728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Safe Family › What's Lurking in the Toy Box?

What's Lurking in the Toy Box?

Keeping Babies and Toddlers Safe from Hazardous Toys

By Teri Brown

Pages:  1  2  3  

"Despite the fact that there have been no known cases of a child being harmed by a plasticiser such as phthalates, there are laws restricting the use of these substances for products imported into the EEU (European Union)," Manion says. "At this time we feel it would be best to acknowledge that there are questions regarding their safety and try to eliminate their use in children's toys."

Others believe that the fear from the lead paint scare is being used to propel sentiment against other chemicals such as phthalates.

Marian Stanley is manager for the American Chemistry Council's Phthalate Esters Panel, as well as a senior director on the council. According to Stanley, in 2005 the EU banned diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in toys for children under 3 years of age and those intended to be mouthed. This ban was instituted before their own government-sponsored risk assessment was completed. Last year, that risk assessment was completed and it stated "unlikely to pose a risk for consumers (adults, infants and newborns)."

"Aside from the EU risk assessment, here in the States the Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted what is arguably the most thorough study of DINP in vinyl toys," Stanley says. "This study included an assessment of mouthing behavior by infants. The conclusion of the CPSC was 'no demonstrated health risk' and, in 2003, the commission declined a petition to ban vinyl toys for children 5 and under."

Stanley also asserts that the U.S. Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction also reviewed DINP and it concluded "minimal concern" for children and adults, and that included for exposures occurring in utero.

What becomes clear from the varying reports is that parents have a lot of conflicting evidence to guide them when it comes to choosing toys for their children.

Tips on Toy Alternatives

The following tips give concerned parents alternatives to commercially made toys:

  • Try wooden toys as opposed to plastic toys. Remember that the paint on wooden toys can contain lead as well, so check the label to make sure it is lead free. Look for wooden toys that have been colored with non-toxic water-based paints.
  • When choosing soft toys, try finding products made of cotton or wool that have been certified organic. The Web is full of toy shops that offer lovely, chemical-free toys.
  • Children love art supplies. Crayons made from beeswax, paints with no heavy metals or chemicals and non-lacquered pencils are all options if you want to go all natural.


Pages:  1  2  3  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.