Bath toys

It is strange that so many toys that end up in our babies´ and toddlers´ mouths contain dangerous ingredients. Like PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) that can be found in many bath toys. Toxic substances that are added to soften plastic do not bind with the product, causing them to leach these chemicals. So when your kid is chewing on that adorable bath ducky, he is ingesting harmful chemicals.

Soft, flexible plastics are often made with phthalates and the harder plastics might be made with BPA (Bisphenol-A). Some studies have linked these chemicals to cancer, developmental problems in children and hormone disruption (read more about the dangers of BPA and phthalates and PVC).

Natural ingredients

So, look for toys that are PVC, BPA and phthalate free, and/or made out of natural ingredients (like rubber). Another thing to be careful about are toys with little holes in them (like the ones that squirt or sqeak). Water will get stuck in them and mold can grow. It is the black sort of film that floats out of the toys. To prevent this from happening, you can seal the hole with glue or kit, but I prefer buying ones that don´t build up water inside of them, like the Scrubble from Boon that are easy to open and thus clean.

Thankfully there are more and more (bath) toys made out of safe ingredients, so it is getting easier to find toys that you don´t have to worry about.

My favorite brands are:

. Green Toys. Toys made from recycled plastics that contain no PVC, BPA and phthalates. 

- Hevea. Made out of natural rubber.  

- Oli & Carol.  Also made out of natural rubber. 

- Rich frog. Toys that are PVC, BPA and phthalates free and are painted with non-toxic paints and dyes. 

- Lanco.  Also PVC, BPA and phthalates free. And hand-painted with food-grade dyes. 

- Marcus & Marcus. Made of food-grade soft silicone rubber materials.

- Plan Toys. Made of recycled wood with non-toxic paint.