchase you're socially and safety conscious.

Made by Fagus and available at the Wooden Wagon for $164, it's an investment toy, but one that will last to the next generation.

American-Made Toys Go Green

Erin Behan — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:26:00 GMT

It used to be that buying American was something reserved for the Heartland and people who liked wearing only cotton. But, my how times have changed. Now, if you give your kids toys from anywhere other than Europe or the good ole' USA, you're a bad parent. But if you do your research often you'll find things assembled in those countries are made from parts originating in other, less regulated countries. Which is why the Maple Landmark Woodcraft company caught my eye.

You can actually see a photo of the people who make the Maple Landmark Woodcraft toys on the company's website. With its Vermont home-base, the company has crafted good old-fashioned toys for more than 25 years. And now, they have a green line of classic toys called Natural Classics. All the checkmarks are in place: Sustainably harvested maple, beeswax finish, no inks or paints. For me, though, the Natural Classics line of trucks ($45 each--fire, log, moving, racing, school and tic tac) is also simple enough to spark the imagination and sturdy enough to be passed down to the next generation.

Good or Gross? Chewable Jewels

Erin Behan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:07:00 GMT

So babies chew on everything--remote controls, cell phones, arms, legs, whatever they find on the floor. But does that make it OK to make a line of jewelry specifically designed for children's chomping habits? It's the idea behind Dr. Bloom's Chewable Jewels.

The design came about when the founder noticed kids like to chew on jewelry and thought, why not make it safe? In keeping with safety regulations, the jewelry is made from FDA-approved food grade silicone and pigments with no lead or phylates. You can get a set of three bracelets (above) for $17.95 or a necklace (below) for $15.95.

For me, however, the idea crosses the line between what's mommy's and what's baby's. Shouldn't kids learn it's not alright to teeth on jewelry, and isn't it normal for mom to wear jewelry that her kids aren't supposed to eat? Thoughts?

Hippo Stuffed Animal for Your Hippo-Themed Crib

Erin Behan — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:35:00 GMT

When I saw the 7 Days of Bedding post about the hippo-themed crib set, I thought of this cute little critter from Green Elements Design. Happy Hippo ($15.95) is made from 100 percent organic Egyptian cotton, made under fair trade practices, and doesn't contain any harsh chemicals. It's also supremely huggable.

Let's Play Mailbox

Erin Behan — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Maybe I was one of the weird kids, but I loved mail as a child--loved it. I loved the envelopes filled with coupon circulars, was ecstatic when the BMG mailings (you know, the ones with all the individual stamps) came in, and couldn't wait to see the mail truck chug down our street. Will today's digital generation lose the magic of mail?

It's possible, which is why (besides my own love of hand-written correspondence) I think this felted mail set ($59.99 at Our Green House) is a great idea for kids. To encourage communication of a bygone era, the 27-piece set includes a mailbox, a mailbag, shipping box, postcards, envelopes, stamps, messages. Who knows, maybe it'll even bring back the art of the thank-you note.

The Babble Review: Kushies Magnetic Stacking Acrobats

editors — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:35:00 GMT

The Stacrobats passed the kid test as soon as my toddler unzipped the case, got a good look and breathlessly declared, “I like toys!” Kushies passes the adult test by making safe and award-winning products for babies and bigger kids for the past 50 years. Their bright and bouncy toys from the Zolo line are always a visual pleaser and the magnetic stacking acrobats are super cute as they get tossed about the room, on the dog, in the crib and occasionally on top of the platform/carrying case that came with the team of circus performers and balls. We also had a larger than usual number of kiddos hanging out during the holidays and they all seemed drawn to the Stacrobats, magnetically one might say.

The Zolo philosophy is to design toys that stimulate a wider variety of the baby mind than your average play thing, fostering openness and creativity in your little one. At $46 this is more of a gift for a special occasion than a quick pick up at your local toy store. But if you’re on a mission for quality, safe and better than average entertainment for your tots, you can’t go wrong with the Stacrobats. – April Peveteaux

Ages 1 and up.

Buy it from Amazon.