Wooden vs plastic toys. What's your preference?

[KittyVentura]

Wooden. I love, love, love wooden toys. Every toy they had would be wooden if I had my way xx

 

[MommyJogger]

Don't know if it's been said in this thread yet, but something worth considering is that the wood toys have much better re-sale value and are a lot easier to unload after you're done with them because everyone likes wood and doesn't want to pay the full price for it.
So the price difference might not be all that great when everything is said and done, unless you think a kid or pet is going to absolutely maim them.
Whenever I can find it secondhand (because I'm cheap), I go with wood.

 

[tommyg]

Duplo has a fairly good resale value too.
I think the thing that swung the decision for me was being able to get the Thomas trains,although they are becoming harder to find other than online.

And wooden or duplo he could still use the duplo to build tunnels etc.

 

[jd83]

We have a good amount of both. I think its good to have a range of toys, with different textures and feels to them, and different functions. I like wood for train sets and blocks, personally. My older son got a plastic train set when he was 2, and the tracks wouldn't stay together no matter what we did. It was super annoying. The wooden ones are sturdier, and we were able to screw them down on the table.

 

[Stellae]

I tend to like wooden toys better for their longevity, I feel like they hold up a bit better and don't age as obviously as plastic toys do.

 

[Septie]

True, but keep in mind that every time the kid enters a toy store they will see the perfect wooden tunnels (and stations and buildings) for sale (I know my kids would want to add on to a wooden set whenever they see all the stuff on sale, including collecting all the different Thomas trains - and there are a lot!).... Also, our eldest son uses standard duplo bricks to build elaborate bridges for his Duplo train (initially with our help, now on his own); this wouldn't be possible with the wooden ones. We have found used tracks and rail points (?) at a flea market to add onto the basic set, however (probably not necessary yet for the age of OP's son). We haven't really had issues with the tracks coming apart; but they are easy enough for our just turned 2 year old to manipulate and put together in simple shapes.
Just to add - duplo ages really well! My family still has some from when we were kids; and the additional tracks I bought used were from one of the really early Duplo train sets... I must sound like a sales person (I promise I am not!!! ). We have just loved the imagination and creativity duplo provides.

Duplo has a fairly good resale value too.
I think the thing that swung the decision for me was being able to get the Thomas trains,although they are becoming harder to find other than online.

And wooden or duplo he could still use the duplo to build tunnels etc.

 

[Itsychik]

I love second hand toys as well, and get those generally whenever I can find a great deal. But my parents and MIL/FIL were looking for ideas to get our DS for Christmas and that's when the 'wooden vs plastic' debate came up. If you're buying new, what would be the 'best' way to go?

Thanks everyone for the input! I've learned loads about both plastic and wooden toys I had never even thought to consider!

 

[tommyg]

If he likes Thomas go wooden the combinations are endless. I bought new and went for a wooden train set so I could get the Thomas the Tank trains, and I will be adding to his wooden set this year.

That said I am also adding to his duplo collection. I agree duplo ages really well.

Part of me also thinks its good for them to be able to touch and feel diffrent textures and have toys that are different from one another rather than everything being very sameish duplo.

When the second hand value was mentioned I think people were thinking of you selling it on when DS is done with it. But i think you'd be able to sell either - although I doubt I'd have the heart to flog lego of any description. And DS's wooden Thomas the Tank has been carted everywhere and bashed about to the point I'd be lucky to get 50p for it.

I look forward to the agrument in a few years hornby vs lego trains.

 

[Septie]

Yet another addition, sorry: My 2 both looove Thomas, and have actually named their Duplo vehicles after Thomas trains (they both agree on the names, and then of course argue over who gets Thomas, Gordon, Percy etc.). My eldest has actually built the various Thomas trains just with duplo blocks (including constructing the numbers and faces via blocks), which he then attaches to the duplo train wheels. But again, I am sure you can't go wrong either way! Never heard of hornby...will have a google.

 

[OmarsMum]

Don't fall into the Thomas trap those trains ARE expensive, we have 35 so far & it cost us a fortune

 

[tommyg]

Ah but I only seem able to find the wooden Thomas ones online, ELC and Toysrus, both seem to have stopped selling them. So can only buy online therefore less likely to be impulse buy.

I think Santa might bring one or 2 new ones. We also have a few generic wooden trains.

 

[MrsHedgehog]

Personally I hate plastic toys and much prefer simpler, wooden toys for LO. The only plastic things I'd ever happily buy for LO though would be Duplo or Lego as I do think they're wonderful toys.

 

[Piper84]

LO has far too many toys and I think we've bought him maybe 10% of them! Most are plastic but I prefer wooden for him, and die-cast toy cars.

I like Playmobil as it's fun, life-like and made in Europe and there's a toddler range. A lot of plastic toys made in China actually contain toxic chemicals and I wouldn't be surprised if they crept into the European and US markets now and then.

Oh look: www.businesswire.com/news/home/2010...vel-Regulated-Chemicals-25-China-made-Plastic