Where to Purchase Lead-Free Toys This Christmas

I don't know about you, but the recent and recurring news of lead being found in and on the toys that we buy for our children has made me a little apprehensive. With Christmas coming up, it makes me wonder: What is safe for our kids? Like most grandparents, my kid's Nana and Bumpa spoil them rotten at Christmastime. So it worries me to think about just how much lead is going to be sitting under the tree this year. This week, a news reporter announced that it only takes three granules of lead to affect a child- that's not very much!

This concern has prompted me to do some research to see if I could find some lead-free toys for the kids this year. I found several different toy makers and manufacturers with lead free toys for sale. Most were for sale via the internet with wonderful discounts on shipping over a certain amount of money. With many of the lead-laced toys coming from China, it was no surprise that most of the lead-free toys were being made in the USA or even in Europe, which has similar safety standards.Here is a list of websites and brands who produce lead free toys. Price ranges will vary depending on the product and they company. As always, since this is my own personal research, there is a possibility that some of these toys may be listed as lead free in error.

U.S. Made Toys sells game boards, wooden planes & trucks, yo-yo's, ride on toys, rattles, funiture, train sets, craft sets, dolls, puzzles, science kits and nature toys. They are well made and most items are made out of wood. These toys can be found at www.usmadetoys.com

Uncle goose makes beautiful toys that appear to be geared more toward little ones under the age of 3. They sell classic embossed wooden alphabet blocks. They also sell math blocks as well as braille ABC blocks! This company is located in Grand Rapids, MI. Their website is www.unclegoose.com.

Attention parents with ASD children! Ebeanstalk offers some fantastic developmental toys for children of all ages and stages. These toys have been tested already and have been confirmed lead free. Furthermore, they have a panel of medical professionals who hand pick their favorite toys which are featured ont he home page of this website. Not all of these toys are made of wood. The prices seem to be very reasonable. I spotted some prices as low as $10! Log on to www.ebeanstalk.com

Waldorf toys is a classic toy maker, offering toys made of all natural materials. This company is not based in the US, but has been around for years. You may be familiar with their doll collection. However, this company offers more than dolls. They make some of the classic toys that we used to play with when we were kids, like spinning tops and other nostalgic goodies. These toys are designed to engage a child's imagination. You can find them at www.waldorf-toys.com.

Kazoo toys was the most reasonably priced website I found. These toys are also fantastic for children of all ages with or without learning disabilities. They sell children's furniture, outdoor toys, games, stuffed animals, dolls, doll houses, trains, plains, automobiles and other harder to find toys. They have a wide price range, but as I said before, this was the most reasonably priced stie I found so far.

If you like primitive looking toys, you'll love www.naturalpod.com. This is a company that was started by parents who shared the desire to bring natural and simple toys to their children. They are mostly wooden toys that are so beautiful and unique, they could easily be passed on from one generation to the next.

This was probably my favorite website overall. This site offers affordable lead-free children's that include some that are used at occupational and physical therapy for special needs children. They have items such as heavy duty indoor swings in fun shapes, like a sail boat! Some of these swings can hold up to 400lbs, so even Mommy or Daddy can go for a ride! You can spot these gems at www.padilly.com

Other websites that offer lead free toys are:
www.woodentrain.com
www.woolywilly.net
www.lauritoys.com
www.ourgreenhouse.com
www.nicoandzoe.com
www.hazelnutkids.com
www.greennest.com
www.holgatetoys.com
www.sagebaby.com

Other companies that are lead-free:
Legos, Leap Frog, IKEA, K'Nex, Crayola and Vermont Teddy Bear.

Have fun shopping for your lead free toys this year!