We’ve put together a list of some safe, non-toxic alternatives to Schleich animals and dinosaurs.
Yes, with these alternatives you will be making some compromises compared to Schleich. The Schleich animals are ultra realistic. However, many families are looking to avoid plastic toys.
So let’s get into some alternatives…
Holztiger
Holztiger is a German-based company that makes wooden animals and dinosaurs (and people). They are made with sustainable wood, colored with non-toxic water-based paint and finished with a water-based sealant.
There is a large selection of animals to choose from, as well as different dinosaurs.
Lollipop Sky – has a large selection, but shipping can be slow (a Canadian-based company)
Danny & Luca – a US-based, family owned company. We love Danny & Luca!
Amazon– Incredibly large selection of many popular figures.
Ostheimer
Ostheimer is another great German-based company that makes wooden animals. They are more expensive than Holztiger (more on that below) and do not have any dinosaurs. Ostheimer animals are made of sustainable wood, colored with non-toxic stains and finished with natural plant-based oils.
There is a large selection of animals to choose from. Here is a sample of what some of the Ostheimer animals look like:
Where to Buy Ostheimer:
Natural Baby Co. – our first choice! Has a huge selection, fast shipping, free shipping over $49 and great customer service
Lollipop Sky – has a large selection, but shipping can be slow (a Canadian-based company)
Amazon– They have a very wide selection of animals to choose from
Tikiri
If you’re looking for non-toxic animal toys that can go in the bath (or get wet), then check out Tikiri.
Tikiri animals are made of natural rubber and painted with soy-based inks.
There is a much smaller selection of animals made by Tikiri than compared to Holztiger or Ostheimer. They also make dinosaurs.
Here is a sample of what some of the Tikiri Toys look like:
Where to Buy Tikiri Toys:
Natural Baby Co. – only carries some animals (if you want Tikiri dinosaurs, you’ll have to buy directly from the Tikiri website or Amazon)
Amazon– has a vast selection of Tikiri animals of all types
Magic Cabin Natural Latex Dinosaurs
If you have a dino-lover, check out the dinosaurs from Magic Cabin. Though they are much bigger than the Schleich dinosaurs, they are a good alternative. The Magic Cabin dinosaurs are made of natural rubber, are very realistic in both look and texture, and are posable. They don’t have a huge selection, but these are sure to be a hit.
Let’s take a look at how these alternatives to Schleich compare price-wise.
Let’s take the lion and compare the brands:
Yes, the non-toxic alternatives to Schleich animals are more expensive, but in our opinion, they’re worth it!
Just a Friendly Reminder...
Your child does not need toy animal figures or a huge collection of them. Though there aren’t as many animals in the non-toxic brands compared to Schleich, there are way more animals than one child needs. Don’t fall victim to collecting them all.