Top Wooden Puzzles | Melissa & Doug Puzzle Swaps | Sustainable Toys
When you ask someone to name a wooden toy brand, most often, the first brand they can think of is Melissa & Doug.
They have been around for many years and are readily available at big box stores like Target and online at Amazon. They also have one of the lowest prices for all significant wooden toy companies. However, their toys are priced down for a reason, as the quality of the product dictates the price. Melissa & Doug are known for how badly the paint chips off on their toys and how easily dented the toy becomes. Often parents complain about how the wood on their toys splinters leaving a hazard to their little ones. I am offering some Melissa & Doug Play Puzzle Swaps in this article below to consider.
Over the years, we have had many Melissa & Doug puzzles, including their chunky wooden animal puzzles.
All the wooden chunky animal puzzles we purchased have had paint that chipped, scratched off, and the edges worn. Melissa & Doug puzzles are often not painted but have plastic-coated printed paper glued on top of puzzle pieces. This plastic-coated paper easily scratches and tears and is not water resistant. Melissa & Doug toys use glues that contain acceptable amounts of formaldehyde.
Most of their puzzles are made of cheap pine wood or a pressed board with glue. Our experience has been that Melissa & Doug puzzles are less expensive for a reason. I like to say that someone has to pay the cost difference for a cheap toy, and it’s usually the factory worker making little to nothing. Furthermore, the materials that they use are of poor quality, unsustainable, and not very safe. Also, I hope that by writing this article, others will learn from my mistake of purchasing from this company. I am offering some Melissa & Doug Puzzle Swaps in this article below, which are of much higher quality and sustainably made.
Most of the Melissa & Doug toys we have purchased have been “landfill quality” and sadly don’t get handed on to the next family, which is unsustainable.
“The Melissa & Doug corporation makes little to no effort to be a sustainable company or to make environmentally friendly toys.”
All of their toys are made in China in various outsourced factories with little oversight from the company. They recently added a sustainability message about what they plan to do, but it’s all greenwashing until I see photos and articles about what they have done. Greenwashing is when a company purports to be environmentally conscious for marketing purposes but isn’t making notable sustainability efforts. I recently published a complete article on “What’s a Sustainable Toy? Melissa & Doug would not remotely come close to making a sustainable toy by my definition.
I spent countless hours researching the Top Sustainable Toy Companies out there. My findings are published HERE; please let me know what you think!
Why are China toys nasty? There is a price for everything. Melissa & Doug cannot sell their toys at their price point without someone paying the price—a price, whether cheap labor, materials or environmentally unfriendly practices, is paid. Review my article on China Toys here. It’s pretty shocking when you learn more about the toy industry.
Over the years, we have had our fair share of Melissa & Doug toys with five kids in the house. Almost all of our Melissa & Doug toys were not in good enough condition to be handed down after much use. They have not been made to be heirloom quality. We have had to throw out many Melissa & Doug parts because they are unsafe with light usage. I am not saying that all Melissa & Doug toys have terrible quality, as there are a few notable toys they produce of good quality.
I wish more people could witness firsthand the difference between subpar Melissa & Doug and heirloom quality sustainable wooden toys. It is worth it if you can do the sustainable swap and choose a better company over Melissa & Doug.
Parents sometimes complain about the higher cost of sustainable toys; however, I believe it is worth the cost difference. Giving your child a safer, better-made toy from a reputable company that is environmentally responsible is worth every penny. Some of the sustainable swaps I have listed below are only a 5 to 10-dollar difference, nominal for peace of mind. To learn more about our favorite sustainable companies, Click HERE. I have included four sustainable toy brands in this article: Plan Toys, Maple Landmark Toys, Tender Leaf Toys, and Janod.
Melissa & Doug’s Most Popular Puzzles
Because Melissa & Doug’s toys are not made with natural organic dyes and water-based pigments, their paint can contain acceptable amounts of lead. The wood in their toys can be made from a compressed board or cheap pine constructed in an unsustainable way. Most of their toys are made from compressed boards with formaldehyde-based glues. Also, they tend to mix plastics with their wooden play sets to lessen the manufacturing cost. All the wooden chunky animal puzzles we purchased have had paint that chipped, scratched off, and the edges worn. Melissa & Doug puzzles are often not painted but have plastic-coated printed paper glued on top of puzzle pieces. This plastic-coated paper easily scratches, comes unglued, and is not water-resistant.
Plan Toys Brand Puzzles
Plan Toys puzzles are unique because they combine PlanWood and regular wood. Their puzzles are made with organic dyes and pigments incorporated within the piece, not just painted on. Their PlanWood puzzles are water-resistant and stand-alone for figure play. All Plan Toys puzzles are made with non-formaldehyde glue and water-based colors, making them one of the safest toy brands. All their puzzles are sanded to a smooth finish and beautifully crafted. Most of their puzzles are for ages 12 months plus, which is sometimes hard to find. Many of their puzzles are multifunctional and can be played with in a different way other than just a puzzle.
Maple Landmark Brand Puzzles-
Maple Landmark Toys are Made in Vermont, USA. Many of their puzzles are award-winning! They are my favorite manufacturer of wooden puzzles for kids as well as adults. They have many more puzzles than the ones listed below. Their puzzles are made with safe pigments and glues. Maple Landmark puzzles are of heirloom quality. The wood quality and craftsmanship are superb. You must see these puzzles in person, as the photos don’t show how well they are made. All of their frameless puzzles come with a drawstring storage bag. The framed puzzles are of a lovely size and stack easily for storage. Unique to Maple Landmark is its religious puzzles. Their newest nativity puzzle is chunky, and each piece stands alone for play. Maple Landmark also makes personalized name puzzles that are beautiful for room decor and learning.
Tender Leaf Brand Puzzles-
Tender Leaf makes a few nice educational puzzles for toddlers. They are simple, elegant, and crafted skillfully with a modern feel. Their puzzles are made with water-based dyes and paints, and non-formaldehyde glues. Their puzzles are compact and great for small spaces.
Janod Brand Puzzles-
Janod Brand has teamed up with the environmental organization WWF (World Wildlife Federation) to make environmentally friendly puzzles that are animal themed. Their designs are modern, with beautiful colors and themes. Janod makes a unique suitcase style of paper puzzles that they are known for. The only con of their puzzles is that they are made in China.
Melissa & Doug Puzzle Swaps Conclusion:
In conclusion, I recommend buying better quality wooden puzzles even if it costs a bit more. You will spend just as much money replacing the bad quality puzzles when buying cheaply made puzzles. Safety has always been my utmost concern as a parent, so I think choosing toys made with safer materials is an important criterion when selecting toys. It is essential to choose reputable wooden toy companies to purchase toys from so that you know your child is playing with something safe.
A quick search on Amazon for wooden puzzles will render you many random no-named brands. These toys are made unsustainably in 3rd party factories with non-trustworthy productions. If I leave you with one thought, it would be to carefully consider your purchases with these companies because they probably aren’t producing products as safe as they claim to be. Playing it safe and buying from a reputable and sustainable company is essential. It is also nice to know that these sustainable companies put our children and their safety first, which is most important! If you enjoyed my Melissa & Doug wooden puzzle Swaps, please consider subscribing for new articles and exclusive discounts in my shop.
About the Sustainable Toy Companies:
1. PlanToy
3 Reasons to Choose PlanToys for Kids!
- Firstly, they are passionate about child safety. They pay close attention to the safety standards of their production process. Their materials are non-toxic and environmentally friendly, so parents can let their children play without worry.
- Secondly, they help children develop. Every parent wants to see their child successfully grow and develop. They believe that creative and educational play can help them do this! Children learn and evolve in various ways by playing with their educational toys.
- Thirdly, they care about the environment. They believe that a quality environment will give rise to qualified individuals. At PlanToys, they also use water-base chemical-free water-based colors, blue that doesn’t contain formaldehyde, and they maximize resource utilization by using leftover sawdust to create a new sustainable material called PlanWood™.
PlanToys Sustainable Mission:
“Since 1981, our mission has been to create a more sustainable world. We carefully consider the environment and society regarding our business practices. We also focus on safety standards and child development in the production process. Also, by applying innovative eco-friendly manufacturing methods and using green materials, we help pave a sustainable path for our children. And in turn, doing our part to protect the beautiful ecosystems and environments that inhabit our planet.” Additionally, to read more about PlanToys Sustainable Mission HERE. To learn more about our favorite sustainable companies, Click HERE.
They are made in Thailand of certified chemical-free rubberwood. PlanToys is one of the most sustainable toy companies in the world. Instead of paints, their teethers are made with unfinished wood and water-based natural dyes. This is one of my favorite wooden toy companies.
2. Maple Landmark
Maple Landmark Sustainable Mission:
“A world of American-made wood products”
“At Maple Landmark, we have been making eco-friendly, educational wooden toys, games, and gifts since 1979 at our shop here in Middlebury, Vermont. We pride ourselves on being a local company that supports other local companies that operate responsibly and sustainably. We employ about 40 local folks year around. As a result of these practices, we produce products that have always been safe and of superior quality.”
Notes:
- One of the best sustainable wooden toy companies on the market today.
- Made in Vermont, USA.
- Maple Landmark uses only heirloom quality hardwoods. No plastics
- Maple Landmark has created some of the most sustainable wooden toys from birth on.
- Their schoolhouse and the natural line are free from all dyes, paints, and lacquers, only using wood.
- They source their materials as close to their workshop factory in Vermont as possible.
- Maple Landmark truly is America’s largest producer of sustainable wooden toys.
3. tender leaf toys–
The sustainable mission of tender leaf toys:
“We are deeply committed to protecting Indonesia’s natural resources and only work with reclaimed rubberwood, a by-product of the latex industry. In addition, for every reclaimed tree it uses, we plant a new one, driving the regeneration cycle ahead. We have been awarded the ICTI Ethical Toy Program seal of approval for our ethical and sustainable supply chain.”
“Every year, we spend around two months working alongside our wonderful suppliers Mentari International in Indonesia, makers of all Tender Leaf Toys. Their family-run factory operates with high training standards, well-being, and respect, providing dependable employment for hundreds of local villagers. During our visits, we work together, eat, and make gorgeous toys together.”
Notes:
- Wooden toys are made without plastics.
- They are classically based on pretend play.
- Tender leaf toys are handmade in their factory in Indonesia.
- Their family-run factory operates with high standards and employs hundreds of local villagers.
- They only work with reclaimed rubberwood.
- For every reclaimed tree it uses, they replant a new one.
- The Tender Leaf Co. receives the ICTI Ethical Toy seal of approval for a sustainable supply chain.
- Tender Leaf packages without single-use plastics.
- Hand-painted with water-based safe paints.
4. Janod
Janod’s Sustainable Message:
“The WWF® & Janod: creating sustainable toys. Let’s make children aware of the importance of protecting the environment by transmitting key messages on preserving biodiversity! The WWF® and Janod are working together to offer early-learning toys, puzzles, and board games made of wood and cardboard to create a 100% sustainable collection. Did you know that the carbon footprint of a wooden toy is 25 times lower than that of a plastic toy… so let’s all take action together for the future of our children”
Notes:
- Janod is a French-based company making efforts toward sustainable production.
- Slightly limited sustainability message. It could be more transparent and easier to find on their website.
- They have joined forces with the WWF(World Wide Fund for Nature) to create a line of 100% sustainable toys.
- Janod uses FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed forests. Preserves biodiversity, ecology, and renewable resources. In addition, this protects the rights of the indigenous peoples.
