Not all wooden toys are created equal. The type of wood used in a toy affects its durability, safety, weight, texture, and how it feels in a child's hands. At Oliver and Company, we stock toys made from a carefully selected range of woods, each chosen for specific reasons. Here is what you need to know about the woods in our collection and why they matter.

Beech wood

Beech is a hardwood and one of the most widely used materials in quality Montessori toys. It is exceptionally durable, which makes it ideal for baby and toddler toys that need to withstand chewing, bashing, dropping, and the kind of enthusiastic exploration that young children bring to everything they touch. Beech wood is naturally non-toxic and safe for babies, which is why it has long been used for baby toys, chopping boards, and kitchen worktops.

When you choose a toy made from beech wood, you are choosing something that will hold up to years of heavy play and still look beautiful. Our Montessori beechwood baby rattles and beech wood rattle sets are made from solid beech and are designed to last well beyond babyhood, safe for mouthing and satisfying to hold.

Basswood

Basswood is a premium softwood that is naturally antibacterial, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic. It is light, low-density, and finely grained, which gives it exceptional workability properties. Woodworkers prize basswood for its smooth finish and the clean, precise results it produces. It is also odorless, which matters for toys that children handle closely.

Basswood is ideal for larger, more complex Montessori toys where weight matters. A heavy toy is harder for young children to manipulate and less satisfying to play with. Basswood gives you the warmth and beauty of real wood without unnecessary bulk. Our Large Basswood Arch and Stacking Set is one of our most popular products and a perfect example of what basswood makes possible — a large, beautiful, open-ended set that children can handle and manipulate with ease.

Pine wood

Pine is an affordable, eco-friendly softwood that works particularly well for larger toys. It is less dense than hardwoods, which makes it a practical choice for bigger pieces where weight would otherwise be a concern. Pine is easy to cut and shape cleanly, which is why it is one of the most commonly used woods in wooden toy production worldwide.

Pine varieties are beautiful and diverse, with different colors, textures, and grain patterns that give each piece a natural character. Toys made from pine also have a subtle, pleasant natural scent that adds to the sensory experience of play. We use pine in our larger toy collections where its lightness and workability make it the right choice.

What to look for when buying wooden toys

The wood type is just one part of what makes a wooden toy genuinely good. Here are the other things worth checking before you buy.

Finish and paint. Look for water-based, non-toxic paint and finishes. For babies especially, any painted toy should be explicitly labeled non-toxic and free from lead, phthalates, and BPA. Natural, unfinished wood is always the safest option for the youngest children.

Construction quality. Run your hand over the surfaces. Edges should be smooth with no splinters. Joints should be secure. A well-made wooden toy feels solid and substantial without being unnecessarily heavy.

Age appropriateness. Check that the toy is sized correctly for your child's age. Pieces that are too small are a choking hazard for children under three. Pieces that are too large can be frustrating for small hands to manipulate.

Open-ended design. The best wooden Montessori toys can be used in more than one way. A toy that invites a child to invent their own play will hold their interest far longer than one with a single predetermined outcome.

Wooden toys cost more than plastic alternatives, but they last longer, look better, and provide a richer play experience. A well-made wooden toy given at age two may still be in use at age seven, passed to a younger sibling, or kept as a keepsake. That is an investment worth making.

Browse our full collection of Montessori wooden toys at Oliver and Company and find the right materials for your child right now.