For Christmas, we got our youngest son, who is 14 months old, a wooden race car from Toys ’R Us. Not only is it the perfect size for his little hands but it is environmentally friendly, it rolls very nicely, and is attractive as well. He likes taking the race car driver in and out of the car and the slot fits his new Apple Grove Pals inside it quite nicely as well. Only $4.98 and not the only wooden toy to be chosen from (there was also another vehicle and a shape sorter at our Toys ’R Us store.) It’s recommended for ages 2+.

These cute little slide whistles will make a perfect stocking stuffer. Each cute little whistle is approximately 4.5 inches long and designed for ages 3 and up. At $1.95 each, this is a very affordable crowd pleaser. If you want these as party favors, you can purchase a set fo 12 for the discounted price of $17.95 at BlueberryForest.com.

Pottery Barn has a little Sales corner tucked away at the bottom of their list of items. Included in the sale are the Mini Wooden Vehicles for $14.99 each. Best of all, shipping is free on these items and they are eco-friendly wooden toys. The cute little crane is 6.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ and the bulldozer and firetruck are of similar dimensions. Get them for your child’s holiday at PotteryBarnKids.com.

The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set includes tracks, bridges, the engine shed, trees, and so much more. $64.99 is a pretty impressive price for a 138 piece set. Trains, cranes, tracks! Putting it all together is even part of the fun. Sold at Amazon.com, I think this is something to keep it in mind for this Christmas. I think it will be compatible with some of our other sets and Thomas trains as well. You can even get this set, Suretrack (keeps tracks from pulling apart), and the train table for $195.09

Charley Harper’s classic animal illustrations are suddenly all the rage in books and puzzles. The attractive animal images on this wooden peg puzzle invite children to improve their fine motor skills as they learn about the many animals of the world. Designed for children ages 3 and up, it retails for a very reasonable $12.95 at RonRobinson.com. This would make a wonderful gift.

In my experience, little boys often are just as fascinated by dollhouses as little girls are. While I think it is perfectly acceptable for a little boy to have a dollhouse, some parents may feel more comfortable investing in a more “masculine” design. This great rocket is perfect for cultivating imaginative play. I have a feeling that my nephew would love it. It comes with 21 different accessories for all kinds of outer space adventures. You can purchase one of these for $99.95 at onestepahead.com. Unfortunately, they are backordered until early October.

This fun set of wooden cars from The Land of Nod is sure to please. Kids will love the bright colors. Moms and dads will appreciate the non-toxic paint. Designed for kids ages 3 and up, this set is currently on sale for $4.95 (half price!). Other vehicle sets are also on sale for the same price. It’s a great way to build up a collection of fun, safe toys. You can check out the options at landofnod.com. I like to stock up on great buys like this one for gift-giving throughout the year.

Nothing is better than wooden toys for safety and eco-friendliness. This wooden helicopter by Love These Toys is a simple, fun toy for little ones. You can rest assured that it is 100% hand-crafted in the USA and safe. At just $15, it’s a deal as well. You can view this helicopter at LoveTheseToys.com, where you can also see the rest of the safe, American-made toys the company offers.

For those worried about the possible effects of fetal ultrasound, the Natursutten Wooden Midwife’s Stethoscope may be a good option. Made of Beech wood, this tool amplifies the fetal heartbeat, allowing you to hear it from around the 20th week of pregnancy. I think this is a wonderful idea that would also make a thoughtful gift. You can purchase one for $36 at globalenfant.com.

I picked one of these up at a close out store a few months back, and we have been really pleased with the quality. My daughter has lots of toys to choose from, but she gravitates toward this one when it is available. Something about the combination of soft fabrics and wood appeals to her. It makes a pleasing sound, too. All of the products in this line are made of high-quality hardwoods and are packaged in 100% recycled paperboard. You can purchase one for $6.95 at babyearth.com.

As much as I love wooden toys and wish we’d gone that route with our boys instead of allowing all kinds of plastic, bleeping, flashing toys into our house, I do have to admit that some of them just don’t attract interest in babies. As cute as it is with its bright colors, soft ears, and happy face, we have a vintage pull along dog much like the Selecta Nico Dog Wooden Pull Toy and my older son as a baby was unwilling to play with it. Perhaps my younger son will take an interest in it; I have yet to let him try out our vintage collection. If you’d like to give it a shot with your children, I found it at babynaturopathics.com for $25.08. If it doesn’t fly, you can always decorate with vintage (or vintage inspired) pieces; that’s what I do with ours.

When my oldest daughter was a toddler, we had all of the plastic Little Tikes kitchen pieces. This  Deluxe Wooden Kitchen & Laundry Center has really come a long way from those early models. It includes everything little ones need to keep house–from a stove and refrigerator to a laundry center, complete with an adorable little laundry basket. This would definitely inspire hours of dramatic play at our house. You can purchase one for $199 at LittleTikes.com.

Sometimes I find that wooden toys look a little dull. Though I love the idea of an eco-friendly play room, I just wonder if my boys would be interested in playing with wooden cars and blocks for very long. However, when I found the Playsam line of race cars and airplanes, I was convinced that wooden toys can be attractive. These toys are shiny and sleek and eye-catching. I adore the Playsam Jetliner in Black. Though you can’t give it to children under 3, imagine a play room filled with offerings this glossy and streamlined. It would give a modern feel to the room and entice even the adults to touch and ooh over the toys. The only downfall? The price tag is $75 CAD (about $63 USD). You certainly do pay for quality, folks. Buy this jetliner for your little pilot at inhabitshop.com.

Concerned about the things your baby puts into her mouth? Here’s one less thing to worry about: Heirloom Teethers by rocklovepeace. These beautiful wooden teethers are handmade by two moms in the United States from LEED certified cherry wood and finished with organic beeswax. The teethers are sold in sets of three, containing a heart, star, and peace symbol, for $38, or singly, for $17 each, at StarterKitforChange.com. Even better, they come in a biodegradable jute bag, so you can be sure your baby is teething safely while you’re doing something great for the environment at the same time.

This Handmade Wooden Jungle Friends Bowling Set is so cute, and a great toy to teach early hand-eye coordination. The entire set is eco-friendly, handmade and vegetable dyed, using fair trade practices. Eden Home certifies that their toys are made by fair trade artisans and family cooperatives in India, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma to support sustainable income. The set is currently on sale for $37.40 (originally $44) at EdenHome.com. It would make a great gift.