12:11 AM
Gem
After the numerous toy recalls over the past few years, many parents, including myself, started to seek safer alternatives to some of the toys that were made abroad. Thanks to the Family Review Network, I now have a great reference, Made Here, Baby!:The Essential Guide to Finding the Best American-Made Products for Your Kids by Bruce Wolk (American Management Association, ARV $17.95).Made Here, Baby! is a helpful and much-needed resource for parents who are determined to take control over the kinds of products they give their children. It is a practical, essential guide to more than 400 American manufacturers of toys, games, puzzles, hobbies, sporting goods, apparel, furniture, baby gear, bedding, and other items for children. Complete with personal anecdotes and compelling facts about each company, this book will help parents, grandparents, and relatives find quality, locally made toys and products that are perfect for kids of every age.
Made Here, Baby! lists many great companies that I’ve purchased from (Britax, Naturepedic), some I’ve only heard of (Cotton Monkey, The Peanut Shell), others I’ve never heard of before (Twinkle Baby, Hand Picked Pumpkin), and even some that have been featured here on Sage and Savvy (Rockin’ Baby, Green Toys). Each listing details a company’s contact information, what they manufacture, and interesting facts about that company. What’s really great about this book is how you can search for companies based on various criteria, such as by the type of product they manufacture, by state, those who are eco-friendly, woman-owned, and more.
Yes, there are many companies in America that strive to bring the best in quality and safety when in comes to products for your kids, but there are others outside of America that do so as well, so if you’re only looking for made-in-America companies, Made Here, Baby! is an essential guide.
Although the author does acknowledge that this list is not complete (there are no Hawaii companies!) and that there may be companies that are no longer in business or who have outsourced their manufacturing, Made Here, Baby! is a great reference to have handy the next time you want to buy clothes for your little one, toys for a gift, or simply want to support a local company in the American city nearest you.
Shop: You can purchase Made Here, Baby! at various retailers online and nationwide.
Thank you to American Management Association for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway!
Posted in: Baby,books,Bruce Wolk,Made Here,reviews
2 comments:
Great review. I know that the author is compiling a list of companies for a second edition, and I'm sure he'll remember your mention of lack of companies from Hawaii when he writes the new book. Thanks so much! :)
Thank you so much for your very wonderful review. It is humbling! I really, really tried to find a Hawaiian manufacturing company but the companies I contacted really have their products made many thousands of miles to the east! It is one of the things that sets Made Here, Baby! apart; I interviewed and screened companies. To get to the 417 in the book, I must have located more than 700 "possibles." Some c'mon all you great Hawaiian's, let me know if you hear of anyone. Maybe if the book does well, I can convince them to send us to Hawaii for some research...well, it's worth the try. Please! I love to hear from people just to say hello. Feel free to contact me through the Made Here, Baby! Web site.
Post a Comment