Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Great Toys

Friends With You – Wish Come True

Lisa — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:03:33 +0000

These 6 figures are not only cute, but hard to find. They have weighted bottoms and built-in bell chimes, giving each one a playful rocking motion and a subtle, soothing sound.

Their Secret To The Universe:

Zip Zap Zoo make this WISH COME TRUE. Roll us and spin us and then you will hear, The secrets of the universe soon become clear. Now pick a number and hold your breath, It’s time to take your very first step. We will sing a song for you to help you make that WISH COME TRUE!

$7.50 (each?) @friendswithyou.com

Our Favorite Environmentally Friendly Baby Products

Lisa — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:42:12 +0000

There has been a huge push lately for companies to go organic, biosphenol-A free and lead free.

Parents are now looking for products that are recyclable, made from safe materials and free of chemicals that may cause future health issues.

Since starting this site 3 years ago, I have covered many great green products for kids and babies.

There are some that I liked and many that I loved.

Here are a few of the ones I loved and why:

1. Orbit Green Edition Stroller – The orbit stroller is one of the hottest strollers on the market and it just got better after the company released an ivory ‘green edition’.

What I love about this product is that the company took extra steps to make this product as environmentally friendly as possible. The interior is lined with 100% organic cotton, it has a durable wool exterior and it is free of PVC and phthlates.

Orbit products are designed for best-in-industry disassembly, so that the individual pieces can be easily recycled.

2. Natural Mat Organic Mattresses – Because the average baby sleeps 16 hours a day, Natural mat created a safe place for them to rest. Their mattresses are 100% organic, Non-allergenic and anti-dust mite, Naturally Fire Retardant and handmade.

All of their raw materials come from 100% renewable and sustainable sources that comply with Fair Trade policies and all packaging used for Natural Mat mattresses is 100% biodegradable and 100% recyclable.

3. Fleurville’s Re-run Fabric Diaper Bags – Ever wonder where all of the empty water bottles go? Modern baby company, Fleurville uses them in their new fabric called Re-Run™. Each Re-Run™ Messenger bag they make keeps ten (10) 600ml plastic water bottles out of landfill. The micropod, which was designed to hold a few baby products for quick trips keeps three (3) 600ml plastic water bottles out of the landfill.

4. Plan Toys – Plan toys is the ultimate green toy company. Since 1981 they have been using replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and processed naturally. No harmful additives or coloring are used and all paints are tested for safety.

Over the years they have fine tuned their green initiative by introducing recycled paper and using soy ink for printing materials. Our family loves plan toys because they are innovative, help with our sons development and are reasonably priced.

5. NewBorn Free Bottles - Long before anyone was talking about the hormone disrupting chemical Biosphenol-A, Born free was making baby bottles without it.
This company has been working to get the word out about for the last 4 years and finally the world is listening.

6. California Baby - If you are looking for a great product to use on your child’s skin, California Baby is worth a look.

On top of using all natural ingredients in all of their shampoos, body washes and lotions, this eco-friendly company prints on recycled paper and uses soy inks for product info tags and literature and bottles their product in HDPE #2 bottles, the easiest plastic for consumers to recycle.
I love the way all of the products smell and it makes me feel good to know that I don’t have to worry about my son being harmed by synthetic fragrances or phthalates.

7. ImagiPLAY – All of ImagiPLAY’s toys are made from eco-friendly materials, with plantain-grown rubberwood being a favorite. This wood is an eco-toymaker favorite because it is a splinter-free hardwood. Everything they produce is made from renewable, sustainable materials.

Because most wooden toys distributed in North America are made from Pine and made in China. The raw Pine is primarily produced in Canada, shipped to China where the toy is produced then shipped back to North America as a finished product! Seeing this as waste of resources, ImagiPLAY selects factories that are close to their raw materials to avoid this needless expenditure of gas, oil and greenhouse gases.

All of this and a challenging product for your developing child? ImagiPLAY makes the COOLEST puzzles you will ever find.

8. Green Toys – This new company impressed me at this years Toy Fair. They had a modest booth, but lots of passion about the environment.

To create their bold and colorful toys, Green Toys uses recycled milk containers as the main ingredient.

All of their products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, it won’t take you an hour to break into a toy while your toddler stands waiting patiently.

9. Cleanwell – Cleanwell hand sanitizer is a must for any green parent.

This product kills 99.99% of germs on contact MRSA, E.Coli and Salmonella. It is 100% green, safe for kids and free of Triclosan.

This product is 100% biodegradable, which means that it breaks down quickly and completely without upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Happy Earth Day!
Go Green One Small Step At A Time!

Environmentally Friendly Toys For Kids

Lisa — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:26:32 +0000

As the Biosphenol A and Phthlate debates rage on, parents are looking for safe toys for their kids to play with.

Green Toys has developed a line of products for kids that are made using recycled milk jugs and other environmentally friendly materials.

The company strives to minimize packaging wherever they can, and all of their boxes use as little material as possible. All Green Toys products are packaged in 100% recyclable cardboard boxes with no plastics, films or twist-ties. So, not only are they earth-friendly and ready for your recycling bin, they are really easy to open for those little fingers just itching to get at the toys!!
I had the opportunity to view the whole product line at this weeks Toy Fair in NYC.

Your little chef will love the play cookware and dining set that the company has created. The 27 piece set features a stock pot with lid, skillet, 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups, and 4 place settings (fork/knife/spoon). Each piece is bright, colorful and sturdy. The color scheme matches the accompanying tea set, which will please even the youngest afternoon host.

I love what this company stands for and the principles they run with. I encourage parents to read up on how they were created and support these great products. After all it is nice to see that someone is looking out for the health of our children and the future of our planet.

Please visit the official site at Greentoys.com for more information.

Zolo By Kushies

Lisa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:18:57 +0000

While at ABC I had the chance to preview Kushies new toy collection for Newborns to Toddlers.The line, called ZOLO, has a diverse group of toys that will appeal to babies with all interests.

Each piece is made from vibrant fabric and exciting patterns that are visually stimulating.

All of the toys promote different learning skills such as: cognitive, creative expression, independent play and gross motor.

Because these toys run on imagination, Zolo will give your baby a refreshing break from the monotony of flashing lights and loud music that normally accompanies the majority of kids toys.

Official site Kushies.com

*all product descriptions are bilingual because the company is Canadian and it is Canadian law for all products to be written in both French and English*

Sigikid Learn Croco

Lisa — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:30:00 +0000

This learning crocodile is great for kids 1 year and up to learn many new skills. The mouth zips shut, the legs can be unbuttoned on/off and the tail unsnaps, comes apart by Velcro and unties.

This stuffed guy is made of many bold materials that have different textures and colours to keep your child interested.

Hand wash in cold water to clean. Air dry. Made of mixed cotton/polyester fabrics with metal snaps, a plastic zipper and large, plastic buttons. Designed in Germany. Made in under Sigikid’s direct supervision in China. Comes in a coordinating clear vinyl case with zipper.

Learning skills:

Creative Expression, Early Motor, Fine Motor, Sensory, Social/Emotional, and Independent Play.

I found it at oompatoys for $32.49

No Batteries Needed: 8 Great Toys That Just Run On Fun

Lisa — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:15:00 +0000

When I look around my house it is hard to find something that does not require batteries. We buy our batteries by the 50 pk and put them in a bin in the garage when we are done for safe hazardous disposal.

Here is a compilation of some great toys that don’t require batteries.

Djeco “BASIL PULL ALONG DOG”

Basil the dog is a charming toy on wheels to accompany your child around the house. Basil is made of solid wood with white and brown spots on his lacquered body. His mouth has magnets that helps him hold his bone. Its tale and ears are moving when you take the dog for a walk. Super sweet pull along toy! For Children 1+ $49.95

Automoblox

This toy car is made at Solid maple wood with lacquer finish. The whole car comes apart and is interchangeable with other Automoblox vehicles. These cars come in bright colours which give each one their own style. There are 7 different models. $35 www.automoblox.com

Deluxe Mini Cube

These wooden play cubes are awesome. Each side has a new activity, which should keep any child busy for a while.

Children learn counting, cooperative play, alphabet, and eye-hand coordination. Plays on the floor or table top. Mini Rollercoaster Express, Pathfinder, Counting Abacus, Learn the Alphabet, and Fun Gears!
$129 @Brain Station

Land of Dragons by Haba

This is a great developmental toy for kids 2+. The blocks stack onto 6 poles that are glued onto a base. For younger children, the poles help with the concept of stacking. Older children can use the blocks too in combination with their own blocks.

I love the bright colours and great patterns. $40 @Moolka

Plasma Car

Our friend have this plasma car and they LOVE it! PlasmaCar is made from state-of-the-art, high-quality ABS plastics, rugged and durable. Kids will like its looks because it´s vivid, sleek and aerodynamic, just like a racecar. It´s so easy to operate; all it needs is a driver and a smooth, flat surface. Simply turn the steering wheel continuously from left to right and the car moves forward. Designed for kids aged 3+. $69.99 @Brain Station

Circle of Fun

This table is a bit pricey, but would be great to occupy your kids for hours. It may be ideal for at home daycare centers because more than one child can play at a time.

Four Puzzle Benches of Fun Activity! Puzzle benches connect together to form a Circle of Fun. Puzzle benches can also be separated for individual play. Includes Abacus, Pathfinder, Fun Fruits to Match, Magnetic Circle Express, Gear Panel, and Sculpture Mazes #1 and #2.

$349.99 @Brain Station

BRIO Track and Stack City Set

This wooden train set has many pieces of track that will add on and make it more interesting for your child. BRIO makes many cars and trains that will interchange on all of their wooden tracks. A starter set can be expanded into a full city later on.

Set includes blue engine, two passenger wagons, engineer, boy & girl, passenger station, built-in elevator and platform, newspaper stand, 2 warning signs, 2 trees, and interlocking track pieces. Total track length is 379.8cm. Layout size 121 x 86cm Reccomended for Kids 3+. $69.99@BRIO.net

Dado Cubes

Classic stacking blocks with a twist! These cubes have slits in the sides to allow your child to be more creative. Dado combines art and science as you explore architectural principles… proportion, balance, structure and color. Constructed horizontally, vertically or nested together, Dado invites visual spatial development and problem solving through design-centered, attention-grabbing fun! $24.95 @Sparkability