Made Here, Baby!: The Essential Guide to Finding the Best American-Made Products for Your Kids

321 Pages·2009·3.495 MB·English

by  Bruce H. Wolk

MADE
HERE
,
!
BABY
C
The Essential Guide to Finding the Best
American-Made Products for Your Kids
Bruce H. Wolk
American Management Association
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Wolk,BruceH.
Madehere,baby!:theessentialguidetofindingthebestAmerican-madeproductsforyourkids/
BruceH.Wolk.
p. cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindexes.
ISBN-13:978-0-8144-1388-3
ISBN-10:0-8144-1388-9
1.Children’sparaphernalia—UnitedStates. 2.Manufactures—UnitedStates. 3.Child
consumers—UnitedStates. I.Title.
HD9970.5.C483U69 2009
649(cid:2).1029—dc22
2008044340
(cid:2)2009BruceH.Wolk.
Allrightsreserved.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Thispublicationmaynotbereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,
ortransmittedinwholeorinpart,
inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,
mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofAMACOM,
adivisionofAmericanManagementAssociation,
1601Broadway,NewYork,NY10019.
Printingnumber
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Samuel Ray Morrison, a teacher from West Virginia
For my uncle, Sy Jaffe, an American who made books with his hands
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Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
MyMom,‘‘RuthietheRiveter’’ 1
MomsandDadsversus‘‘TheGlobe’’ 4
WhatAmericanManufacturersHaveTaughtUs 5
DoYouKnowofaCompany? 8
Chapter 2. How to Use This Book 10
Chapter 3. Mom, Dad, and Baby—American-Made
Products for Infants 16
NursingandFeedingMyBaby(bottlewraps,nursing
clothes,andnursingpillows) 19
TravelingwithMyBaby(babyslings,pouches,
carriers,carseats,andaccessories) 22
DiaperBags,Diapers, andDiaperOrganizers 29
Baby’sBreath(American-madebaby’s-roomair
purifiers) 33
Baby’sSafetyand Wellness(first-aidkits,
thermometers,soundconditioners,safety barriers,
andidentificationsystems) 36
PreciousBabyKeepsakes(mommyandbaby
jewelry,objects inpottery, pewterandsilver,
keepsakealbums,personalizedbooks,andquilts) 42
BabyFurniture(cribs,bassinets,changingtables,
bondingbenches,bedsandbedroomfurniture,and
highchairs) 48
Baby’sFirstMattress 54
Baby’sBlanketsand Bedding(blankets,sheetsand
pillowcases,quilts, bumpers,roomdecorationsand
accessories) 57
v
z
Contents
BabyClothing(bibs,burpcloths, snappies,tees,
pants,babyouterwear,andcostumes) 68
BabyFootwear 84
BabyFun!(baby-safedolls,rattles,andpacifiers) 85
Chapter 4. American-Made Children’s Clothing and
Accessories 91
OurLittleBabyIsChanging!(clothingfortoddlers
andpreschoolchildren) 94
MostlyforGirls(clothing forschoolagegirlsto
’tweensandbeyond) 103
Girls’JewelryandAccessories 114
MostlyforBoys(clothingforschool-ageboysto
’tweensandbeyond) 116
ForBoysandGirls(companiesmakingproductsfor
bothboysandgirls,generallyfromschoolageto
’tweensandbeyond) 119
Children’sandInfants’FootwearandSocks 137
Chapter 5. American-Made Children’s Furniture 141
OutdoorFurniture(furnituremadefromrecycled
plastic,plastic/woodcomposites,andwood) 144
IndoorFurniture(children’sfurnitureforany room
ofthehousefortoddlersthroughteens) 146
Kid’sCarpeting(playroomandbedroomcarpeting) 159
EducationalandPlayFurniture(furnitureforthe
home,classroom,ordaycarecenter,role-play
furnituresuchaswoodenplaykitchensorpuppet
showstages) 162
Chapter 6. American-Made Sports and Fitness
Equipment 167
SportsandFitnessClothing 173
FitnessEquipment 178
SportingGoods 179
AnythingonWheels 185
WaterSports 189
vi
z
Contents
WinterSports 193
Hiking,Traveling,orGoingtoSchool 197
Chapter 7. American-Made Toys and Games 199
AmericanClassicToys(includesAmerican
handcraftedwoodtoys) 205
Let’sBuildThisTogether(Americanmodelmaking
anddollhouses) 225
PuzzlesandGamesforAll Ages(includesbuilding
sets) 229
FantasticAmericanPlasticToys(theworldofplastic
toys) 244
ArtsandCrafts 247
EverythingPlush andCuddly 249
JustPlainFun(includeskazoos,gardengnomes,and
flyingsaucers) 255
OutdoorPlay(includesswing setsandsandboxes) 262
Appendix 267
ChildSafetyandToySafetyResourceGuide
Indexes
IndexA: AmericanManufacturingTreasures 277
IndexB: AmericanManufacturingCompanies
Founded,Co-Founded,orOwnedbyWomen 278
IndexC:CompaniesCommittedtoGreenor
OrganicManufacturing 281
IndexD:AmericanChildren’sProducts
Manufacturers Listedby State 283
IndexE: American-MadeChildren’sProducts 289
Index 301
vii
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Acknowledgments
When I started this book, I took a yellow sticky note, wrote the
word Courage on it, and stuck it to my desk. How could I convince
morethan400companies tosharejustabitof themselveswith me?
Who was I to come barging into their lives and ask questions about
their companies?
I was surprised by the incredibly warm welcome I was extended.
However,Iquicklylearnedthatthetrueactsofcouragehadnothingto
dowithmeatallandhadeverythingtodowiththecompaniesthem-
selves.Itistheywhomustcompeteeachdayagainstmiserableodds.
Every time this project seemed to overwhelm me, one of the
manufacturerswouldreachoutandsay,Pleasedon’tgiveup,you’redoing
a good thing. Some companies sent me literature, and others sent me
samples of their work. Some sent me their wishes, and some their
prayers.ManygavemereferralstootherAmericancompanies,even
referrals to their competitors. I began to keep a list of people who
wereexceptionally ‘‘nice.’’Thelist grewtohundredsof people.The
project had become much larger than myself. My first acknowledg-
ment is to the companies themselves.
I give thanks to Gina Panettieri at Talcott-Notch Literary
Agency and to my editors, Stan Wakefield, Barry Richardson, and
Mike Sivilli.
Finally, to my support team: to Phil, my brother in Guam;
Craig, friend and computer whiz; and Jannette, with my love.
ix