Are plastic toys safe?
What are phthalates?
Who let all these chemicals into baby toys anyway?
We hear so many questions about the safety of plastic toys. Readers ask things like, “This says it’s free from BPA and phthalates, but what is it actually made of?” or “I’ve heard about BPA-free baby bottles and water bottles, but I don’t really understand what BPA was, or why it was harmful.”
Our advice is this… If you have to have a PhD in chemistry to figure out what’s in a product designed for babies and small children, chances are your child shouldn’t be playing with it, chewing on it, or eating or drinking from it.
While many natural parents here in the U.S. feel it’s about time we catch up with Europe and other developed nations on product safety, the majority of parents are left wondering what was wrong with plastic toys in the first place.
So, are plastic toys safe?
What Type Of Plastic Are Toys Made From?
The combination of a few chemicals, mostly found in PVC plastics, is what makes plastic toys dangerous for kids and babies. And some of the danger comes from the way the toys are used – and whether it ends up in a child’s mouth.
The chemicals added to PVC make it the most toxic plastic. Just about every soft plastic toy is made with PVC. Even worse, you’ll find it in infant items like teething rings, bath toys, and squeeze toys. One of the most harmful effects of plastic toys and the biggest safety risk with these toxins is that they can leach out – especially when babies or children put the toys in their mouths.
Related: It’s Never Too Early To Baby Proof
Harmful additives to PVC:
- Phthalates (pronounced thay-lates) give a plastic toy its soft, squishy feel. These are the gender-bending culprits you’ve heard of – endocrine disruptors. Phthalates not only upset the body’s hormonal balance, they’ve also been found to stimulate the growth of cancers.
- Cadmium is a plastic stabilizer. A known carcinogen, cadmium also affects normal brain growth and can cause kidney damage.
- Lead is used to make plastic toys more durable. Lead affects the nervous system and has been linked to hearing loss, ADHD, and decreased IQ. It’s also a concern because children absorb and retain lead in their systems more easily than adults.
- BPA (Bisphenol A) is found in plastic toys, sippy cups, plastic bottles, and canned food lining. It’s considered more of a danger when the child chews on it, so the main concern with BPA has been on food and drink products. But if your child is prone to chewing on toys (and what baby isn’t?) it’s best to avoid plastic toys for that stage.
Since 2007 – the year of the lead toys recall – safety standards have improved. While it would make our lives easier to just know that products manufactured for babies and children are regulated, unfortunately, it’s still up to the parent to watch what comes into their homes and toy boxes.
In October 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to ban five more harmful phthalate chemicals from plastic used in children’s toys after a lawsuit brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Justice Health Alliance and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.
So aside from buying all wooden toys, what can you do to make sure your child’s toys are safe?
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- Only allow your baby to teethe or chew on natural, uncoated wood or a frozen washcloth.
- Sign up for recall updates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). You’ll find the latest information on which toys were recalled and why.
- Call or email the manufacturers of your child’s favorite toys to check if they comply (or are above) current toy safety standards.
- When plastic toys are your only option, go with PVC-free and BPA-free toys, not just for your own children, but for every gift you buy.
- Talk to other parents. Sometimes just bringing up the topic of toy safety at a birthday party helps you realize you’re not alone in wondering what’s best for your child. You may also help educate a fellow parent, which could lead to a healthier family in the long run.
Related: Why and How to Raise Earth-Conscious Kids
Polypropylene Toys
One of the safest plastics for toys is polypropylene. Polypropylene is heat resistant and is unlikely to leach even when exposed to warm or hot water. It’s also approved for use with food and beverage storage.
If you inspect toy labels, you’ll rarely find the type of plastics used in manufacturing listed. For favorite toys that you’re not ready to part with, you can contact the manufacturer to confirm the plastic makeup.
A Word About LEGOs
It was a big relief for us to find out LEGOs don’t contain PVC or phthalates, and that generally they exceed safety standards. In other good news, LEGO is transitioning to plant-based bricks.
If you saved LEGOs from your childhood, make sure they were manufactured after 1981 before sharing them with your little ones. LEGO historian Gary Istok wrote that by the 1980s, all LEGO bricks were cadmium free. Roar Rude Trangbæk, a spokesperson for LEGO said that in regards to hazardous elements, the company “phased that material out back in 1979 to 1981.” (source)
Safe Alternatives to Plastic Toys
If you still don’t feel comfortable with what your research finds, you may decide it’s best to avoid plastic (and plastic-ish) toys altogether. You can opt for wooden toys, natural art supplies, play silks, wooden puzzles, or silicone toys (especially for a teething baby).
The brands listed here place a high priority on the safety and environmental impact of their toys.
This section includes affiliate links
Green Toys
Haba USA
Smiling Tree Toys
Bannor Toys
Elves and Angels
Imagine Childhood
Maple Landmark
Mama May I
The Puzzle People
Many of these are Etsy shops and small U.S. based businesses. They’re typically available to answer any questions, and they know what goes into the toys they make. Plus, you can feel good about supporting another family when you buy safe toys for your child.
You can also find safer toys on Amazon. Choose brands like Green Toys, PlanToys, Melissa & Doug, and iPlay.
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Ethan says
How can we trust the links to toy manufacturers you have listed here since you are collecting referrals (this can be seen by checking the links and they have affiliate identifiers)? How can we trust you now and your motive? Are you here to care for our children or to collect referral money?
Amity Hook-Sopko says
Hi Ethan,
About 80% of the article explains what parents need to know about choosing safer toys, what to avoid in plastics and why. For years the article contained no recommendations; however parents repeatedly wrote in saying they read all the things they can’t choose and they just want to know what they can safely buy for their little ones. So we added a short list of safe options from trusted brands.
We’ve been sharing natural parenting and green living advice this for nearly 15 years, and most of the research we’ve done has been for either our own families or at the request of our readers. As this particular post mentions, many of the recommendations are from products made by small businesses and Etsy shops. The average affiliate commission for these is generally less than one dollar. If you feel you can’t trust us and our “motives” we wish you luck finding another free online resource that doesn’t use affiliate links or display advertising.