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kristac
11-10-2007, 05:03 PM
OK, DH has expressed interest in not buying anything from China this Christmas- easier said then done. I am going through my christmas lists trying to find substitutes for some of the main items.

For instance I really want to get Nathan (6 months) some soft blocks like this:
http://www.kidsurplus.com/itemDetail.asp?item=61%20SMA%207068300&=&fromsearch=true
But I can't find anything comparable that is not MIC. Even the haba soft blocks are MIC. Ideas?
Anyone know any stacking cups that are not MIC? I like the discovery toys ones since they are volumetrically correct but I have no idea where they are made.

On the plus side I am finding alot of things for Matthew (3 years) that are not MIC:
magna blocks, working trucks, rody, stomp rocket, some play food by voila and plan toys.
I'm sad that alot of the Mellisa and Doug stuff on his list is MIC. I'm having a hard time replacing the cutting food set.

Please add what you are looking for.

bubbaray
11-10-2007, 05:43 PM
We tried this and gave up. We're going with European standards toys as a compromise (Corolle dolls, MIC to European safety standards as an example) where possible (but are still getting MIC stuff where there is no substitute and praying for no recalls).

If you were handy or crafty, you could make a lot of stuff yourself, but then you'd have to ensure you didn't get MIC fabric, stuffing, thread, etc..

Its really hard.

IIRC, Mega Blocks is MI Canada. They have some stuff for 12m and up.

Melissa

DD#1: 04/2004

DD#2: 01/2007

Leeannpk
11-10-2007, 07:53 PM
I am on a HUGE not MIC kick myself, so I hope I can help :)

You can find stacking cups made in Germany (I think they're Speil& Holtz) at atoygarden.com. Here is a link:

http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=25

Use code Monkey2007 for 10% any order over $75 placed by midnight, 11/14. They have lots of really wonderful toys that are not MIC (but check the descriptions to be sure).

For soft blocks, I'd check out Etsy.com. I put "soft blocks" in as the search term and got tons of results.

Leeann

PS - I have a Nathan, too :)

Tondi G
11-10-2007, 07:54 PM
check out this site!

http://www.chinafreechristmas.info/

brittone2
11-10-2007, 08:34 PM
DD has a bday and Christmas in Dec. She'll be 1, and between those two occasions, she's getting a Haba ball track (the Kugelbahn one), a set of Speil und Holz stacking rainbows, a new ring stack toy, and she and DS (3.5) are sharing a new Elves and Angels kitchen set for Christmas. He's getting some Haba marble track parts and a game or two. They are getting some play food off of etsy (chenillechef ice cream cones, which are adorable) and some that I'm making. I second etsy for the soft blocks. I've seen tons on there before.

What other ideas do you need subs for for the baby? Maybe we can help.

for cutting food, have you investigated Erzi? They have some cutting food, and I believe that it is made in Germany. I think they have some cutting veggies, a hamburger set, a cake set, etc.

here's some:
http://www.waldorftreasures.com/naturaltoysandgames/erzi/assortedsets/assortedsets.htm

amazon has some too.

ETA some of what DS is getting.

Leeannpk
11-10-2007, 10:54 PM
Novanatural.com also has some cutting food, I think. You can get $5 off your first order with code COOLMOM.

Leeann

ett
11-11-2007, 12:37 AM
Plan Toys also has a cutting food set. They're made in Thailand.

ett
11-11-2007, 12:37 AM
Plan Toys also has a cutting food set. They're made in Thailand.

ett
11-11-2007, 05:16 PM
I would also like to avoid all things made in China, but it's just not possible for me now. This is what I do. I no longer buy any wooden or plastic toys made in China, unless they are board games or puzzles that won't be mouthed. As for books, tons of them are made in China, so if you avoid them all, you wouldn't have much of a selection left. DS1 loves to read, so I'm not going to deny him of all those books simply because of where they're printed.

I found it very hard to find soft toys (besides basic stuffed animals/dolls) that were not made in China. Even if you get them from Etsy, the fabric they use may still be made in China. Since we already have a lot of soft toys from DS1, I haven't really had to buy any at all.

For some of the items you listed, like the soft cars and stacking cups, perhaps you could consider wooden ones, then it would be easy to find non-mic alternatives.

Here are some wooden stacking cups made in Germany:
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1727http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1727
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=25http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=25

North Star Toys has some really cute wooden cars, both big and small, made in the USA.
http://www.northstartoys.com/

These are not exactly equivalent to the soft cars and stacking cups you are looking for, but if you're trying to avoid all mic toys, it's some trade offs you have to make.

kitmama
11-11-2007, 05:21 PM
I hope you get some good suggestions on the scooter! We're looking for one not MIC, too. I love that same Radio Flyer one, but know it's MIC. Any not MIC I've found are SO MUCH more expensive.

Kettler makes a couple scooters- aren't those made in Europe?
http://www.durabletoys.com/toypics/k8450699.jpg

I found this one made in Italy:
http://www.quincyshop.com/childscooters.html

And this is Swiss-designed, but I don't know where it is manufactured:
http://www.microstoreusa.com/catalog/item/4017210/3788840.htm

ETA: LOL, I don't know how I posted a picture!

ett
11-11-2007, 05:32 PM
We have a Kettler scooter and it is made in Germany.

ett
11-11-2007, 06:03 PM
>>For some of the items you listed, like the soft cars and
>>stacking cups, perhaps you could consider wooden ones, then
>it
>>would be easy to find non-mic alternatives.
>>
>>Here are some wooden stacking cups made in Germany:
>>http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1727http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1727
>>http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=25http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=25
>>
>These are beautiful- but can they be taken in the tub??
>That's half the fun of the cups.
>

No, they probably wouldn't work too well in the tub. :(

>
>>North Star Toys has some really cute wooden cars, both big
>and
>>small, made in the USA.
>>http://www.northstartoys.com/
>Thanks for this link- beautiful and the prices seem quite
>reasonable... Not sure how I feel about giving them to my 6
>month old though. I did find some stuff for the 3 year old :D
>
>
My DS2 is 9 months old, so a couple months older than your younger one, but he actually really likes playing with my older DS's wooden cars and blocks. I just let him play with the larger ones so they're not choking hazards. :)

alirebco
11-11-2007, 09:20 PM
I have ordered some stuff from www.oompa.com with great success. You can sort by made in Europe and U.S. Some of the brands are made in China, like certain Haba toys, but they do list where all of the toys are made. Hopefully you can find some substitutes for your gifts there.

baileygirl
11-11-2007, 11:50 PM
My son is 11 months and enjoys the Ikea nesting cups. I believe they are made in Malaysia. I am also getting him the wooden ones from A Toy Garden for Christmas.

jerigirl
11-12-2007, 12:19 AM
For soft blocks- if you sew or know someone who does this, is a great tutorial on how to make your own. I found this when helping my friend who was trying to make her own soft blocks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmummy/429089607/in/set-72157600061487746/

hazel
11-12-2007, 04:56 PM
Here are the Little Tikes items made in the US according to their site. A lot of this stuff is available in Walmart, TRU etc. Note some items with accessories, like the Easy Score Basketball set, have the ball and net made in China but the main hoop part is made in US (I checked the box on that item in a store).

http://www.littletikes.com/toys/toys-list.aspx?FS=1&N=26&Ntk=Product+Search&Nty=1&Ntt=made%20in%20the%20usa

These toys (ride-ons, trikes, furniture) are made in the US by American Plastics:

http://www.amazon.com/s/103-8206416-9415852?ie=UTF8&search-alias=toys-and-games&field-brandtextbin=American%20Plastic%20Toys

Slinkys are made in the US and I am thinking of getting these balls by the same company, also made in US. Note that some of their balls are MIC but these are in the US. (Also saw the football in WalMart and confirmed, made in US.)

http://www.amazon.com/Poof-Two-Ball-Sport-Pack/dp/B00000JS5Y

ETA:
I checked some preschooler board games in a store so thought I'd report. These are original versions, not the Dora or other character ones (didn't check those).

Candyland original - made in USA
Chutes and Ladders original - made in USA
Hi Ho Cherry-O - made in USA except fruit made in China
Elefun - made in China

brittone2
11-16-2007, 06:52 PM
Ouch on the price, but the Haba Lilystone tent thingie says made in Germany on this site. I'd confirm that if you go that route, since most of Haba's fabric stuff is MIC.

http://www.moolka.com/jzv/prod?o=froogle&prodId=2369

I'll keep my eyes open for any less expensive options.

Is a bower an option for you? that would fold up compactly.

Canna
11-17-2007, 01:04 PM
I just noticed this morning that our Lauri Toys Catalog has a sticker on the front indicating that 95% of their toys are Made in USA! My DD (will be 3 in January) loves the puzzles and a lot of the educational toys look cool!

http://www.lauritoys.com/

MarisaSF
11-17-2007, 10:33 PM
I got DS (6 months) two Selecta baby toys.

DD (3) is getting some Heros wooden blocks.
All made in Germany.

I noticed at a toy store recently that M&D has a line of infant toys (First Play) that are made in Vietnam and have a specific mention of how safe the paint is. Kinda makes me wonder about the paint on their regular toys.

hazel
11-20-2007, 02:50 PM
I was at Michaels craft store and saw some of the kids art supplies are made in the US, Canada or Mexico...

Leapyear Construction paper pad - only $1!! - US
Strathmore kids drawing paper pad - US
Crayola So Big crayons - Mexico
Crayola Color Wonder set (markers with book on hooks) - US
Crayola art pads - most seemed to be made in Canada

Crayola twistables crayons all seem to be made in China.
Saw some bubbles made in Mexico (8 oz bottles for 50 cents).

At Target:
Crayola Triangular washable crayons - US
Step2 Easel for Two - US

I can't seem to find any art brushes or paint (for toddler easel painting) not made in China. :(

denna
11-21-2007, 04:52 AM
www.oompa.com (european toys)

www.kidbean.com (natural dolls)

www.hazelnutkids.com

www.novanatural.com

www.naturalpod.com

www.walkingsticktoys.com

www.thewoodenwagon.com

www.realwoodentoys.com

www.challengeandfun.com

Nova natural has a good selection of toys as well as Oompa.

HTH,

zephyr
11-21-2007, 10:56 PM
www.moolka.com I LOVE this site and it clearly states in the description of every toy what country it's made in. HTH.

Zephyr