Babies put everything in their mouths! So, it’s important to know what is in the toys going into their mouths. There are tons of chemicals hiding in cheap, mass-produced toys so when shopping for baby toys, your best bet is to shop organic! Look for these Canadian Certified Organic Logos while shopping:
Source: Certified Organic, (2012), Seitenwerkstatt, D. (2021)
The simpler the ingredient list the better, organic materials like wool and cotton are less harmful to chemically sensitive individuals and friendlier to those who suffer from eczema as well. Safe wooden toys and non-toxic dyed toys are other options to look out for!
Ex) Baby Joy is a great place to shop for GOTS certified organic cotton toys, wooden toys and other non-toxic goodies that are local to Canada.
If shopping organic isn’t an option for you here is a list of ingredients to avoid in your baby toys; Lead, Cadmium, PVC and Phthalates Bisphenols (BPA + BPS), Flame Retardant Chemicals and Formaldehyde. These chemicals are highly toxic and dangerous to children and adults alike. Currently the permitted amount of Lead in Canadian products sits at: maximum 90 mg/kg and Cadmium at: maximum 130 mg/kg. So, it’s best to do your own research and make it a habit to investigate the ingredients list!
Also visit our section on: Child care, Housekeeping and Personal hygiene for more healthy solutions
Healthy alternatives
Toys made of wood and good quality fabrics.
You will find a number of references and toys at Babyjoy.ca, Dilly Dally Kids, Sustain ecostore, Tender leaf toys, Treeclub Kids, Vert imaginaire.
DIY
To prevent toys from collecting dust and bacteria, depending on the material: put them in the freezer for 24 hours, wash with hot water and a healthy laundry soap, place in a dishwasher or in the tumble dryer (on high heat) for 30 minutes.
Here are a few tutorial ideas for making your toys and teddies/ dolls.
Avoid the following chemicals in regular products
BPA: endocrine disruptor
Glues: may contain solvents that are toxic to humans (1,1,1-trichloroethane, benzene, petroleum distillates, toluene, xylene, etc.)
Dyes: possible carcinogens, skin sensitizers, photosensitizers and mutagens
Plastic: may contain hydrocarbons, phthalates and bisphenol A which are endocrine disrupters
References:
Buy Safe Organic Natural Baby Toys – Baby Joy Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved December
9, 2021, from:
Canada, H. (2004, May 19). Lead Information Package—Some Commonly Asked Questions About Lead and Human Health
Certified Organic. (2012, October 19).
The Organic Council of Ontario.https://www.organiccouncil.ca/organics/organic-certification/
Seitenwerkstatt, D. (n.d.). The Standard—Worldwide leading for organic textile production—GOTS. Retrieved December 9, 2021, from