To let dd play with old/vintage toys?

[Timeforteaandcake2]

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

She is 7, she won't be putting them in her mouth. Love vintage Barbies and Sindies.

Vintage barbies have a good value! There are specialist toy auctions for this kind of thing plus eBay of course. Maybe if the lady really wants you to have them sell a couple of the more valuable ones and treat your daughter to a few brand new ones 'from' your neighbour?

There's a huge market for collectibles these days (my father's slightly obsessed with them), and from what you've said, some of these things would be worth quite a lot of money.

My DS adores Thomas the Tank Engine Brio. You can’t seem to buy it now, so we’ve had the lot from EBay, second hand and very reasonable. They’re his favourite toys by miles. Go for it.

It’s lead paint in old tin soldiers you need to watch out for, but not many people giving them to children to play with nowadays…

My daughter has my old Sylvanian Families, Tiny Tears and other toys and dolls. Barbies are barbies, as long as they are clean, what's the problem?

What a kind neighbour. And your lucky daughter, what a treasure trove!

As long as she's not licking old lead cars she'll be absolutely a-okay.

It’s lead paint in old tin soldiers you need to watch out for, but not many people giving them to children to play with nowadays… Soldiers used to be made of lead. DH told me about melting down lead when he was a kid (probably young teenage) to make models. But of course at that time a lot of our drinking water still came through lead pipes.

Sorry I clicked YANBU thinking it would not be unreasonable to give your DD these toys! Enjoy 🙂

I think toys have to be in unopened boxes to attract serious money. They’ve lost all value if they’ve been played with. Just give them to her, kids weren’t dropping like flies 30 years ago.

Why are so many comments about monetary value?!
These toys are for a child to enjoy, that's why your neighbour kindly gave them to your DD. Let her play with them or donate further for somebody else to enjoy.
Toys are for playing with.
Collectors can source their own toys.
You can't possibly consider making a monetary gain from such a generous gift.
At the most, when your DD outgrows these toys, you can store them for when she is older in case she decides selling would be an option.
If the neighbour wanted to sell them, she would have done so already. Her intention is for another child to play with these toys.
I have no idea about safety, but, perhaps, there is a way to contact the manufacturer and ask? Although they might avoid to answer if there is no clear evidence in favour of or against using their older models.

You can't possibly consider making a monetary gain from such a generous gift.

The OP has never even suggested this. It's in your head. Classic MN 😂

The OP didn't realise that these items could be worth a decent amount of money (especially given the current popularity of Barbie) and it's entirely possible that the nice lady didn't either. I think the right thing to do is at least check first. The lady may not care but at least have the decency to mention it to her.

Ds loved playing with my brother's old toys when we lived with my mum & dad, he had loads of toy cars, Lego, Action Man, Evil Kneval, Hot Wheels cars & track. I collect Sindy Dolls & have lots of 1970's & 1980's dolls, if anything they are better built than any of the modern toys.

Finding a Big Yellow Teapot or a Treehouse is the holy grail of vintage toys.

Yes! I had a treehouse. Don't know what happened to it. Always wanted a big yellow teapot. Sometimes when I listen to the song Big Yellow Taxi I find myself singing about a Big Yellow Teapot.

I wish I still had my My Little Pony castle and my Peaches and Cream Barbie!

I would be fine with this - they could be worth money though. Are they in good condition? It’s extremely nice of your neighbour to give them to her.

The main vintage toys I would avoid are wooden or metal ones coated in lead paint, especially ones for babies and toddlers that they might put in their mouths.

I think you only need to worry about toxicity if they mouth toys like babies and toddlers.

Unless they're old cars or lead soldiers pre 1950 toys are safe, not that I recommend putting in your mouth and teach her to wash hands after playing with older things that could be dusty. I would get your dd to make a thank you card (don't buy, make, more personal) lucky girl