About the brand
HABA's parent group traces its foundation to 1938, when Eugen Habermaass founded companies in Bad Rodach, Germany; “HABA” established itself as the definitive brand name in the early 1950s. Source: HABA FAMILYGROUP history. The US importer is Habermaass Corporation, Inc., dba HABA USA, of Skaneateles, New York. Source: CPSC recall 26-719.
Materials, from HABA USA's own quality page: indigenous maple and beech wood, fabric, leather, water-based paint, felt, cardboard and glass; only solvent-free paints or water-based stains; all products BPA-free. HABA has borne the PEFC seal since 2010, with beech and birch from forests some 93 miles around Bad Rodach. Source: HABA Quality & Product Safety page.
What the brand publishes
Before shipment to the USA, products are tested both in-house and by a third-party CPSC authorized laboratory to ensure they meet and/or exceed US safety specifications, and HABA is certified under DIN EN ISO 9001. A quality and safety team sits with designers from the very beginning of work on a new product, and all materials are subject to continuous controls. Fabric toys are tested by the State Trade Institute (LGA) for harmful substances — the only named testing body on the page. Source: HABA Quality & Product Safety page.
The quality page does not name ASTM F963, EN 71, or CPSIA by number, and does not name its third-party lab. Those numbers are not added here.
The honest caveats
None of these recalls affects a product on this list, and the name similarities are traps worth spelling out.
Rainbow Rattle recall 26-719 — not the listed balls
Rainbow Rattle Grasping and Teething Toy, CPSC recall 26-719 (August 27, 2026, item 2012261001, batch code 0925 only): a glued knot on the elastic cord can come untied, giving access to small pieces. This is NOT the site's Rainbow Fabric Ball and NOT its Rainbow Whirls.
Discovery Cubes recall 23-714 — no Discovery Cubes listed
Discovery Cubes Animal Hide and Seek, CPSC recall 23-714: an open seam, choking and ingestion hazard; no Discovery Cubes product is listed here.
Sources: CPSC 26-719, CPSC 23-714.
Why this brand sits where it sits
On the list
Rattlefish Wooden Rattle / Teether
A wooden fish clutching toy with two BPA-free plastic rings that jingle gently when shaken — made for exactly the hand-mouthing window, grasping, shaking, and exploring. Made in Germany from beech with water-based stains. A documented brand testing program stands behind it.
Lucky Shamrock Silicone Teether
A shamrock-shaped silicone teether with several textured surfaces to massage sore gums, plus a ladybug for little fingers to find. Encourages reaching, grabbing, and play while it soothes. A documented brand testing program stands behind it.
Rainbow Fabric Ball
A soft rainbow ball with eight different sensory effects — it rattles, crinkles, and invites rolling and tummy-time reach. Machine washable, so it survives the mouthing stage. A documented brand testing program stands behind it.
Animal Parade Blocks
Twenty-five beech-wood blocks in animal designs, with a storage bag, made in Germany. Stack them, line them up, and build animals from the blocks themselves — the zebra in the photo is built from the set.
Rainbow Whirls
A beech peg board with colored pegs and rings for sorting by color, stacking, and counting, finished in non-toxic water-based stain and made in Germany. One caveat from parent reviews: the pegs are small, so supervise if your child still mouths objects.
Play World on the Farm
Twenty-three wooden farm pieces — Farmer Tim, his tractor, animals, trees, fences, and more — in a carrying case that opens into a farmhouse play scene, with game ideas from HABA's editors for storytelling play. Made in Germany.