Children's Toys

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Tender Leaf Toys creates charmingly quirky and engaging handmade wooden toys that are ideal for small hands. All of their toys are manufactured in a family-run factory in Indonesia that provides safe and dependable work for hundreds of villagers. Tender Leaf Toys is deeply committed to protecting the natural resources of Indonesia so they only create toys using reclaimed rubber wood. They plant a tree for every reclaimed tree they use and only use non-toxic paints and dyes for all of their safe and beautiful handmade toys. From play kitchens to pocket sized friends, Tender Leaf Toys are treasured for their appealing designs and environmental mission. This woodland animal set comes with eight sustainably-made wooden figures. 

Uncle Goose wooden toys began in 1983 after a new dad couldn’t find any good wooden blocks made in the U. S. So he began making classic wooden alphabet blocks at his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Today the family business he started still makes all their blocks and other toys in Grand Rapids from raw materials found in the Great Lakes area. Their blocks are handmade in more than 18 foreign languages and also have other themes now such as the planets, the Periodic Table, bugs and pioneering women. Their paints and inks are  free of heavy metals and are rigorously tested for safety by an independent third party. This Uncle Goose Classic ABC set is made from Michigan basswood and includes 28 blocks 1.75 inches square. I want this Periodic Table of the Elements set for myself. 

Adhering to the Waldorf School philosophy, Bella Luna's educational toys make learning fun. They believe that children learn through play and that early learning toys should be well-designed and nourish a child's creativity and curiosity. All of their learning toys are made to encourage the development of essential skills in a way that is creative, wholesome, and inspiring. Like all of Bella Luna's toys, they are made with natural non-toxic materials, stains and paints. Looks for such great brands as Grimm's, Tender Leaf, Eeboo and Wilded Family. 

This popular all-wooden game called Animal Upon Animal challenges children to stack the animals on top of each other in pyramid fashion without causing a collapse. The object is to be the first player to get rid of all your animals. Made in Germany, the colorful collection of animals is made from beechwood and painted with non-toxic stains. The game fosters the development of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. And it's entertaining enough to be fun for the whole family. Over 600,000 sets have been sold since it came out in 2005. The brightly-colored pieces include lizards, sheep, toucans, monkeys, alligators and more. 

I have to mention this wood and metal musical chicken from the Manhattan Toy Company. The Musical Chicken features five instrument attachments and activities to keep little ones entertained and focused. Musical instruments include: 1 cymbal, 5-bar xylophone, 1 maraca tail, 2 clacking wings that double as drums with mallets that store back by the tail. Parents magazine editors named it Best Musical Toy. It meets or exceeds rigorous EN71 and CPSIA safety standards. They also have a cute musical llama.

These food-safe vibrant finger paints from Eco-Kids (sold by Eartheasy and others) are made from non-GMO vegetable ingredients. They provide an all-natural, fun-filled and colorful adventure for very young artists. They are made in the U. S. using rice starch, potato starch, gum arabic, pre-gelled tapioca starch, and food grade colors. The colors come from natural and organic fruits, plant and vegetable extracts from annatto seed, blue shade vegetable, curcumin, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, rice flour, earth clay. They are packaged in FSC-certified paper cartons printed with soy ink and made in a wind-powered factory. The paints arrive in powder form and need to be mixed with water for desired consistency. These eco-friendly paints are also available on Amazon. 

This countertop herb set is a great gift idea for anyone interested in a little indoor gardening. And it's a great way for kids to learn. It includes everything you need to grown basil (basil seeds included) or any herb or plant right inside. It's a fun idea for chefs too. The eco-friendly all-in-one set includes a terra cotta pot, basil seeds, growing medium, easy-grip shears, a cotton dish towel featuring an herb motif and other accessories and instructions. A similar option is this Growing Wishes Organic Herb Garden, a fun countertop herb garden kit. Children can tend their seeds, watch the herbs grow and later enjoy them as part of a meal. Or on their own! 

Hape's Pound and Tap Bench and Xylophone won the 2018 Cribsie Award for favorite first musical toy for ages 12 months to 3 years, as well as other awards in India, the UK and Germany. It's made almost entirely of wood and is painted with non-toxic water-based paints and non-toxic finishes. It encourages musical development and fine motor skills development.  

This wooden dinosaur alphabet puzzle from Begin Again toys is made of wood from sustainably-harvested plantation-grown rubber trees. Sap from the same trees is used to make their natural rubber bath toys. The 26 pieces are stained with water-based, child-safe non-toxic inks. This educational puzzle teaches problem solving, alphabet sequence and letter identification while inspiring a child's imagination. 

This eco-friendly wood kitchen set encourages children's culinary imaginations. It’s handmade with rubber wood from trees leftover by the latex industry and formaldehyde-free plywood. It’s painted with non-toxic water-based paints. Tender Leaf Toys replants trees in partnership with the Indonesian government to support the continuous regeneration of rubber trees. They also ensure healthy working conditions and fair wages at their family-run factory in Indonesia. Tender Leaf’s toys are packaged in paper and recycled cardboard. 

This darling wood puppy was a winner of the Parents magazine 2012 Best Toys awards. It's Climate Pledge Friendly, is finished with non-toxic paints and its wheels are trimmed with rubber. Children can pull the pup behind them and "teach" it to sit, stay or roll over. It also helps to develop fine motor skills and promotes dexterity and hand-eye coordination. 

These beautiful hand-sewn coin purses are made from traditional cotton manta blankets by local craftspeople in Peru. They work under Fair Trade standards and this business model supports communities in Peru while also helping to keep the traditional Peruvian culture and arts thriving.  

Under The Nile makes stuffy toys stuffed with not only just cotton but it's organic cotton. No plastic poly. No foam. Just 100 percent organic cotton. Under the Nile stuffed toys are safe, natural and biodegradable. (So are their children's clothes, swaddles and accessories like hats and bibs.) Their non-toxic products are made in a certified fair trade factory in Egypt. And all their cotton is grown organically and in a biodynamic system also in Egypt, which is a closed biologically-diverse self-sustaining farm system. This sweet striped giraffe is 8" tall and made with baby-safe organic cotton terrycloth. And this floppy goose is 20" long and ideal for snuggling with toddlers. My favorite might be this friendly-looking Buddy dog. So happy to have found snuggle toys stuffed with cotton. Under the Nile's products contain NO AZO colorants, BPA, flame retardants, formaldehyde, fragrance, PVC or lead. 

For babies and toddlers, this line of adorable soft snuggies are made from organic cotton and stuffed with a natural organic cotton and corn fiber filling. No plastic poly. No foam. They are GOTS-certfied and have eco-friendly AZO-free dyes. Free of BPA and phthalates. 

This sweet fabric baby doll from Under the Nile is stuffed with 100 percent organic Egyptian cotton and is safe for little mouths to chew on. No plastic poly. No toxic foam. It's made in Egypt at a certified Fair Trade factory without the use of pesticides or chemicals from cotton to finished doll. 

There is no need to buy beds that contain toxic chemicals, especially for kids. There are lots of great options for non-toxic mattresses now at prices comparable to mass market brands. One of the best makers is Avocado, a leader in the organic non-toxic bedding market. Their eco-friendly organic kids mattress goes well with their kids bed frame. The mattress is made from 100 percent organic cotton, latex and organic wool. There are no toxic chemicals, polyurethane foam or fiberglass. No off-gassing, no nothing. Just clean breathable natural materials. Among their variety of healthy mattress option is a vegan mattress. Though it's not designed specifically for kids, the vegan mattress is available in a twin size. 

The 400-thread count GOTS-certified organic cotton crib sheet fits Avocado's crib mattresses. The organic cotton is grown by family farmers in India without the use of any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, which means it's safe for your baby as well as for the farmers, manufacturers and the environment. Each bale of cotton arrives at Avocado's cotton mill from India for processing with a unique number, allowing complete traceability from farm to the final production process. 

Babyletto’s Hudson convertible crib, available at Modern Nursery, is made from sustainably-sourced solid New Zealand pine and finished with a non-toxic multi-step staining process that is free of lead and phthalates and other harmful chemicals. It’s Greenguard Gold-certified which means it’s been tested for toxic chemical emissions and VOCs and meets stringent requirements of this certification. The versatile 3-in-1 design enables it to transition as babies grow from crib to toddler bed to child's bed. It’s suitable for newborns and up to 4 years old. The Hudson gives a modern look to a timeless design, with rounded spindles and turned-out feet. 

The Jenny Lind crib, also at Modern Nursery, is also made of solid New Zealand Pine and finished with non-toxic paints and stains. It, too, has the Greenguard Gold certification. It's got a charming vintage-inspired design and it comes in a variety of colors. It also has wheels, making it easy to move it around. Modern Nursery has a huge selection of cribs and mattresses for different settings, including travel.

The Dadada Baby Soho crib is made in Italy of solid beechwood and sealed with non-toxic paints and baby-safe finishes. It’s also free of lead and phthalates and is Greenguard Gold certified which means a product has been independently tested and meets strict chemical and VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions standards. This 3-in-1 model with a Scandinavian design converts to a toddler bed to accommodate growing children. Dadada has a great line of cribs in addition to this one, all Greenguard Gold certified and all made in Italy. 

Under The Nile's baby clothing is made from certified organic cotton grown without pesticides or chemicals on a sustainable biodynamic farm in Egypt. Their cotton fabric is free of any AZO dyes, BPA, flame retardants, formaldehyde, fragrances, PVC or lead. Everything is made in Egypt at a certified fair trade facility without the use of chemicals at any stage. All of the clothes are adorable but these colorful baby beanies are works of art. All of their stuffy toys are stuffed with organic cotton! No poly foam. Cutest of all is their "Scrappy" line of cuddly stuffies made with scraps from the making of clothes and other items. These whimsical colorful cuties are beyond huggable.

Like a lot of clothing lines for kids, Colored Organics was started by a mom who wanted non-toxic organic clothes for her kids. They have an impressively high bar for the non-toxic integrity of their clothing lines, from how the organic cotton is grown to using only non-toxic water-based inks and ensuring snaps are free of heavy metals like nickel and lead. Made in India, almost all of their clothes are 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton. Just a few items, like leggings that need to be stretchy, have some elastane too. I love the soft muted tones of Colored Organics clothes, earthy shades of blues and greens, golds, soft raspberry. mauves and rust. These darling sleepers all have zips for easy on and off and, like all of their clothes, are organic cotton and free of lead, toxic chemicals, phthalates and flame retardants. 

Burt's Bees has a wonderful line of organic cotton baby clothes with attractive prices. This baby romper zips up the front and comes in a variety of fun motifs like clouds, avocados, bunnies and a hot air balloons. This striped footed romper with matching bids makes a good gift for baby or for mom or dad. Also 100 percent cotton. Check out Burt's Bees baby store on Amazon where there are lots of other non-toxic and healthy gift options for well-dressed and cozy babies, 

Monica and Andy's clothes and accessories for babies and children are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and are free of flame retardants, lead and phthalates. I just discovered Monica and Andy and so far love everything I'm reading about them. Their styles and prints are also adorable and I want to order one of each, especially with the animal patterns. Their blankets and swaddles are cut from the same non-toxic organic cotton and come in a wide variety of motifs, like this sweet dog one. I also love the cute dog pattern on this short-sleeve bodysuit three-pack (the other two are striped and solid). Another option in this line is an adorable elephant print and gives it an earth-friendly look. The summer-ready bodysuit, like all of Monica and Andy clothes, are organic cotton, chemical-free and GOTS-certified. 

Nest Designs has the most adorable prints for babies and kids -- adult clothing too! Their fabrics include natural bamboo rayon, and GOTS-certified organic cotton. Nest uses sustainably-grown bamboo is a variety of fabrics, on its own or blended with cotton and even avocado. Nest points out bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial, is grown without pesticides or fertilizers, uses less water to grown than cotton and is naturally biodegradable. It's a win-win for us and the environment. Headquartered in Canada, Nest was started ten years ago by a former fashion and marketing executive who wanted to create stylish and eco-friendly clothing for her then-new niece.

Mori's baby clothes and accessories are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and bamboo-derived fabrics. Their cotton is non-GMO and comes from Turkey, where many of their clothes are also made. The bamboo is grown in China. Their swimsuits are made with nylon produced from recycled pre-consumer textile waste which they say uses 80 percent less water to make and emits 90 percent less carbon dioxide. Mori's other plant-based fabrics include modal, a fabric made from the pulp of Austrian Beech trees and lyocell, which is made from Aspen and Birch trees grown in central Europe. 

This darling sun hat for babies and toddlers has a wide floppy brim that will help keep the sun off their faces. It's 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton and made in Egypt by Under the Nile, one of the top manufacturers of kids' clothing, toys and accessories. It's free of Azo colorants, BPA, flame retardants, formaldehyde, fragrance, PVC or lead. The light summer weight of this muslin hat makes it breathable and comfortable on warm summer days.