Ostheimer vs Schleich

Animal figurines would have to be one of the best loved toys of all time. Children just love them and they offer so much in terms of education, imagination and creative play. purchasing good quality animal figurines makes such a difference as they stand up as they should and this is something really important for children as poor quality animals that won’t stand up are frustrating and children will lose the concentration to play with them. There are two main brands that come to mind for good quality animal figurines and they are Ostheimer and Schleich (Holztiger is also another brand similar to Ostheimer). But which brand to buy? They have many similarities and differences and after owning both brands for a number of years, here are my thoughts;

Ostheimer

Pros

* Exceptional quality. These toys will last generation after generation and are truly a timeless toy that are not only beautiful to touch but also to look at. * Sturdy and stand easily.

* Easy to incorporate with other toys. We have some wooden fairies and wizards and love that they can ‘ride’ our Ostheimer horses

* Great size esp for small hands and are larger than Schleich animals so excellent for babies and small toddlers

* Great range of animals

* Made of wood and non-toxic paint so they are the healthiest choice for your children and the planet

Cons

* You can’t use them for water play

* They are expensive. At almost double the cost of Schleich, they are the most expensive choice. They also hold their value well so even buying secondhand can be expensive.

Schleich

Pros

* Excellent quality. These toys are really durable and also last for generations. * You can play with them everywhere! whether it’s at the beach, in the bath, in the mud these figurines are up to the challenge. We have thrashed our animals and it only takes a little soapy water to bring them back to perfect condition

* Fantastic range of animals. I really love Schleich have a few ranges including farm animals, wild animals, fairy tale, dinosaurs and more. * They are very sturdy animals and stand up easily which is great

* Pricewise they are the cheaper option and there is always excellent deals on secondhand animals. We have bought most of our animals secondhand in bulk off gumtree and found that the best way to build our collection

Cons

* Made of plastic meaning they aren’t environmentally friendly

Our Thoughts

We have many more Schleich figurines than Ostheimer but my children love both of them equally. Because Schleich are easy to buy secondhand, we bought many animals in bulk lots so are now slowly building up our Ostheimer collection. If I could only choose one brand to buy however, I would choose Schleich simply because they can be used in water as well as dry and my kids love playing them outdoors, in the bath or at the beach.

What are your favourites and why?