Best Years

Pumpkin Brown is delighted to welcome Best Years! Best Years have been specialising in making toys for over 10 years and were the first people to introduce knitted dinosaurs to the world. Having young children themselves the appeal of knitted and crochet toys was instant as it offered a great alternative to the ubiquitous soft toys found all over the high street. They are an ethical company and ethical sourcing is at the core of all their products so they found a great factory to make their first knitted toys, and now they have hundreds, still working with the same people they met all those years ago. This interest in ethical sourcing also led to a 10 year partnership with the Pebble fair trade cooperatives who hand make knitted and crochet toys in rural Bangladesh creating thousands of fairly paid and flexible jobs in the process. And since knitted and crochet goes hand in hand with cotton it was a natural process for us to find the organic cotton Under the Nile ranges which they now offer. So whether you are looking for a great toy for your child, or specifically for a Fair trade and/or organic toy Best Years and Pumpkin Brown have a great selection for you to choose from! All toys are tested to CE, All toys are tested to EN71, All toys are suitable from birth and All our toys are machine washable It matters to Best Years that their toys are not only well designed, but well made and safe which is why they spend so much time making sure that quality stays at the core of their designs. Its also why they do not have bead eyes or any small parts on their toys.

1. Good toys for Operation

You might have already but just did not mention it, but you should also include hygiene items. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, etc. Socks, T-shirts, hats, gloves, sunglasses, flip flops, and underwear would be good too. You should also put in candy or gum. That's always such a treat to the kids. Just make sure it's hard candy, because soft candy (and chocolate) will melt. Lollipops, mints, jolly ranchers, candy canes, and bubble gum would be good choices. And make sure to double bag all candy; while hard candy does not generally melt, it can still get sticky and ruin other things in the box if it is not bagged. Some "fun" things for both genders that you could put in are: A bag of balloons, jacks, marbles, jump ropes, yo-yos, puzzles, flute recorders, bouncy balls, stickers, glow sticks, play-doh (that may seem childish for that age group, but like someone else said kids in these countries are not the same as kids here...and heck, I am 19 and still think play-doh is awesome lol) "Fun" things for girls: Small stuffed animals, small dolls, cute hair accessories (like hair clips, headbands, ponytail holders, hairbrushes), jewelry, scented lip balm Fun things for boys: Hot wheels cars, tennis rackets (if you can find some small enough to fit in a box). Another good idea I've heard of for 10-14 year old boys is to buy a soccer ball, deflate it so it will fit in the box, and include a pump with it so that they can inflate it again. I do not know how easy it is to find a cheap soccer ball though.

2. any deas of toys i can get my 2 year old sister?

They like those chunky wooden puzzles at that age. Sorting toys. Here's a site with some. Just check the ages

3. Tips To Buy Safe Toys For Babies

There is simply no childhood without toys. Toys in fact, play an important role in child development. Extra caution needs to be exercised when buying toys for babies. This is because they cannot tell you if something has hurt them or got stuck in their throat. Of course, you are a vigilant mother, but why invite trouble when you can avoid it? Read below for a few smart tips to buy safe toys for your baby. Choose age appropriate toys: When you go toy shopping, you will see many colorful and vibrant choices. However, you should know that choosing age appropriate toys will help your baby learn and develop. Toys suitable for all ages and development stages are now available in the market. These factors should be considered while shopping toys for children. Click here to read about age appropriate toys for babies Do not opt for loud toys: Babies are fascinated by toys that are animated, emit light and play music. They love to hold squeezies which make sound when pressed. You need to be careful here since too loud sound can impair hearing of your baby. This is because the baby's play is unpredictable, what if he plays the toy near his ear? Washable: Soft toys with fur and other elements should all be washable. Your baby is likely to explore these toys using his mouth and feeling the texture, so make sure he is not falling ill because of germs hoarded by the toys. You may consider disinfecting the toys and washing them regularly to keep dirt at bay Consider toy size: Small toys increase the risk of choking. Ideally the toys should be greater than 6 cm in length and 1.75 cm diameter. Depending on the age of your baby, you may want to buys to stimulate his grip and coordination. Also select toys that are lightweight at the same time. Heavy toys may cause unwanted injury to your baby Avoid small, loose parts: Toys containing removable parts or those that can be easily pulled such as eyes or buttons should be avoided. Similarly, watch out for button batteries, small coins and beads! They increase the risk of choking. Click here to know what you should do if your child swallows a coin or a small object Resistant to chewing: Babies tend to put anything and everything in their mouth. They will chew toys or simply suck on them and squeal! So make sure that toys do not give in to your baby's teething. The toys should not chip and break into small pieces which could be swallowed by your baby No sharp edges: Your baby's skin is still developing and can be easily injured. Touch the plastic surface of the toys and feel the edges for any sharpness which may hurt your baby. Similarly stay clear of toys with protruding parts Check strings or wires: Toys with long strings, threads or wires pose a risk of strangulation for small babies. Sometimes babies can get caught among these which may hamper blood circulation and cause serious injuries. Remove any long ribbons or cords from the toys before handing them to the babies. Pick non-toxic toys: Toys containing paint, rubber or plastic may be potentially dangerous for your baby. These contain lead and pthalates which are dangerous. Make sure that the toys are marked as "non toxic". Stay away from toys that may be flammable Sturdy is the key: Babies will do everything possible with their toys. Yanking, pulling, throwing, chewing, banging etc. Toys should not become chipped or yield small parts when exposed to such behavior. So choose toys which are able to withstand such exposure. Toys that are cracked, with loose or broken parts should be immediately discarded Avoid electric toys: Toys that have wire connection or run on electricity should be avoided. For the same reason that they will eventually end up in your baby's mouth. Electric toys also have the risk of developing short-circuits and shocks. With time, the wires may become broken in places and dangerous live cords can be fatal Buying second hand toys: If you are buying any second hand or used toy for your baby, make sure you inspect the toy well. Check for any buttons, nuts, batteries, wires, ribbons, eyes, beads, or plastic bits that could be coming off due to wear and tear. Anything that can be easily snapped or chewed away by your baby is not a good deal Whenever you buy a new toy, discard the plastic covers immediately as they pose serious hazards to babies. It's best not to leave your baby unattended with toys. It's also recommended that you inspect your baby's toys at regular intervals for their wear and tear. If the toy has loose, moving parts, it's best to discard them appropriately. It's wise to purchase toys suitable for baby's age and those that will stimulate his development. As Doug Taylor rightly quoted "Toys are the greatest inspiration for me. People never really grow up." So next time you are out to buy toys, do not forget the safety aspect of toys!