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missionfamily
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| Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 9:16pm | IP Logged
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Coolest, not soolest, whatever that is...my brain is on extended hyperdrive!
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
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guitarnan
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This is a topic that is very close to my heart. Besides the health risks inherent in products made where OSHA doesn't exist, there is the issue of worker exploitation...and then there is the whole forced abortion/sterilization thing.
My extended family and my friends think I'm nuts.
I think I'm doing the only thing I can. It's hard. It takes time. It takes research. I wondered today, for example, what I will do when all women's foundational garments are made in China (most are now). Perhaps I'll have to stock up, or perhaps I'll have to make my own.
Aquinas & More bookstore in Colorado has a no-China policy, so if you're looking for Catholic gift items, you can feel confident that their books and gifts are OK.
I buy a lot of Christmas gifts at craft shows, local shops, etc. It is very, very hard to find non-Chinese toys, especially for younger children. You can sometimes find non-Chinese toys at yard sales (e. g. older Legos). Christmas lights are a problem, but Michael's carried some lights made in other Asian countries last year...I stocked up on purple and white.
This is a very challenging lifestyle choice. I think it is easier to go totally vegan than to go non-Chinese. (Most vegan shoes are made in China.) You can never be sure that your American car isn't built from Chinese parts...but we do our best, here, and I hope that's good enough.
I look at every label. All the time. Even toothbrushes. Even fabric on the bolt. Even penny nails. Every time it gets hard, I think of the moms who are forced into sterilization, and it suddenly becomes easy. I have two children, and they never will. I can be sure that locally-made toys are safe, but Chinese moms cannot. They are stuck with whatever's available.
PM me for some sources for clothing...toys are really hard, sadly...
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Aggie gal
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| Posted: Aug 16 2007 at 10:03pm | IP Logged
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missionfamily wrote:
| Okay, you got me searching and now I am obsessed with this fair trade toy storethat sells the soolest toys, which include the country or origin and what the toys are made of and painted with! My Christmas shopping has begun! |
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Oooh, yes. Waaay neat. So many great things..
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Amy
Married to Rob, Momma to Patrick (17), Braden (14), Nathan (11), Benjamin (10), Aurea (8), Peter (6), Rosie (3) and Baby Blaise
Eight is GR8
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afranciscan
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I am so glad this is being discussed! My twins who we just adopted in June came home with high lead levels so we can't afford to take any risks of exposing them further.
I was feeling proud too that all I had were a couple of Thomas trains mixed into the match box cars basket. But Melissa and Doug.....? Are you all getting rid of you M & D items or just not buying more?
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http://tippettfamilynotes.blogspot.com/
Jennie Lou
Married my prince charming in 1993, ds 94, dd 97, dd 00, ds 02, twin ds from Liberia 03, dd 04, dd 08
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Willa
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| Posted: Aug 17 2007 at 1:17am | IP Logged
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I found this blog post about the recall and some alternative toy companies were mentioned.
Lead Toys Fiasco
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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St. Ann
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| Posted: Aug 17 2007 at 4:46am | IP Logged
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Käthe Krüse, Steiff, Selecta, HABA products are made in Europe as far as I know.
I do have another german option to the Ostheimer wooden figures from the company SPIEL FORM. The figures are simpler and less expensive.
Last summer I was in the U.S. and was really shocked, that I could only find clothes Made in China! And I was shopping in major department stores, not just Target!
At Long Beach Harbor, there are thousands of Chinese containers piled up, that will never be filled with american products to be exported back to China. There is a great imbalance.
But, most of us are not willing to pay more for our toys, clothes....that's why we get Chinese!
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Bethany
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I'm tired of buying all these things from China and have started looking for alternatives also. I did find a really great wooden toy nativity at Tuesday Morning that was made in England! They seem to have some unusual toy choices at times. Here are a couple of other websites I have found:
American Classics
Imagiplay
Still Made in the USA
Also, don't look in your bookcase. You would be shocked at the number of books being printed in China. I bought a used first edition of For The Children by Pope John Paul II and it was printed in China!
It is difficult, but I have to try harder. I can't stand sending any more of my money there.
Bethany
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Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
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St. Ann
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Spielform
Spielform
I hope this works
click on 'Schnellsuche' at the bottom of the page to see the figures. Then scroll down.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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stefoodie
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In case there are any K'nex fans here, one more reason to buy them -- they're made in the USA!!
Toys Made in the U.S.A. Share the Good News with Consumers
We use them for physics lessons around here. And for fun of course 
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stef
mom to five
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StephanieA
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For the last 6 or so years, our kids are getting a lot less for Christmas, but the things they get are paintakingly NOT from China. The girls have gotten the little doll house dolls from Magic Cabin. At $20 each, they are affordable, not from China and high-quality dolls that have lasted with extended play. Well, the hair doesn't always look perfect 
When we shop, my 12 year old daughter nearly always asks, "Is this made in China?" They don't even want toys anymore if it is on the backs of poor workers and whose babies they are forced to abort.
If I do happen to have to buy something from China, I take the tag off. My kids would complain.
That said, we try our best, but it is suprisingly sick how much we own is from China and I don't even know it.
Blessings,
Stephanie
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Rachel May
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Quote:
| Melissa and Doug used to be made here. It's all about profit. |
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Just a quick thought on "profit". After editing Bill's papers for the last 2 years in business school, I've begun to understand that "good" companies make choices which seem bad to us and their reason is profit. However, that's not always profit the way that we think, like making 2B instead of 1B. Often, companies are forced to go with cheaper labor and cheaper parts to be able to even stay in business. And they are businesses; they have obligations to their stock holders who often are more interested in the bottom line than what's happening to the people who work in their factories.
After reading those papers and watching the presentations, I've come to see that my role as a consumer is that much more important. Yes, businesses do what they do for profit, and it's up to me to show them what choices they need to make to be profitable. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that we shouldn't judge them to harshly for doing what they do when we continue to buy the products.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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stacykay
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Michigan has been paying in a big way (huge manufacturing job losses-not just auto, and as a result, now, huge foreclosure rates,) for the race to China the past few years.
Has anyone taken a glance at the back label of the spices you buy? I just noticed the other day, too many of the spices are now made in China. Same brand I have been using for years, and the ones I still had at home (a few rather old  , but some newer ones, too,) still said made in USA. It must be a recent move. I bought no new spices. We'll either add fresh or not at all.
Is lego still a European make? Brio? (We had gone the way of Thomas, too, since the boys have loved Thomas the Tank Engine. Soooo disappointing!)
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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MrsKey
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One reason a lot of spices are "made in China" is that they simply are not or cannot be grown in the US. Most spices come from the mid-east, far east or the "spice islands."
I think it is probable that these spices have always come from or through China but now with changes in labeling laws we're just realizing it.
A huge part of the reason, if we remember history, for the explorations of Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus et al were to find faster, easier, cheaper routes between the east and west for trade in spices and other things not able to be grown or made in Europe.
Which isn't to say that I don't believe that we should be striving to support fair trade businesses. But on the spice thing - I think we have to accept that most of our spices are (and always have been) grown elsewhere and imported.
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Carole
Wife to Tom since '94 and mom to Bree since '96
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stacykay
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The spices I had planned on buying, for ease rather than cutting and mincing myself, were garlic powder and onion powder.
I am wondering how the lead was initially detected, and should we be concerned with things bought a few years back, or are these a result from new plant location?
Also, what would you all think about eating ware, made in China? I was looking for some inexpensive substitutes for incorporating some of the lovely montessori ideas I have been reading and noting.
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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teachingmyown
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Rachel May wrote:
Quote:
| Melissa and Doug used to be made here. It's all about profit. |
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Just a quick thought on "profit". After editing Bill's papers for the last 2 years in business school, I've begun to understand that "good" companies make choices which seem bad to us and their reason is profit. However, that's not always profit the way that we think, like making 2B instead of 1B. Often, companies are forced to go with cheaper labor and cheaper parts to be able to even stay in business. And they are businesses; they have obligations to their stock holders who often are more interested in the bottom line than what's happening to the people who work in their factories.
After reading those papers and watching the presentations, I've come to see that my role as a consumer is that much more important. Yes, businesses do what they do for profit, and it's up to me to show them what choices they need to make to be profitable. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that we shouldn't judge them to harshly for doing what they do when we continue to buy the products. |
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Rachel,
I agree. It is difficult for many businesses. My fear is that nothing will really change even after this recall business. Too many Americans cannot look past their pocketbooks and when the smoke clears they will go back to buying cheap. It will really take a strong grassroots movement to change the thinking here and turn the tide.
Many thanks to everyone who has done the work to find alternatives!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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cvbmom
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How about shoes for children that aren't made in China? I have yet to find ANY! (I hope I'm missing something obvious  )
Christine
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LisaD
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cvbmom wrote:
How about shoes for children that aren't made in China? I have yet to find ANY! (I hope I'm missing something obvious )
Christine |
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New Balance has several US factories, so you may be able to find some kids' shoes made in the US in that brand. There are quite a few European brands available, too. Look on Zappos.com and they have an entire "European Styles" section for kids. They are really pricey, though, in the $70 and up range.
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~Lisa
Mama to dd(99), ds(01), ds(03) and ds(06)
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teachingmyown
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Here is a toy no one mentioned. Kapla are great wooden building toys. They are so simple but after two years the kids still come up with creative new ideas with them. They are made in France.
Another one I found through Still Made in the USA is Stack and Stick. Looks like another non-China winner!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Lori B
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cvbmom wrote:
| How about shoes for children that aren't made in China? I have yet to find ANY! (I hope I'm missing something obvious |
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Crocs! Made in Canada, which is why we forked out $29 for them, instead of the $5.99 for the Made in China knock-offs.
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Lori B
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| Posted: Sept 03 2007 at 8:22pm | IP Logged
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Ten Thousand Villages also sells toys. We have a store here in town, and I'll be haeding there before anywhere else during our Christmas shopping weekend (dh's parents take the kids, so we get child-free holiday shopping as well as a mini-holiday )
http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Made in China
