Is Your Child Playing With Toxic Toys?

As parents, we want nothing but the best for our children. Unfortunately, some toy manufacturers want nothing but our money

Your child could be playing with toxic toys.

There are over 80,000 chemicals on the market today, most of which have not been tested for safety.

A study by the Ecology Center found that 1/3 of the children’s toys tested had medium to high levels of toxic chemicals.

Currently, there are very few laws that regulate the use of toxins in children’s products (1). Which means, it’s up to us, the parents, to be aware of potentially toxic toys and keep them out of our little ones’ reach.

5 Toxins to Keep Out of Your Child’s Toy Box:

BPA

BPA is a known endocrine disrupter. Although many vendors have stopped using BPA in bottles, pacifiers, and other items meant to go into your child’s mouth, the alternative chemicals are just as dangerous.

In addition, manufacturers still use BPA in many plastic toys.

PVC

PVC, or vinyl, is also known as “poison plastic” because it releases dangerously toxic chemicals throughout its entire lifecycle. Toxins from PVC have been linked to cancer and birth defects. Soft plastics used in items like teethers, bath toys, and even baby bibs could contain PVC.

Flame Retardants

Flame retardants often coat plush and plastic children’s toys. Exposure to flame retardants is linked to cancer, hormone disruption and behavioral changes (4).

The US, Canada, and Europe have banned some flame retardants due to health concerns. However, because of a loophole in regulations, products containing these banned chemicals can still be imported in.

China, who produces 70-80% of all toys sold in the US, is known for the widespread use of flame retardants. (2)

Lead

We’ve all heard about the dangers of lead and know to keep watch for chipped paint in older homes. Unfortunately, paint chips are only the tip of the iceberg.

Other countries still frequently use lead in paint. Therefore, lead is often found in the paint coatings on imported toys. Lead also lurks in baby bibs, lunch bags, children’s jewelry, and toys containing metals, like fidget spinners.

Arsenic

Many dyes for plastic and fabrics contain arsenic. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause cancer, even long after exposure, skin irritation and cardiovascular disease.

Mercury

Inks and adhesives could contain this dangerous chemical. Mercury exposure can cause brain and kidney damage as well as severe damage to the nervous system.

Cadmium

Cadmium is a heavy metal and used as a cheap alternative to lead. Unfortunately, cadmium is just as toxic as lead and a known carcinogen. Exposure to cadmium can cause damage to the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Children’s jewelry, toys with batteries, and paint coatings may contain cadmium (3).

5 Tips to Avoid Toxic Toys

Although it is unfortunate that digging through your child’s playroom in order to weed out toxic toys is even necessary, the process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are 5 simple tips to help you win the battle against toxic toys.

1. Avoid plastics. Purchase wooden toys instead. Here a few helpful lists of toxin-free toys:
   • Non-toxic bath toys
   • Toys! (No Plastic)
   • The Ultimate Guide to the Best Non-Toxic Toys
2. Look up your toys in the Healthy Stuff Product Database. Contact the manufacturers of any toys you can’t find in the database to ask what materials are used during production.
3. Check the list of recalled toys and throw away any items on the list.
4. Steer clear of toys made in China or those sold at bargain retailers, like the Dollar Tree. Both options are more likely to contain high levels of toxins (5).
5. Skip the clutter. Choose just a few high-quality toys and teach your child to use his or her imagination instead. It is amazing what you can do with a few empty boxes or even average household items.

About the Author

Vanessa is a free-spirited, self-proclaimed modern-day hippy who uses creativity to clean up her lifestyle while saving money at the same time. You can read more about her frugal adventures on her blog, Creative Money Masters. You can also get this free calendar to successfully rid your home of toxins in four weeks or less.

Sources:

1.https://toxicfreefuture.org/toxic-chemicals-remain-in-childrens-products/

2. https://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/toxic-chemicals-in-toys

3. https://www.thegomezfirm.com/toxins-childrens-toys-toys-avoid

4. https://toxicfreefuture.org/science/research/hidden-hazards-in-the-nursery/

5. https://wtop.com/consumer-news/2017/11/unsafe-toys-list-raises-concerns-lead-digital-spying/slide/1/