To think most toys are utter shite

[babysoupdragon2]

I have two winter born children and with Christmas as well we've had a new influx of toys. The general quality is dreadful.

Why can big brands/ shops get away with this?

Examples include-
A playdough hairdresser set where the mould doesn't fit together without constant help from an adult
Craft kits where it is physically impossible to recreate what is on the box.
A remote controlled car which broke after 3 days
A chad valley doll which is meant to drink and wee but is so impossible to make work that you end up with a frustrated child and water everywhere

Please could I have some recommendations of quality and consistent brands for a 3 and a 5 year old?

So far I can think of Lego, magnatiles and maybe sylvannian families (although we only have older second hand bits.)

Yep orchard games
Wooden imaginative play stuff (Aldi do some lovely ones at great prices. Popcorn maker was a big hit in this house)
Jigsaws and magnatiles

Anything plastic and trendy looks crap quickly and breaks or is forgotten about

For those who let your child play with old Lego

www.thesun.co.uk/news/5436922/second-hand-plastic-toys-including-lego-could-harm-children-with-toxic-chemicals/

That article explicitly says there are no concerns about bricks in good condition. Only broken ones, which people would usually root out anyway.

"You should not be concerned if you have old bricks that are in good shape and condition. Normal play should be okay.
"If you do have old Lego bricks that are broken, you should stop using them and** dispose of them"
The above is a quote from the Sun article about old toys plastic toys.
I'm sure most parents wouldn't let their DC play with broken toys and I certainly didn't let my DC play with Lego until they were past the stage of putting things in their mouth.

Exactly. As usual from The Sun, totally sensationalist headline with little substance, using selective quotes to scaremonger.

You’re not wrong. Answer is don’t but (mostly) plastic crap and if you must, but secondhand. Still won’t work but you won’t have lost as much.

Also from the article “For old bricks we phased that material out back in 1979 to 1981, we are looking at bricks that are over 40-years-old”

I don’t know about the rest of mumsnet (with younger kids who are liable to put Lego in their mouths) but we are not particularly young parents and our childhood Lego is from the late 80s-early 00s.