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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let dd play with old/vintage toys?

43 replies

Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 19:53

I have a 7 year old dd. She absolutely loves Barbie and those sorts of dolls in general. Money is quite tight at the moment so she doesn't actually have very many new ones (I get her a new one for birthday, Christmas etc but she only has a few). A lady that lives on my street has very kindly given me a huge box of her 3 dds old Barbies (they were kids in the 80s + 90s+ early 00s)- there's stuff like a wet n wild beach surf set (says 1989 on the box!) And a Barbie and Ginger set and a remote control car and boat etc. And also different Barbies like Baywatch Barbie, West End Barbie and a Barbie wash n wear set I think with a washing machine thing and lots of clothes. They all look really lovely and dd would absolutely love them but I don't know why but I somehow feel a bit worried about giving her old toys. I've read a lot of horror stories about old toys having harmful chemicals in the plastics and also I think it worries me that no one else she knows will be playing with these toys so it may seem a bit odd. I think I'm overthinking it and being unreasonable but suppose I just wanted to check before giving them to her (as there's no way she'd ever let them go once she had them!). Also there's Barbie pc games in the box (detective and sports and ice skating ones)- we have an old Windows PC in our loft that she could play them on- are these just too dated? They look like something she'd really enjoy playing but I don't want others to laugh at her playing on a PC that's over 20 years old!
Thank you for reading

OP posts:
Curtains70 · 21/07/2023 20:22

Sounds amazing! Can I come round to play?!

Its not something that would occur to me tbh, make sure there's no loose or tiny parts etc and let her crack on!

I had the washing machine! My favourite ever was the horse and cart though. What a Christmas morning that was!

Tannedandfake · 21/07/2023 20:25

Ur DD sounds v lucky

Covidiokilledtheradiostar · 21/07/2023 20:26

My kids have all my old toys From the late very 80s / 90s. I kept all my Barbies, Polly pockets and playmobil hoping one day they would be cherished and loved again. I just check all the tiny pieces were removed and any loose plastic was a problem

NuffSaidSam · 21/07/2023 20:28

They look like something she'd really enjoy playing but I don't want others to laugh at her playing on a PC that's over 20 years old!

You need to get some help with this. DO NOT pass this on to your DD. Raise her with more confidence.

In terms of the old Barbies, they sound amazing! I'd wonder if any of them could be quite valuable...I'd give those ones back to the lady if you do a bit of research and find out any are valuable. I would imagine they're safe to play with, bit I don't know tbh. Maybe contact Mattel?

ExtraOnions · 21/07/2023 20:31

The Barbie market is at a high, check the value of some of these things, then make a decision. Do her DDs know she has handed them over? If yes… try keep the boxes, and all the pieces together

Sugarfree23 · 21/07/2023 20:32

Toys from the 60s-70s onward are safe, i thought you were going to ask about ancient dinky cars, from the 1940s.

Let her play with them and enjoy, although I'd check if any are of any value.

Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:39

@Curtains70 the washing machine one is adorable! I was never into Barbies as a kid but the washing machine looks so good i'd play with it as an adult!!

OP posts:
Diddykong · 21/07/2023 20:42

My DC play with all my 1980s Duplo and Playmobil. Apparently the yellow plastic is the worst but it should be ok as long as they're not mouthing it.

TeaKitten · 21/07/2023 20:43

I thought this was going to be about risking her damaging cool old barbies. Bizarre to be worried about this! Did you ever
play with toys? Did you come to any harm?

User68253 · 21/07/2023 20:46

I voted YABU because you are even asking. Of course it's fine. I collect vintage toys and didn't let mine okay with any of the tin ones incase of lead paint, but what you are talking about is nowhere near that one. Of course it is ok, you shouldn't even have to ask. Second hand toys are essential for the planet. They sound worth a lot of money.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 21/07/2023 20:46

That sounds like so much fun!

Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:47

@ExtraOnions I did wonder about her dds and would they not want to keep them Incase they had dds of their own but she said they were all happy for my dd to have them. Her youngest dd helped her carry the box round and was showing me which ones she'd played with when she was little. Her eldest dd has a young ds and she says he hasn't shown any interest in them. Dh brought up the monetary value of them quite quickly but I don't know how to approach it with her as I don't want her to think I'm aware they'd make money Incase she just thinks I'd sell them- i'm very touched by how kind they've been and worry about coming across as ungrateful- i'd certainly never sell them

OP posts:
Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:49

@Tannedandfake I know! She's so lucky! If I do give them to her I definitely won't give them all at once as I don't want her to be ungrateful!

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 21/07/2023 20:51

I think it would be wrong to give them to your DD to play with as they're most likely worth quite a lot of money. I'd do some research and then let the lady who gave them to you know how much they might be worth.

Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:52

@Sugarfree23 thank you- I wasn't sure the time frame of when the materials were safer- there's nothing pre-mid 80s so hopefully they should all be safe

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 21/07/2023 20:52

I looked into this as I have old barbies in the loft and DD is of an age where she's playing with barbie now.

The type of plastic barbies were made of (you know how the joints used to be under the 'skin' and her knees would sort of pop as you moved them?) because it was designed to be malleable so the joints worked, it's of a type that contained lots of plasticiser - if they're tacky or waxy, that's the plasticiser leaching out and it's not allowed in modern toys. That's why her joints are different now and like hinges instead.

There's also apparently a high risk of heavy metals that's greater than today's limits. And should a small child swallow any plastic, it can react with stomach acid and release all sorts of nasty things.

I've searched Google for what I read, but I can't remember enough detail to find it again, sorry.

My barbies have stayed in the loft, as much as I know DD would love them.

Eloweeese · 21/07/2023 20:54

My grandkids play with all the plastic toys my daughters had when they were little. Huge boxes of duplo, polly pockets, a train set. So please I kept them

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/07/2023 20:54

I think there’s a difference between letting a 7 year old play with something and letting a pre-schooler.

Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:55

@GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut thank you for that- it's really useful to know- I knew they were made slightly differently to today's Barbies but didn't know that was what was different

OP posts:
DinoMummsy · 21/07/2023 20:57

Those sound awesome! I would play with those and so would my dd and ds. Definitely let her have them 😁

Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 20:58

@NuffSaidSam I know! I try not to pass on my worries to my dd! I'm a slightly older parent and I had hardly any tech as a child but realise kids today have all up to date gadgets/devices so I think I just worried about dd having old things! I do realise it's a bit much worrying about that though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Timeforteaandcake2 · 21/07/2023 21:07

@HundredMilesAnHour thank you- I think from the replies on this thread and from what my dh said, I do need to speak to the lady about their worth

OP posts:
BeverlyBrook · 21/07/2023 21:12

Oh wow your lucky DD!
A 7 yo is not an idiot, I'm sure she won't be ingesting any plastics.
Maybe bake a cake to say thank you for such a thoughtful gift?

EmmaPaella · 21/07/2023 21:12

Wow, what an amazing neighbour!

My DD played with my crimp and curl Barbie and Tiny Tears dolls. And My Little Ponies… And 70s Lego and Duplo, Fisher Price, Playmobil toys at my DMs.

EmmaPaella · 21/07/2023 21:14

I played with Dinky Cars at my Gran’s but not loads and I expect I wasn’t given them when very little.