New Toy Alert: Kleynimals

We had the pleasure of speaking with local mom Kirsten Chapman about her brilliant new baby product, Kleynimals. We’re thrilled to be one of only three exclusive brick & mortar retailers of Kleynimals worldwide.

Ever notice that babies just love keys? For good reason, too! The metal feels cold to the touch, they make a playful jingling sound and their shiny, reflective surface is visually engaging. For babies, they’re a ton of fun.

Kirsten Chapman, a local mom from Annapolis, noticed her son’s interest in keys, but for safety and sanitation reasons, didn’t want him playing with them. She looked everywhere for a suitable alternative, but could only find less-appealing, plastic versions. “I found through my search in stores and online, that there are only plastic keys available,” Kirsten told us. “And they don’t really look, feel or sound like keys.” Therein lies the brilliance of Kleynimals — they really look, feel and sound like keys. Kirsten realized in her toy hunt that stainless steel was the perfect solution to her plastic baby key problem.

“I found that I felt most comfortable with stainless steel for water bottles, sippy cups, food storage containers, etc. So, it made sense to me that metal play keys (that my son was likely going to put into his mouth) should be non-toxic stainless steel,” says Kirsten. “And thus, the concept for Kleynimals was born.”

Kleynimals are safe and sanitary animal-shaped “keys” designed especially with babies in mind. Kleynimals have all of the same great qualities as regular keys, but don’t provide the hazard regular keys pose to little ones. Their smooth, round edges are safe for teething and being near a baby’s sensitive face. The natural coolness of the metal also soothes painful gums. Food-grade stainless steel makes them 100% BPA & Phathalate-free and dishwasher safe. We also love the fact that they are responsibly made right here in Maryland.

Kirsten’s desire to live an Eco-friendly, socially responsible and healthy life guides how Kleynimals are produced. She knows that they could be manufactured for less if production were shipped abroad. However, it’s important to her to keep them American-made. She does this to ensure that Kleynimals are a high-quality, safe product that adheres to fair labor practices.

Though Kirsten used to do all of the assembling herself, she has recently started working with the Providence Center for this service. The Providence Center is a local vocational facility, which employs adults with disabilities. The production of Kleynimals provides these special individuals with jobs to foster independence in their self-directed lives.

Kirsten still does all of the bagging and washing of the keys herself, and her father does the polishing of the rings, which are carefully welded by an independent Baltimore professional. Kirsten hopes to “make a positive impact on the babies who enjoy Kleynimals and on the people who help me make them.”

Because of their durability Kleynimals make the perfect keepsake gift. They can be engraved for customization, and are safely stored in their unbleached muslin bag. This bag also helps keep them clean when thrown in diaper bags for storage.

Kleynimals aren’t just a “baby toy.” Older children will love them as well for their pretend-play potential. Children learn through mimicking adult role models, and Kleynimals make the perfect car or house keys during imaginative play.

Although Kleynimals are a brand new toy, they have already won a coveted Dr. Toy Award. We are sure they will continue to be highly-regarded in the toy industry and will be loved by babies worldwide.

Shop aMuseToys.com to buy Kleynimals online.

Share |