If you are a business looking for toys, consider wooden play toys. These tend to be sturdier, safer, and more environmentally conscious than plastic toys.

Parents are the pickiest of consumers because they need the products they buy to be safe for their children. Wooden toys offer some safety features that other toys may not have, such as durability. Smaller retail stores usually sell wooden toys. Because these are often handmade, business owners need to check them for safety.

Kids Wooden toys are a good idea. If you choose to buy them for your business, consider the following information.

1. Contact wooden toy manufacturers to find out where the toys are made and what materials are used to make them.

2. If you want to buy toys that are all natural, check with the supplier, or buy directly from a company specializing in natural wooden toys and products. Don't assume that toys are all natural--made of unpainted, organically grown lumber--just because they are wooden.

3. If you want wood toys that are solid wood, read the descriptions carefully to make sure there are no other materials, such as rubber wheels, on the toys.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy wooden toys for baby

When buying wooden baby toys for your business, choose a variety for newborns, infants, and toddlers. Wooden pull toys, blocks, and puzzles are popular items.

I recommend: Wood Workers Toy, The Wooden Wagon, and The Playstore offer wood toys for babies.

Provide wooden toys for children of all ages

Kids' wood toys come in a large assortment for children of all ages. You can find everything from rocking horses and play kitchens to musical instruments and wooden clocks. The type of business you have and the space available will help you determine the types and sizes of wooden toys to buy.

I recommend: Wooden Toys and More, Melissa & Doug, and Mainetoys.com are great places to find a large assortment of wooden baby toys and children's wooden toys.

Offer educational wooden toys

To help children develop necessary motor, cognitive, and social skills, offer an array of educational wooden toys.

I recommend: Wooden Toys Plus, Island Treasure Toys, and Jonesy's Unique Online Gifts offer a variety of educational wooden toys for all ages.

For greener products, buy natural wooden toys

If you want your business to do more to help the environment, consider buying natural products. Selling unpainted or unstained wooden toys from organically grown wood is a great way to help your business go green.

I recommend: Our Green House, Maple Grace and Wild Dill offer organic toys and natural wooden toys and products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some children's wooden toys come painted. Check with the wood toy manufacturer to find out about the paint used on the toys.
• •  If you want to purchase wooden toys in bulk, consider buying wholesale. Wholesalers usually offer items in larger quantities for lower prices.