He says you can make ducks and other toys without using phthalates, but the alternative chemicals haven't been as well-studied.

NPR: Ban Weighed On Children's Toy Ingredient

She suggests using metal, not plastic or rubber, toys and trinkets.

CNN: Saint Basil's Cake

VTech, which will never have the marketing clout of the rich-world giants, is happier using its market as a launch pad into electronics than into other sorts of toys.

ECONOMIST: Electronic toys