The moment we spot babies or little kids playing, the first thing we notice is how they tend to put toys straight into their mouths! Whether they’re teething or not, it’s pretty common for children to chew on their playthings. The colourful plastic toys may be attractive and fun to play with, but they’re often toxic and loaded with additives such as cadmium, phthalates, and lead. As they are known to lead to poisoning or choking, it’s ideal to offer toxin-free alternatives to your tiny tots. The older generations were clearly onto something when they insisted on retaining wooden or handmade toys, passing them on to the next generations.
The colourful plastic toys may be attractive and fun to play with, but they’re often toxic and loaded with additives such as cadmium, phthalates, and lead.
Safer alternatives for plastic-free toys include products made from bamboo or wood. Various homegrown brands are crafting soft toys with cotton or hemp fabric as they’re hypoallergenic, long-lasting, and secure for kids. Keen on picking some for the kids at your home? We’ve got just the thing. From stationery to toys — we’re loving what these five Indian brands are doing.
5 Indian Brands to Shop Non-Toxic Products for Your Kids
Source: Bloon Toys
Bloon Toys: Bloon is one of the first brands that comes to our mind when anyone says sustainable and interactive toys. Founded by Isha Gopal, Bloon prioritises off-screen learning toys and products crafted using natural materials and colours. Bringing imagination into play, the toys are designed to allow a child to recreate various games. For instance, their most popular Curvy Board leaves all the room for imagination, and kids can jump on it, learn to balance, flip it, build a bridge… You get the drift, the possibilities are endless. Every bit sturdy and long-lasting, these curvy boards can carry about 300 kilos.
From piklers and modelling toys to hammocks and felt toys, there’s much to shop from. Bloon is also launching paleo toys soon and we’re already envying the kids who’ll get those dinosaurs.
Seepi: Home to incredible handicrafts and accessories, Seepi works with Indian artisans, weavers, and diverse social enterprises to craft and curate its collections. Their handmade soft toys are perhaps one of the first things that drew our attention to this brand. Made from azo-free material, they’re super safe for kids. You’ll stumble upon alphabet charts, plush toys from across the animal kingdom (dino or natkhat billi, anyone?), and cushions shaped after buses and train engines.
Source: Seepi
Another collection worth checking is their handmade stationery; from wooden pencils and notebooks with traditional art on their covers to pen stands and pencil pouches, there’s plenty that kids will adore. Their decor also includes handmade cushion covers and wooden toys crafted by artisans from Varanasi, Gujarat, etc.
Shumee: Made by moms for kids of all ages, Shumee offers sustainable and educational wooden toys and products. Shumee says they are 90 per cent child and 10 per cent toys, and prioritising that philosophy, they work with Indian artisans who handcraft these products using natural materials and non-toxic colours. Besides, they use only water-based colours and their toys are ASTM-certified, which proves their quality and safety standards. If we were you, we’d add their 3D puzzles, musical toys (tambourines and wooden rattles), and DIY activity kits to the cart. Whether you’re looking for non-toxic organic colours or beginner’s crafts kits, Shumee has something for everyone.
Source: Shumee
Can’t decide what to pick? Their subscription boxes are a fair solution. They ship a box once in three months, and they’re designed for growing ages.
Source: Skola Toys
Skola Toys: Learning while having fun is how we’d define Skola Toys! The team behind Skola comes with an enriching experience and expertise in the early education sector, and they’re firm believers that kids lean towards toys made from natural materials instead of synthetic counterparts. They categorise their products under cognition, numbers, language, and environment, offering toys up to the age of seven.
If you’ve been meaning to get puzzles or pre-writing toys such as mazes and sand art for your kids, Skola has an interesting collection.
Jalebi: Toys are great and all that, but are you looking for eco-friendly stationery? Whether you’re going for notebooks or pencils — Jalebi is one brand that appeases adults and kids alike. This brand offers a fully plantable collection of stationery, cartoon rakhis, and eye masks. Everything is recycled and recyclable, and what’s interesting is that you can choose the plants (basil or tomato) while choosing the products.
Source: Jalebi
Jalebi also has waterproof notebooks which are functional and best if your kids love to colour while having a splash in the pool.
While you’re at it, you can also check out online stores like Brown Living, Amala Earth, Green the Map, Peppa, The Second Life, and Goli Soda for eco-friendly stationery. We know it’s daunting picking stuff for kids, but ensure you’re picking products free from phthalates or artificial colours. Another good rule of thumb is to look for products free from paraffin wax and go for beeswax instead.
Also, check out our piece on eco-friendly stationery here.
And for everything else like toys and educational games, stick to wooden or cotton-based toys. They’re mommy-approved and your kids shall approve of them too.
