The Joy of Green Toys

One of my dearest girlfriends is having identical twins in a few months (sleep now, my friend), and is concerned that all she sees are (toxic) plastic toys.

This post is for her (and the two wee ones).

Greener, safer toys are honestly now available everywhere, from Amazon to Giggle. But for this post, (though there is a longer list if you scroll down on my blog roll), I’ll mention my favourite sources for green toys.

The organic cotton and untreated wood Giraffe above, is available from www.Ecotimetoys.com – which has an extensive collection of wonderful green playthings.

Other fave sites are:

• http://www.hazelnutkids.com
• http://www.maukilo.com
• http://www.miyim.com
• http://www.moolka.com
• http://www.oompa.com
• http://www.rosiehippo.com
• http://www.thewoodenwagon.com
• http://www.urthchild.com
• http://www.wilddill.com

One annoying note: Melissa & Doug toys, though available at Whole Foods – are NOT, I repeat, NOT non toxic and have, in fact, had recalls for high Barium content! Their toys are Made in China, and utterly, in my opinion, greenwashed. Don’t buy them, and huff at your Whole Foods manager about it.

A good rule of thumb is to refrain from buying any toys Made in China. Which, if you read this blog, you probably already do.

MiYim and Plan Toys are my two favourite brands – though for infants anything from Under the Nile is perfect. All three brands can be found on Amazon.

Babies put EVERYTHING in their mouths, and will suck, nibble and swallow little bits of every toy. That is why natural and organic toys are just as important as organic baby food. They both end up in the same place.

As well meaning friends will buy you toxic toys – I suggest printing “organic nursery” at the bottom of your birth announcements. Your bright friends will get it, and your not so bright ones will call you for clarity, which is when you can explain to them the danger of lead, barium and chromium in toys, by referring them to HealthyChild.org (you have twins, not time.)

Not only are non-toxic toys healthier, they are more classic and well made – so you’ll actually SAVE money buying them as they’ll last longer.

And with twins, that’s especially important.

Congratulations Misha! x