Motherload posed an interesting question recently, “Should we regulate sugar to protect public health?” The question itself stems from a recent issue of the journal Nature, where public health experts report that plain old sugar is as toxic and just as dangerous for society as substances like alcohol and tobacco. The researchers, working out of University of California at San Francisco, aren’t wrong. Past research has compared junk food addiction to heroin addiction and some research shows that only regulating some sugar won’t work – you need whole community regulation to make a difference. And whole community regulation is exactly what these researchers think should happen. The Wall Street Journal reports that the study authors suggest taxing sugar, limiting sugar in schools, reducing sugary advertising, zoning ordinances for sugar and even placing age limits on the types of sugar-laden products kids can buy. But, is regulation the answer? Can’t parents limit their own child’s sugar intake? It is a very good question. So good in fact, that I asked our readers via the Inhabitots Facebook page, the very same question to see what they’d say.

If your tot is in the crawling and cruising stage, push toys are perfect for playtime. Manny & Simon recently added this four-car train to their already amazing array of sustainably made wooden rolling toys. Their collection of push toys is made from 100% post-industrial recycled wood residuals and painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC paint. This colorful toy is sure to keep your tot moving and groovin. Choo choo!

+ Train Push Toy $48

+ Manny & Simon

Your kids, and you, will fall in love with this sweet and lovable block puzzle set from Manzanita Kids. While it’s likely too late to get this in time for Valentine’s Day, this wooden puzzle set is still a great find for everyday play. It will even make a wonderful baby shower or wedding gift. The four puzzle pieces are made with natural maple and cherry wood and they rest nicely in a beautiful walnut tray. Young children will love trying to solve it, with pieces that are chunky enough for even small hands. The puzzle is finished with safe homemade beeswax and organic safflower oil and comes wrapped in biodegradable packing material, such as brown craft paper.

+ Love Puzzle $32

+ Manzanita Kids

Thanks to Cool Mom Picks we fell in love with MarbleDear’s handmade personalized pillows that are embellished with eco felt.

Bring coloring and building together with these non-toxic beeswax block crayons discovered by Better Living Through Design.

How great are Sucre & Spice’s wooden utensils found on Babyccino Kids?

If only these Geometric Neon Art Blocks, posted about by Handmade Charlotte, were sustainably designed!

Got broken crayons? Apartment Therapy has three crafty solutions your kiddos will love.

Because parents only have two arms, the adorable Skip Hop Penguin Soapster Foaming Soap Dispenser comes in very handy. This cute soap dispenser allows you to grab some soap with one hand, while holding onto your slippery baby with the other, making tub time washing fun and convenient. You don’t need to remove the penguin from the wall to fill it up, and the dispenser is refillable, making it a greener choice than multiple plastic bottles of soap. Now you can buy non-toxic soap in bulk! Plus, as your child ages, he’ll be able to press penguin’s belly to lather up all by himself. This dispenser easily mounts to tile or glass with suction, adhesive or screw plates, and the convenient window shows when you’re running low on soap. This set is also BPA-free and phthalate-free, helping to keep bath-time less toxic.

+ Skip Hop Penguin Soapster Foaming Soap Dispenser $24

+ Skip Hop

ThredUP launched their unique children’s clothing recycling program back in 2010. Up until now, the only way to swap outgrown clothes through thredUP was to build a box of about 10 items of the same size and season and post them on the site so other moms can choose to buy your box. Now, the company is making the clothing recycling process even easier with thredUP Concierge. Just request a free Concierge bag online, fill it with your kid’s outgrown clothing, return the bag with a prepaid label and you’ll earn up to $5 per piece.