SOME 🤯 INFO ON PLASTIC TOYS:
•Phthalates give a plastic toy its soft, squishy feel & not only upset the body’s hormonal balance, they’ve also been found to stimulate the growth of cancers.
•Cadmium is a plastic stabilizer that affects normal brain growth and can cause kidney damage.
•Lead is used to make plastic toys more durable. Lead affects the nervous system and has been linked to hearing loss, ADHD, and decreased IQ. It’s also a concern because children absorb and retain lead in their systems more easily than adults.
•BPA is found in plastic toys, sippy cups, plastic bottles, and canned food lining. It’s considered more of a danger when the child chews on it, so the main concern with BPA has been on food and drink products. But if your child is prone to chewing on toys (and what baby isn’t?) it’s best to avoid plastic toys for that stage.
Understandably, it makes me feel a little overwhelmed to read lists like that. I feel responsible for making changes, so I'm willing to take the process slowly. Nothing is perfect overnight. There has to be a whole lot of forgiveness and grace, but aside from buying all wooden toys, what can we do to make sure your child’s toys are safe?
HELPFUL TIPS:
•Only allow your baby to teethe or chew on natural, uncoated wood or a frozen cotton cloth.
•When plastic toys are your only option, go with PVC-free & BPA-free toys, not just for your own children, but for every gift you buy.
•Talk to other parents. Sometimes just bringing up the topic of toy safety (to find like minded parents) helps you realize you’re not alone in wondering what’s best for your child. You may also help educate a fellow parent, which could lead to a healthier family for them too!
•Send them outside! Let them play with the good 'ol outdoors! Finding bugs, digging in dirt, learning about their environment through play! When outside, they have the opportunity to work on almost every single skill - from sensory skills, social/emotional development, increases attention spans, and immune boosting play through the sun and running/jumping!
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