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ST. PAUL (WCCO) ― The recent non-stop wave toy recalls has a lot of us parents hesitant to buy any new toys. All throughout November, we are going to show you some toy alternatives ... like natural toys, many of which are made in the U.S. Better yet, many are made in Minnesota.

The flood of recalls of popular toys in the last few months really has shaken the confidence of shoppers. The good news is that we have options: local stores and manufacturers that sell toys made of wood, metal or fabric that are sure to capture your child's attention and imagination.

I went to Peapods Natural Toys and Baby Care in St. Paul. It's on Snelling Avenue near St. Clair. The store carries a line of wooden toy trains made by a toy maker in Missouri. Even a Thomas the Tank Engine fan would be impressed.

Then there's Larry the Lobster made in Maine -- a moving wooden toy you pull across the floor -- and some cool wooden toys for toddlers made in Thailand. I also found beautiful princess hats and dresses made by a manufacturer in St. Louis Park called Fairy Finery. Another popular item in the store is a double-sided easel made by Beka in St. Paul.

The owners of Peapods say most of their toys are made here in Minnesota and other states in the U.S. or in countries where there are high standards for manufacturing and for paint -- countries like Germany, Argentina and Thailand. They say they only buy from companies that they have questioned extensively about their manufacturing practices and companies with good track records.

Dan Marshall and his wife opened the store in 1999 and say their business is thriving.

"There are people who are just overwhelmed because most of the things, they have never seen before in a toy store, so that is a lot of fun. I often hear people go, 'Ooh! Ahh!' It is neat seeing people finding things they have never seen before," Marshall said. "There is certainly a lot of variation out there. a lot of people are making some really neat things. To us natural toys means anything that is not plastic, that includes wood, metal, fabric, silk. There is a lot you can do with those mediums."

When you hear the words natural toys or wooden toys, you may think that just doesn't sound like a lot fun. Well, I was simply blown away when I walked inside Peapods. And as a mother of a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old, I have been in a lot of toy stores.

I played with a toy made in California reminded me of something I had as child. I also experimented with a German toy that rolls across the floor, and some musical instruments like xylophones, guitars, and maracas.

I talked to a mother from Stillwater with an infant on her hip and a toddler by her side. She has shopped at this store for years. She and her kids were shopping for a birthday gift for a friend and drawn to a wooden fishing rod set.

Marshall tells me the good thing about wood toys is that they are durable. It is common for families to pass toys on to other children, for years and years. With their overseas manufacturers, Peapods only deals with those with excellent track records and high standards for production and paint.

"The other thing we do is we ask because most manufacturers if they make their toys in China they are not advertising that and we put that in our buying decision. We factor in where it is made. Most manufacturers are not advertising it. We also make it clear when people are shopping, where toys are made. Everything is labeled. We can tell you exactly where it is made."

Marshall said his business has increased quite a bit since the recent wave of recalls. He's happy that people are now asking more questions about the toys they buy and becoming more educated about their options.

"I think what is nicer to us that people are asking where is stuff made. We have been trying to tell people where our stuff is made so it is good that they are asking now, and we can steer them to some of the great USA made toys that we love to carry, but have not sold so well. It is nice to be selling more of those toys that we believe in," he said.

So far none of the toys in their store has been recalled.

Next Thursday morning, tune in as we go inside the Beka toy manufacturing plant in St. Paul to see how they make those popular easels and other wooden toys.

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