Seeking Good Manipulative Toys

My son will be 1 soon, and I'm starting to look for some birthday presents. I've already done some looking through various place (Fat Brain Toys, Amazon, etc), but I haven't found quite what I want. He has some nice manipulative wooden toys (Melissa & Doug type things), but now I need something that is good and provides more challenge for a 1 year old on up. Ideally, it would not be something that makes noise (no batteries), but with lots of things to pull or move or manipulate in some way. (I'm thinking something along the line of those dolls with laces and buttons, but appropriate for a younger age). Cloth or wood would be great, and something of a relatively small size that can be carried along and not too big for my little guy to hold on to. Any and all suggestions appreciated, but recommendations for specific toys that you have had for your own kids would be the best.

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J.W. answers from Boston on March 24, 2008

below you'll find an old post i made on another mom's board - but it might be helpful to you too! discovery toys has some great things and i think anything that your child shows an interest in is great - puzzles, trucks, trains, dolls, garbage trucks, kitchen playset, grocery cart (we save old boxes of waffles, cereal, crackers and set up our own grocery store). i know you were looking for portable things though. hope this helps!
J.

with all the scary recalls happening lately - a group of moms came up with this amazing list of websites that sell great things. you don't have to worry about lead paint or chemicals!!! so many of my friends have vowed not to buy things from china or from certain toy manufacturers like mattel, fisher price, etc. and it's probably a good idea!! too many scary things keep coming out in the news! i just thought i would pass this on to everyone i know to help take the worry out and save you some time trying to find an alternative.
xo
J.

www.naturalpod.com
www.naturetables.com
www.weirdolls.com
www.naturalwaldorftoys.com
www.sarahssilks.com
www.quiethourstoys.com
www.atoygarden.com
www.rosenberrybooks.com
www.seasonsnaturaltoys.com
www.rosiehippo.com
www.silkensky.com
www.atoygarden.com
www.willowtreetoys.com
www.achildsdream.com
www.naturallycreative.com
www.bellalunatoys.com
www.toyspectrum.com
www.hazelnutkids.com
www.camdenrose.com

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