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Jul
8
City Planner Blocks from Pure Play Kids (Giveaway!)
Filed Under Healthy Home, Product Recalls, Toy Safety | 181 Comments
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
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- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
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- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN a $50 Gift Card from @PurePlayKids on @SafeMama!#giveaway ends 7/18 http://tinyurl.com/42pfhlt
- Fan/Like The Soft Landing on Facebook (first name, last initial)
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- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
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- Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
- Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN a Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba on @SafeMama from @TheSoftLanding! #giveaway #holiday ends 12/13 http://tinyurl.com/2v6we4z
- Visit MightyNest.com
- Leave a comment telling us something you learned from a MightyNest.com article.
- Join our Facebook group
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- Tweet this entry: Enter to win Grimms Spiel & Holt Design wooden toys from @MightyNest on @safemama http://tinyurl.com/ydxt7ez
- Add our button to your website or blog and let us know!
I was looking around my house not long ago and wondering how I ended up with so many plastic toys. It shows up and it accumulates. My biggest peeve with most plastic toys is not that it may not be recyclable or clog up a landfill, but that many times the plastic stuff only entertains them for a short period of time.
City Planner Blocks
The bells and whistles and sounds and automatic features don’t really challenge a kids imagination much. It might keep them busy for a few minutes. The toys that keep my two boys busy the longest, are the ones that rely on their imagination like blocks and building toys.
I was recently introduced to Pure Play Kids that specializes in just that. Toys that are designed to spark the imagination and learning through play time with natural toys and games. For review they sent us a set of City Planner Blocks by Haba for the boys to check out. I love blocks and my kids do too, so I knew these would be a big hit. The blocks are made in Europe with beech hardwood and finished with natural water-based lacquers.
The set includes the basic blocks needed to create all kinds of towering cities or low lying structures, and it includes people, trees, dogs and benches to complete the scene. All the pieces are fun (though some are small so the set is recommended for kids 3 and up) but if your kids are like mine, they always come up with their own ways of using building supplies to fit their scenario. My older son (5) created a winding labyrinth of roads to park small cars in and drive through.
My son playing with City Planner Blocks by Haba
On another play day he used them in conjunction with another set of plain blocks we have to enhance a long tunnel into a construction site. They are still in regular rotation around here because they have more possibilities than the Handy Manny Workshop he begged for and used maybe twice. The City Planner Blocks have provided tons of playtime and fun for my son. I will forever stick by my conviction that simple toys are the best investment.
Pure Play Kids has a great selection of toys that are selected because of their safety and their ability to bring out their creativity and imagination at play time rather than just keeping them busy. But the beauty of that is this style of toys will do both. You can expect to see Pure Play Kids on this years Toy Guide come the holidays.
Get Them: You can order the City Planner Blocks set or any of their great toys from Pure Play Kids!
Win!
Pure Play Kids has so generously offered to give one of my SafeMama readers a $50 gift certificate to their shop! Thank you Pure Play Kids!
Here’s How To Enter (Required):
Visit Pure Play Kids and have a look around. Tell me in the comments what toys or games you would love to have for your kids (or for a friend/relative)!
For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):
One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Entries will be accepted until July 18, 2011 at midnight EST. Good Luck! Thank you Pure Play Kids!
Congratulations Colleen M, commenter #103!
Dec
7
Toy Guide Highlight: Haba Doctor’s Suitcase Kit
Filed Under Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 73 Comments
One of my favorite items from my SafeMama Toy Guide is the Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba. I’ve seen several Doctor kits at various stores and I was always hesitant to buy them despite thinking it would be a fun toy for my son who is big into pretend right now. Back during the “year of the recall” in 2007 a Fisher Price Doctor’s kit was recalled for having lead in the arm band and since then I haven’t been big into trust with regards to Fisher Price or any other brand for that matter.
The this year I found the Doctor Suitcase by Haba in The Soft Landing’s store and was giddy with excitement. Finally something more trust worthy and already cleared by the rigid standards of The Soft Landing. It comes in a cute little suitcase to keep it all together, which I have to admit is one of my favorite features. My biggest peeve with toys is when a toy comes with many parts and you have no where to contain it. So the pieces end up all over the house and not in any playable order. It is inevitable that will happen but less likely if you can keep the pieces in a designated suitcase.
It’s perfect for pretend play – all your child’s sick stuffed animals, and you, will get a good once over. It comes with a blood pressure gauge, thermometer, doctor mask, an Rx pad, a bandage and stethoscope. All are made with soft suede and cotton and while they aren’t totally realistic, they are real enough to do the job. I’ve gotten a lot of “illnesses” that have been cured by a good soft bandage lately. The stethoscope is a little small so my son tends to wear it stuck to his neck, though I think in the nature of safety, it’s small to help avoid any strangulation hazards a larger one might pose. Either way, my 4 year old didn’t seem to mind, nor did his stuffed cat “Kitty” who has been the doctor a few times.
The Doctor Suitcase by Haba is free of BPA, PVC, Lead, Phthalates and Flame Retardants and is great for kids aged 3 and up. Thumbs up from SafeMama… really cute toy! Would make a great gift for little ones just starting to get into pretend play, boy or girl!
Get It: You can purchase it from The Soft Landing (Save 15% with the code “safechristmas2010” which is good until 12/24/10) and The Soft Landing is also participating in Free Shipping Day on December 17th – use code “freeshippingday2010” (good for US mainland orders only, but international and non-mainland customers will get an automatic $5.95 credit; can only be used on 12/17/10)
WIN IT
The Soft Landing is giving one of our readers a Doctor’s Suitcase by Haba!
Here’s How To Enter:
Visit The Soft Landing and tell me what other item they sell would make a great gift for your little one this year!
For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):
One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Entries will be accepted until December 13, 2010 at midnight EST. Good Luck! 
Dec
14
Awesome Holiday Giveaway from MightyNest.com
Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Toy Safety | 105 Comments
The great people from MightyNest.com have a fantastic giveaway for our SafeMama readers this week. If you haven’t noticed, we skipped the Safer Toy Guide this year. Not because we don’t care, but more because we all have new babies at home and well, time is limited. So in lieu we’ve been doing giveaways to help highlight some of the fantastic vendors we support. One of those is MightyNest.com which is a great site for information on living a healthier lifestyle as well as a shop to get safe toys, feeding gear and clothing for your sustainable little ones.
They have so generously offered two amazing items for two of our lucky readers. Here’s what is up for grabs… First prize going home with one lucky winner is…
Mobile Home by Grimm’s Spiel & Holt Design which features toys handmade in Germany out of solid, natural wood using water based dyes. This 14 piece doll home set comes with a felt cover with a string making it easy to carry and take with you! The mobile home is ingenious in that it breaks down into individual pieces that can be mixed with other toys and dolls and then packs up into something so portable. Plus it’s super adorable. I know several little girls that would love this!
Our second winner gets to take home two adorable puzzles also made by Grimm’s Spiel & Holt Design. A Sailboat puzzle and Car puzzle, both made of natural wood and water based dyes. What’s nice about these is that they serve a dual purpose.. puzzle and building blocks. My son has spend countless hours with wood blocks and I have no doubt he’d do the same with these. With two puzzles kids often mix and match them into unique and creative creations. They are also one of those toys you have around forever, that add to a child’s room decor rather than clutter it up with plastic junk.
To Enter:
For extra entries to win:
Please be sure to leave separate comments for each one, so that we can count your extra entries!
Extra Bonus!
Want to pick up some of their great products for yourself or someone else (they have a great selection of toys and products for kids)? Place an order and receive 10% off your total order using the code “Safe10″.
Giveaway Closed… thanks for entering!
Contest ends on December 17th at 11:59PM. Two winners will be chosen at random. Open to US residents only. Good Luck!
Apr
2
Eco-Easter: miYim Organic Bunnies
Filed Under Green Mama, product finds | Comments Off
Despite refusing to sit on the Easter Bunny’s lap at a local mall (and frankly, I don’t really blame him), my son has become slightly obsessed with all things bunny-related lately. Aside from a few cookies, I’m planning on filling his Easter basket with some toys and books, and while I generally try to stay away from purchasing stuffed animals (I swear those things multiple like…well, bunnies) I figure a stuffed bunny is in order here.
Lots of toy stores are featuring bunnies right now, not surprisingly, but I am always reluctant to buy a toy that’s filled with mystery content. So I turned again to miYim. Back when we decided to wean my son from his beloved pacifier at bedtime, I was looking for a stuffed animal that he could cuddle with instead. Specifically, I was looking for an organic stuffed animal. I found a monkey at miYim that fit the bill. Organic stuffed animals tend to be firmer and “less plush” than their synthetic counterparts, but so far my son hasn’t seemed to care about that. So I was happy when I found a miYim bunny at my local toy store and found a couple more online.
There’s the BabyVictoria Plush Bunny, the Baby Victoria Knit Bunny, and the Victoria Plush Bunny plus the Bunny Lovie Blanket and Bunny Crib/Stroller Toy for the youngest of bunny-lovers. All miYim products are made with organic and natural cotton materials. You can read more about their product safety here.
Get It: Check the miYim website store locator.
Dec
11
Running Out of Time? Turn to Gift Guides!
Filed Under Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off
I know I’m struggling to finishing my shopping this year in enough time to ship everything and stay under my budget. Luckily I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from my fellow bloggers to speed thing along with great ideas. I just wanted to share with you my favorite gift guides this year in case you need a few last minute gift ideas:
Green & Clean Mom Eco Holiday Gift Guide – Sommer has put together a great list of eco-friendly gifts for the greenie in your life. My favorite of her picks is the Organic Truffle Gift Box. Uh, yum!
Z Recommends Mostly Green Pretty Cheap Gift Guide – Our friends at Z Recs have put together several gift guides and this is their kids toy recommendations for this year. My fav, the Anamalz bendy toys.. they are so cute. They’d be perfect stocking stuffers!
SAFbaby’s Holiday Gift Guide – We love SAFBaby’s Toy Guide… they’ve selected a handful of cute and safe toy ideas for your kids
The Tranquil Parent Gift Guide – Part of the Z Recs network, this guide provides ideas for the eco-friendly adult and parent. Great gift ideas for the person who has everything.
Polliwogged Gift Guide – Adorable gift ideas for baby!
And of course, we have to remind our readers that WE have a 2008 Safe Toy Guide available too. We hand selected each product for it’s interest and safety. We went with an “imagination” theme this year and we enjoyed putting it together. We hope you’ll find it handy! Also, if we find OUR Toy Guide Badge on your blog or website before December 15th, you have a chance to win a complete Boon Baby Feeding Set.
Happy Shopping everyone!
Nov
7
SafeMama’s Safer Toy Guide 2008!
Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Toy Safety | Comments Off
We know many of you are a little ill at the thought of holiday shopping for kids stuff this year (or perhaps at the thought of starting your shopping). After last years “Year of the Recall” scares, making holiday toy purchases makes my stomach churn. Or did. We didn’t get to it last year but this year we decided we would make some recommendations for your little ones.
say hello to SafeMama’s 2008 Safer Toy Guide to Holiday Shopping for little kiddies. We went with the “pretend play” theme to encourage imagination and tossed in a few favorites from smaller shops who take care in selecting toys made responsibly and in many cases with care for the environment. As other people start publishing their toy guides we’ll add links to those from there as well so you can access a bevy of wonderful and safe ideas for the holidays.
For added convenience in the spirit of “one-stop”, we’ve extended the recent recalls there as well so in the event something does get recalled you’ll be the first to know. You can never be TOO safe we always say.
Be sure to look for the coupon codes at the bottom, which we’ll continue to add to as more filter in or we find good deals that we think will help. In this economy every saved penny counts! Happy Holiday shopping!
Aug
29
SAF Baby Interviews Mike Schade on PVC and Phthalates in toys
Filed Under Toy Safety | Comments Off
We’re all aware of phthalates and PVC in toys, but how aware are we about just how hazardous these chemicals really are? SAFBaby got a really great (and much needed) interview from one of the experts over at Mike Schade over at Center for Health Environment and Justice (CEHJ). From SAFBaby:
Many parents are concerned about PVC/Vinyl in toys. SafBaby understands these concerns, and we have listened to your questions!
Even though there is a lot of information out there, it can still be confusing about how concerned we as parents really should be.
I don’t think I’ve could have said it better myself. Go and read the full article here.
Jul
30
Congrass Passes Ban on Phthalates!
Filed Under Phthalates Info, Product Safety | Comments Off
Yesterday, Congress voted on the Children’s Safe Products Act which approved a nationwide ban on phthalates in products intended for children under 12. We’ve been waiting for this so we’re happy to say goodbye to phthalates DEHP, DBP and BBP… three chemicals used to soften plastics in children’s toys like bath squirties, soft books and “rubber” ducks. The Act is part of a final Bill to reform and improve the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This is obviously good news and further confirmation that there is enough doubt in their safety as well as demand for strict regulations on children’s products. And don’t think you didn’t have anything to do with it. Members and supporters of MomsRising.org alone sent in over 100,000 letters to congressman urging them to support the Act.
However, this ban doesn’t take effect for 6 months. Big stores like WalMart and Target have already promised a ban of children’s products with phthalates from their stores, beginning in January 2009… but with this kind of timeframe, we’ll still see toys containing phthalates on store shelves through this year’s holiday season. That means, as SafeParents, we still need to keep a critical eye and shop carefully to avoid them. There will always be something to be wary of when toy shopping but this recent ban is a step in the right direction.
Related Article: ABC News Phthalates Banned from Child Toys
Related Blog Article: EWG Enviroblog
Mar
30
Alternative Teether: Camden Rose Maple Wood
Filed Under Green Mama | 1 Comment
We’ve already determined that there are in fact safe, affordable teethers made without BPA, PVC and phthalates on the market. But there are other alternatives to plastic that are safe and effective as well. A reader brought a teether to 
my attention that I thought was a great addition to the alternative teether category. Camden Rose makes a non-toxic Maple wood teether, created in a smooth ring shape for easy gripping by little hands. The teether is finished with natural beeswax and is made in the USA. Sounds good to me! Where to find it: Shop for it online at either Palumba or Amazon.com
Mar
26
Phthalates Ban in Washington on the Horizon
Filed Under Articles, Phthalates Info, Toy Safety | Comments Off
Even though a lot of parents are taking measure’s into their own hands by not buying toys containing PVC and phthalates, this is a time of change and I see it boiling in the wings. Already, California is instituting a ban on phthalates due to take effect next year. Next state in the spotlight is Washington. On March 7th the Children’s Safe Products Act passed the state Senate on a vote of 40-9.
The bill will eliminate three toxic chemicals, lead, cadmium, and phthalates, from toys and other children’s products. It will also require manufacturers to report whether their products contain other chemicals found to be of a concern for children’s health. Washington Toxics Coalition
Toy companies, as you can imagine, are not happy about this new move since Washington makes up about 2% of total U.S. toy sales, which last equaled $23.5 billion in annual revenues last year. It’s no wonder toy companies are scrambling. Representatives from Mattel and Hasbro sat down with the Gov. Chris Gregoire:
In a last-ditch effort to stop the measure, representatives of Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc., the country’s two biggest toy makers, met with Gov. Gregoire March 17, according to people familiar with the matter. At that meeting, and elsewhere, these people say, Mattel has told Washington officials that half of the products made by its Fisher-Price unit, which specializes in products for preschoolers, would be barred from the state if the law is adopted.
Boo Hoo. Way to throw your sucker in the dirt there Mattel. How about making your toys safer instead? There’s a novel idea. Ban on chemicals in toys and kids products is a fight worth fighting and more states are getting on the ban wagon.
Congress is considering new federal lead limits and other toy-safety standards but isn’t moving fast enough for sponsors of bills in 29 state legislatures. Illinois and Michigan have already enacted new lead laws, which aren’t as tough as the Washington bill. A ban on phthalates is due to take effect in California next year. The TIA says it has hired lobbyists to battle legislative proposals in 10 states, including Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Read it all here, great article: The Wall Street Journal: States Alter Rules of Game On Safety for Toy Makers
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