ISO Good old-fashioned play tea set!

[citymama]

My 17 month old DD is obsessed with throwing tea parties for her toys and anyone else who will join in! She plays with her stacking cups as tea cups, and I've been thinking it's time to get her a little tea set. Any suggestions for a nice tea set that works for little hands?

I was hoping that one of the websites from the play kitchen thread would lead me to a good, old-fashioned tea set, but no such luck! Everyone seems to have toy cook ware but not a teapot and teacups. I'd prefer not to get plastic, but am open to any suggestions. Many thanks from the tea-baby and myself! :-)

[greatcanuk]

Try the Schylling website for ideas--Kidsurplus sells some of these:
http://www.schylling.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SD&Category_Code=SPP-TS

Personally, I have the Fisher Price musical one, which does work well for toddlers. I also have the Bella Bistro pink gingham porcelain one, which my DD loved the best, but was a little too old for her at the time. Ikea also has a plain white porcelain one, which seems a little more sturdy (could possibly handle a fall on carpet?), for another non-plastic option. If I were to do it over again, I would have gone with a tin tea set, which wouldn't be as breakable yet not outgrown as quickly as the Fisher Price one. I know Melissa and Doug makes a wooden one as well, which I felt was a bit clunky.

Also, here are a few old threads on the topic:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=60784&mesg_id=60784&listing_type=search

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=53291&mesg_id=53291&listing_type=search

HTH,
Camille

[juliasmom05]

I ran across this site awhile back. They seem to have a large selection of tea sets.

http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?follow-pro=1&catalog=babyscholars&vwcatalog=babyscholars&query=tea%20set&x=26&y=10

Marci

[C99]

We have the tin Schylling tea set shown in the first link (the pink and green one). DD and DS1 play with it all the time. DS1 taught DD to use water, so we will often have tea parties w/ water. The set has stood up well to these abuses. I like it because it's not plastic and is functional. Unlike porcelain, it isn't breakable.

[citymama]

Thanks for the great suggestions and links to older threads. I saw the Schylling tea set at a museum store, and considered buying it - but the set looked really tiny, almost miniature! I was concerned about potential choking hazard from the lid of the teapot. I guess if your 4 year old is still playing with it, it's not too small for little hands...

[Twoboos]

DD1 received the Pottery Barn Kids one for her 2nd bday. It's still partying away almost 2 years (and another DD!) later. It's galvanized metal, according to the website.

[mudder17]

It may be a bit boring (white), but the ceramic/porcelin(?) ones from IKEA are inexpensive and pretty cute. My DD likes to play with them, and I haven't worried about whether she'll drop them or break them because they were inexpensive.


Eileen

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[citymama]

I went ahead and bought the Summer Bugs Tin tea set by Schylling:
http://www.schylling.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SD&Product_Code=SBTTS&Category_Code=EC-SB

It is seriously adorable, although as I thought, really teeny-tiny, almost like a doll's tea set! It will definitely do the trick for my 17 month old, and since I suspect more tea sets are in her future, the size shouldn't be an issue...thanks for everyone's great suggestions!

[kitmama]

I liked this from Magic Cabin:
http://tinyurl.com/ycwayg

But what I really thought was cute was this Curious George one. . . I don't normally go in for character-theme toys, but it's so classic. . . and gender neutral, which can be hard to find in a tea set.
http://tinyurl.com/2ufvdr

These are both tin, so not plastic and not breakable. I don't know where they are manufactured but I do know that Magic Cabin tests EVERYTHING they sell for lead. (I called them to ask).

[luvmypeanut]

We have Mudpie princess teasets and love them. Very pretty and a good size for little kids.

http://www.distinctive-decor.com/mudpieteapte.html