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Dec
2
My Picks For Safer Toys This Holiday Season
Filed Under Toy Safety | Comments Off
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Fan/Like Lullaby Organics on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Follow @LullabyOrganics on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Check out @lullabyorganics 12 Days of Holi-daily Deals and #Giveaways! Win Green Sprouts bath toys from @SafeMama http://tinyurl.com/cfwtrxt
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Fan/Like Pure Play Kids on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Follow @pureplaykids on Twitter (Twitter name)
- 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 $50 Gift Card from @PurePlayKids on @SafeMama!#giveaway ends 7/18 http://tinyurl.com/42pfhlt
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Fan/Like Imagination Box Co on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Follow @ImaginationBox on Twitter (Twitter name)
- 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 an Eco-Friendly paintable Castle Tower from @ImaginationBox on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 2/4 http://tinyurl.com/63rogjh
- Fan/Like The Soft Landing on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @thesoftlanding on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
- 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
- Fan/Like Gummy Lump on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @GummyLump on Twitter (Twitter name)
- Fan/Like SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
- Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
- 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 Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench on @SafeMama from @GummyLump! #giveaway #holiday ends 12/1
Happy December 2nd! Shopping is in full swing! I’m not nearly done and I’m sure some of you are right there with me. I pubished this years picks for safer toys in case you need some suggestions for gifts for the kids. I planned on having this out sooner (and I did give a sneak peak to the Facebook Fans and Twitter followers. So if you aren’t following along on one of those, please do so you can get first looks at all my new cheat sheets and guides when they come out!). We traveled over the Thanksgiving holiday and I had a sick kid on my hands along with lots of sitting in traffic. Not making that mistake next year!
The guide is divided up into ages and provides links to where you can find them to purchase. If you can support a small business with your shopping this year, even on one item, it makes a big difference. Please also try to support our SafeMama Sponsors with clicks or purchases. Without them this site would not be possible! Thank you to all my readers and loyal friends who help keep this site going. I hope to bring you another year full of useful information and new cheat sheets. I love you all! Without further ado, here is the 2011 Safer Holiday Toy Guide! Ho Ho Ho!!!
Nov
28
Lullaby Organics Cyber Monday Giveaway!
Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, PVC Free, Toy Safety | 141 Comments
It’s no secret that I love Lullaby Organics or that I love to support small businesses when possible. So when I was invited to participate in Lullaby Organics 12 Days of Holi-Daily Deals I was totally on board! Starting on November 25th and ending on December 6th, they will have a deal of the day and offer you big discounts on safe products. You can find out which bloggers are revealing the Deal of the Day by following Lullaby Organics on Facebook or visit their website.
Lullaby Organics Daily Deal for November 28: All Green Sprouts Bath Toys and Grooming Items are 30% off! Plus you can use our coupon code SAFEMAMA for an additional 10% off. I have written about bath toys before and while you should look for toys that are not made with PVC, you should also loo for bath toys that can be cleaned inside and out. Many bath squirties and duck toys can harbor dangerous bacteria (and other
gross stuff ew). I love to give my kids cups like the Green Sprouts Stacking Ducks. They can pour and measure water or bubbles and my kids pretend to cook with them too. I’m not sure why cups are so entertaining to kids but they are! They are adorable duck shaped stacking cups that feature holes to play with water while it drains out. All of Green Sprouts bath toys re made with safe materials and NO PVC.
Green Sprouts has also tackled the tub mat issue by creating bath mats made of natural rubber with suction cups on the bottom. This set comes with 5 whale shaped tub mini mats that you can stick all over your tub floor. The textured surface prevents slips. Green Sprouts ensures their toys and products are all free of PVC, BPA and Nitrosmines so your little ones can be safe.
Green Sprouts toys are a great choice when searching for safer toys and I do think these would make great little gifts for those adorable little ones in your life.
Giveaway Time!
One reader will take home a set of Green Sprouts Bath Toys from Lullaby Organics! The set will include the Green Sprouts Stacking Ducks, a 5-pack Mini Bath Mats Set, a set of their Sea Life Bath Friends to stick all over the tub, AND a full size 100% rubber bath mat. That’s a $43 prize! Thank you Lullaby Organics!
Here’s How To Enter (Required):
Visit Lullaby Organics and tell me in the comments what you found there that would be a great gift for someone over the holidays!
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 winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Open to US readers! Entries will be accepted until Dec 13, 2011 at midnight EST. Good Luck!
Congratulations commenter #53 Jenny!
Oct
21
Green Toys Pizza Parlor
Filed Under Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 1 Comment
I’m not going to even mention the H word around here until after Halloween (the other H word… the one I’m talking about rhymes with Shmolidaze). But I am going to start posting some reviews of toys that will most likely appear on my Safer Toy Guide for this year. I always include something from Green Toys for a few reasons. Their toys are great. They are made well. They are cute, and my kids always like them. They are also a great company… made in the USA and of safe recycled materials.
So when my mother came for a visit and brought the Green Toys Pizza Parlor set for my kids as a gift I was thrilled. The set comes with enough pieces to make a pie with 4 slices. Your kids can customize the pie any way they like with sauce, cheese, onions, peppers, pepperoni and tomatoes. The set also comes with a little pizza box for delivery, a pizza cutter, and an order pad so your kids can take your order like a real pizza shop. We spent a good 2 hours playing “pizza store” as my son likes to call it and combined with the Sandwich Shop pieces, he had a full fledged restaurant going on with reservations and a hostess (that was me). We had a blast! They’re revisited these toys several times and they still have fun with them. I found a tomato slice wedged under the couch and I wish it came with a more solid “case” or keep all the pieces in. But the things I like about this toy and other Green Toys outweigh that factor.
All the pieces are sturdy, like all the Green Toys products. They can also be used in the tub when they get tired of the pizza game. Every toy is more interesting when you move it to the tub! All Green Toys products are free of BPA, Phthalates and phthalates and are made from recycled milk jugs. This set would make an awesome gift for a boy or a girl! I think the Sandwich Shop set is equally as cute (we have that one too!) Watch for these toys to appear on my 2012 Safer Toy Guide coming after Halloween.
Where to buy: You can purchase the Green Toys Pizza Parlor set and other Green Toys at Abe’s Market or other online retailers.
Sponsored by Abe’s Market
Jul
8
City Planner Blocks from Pure Play Kids (Giveaway!)
Filed Under Healthy Home, Product Recalls, Toy Safety | 181 Comments
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!
Jan
28
Eco-Friendly Castle Tower Craft by Imagination Box Co. (Giveaway!)
Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 56 Comments
During these long winter days, snow days, stuck inside days (not here in Florida though, sorry!) I can only imagine that finding things to keep the kids busy becomes a challenge without resorting to television. When the boredom of crayons and play dough sets in, I start to panic and start reading through DIY websites to come up with new ideas. Even those become tedious and end up being more work for ME instead of entertaining the kids. So when I learned about the Eco-Friendly projects from Imagination Box Company I was immediately excited to see something new for them to do.
Imagination Box Co. sent us their Eco-Friendly Castle Tower to check out and despite it being a “girl” thing my two boys really loved working on it and admittedly, I did too. I even let my older son stay up late to color it with me. The tower is made of 100% recyclable cardboard so when you’re done you fold it up and put it out with your cardboard recycling. The tower is easy to assemble and took me only a few minutes to get it together. The set also comes with customizable pieces (shields and ramps for the drawbridges) and a set of watercolor paints and brushes. We used washable markers for ours so we could do it in the living room but really, any art supplies will work; paints, crayons, markers, glitter glue, stickers – let them go nuts!
My kids colored and drew on it for over 2 hours and then I spent another hour or so coloring it with my older son. I had a lot of fun with it myself… I love to color! You can dismantle it for storage and set it back up again in no time. Ours is living under the couch and gets popped back up every few days.
The only critique my kids had was that it wasn’t big enough to get inside of. My youngest tried with all his might to fit his bulbous head through the door to no avail. But despite this fact, it is big enough to have fun with and certainly didn’t keep them from spending hours playing with it. This would be a great gift for the kid who has everything. Gets them off the video games and into a more imaginary and creative zone. Thumbs up from SafeMama!
Get One! Order through the Imagination Box Co. website and get the Castle Tower or any of their other great sets. They also have a Country Barn, Cottage, Firehouse, Schoolhouse and a plain Create Your Own house. So cute!
Win It
Imagination Box Co is giving away a Castle Tower to one lucky SafeMama reader!
Here’s How To Enter (Required):
Visit Imagination Box Co and tell me what items your kids would love! This step is required to enter the giveaway.
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 February 4, 2011 at midnight EST. Good Luck!
Congratulations Tina B, Commenter #55!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Dec
9
Toy Guide Highlight: Dandelion Baby Organic Toddler Doll
Filed Under Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 2 Comments
I really love the products that Dandelion makes and have admired their work over the past year or so. They already had a great line of dishes (made with corn rather than petroleum) and organic teethers and toys. But this year they have outdid themselves and expanded to other items. One being their new Organic Toddler Doll.
The Dandelion Toddler Doll is made of all organic materials – organic soft organic cotton 
exterior and clothing (feels like a plush velour) and is stuffed with a corn based filling. The doll comes in blonde or brunette and is the perfect size to fit under your little girl’s arm. It’s very cuddly and soft (even my son wanted to hug it) and is a wonderful alternative to traditional dolls with plastic heads, which are typically made with PVC. You can also machine wash and dry this little cutie and she’ll pop up good as new. This is especially important for kids with allergies to dust. Its a brilliant doll and it definitely earned it’s spot on the 2010 Toy Guide. It’s really well-made and I recommend it for any little girl who loves a good dolly.
As an aside, I also wanted to point out that Dandelion has created Teething Keys and Teething Links for those 
with babies. They are made of their innovative cornstarch bioplastic and are safe to teeth on! No BPA, no PVC, no phthalates and less worries. They feel good to hold and are the perfect size. I was able to check these both out and I wish I had them when my kids were babies. They’re really made well and look great. Finally a safer more natural version of the old favorites. They’re pretty affordable too. Thanks Dandelion!
Get These: You can purchase their new softie Toddler Doll or their new Teether Links and Keys on their website DandelionForBaby.com! You can also purchase the Dandelion Toddler Doll and other Dandelion products from The Soft Landing!
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! 
Nov
22
Toy Guide Highlight: Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench from GummyLump(& Giveaway!)
Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 310 Comments
One of the items I chose for this years Holiday Toy Guide was the Melissa & Doug wooden Workbench. GummyLump is a great online source for wooden toys, carrying a variety of wood toy making brands like Melissa & Doug, Haba and KidCraft. I really like that they have an entire section dedicated to special needs toys as well. It’s been my experience that the toys I get for my kids that are made of wood get more play and are more durable that the cheap plastic toy sets they get.
I know that there can sometimes be questions about materials even with wooden toys but the Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench passes my quality tests with flying colors. It’s mostly unpainted wood and comes with a variety of tools and project ideas to keep you and your little handy man to create.
Despite it coming in what seemed like 1000 pieces, it assembled quickly and with only mild cursing from my husband – which is a feat. It is very solid and sturdy once assembled and looks nice (as opposed to the plastic eyesore that is Fisher Price). I think this will be a lasting addition to anyone’s toy collection, even lasting through generations to come. Cute, functional and timeless. All Melissa & Doug toys are 20% off the the market suggested retail price on GummyLump so it’s a great place to get them!
GummyLump has generously offered to giveaway a Melissa & Doug Wooden Work Bench to one of our readers!
Here’s How To Enter:
Visit GummyLump.com 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 1, 2010 at midnight EST. Good Luck!
Congratulations Jessica P. commenter #136!
Nov
11
What’s That Smell? Toxic Toys R Us
Filed Under Take Action, Toy Safety | 7 Comments
Toxic Toys R Us is a project developed by a collection of environmental justice organizations, consumer advocates, public health professionals, parents, children’s health activists, and workers. They are trying to raise awareness regarding toys sold at Toys R Us that still contain toxic PVC. They use the term “contamination” to describe it and I think it’s the best way to say it. Contamination.
Even though Toys R Us and other large chains have made promises to the public in the past to reduce the toxic chemicals in today’s toys, new tests are showing that many toys sold at Toys R Us, including newly released toys prime for the holiday shopping frenzy contain PVC. The toxins off gassed from PVC during it’s lifetime are linked to a bevy of aliments and diseases like childrens asthma, learning disabilities, obesity and even cancer. Come on Toys R Us…
Toxic Toys R Us is going to highlight a Toxic Toy of the Week to demonstrate that the toys that might show up under your tree this year could contain PVC. Toy Story Barbie is the toy of this week and she tested positive for PVC in her hair. Sheesh. This is a great organization to watch and support. Visit ToxicToysRus.com to learn more about what they’re doing to protect our children from PVC in toys.
Take Action: Even better join the campaign and write to your elected officials. Voices in numbers can make a difference.
Nov
10
SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Holiday Toy Guide
Filed Under Toy Safety | 5 Comments
It’s that time of year! As much as I tried to avoid the holiday shopping madness and excessive Christmas decorations at Target it came anyway. “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!“… I know I know. But we’re all thinking about it even if we haven’t started shopping yet. Last year I was home with a new baby so I decided to skip doing a gift guide. But I’ve got the hang of two kids (I question it daily but I think I’m ok) and decided to refresh the gift guide for this years shopping season. Behold, The 2010 Safer Holiday Toy Guide.
My goal with this year’s guide was to find some newer items that of course were safer options, but that covered a range of costs and tastes. Some items are more of a big ticket that could be the centerpiece of your holiday gifts and others are in a more affordable range and even a few stocking stuffers. Hopefully there is a variety that will be useful.
I decided this year that I will only be shopping at smaller stores here and online to support the small business owners that put so much heart and soul into their work. I hope you’ll support them too! And now, we kick it off: Happy Holidays!!!
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