Urban Blog

Buying toys for your children has become something of an intimidating and even frightening prospect. In recent years, consumers have been more and more aware that children’s toys are often problematic and even dangerous. One of the most widely known examples of the problem of children safety and toys occurred when it was discovered that many children’s toys made in China were testing remarkably high for lead. It has been known for generations that lead was potentially problematic.

Avoiding Potential Toy Hazards

Now thanks to modern medical science, we know that lead and other heavy metals can be very damaging to children. Lead was widely used in house paints until approximately 1978 and also made its way into toys and other goods that children came into contact with and used. Children under 6 are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure and lead exposure can result in a lower of I.Q. and other health problems. Plastic toys, such as those containing BPA and other chemicals have likewise been linked to help and developmental problems.

In short, children’s toys represent a challenge of health conscious parents. These issues and problems are not overstated and currently there are not enough regulations in place to protect consumers. It is simply impossible for consumers to know what compounds, such as lead and other heavy metals, are found in toys. Until children’s toys are tested more heavily, parents have no choice but to redouble their efforts to provide their children with safe toys that will not expose them to potentially harmful compounds. In this article, we will look at some of the best green toys on the market.

First it is very important to point out that just because a toy is wearing a “green” label that doesn’t automatically make it a safe choice from a health perspective. Many green toys mean “earth friendly” in that they are recycled form plastics or that the company in question employs energy friendly protocols that help cut down on greenhouse gases. “Green” doesn’t always mean safe, but it usually is a good indicator.

The Joys of Wood Toys

Wooden toys are hard to beat. That stated, many wood based toys might use toxic inks or dyes. These inks and dyes may not represent a massive risk for an adult but for children who are constantly putting toys in their mouths these inks and dyes can be quite problematic. When selecting wood toys, be sure that products such as soy inks are also used. FSC-certified wood means that toys are sustainable as well, so keep an eye out for FSC certification when buying your green toys!

Wood building blocks are a great toy for young children and toddlers. PlanToys has a wide range of building blocks and other wood toys that can provide parents with an almost endless array of wood toy options. PlanToys goes beyond the established industry standards when it comes to safety. They have won both the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award and the Parents’ Choice Award.

What about Plush Toys?

Kids love stuffed animals, but plush toys can be home to a surprisingly large number of chemicals. You should always approach plush toys with extreme caution. The best plush toy options are organic ones.

Organic fabric and cotton stuffed plush toys are available. You can easily find organic plush toys from artists. Etsy is full of independent producers of organic plush toys and you can even buy locally. Just be sure to read reviews and check quality carefully. If you notice strange or chemically scents, simply send the toy back.

Plastic Toys

Buying plastic toys can be a real challenge. Green Toys makes a large variety of products that are made from 100% recycled materials. They source their toys from recycled milk containers. The plastic Green Toys uses is called high-density polyethylene and is generally considered to be one of the safer plastics on the market.

Safeguarding Your Child’s Health

These toys are most definitely more expensive, but there is little doubt that your child’s health is a priority. You can look at it this way, finding fewer toys that are safer preferable over buying more toys that are potentially heal damaging. Mixing different types of healthy toys is also another way to reduce risk. In other words, don’t give your child an overwhelmingly large number of toys from just one kind of company. Be sure to offer variety.

The greatest toy in the world is you, your time and your attention. A child who has ample parental and caregiver interaction is a child who can maximize the number of toys that he or she may have.

Your Child’s Health is an Investment

By investing the time to research, discover and select healthy and safe toys, you are making a major investment in your child’s future. The unpleasant fact is that many toys are, in fact, harmful and do present a risk. In time, the doctors and the medical establishment may take a more vocal and proactive role in protecting the health of children and informing parents and caregivers as the risks.

Sadly, most toy manufacturers use materials that are not fit for toys and this is clearly a massive issue. Parents and caregivers have a profound responsibility to safeguard their children from low quality and potentially harmful toys.

Toys that are largely comprised of chemicals should be avoided. If a toy smells strangely, that probably means that it is degassing harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Such toys should be avoided. If you accidently purchase such a toy, don’t keep it. Simply exercise your right as a consumer and return the toy.