Wood Vs. Plastic

As the manufacturing of plastic toys continues to grow, it is important to remember why those timeless wooden toys are so.... timeless.

While some of the new plastic toys are pretty neat, wood toys are the better way to go for several reasons:

1. Wood toys are more durable.  Although there are very heavy duty plastics being made today, wood is likely to show less wear and tear than a plastic toy and last years longer.
2. Wood toys are natural.  Call me a hippie, but I'd rather have my child chewing on a toy made of a natural material versus a material created with chemicals. 
3. Wood toys are more eco-friendly.  They are biodegradable, less toxic on the Earth, and generally use less energy to create.
4. You don't have to worry about a wood toy being BPA-Free or containing Phthalates (which are substances created from phthalic acid and are added to plastics in order to make them more flexible, durable, and last longer)
5. Wood toys have a classic look that never goes out of style.  While Fisher-Price always has a new musical toy or life-like doll coming out, the classic wood toys are ones that won't need to be replaced with an updated version.  

Wood toys seem to be the better way to go, however take note that not all toys made of wood are necessarily safe.  Make sure they have passed the formaldehyde tests and are painted with non-toxic, non-lead containing paint.  (When all else fails, a sniff test could do the trick) Take a whiff-- does the item smell like chemicals? (If it smells like chemicals, it probably contains them!)

If you do decide to purchase plastic toys or baby items, make sure they are BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free, and are recyclable.