Anything but Chinese Made Toys for Christmas!

Hi all!
I thought this would be a great way to let people share their ideas and links to other toy makers / gifts that are NOT made in China! I know alot of us are scrambling because so many of the big toymakers now have their toys made there. Here are a few ideas and links for all sorts of good stuff:

USA Made Toys:
This is from the Chicago tribune and some links to USA made toys. Although Wally world IS listed here to find them, I still stay away as I believe they are one of the biggest problems importing Chinese junk!
Toys made in the United States
By HEIDI STEVENS
Chicago Tribune

If you're interested in finding toys that don't come from China, here are a few.

U.S.-MADE TOYS: The selection here is impressive. With 35 categories of toys, including train sets, puzzles and ride-ons, this online store appears to have a little something for everyone, and every item is made in the United States. The site is also refreshingly free of the jingoism that sometimes accompanies the "buy American" movement.

"Plenty of good stuff is made in lots of different places for some really good reasons," the site states. "But who takes their fun more seriously than the good people of the United States?!" Go to usmadetoys.com .

IKEA: I headed to Ikea in search of wooden train cars after tossing our Thomas set in an earlier round of recall madness. The store stocks an impressive selection of toys from all over the world (including China), but spokeswoman Janice Simonsen says they're all put through rigorous, accredited safety tests. The train sets are made in Bulgaria (and the cars fit on Thomas tracks). Visit an IKEA store, or go to ikea.com .

ROY TOY: Based in Maine, Roy Toy makes charming, wooden log cabins and other building sets made from pine logs and stained with a non-toxic dye. You may stumble across Roy Toys in some small, independent toy stores, but most of the biggies don't stock them. Roytoy.com has a full selection.

LITTLE TIKES: From bath toys to giant, inflatable bouncers, there's not much this company doesn't make, with much of it made in Hudson, Ohio. Little Tikes does have manufacturing and distribution centers in Europe and Asia, though, so if you're intent on buying American, check for "Made in USA" molded into the bottom. Little Tikes toys are sold at Target, Wal-Mart, major toy stores and littletikes.com .

CRAYOLA: The crayons, markers, paint and clay that have made this brand famous are mostly made in Easton, Pa., where the company's headquarters and major manufacturing facilities are located. Crayola products are sold pretty much everywhere. You can also shop at crayolastore.com .

There is the Discover Sounds Kitchen, made by the Little Tikes company in Hudson, Ohio. From bath toys to giant, inflatable bouncers, there's not much this company doesn't make.

And here is another idea for any critter lovers in your lives! Adopt a polar bear!

http://wildlifeadoption.defenders.org/site/Pa... =WHY07WDADOPT&s_subsrc=WHY 07WDADOPT_web

I just wanted to add, that I am just doing this to let people know that there are other options!

Channel Craft toys are made in America!

http://channelcraft.com/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292056,00...

a list of toys made in the USA:

• Battleship
• Bicycle Playing Cards
• Boggle Jr.
• Candyland
• Chutes and Ladders
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Crayola Crayons *
• Life
• Louisville Slugger
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Operation
• Parcheesi
• Play-Doh *
• Pop-O-Matic Trouble
• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Stratego
• Tri-ominos
• Trivial Pursuit
• Yahtzee
• Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)

* Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA -- please check the label.

Also, anything you buy from the American Plastic Toy Company is made in America.

She Be Me wrote:

Channel Craft toys are made in America!
http://channelcraft.com/

Wonderful Site! Thank you so much!

Made in America!

American Idol Star Lites Stage with Headset Microphone

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail

US made toys. Ride On toys, Game Boards, Train Sets, Building Toys, Flying Disc..........

http://www.usmadetoys.com/

American made toys and info-

http://www.madeinusa.org/nav.cgi... ;

Links of Toys made in America



http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52617....

Judi wrote:

<quoted text>
Wonderful Site! Thank you so much!

Your welcome.

I think American parents and grandparents are looking to buy toys made in America for their children/grandchildren this Christmas.

Well, we tried to get some information out there for folks! I for one, so appreciate all you have posted to this She Be Me!

Judi :)

Great thread. Alert the public immediately!

Judi wrote:

Well, we tried to get some information out there for folks! I for one, so appreciate all you have posted to this She Be Me!
Judi :)

Your welcome.

Maybe others will post info they have on toys that are made in America.

Hi again All!
I just received a response from Crayola regarding some of their items and where they are sourced. I think its only fair that we should all know where things are coming from and I just pray that someone will change the labeling in the country someday. Here is the response I got from crayola and I wanted you to all be aware of this too. Not only has Iams told me they still source ingredients from China, but now I know for sure crayola does too. They are not specific as to which products have Chinese items in them, but I was inquiring about their electronics and bedding products on their webpage. I apologize as I never meant for this thread to encourage chinese sourced items either. I was just trying to give Americans and others options for buying. Although I do appreciate their honest answer, I, for one, will not buy anything that is sourced from China. They have still not proved to me they are safe.

Here is the response from Crayola:

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

Providing quality, safe, kid-friendly products is our #1 goal. We source a small amount
of our products from China. All Crayola(R) products, including licensed products, must be
produced in compliance with our rigorous safety standards and specifications. This
procedure ensures the materials supplied to us meet or exceed U.S. and European
regulations and standards specific to our industry.

Our products undergo independent laboratory testing in Asia, and many are tested again in
Europe, which has some of the highest standards for toy safety in the world. In addition,
our art material products also undergo third-party toxicological testing by the Arts and
Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) and carry the AP (Approved Product)(R) seal.

We are confident that we have the processes and systems in place to ensure the safety of
Crayola products. Your comments and concerns are welcomed, and we appreciate the
opportunity to assist you.

Colorfully yours,

Christine Mann
E-Mail Response Representative
CRAYOLA

Latest news flash about China folks!

Read more at:
http://www.itchmo.com/expertox-finds-lead-oth...

Find all the dog and cat news at: www.itchmo.com

Expertox, a Texas lab, has found elevated levels of lead, chromium, and cadmium in two
Chinese-made pet toys sold at Wal-Mart. But two veterinarians said the levels found by the
lab are not a health risk to cats and dogs.

The lab was hired by ConsumerAffairs.com to test two dog toys and two cat toys for heavy
metals and other toxins.

A dog chew toy, a green monster, tested positive for what the lab categorizes as high
levels of lead and chromium. The lab detected lead levels of 907.4 micrograms per kilogram
(almost one part per million). Chromium was found at levels of 334.9 micrograms per
kilogram. Levels of cadmium, arsenic and mercury were also found in the green monster
toy.

The lab said with that kind of concentration, if a dog puts the toy in his mouth and chews
or licks it, he is being exposed to a good amount of lead and runs the risk of metal
toxicity that may shorten his life.

Expertox said a cloth catnip toy also tested positive for a “tremendous amount” of the
toxic metal cadmium. The levels of cadmium found were 236 micrograms per kilogram.

Two other Wal-Mart pet toys were analyzed, a cloth hedgehog for dogs and a plastic
dumbbell toy for cats. Expertox found cadmium in those two pet toys, but the lab
toxicologist said the levels found were similar to the amount in one cigarette and not
considered significant.

Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.itchmo.com/expertox-finds-lead-oth...

Here is a website that has over 60 companies that sell toys that are made in the U.S.A.

http://americanmadetoys.googlepages.com/ameri...