Are there any toy brands that are COMPLETELY safe????

[Shauna]

Hi Hope this hasn't already been discussed, but my time is always brief on the computer, what with the kids, work, etc. I'm trying to find a brand of toys that I don't have to spend all my time researching whether they are safe, non-toxic, chemical free. Are there any brands that ensure this? I thought Plan Toys & Haba were a safe bet and I'm sure they are much better than most but I've found they too sometimes contain small amounts of lead or bromine. Should I go completely organic and then am I safe or do they to pose a threat? The levels in the above mentioned are deemed "low" but seems they should be able to do better than that. I'm a novice at this, and trying to learn quickly as the baby is naturally putting everything in mouth, and live in a small town where there doesn't seem to be much interest in "green" or "organic" as I talk to friends, family I just get, "I know isn't that terrible" but no real direction. Hope someone can help! Thanks so much!

[Samantha Fox]

Hi there!
Thanks for joining our forum! Great question, and we can totally relate because we have done countless hours of research on toy safety, and the more we learn, the more questions we have.
To cut to the point, toys that are solid wood, unfinished and not painted are totally safe. But, we want to stimulate our kids and colors and textures, etc. are appealing to them.
Have you read our December 08 archives on toy safety? I know how busy it is being a mom, almost midnight here, but I do have to say that our Dec. archive posts on toy safety are a wealth of information for all! We took sooooo many hours of research and have put them into posts that parents can absorb.
You may already know of HealthyToys.org
This is a good site to check out toys, but their data base is not super big.
We will soon be doing another amazing post from an interview with a great expert in toxins and more. As well,
we will be posting a pvc-free and lead-free manufacturer graph soon too.
But, clearly there are more toxins than just pvc and lead to be concerned with in our babies toys.
Especially if these toys will be making way into our babies mouths.
Plan Toys has some of the best values of any toy manufacturer we have seen. From ground up, they do great work.
But it will always be very helpful to know what you want to steer clear of in the toys that surround your children.
Keep up the good work mama!
peace
samantha

[Shauna]

Thank you for your reply! I since have looked through the archive posts, and I have a notebook beside me to take notes on which toys to replace mine with! I have been to Healthykids.org its wonderful but just wish it were bigger! I do have a couple more questions if you would indulge me...I discovered on heathykids I do infact have 2 toys (from Christmas gifts) that are low level, one for lead with a 7 & 9 low level and another for Bromine also in the low levels, but my question is are low levels safe???? One gift is quite large and for up to ages 36 months, so she would be playing with this often and for years. We haven't opened it yet and its from my mom, my husband argues we are all exposed everyday and doesn't see a low level as anything to worry about. My argument is I would have never purchased this not knowing, its going back!!!! (should be labeled with low levels!) I tried to call the company intially before discovering the lead, just to ask about pvc, couldn't find the code on the box, and the employee told me she wasn't sure, couldn't find any info, but said "she's pretty sure this is one of the safer ones" I can't believe this from a majoy toy brand! I'm really disgusted. We should do better for our kids. I finally convinced my husband by saying, we're unsure of the paint in our very old colonial home, I wouldn't stick her in the corner with a paint scraper that had bold bright colors and played music. I won't invite her to play with something I know has lead. Not with there are toys that don't. I only wish this was simpler. I feel like I have to be a Science Professor with a professor's salary to do this right! I thank you so much for this resource and I will visit regularly and have told everyone who hasn't already tuned me out on the subject! One more thing, my father was sprayed with Agent Orange in Vietnam, now 36 years later, he has diabetes, and had colon cancer, from dioxin, I recently learned this is a byproduct in baby shampoo! I can't believe I didn't know this, I have 13 year old, I wonder what my ignorance has cost her? I'm going to "baby step" slowly, thoughfully, our lives back on track toxin free! Thanks Again, Shauna

[Samantha Fox]

Shauna,
I can totally relate with you and what I first have to say is that you are doing an amazing job with creating the best space you can for your baby. My husband is the same, thinks I am nuts at time, but I am always looking for my little one's best interest. So is daddy, but some of this stuff is hard to digest since we have been living with it so long.
Just wanted to chime in with you again and say thanks for being a SAFbaby reader and that we will continue to answer your questions and meet your needs throughout the following month or so.
In the meantime, enjoy every hug and giggle that you got.

[Shauna]

Thanks again! By the way...have you read "The Hundred Year Lie" by Randall Fitzgerald? Its amazing and deals with all this stuff and shows the history behind why we have flouride in our water, junk in our foods, etc. and how we've all been warned all along the way. Its really amazing, I'm almost finished, and feel empowered rather than completely terrified! Makes you wonder where the "Powerful Decision Makers & Lawmakers" are getting there water & products from? They can't be knowingly passing these laws and drinking the stuff?!

[Samantha Fox]

Hi There Shauna,
Just wanted to let you know my reply from HealthyToys.org regarding the Edushape differences (I will post Edushape's response:

Dear Healthy Toys.org,
SafBaby.com has recently written a post titled Lead-Free, PVC-Free and
Fire Retardant-Free Toy Manufacturers.
We have included in our post the letters from toy manufacturers
regarding this concern.

Recently, a reader of ours has brought this to our attention about
misinformation in Edushape's reply to us...
"In my research, I found a website which has tested various toys for
chemical content. Apparently, Edushape Thistle Blocks has HIGH lead
content. Please see this link ->
http://www.healthytoys.org/product.details.php?getrecno=6873
You may want to modify this list ->
http://www.safbaby.com/lead-free-pvc-free-and-fire-retardant-free-t..."


Can you please comment on this, for we are searching for the truth and
why maybe HealthyToys.org has information different than Edushape.
I will also contact Edushape about this matter.
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you,
Samantha Fox

Samantha,

We stand by our testing. Unless they have changed the product since our
test(the test data is listed) I have no reason to questions our test
results.

Jeff Gearhart

[Shauna]

Thank you for your help in this. It seems that there is so much deception out there! Like the wording of the companies i.e. "we meet or exceed" safety standards, that would lead a person to believe they were completely safe. Which I don't believe is the whole truth. Granted I'm not a scientist or a doctor, but I am a mom and cringe at the thought of my baby sucking on flame retardents and carcinogens, even in small amounts! At first I didn't think small amounts per million sounded like very much until my husband reminded me 10 parts per million of chlorine shocks our pool and is unsafe to enter! Tiny Love states they don't use any harmful chemicals either (and I loved (past tense) their products) but I see on healthytoys.org hey have bromine and antimony in one of their products as well! It seems you can't trust these companies to truly care about our kids, because there must be a safer alternative, as some products do & some don't contain these chemicals. I really appreciate your help. I wish there were some sort of survival guide out there to make it easier to find quality, safe products. I was also surprised to see Maggie's Memagerie Organic Sock Monkey contained bromine. I would have thought organic meant safe! Now I'm just left guessing! I wish these companies had to list what chemicals they contained on the packaging so we could decide for ourselves, then maybe more parents would get involved. As it stands I think most people are too busy or too overwhelmed to deal with this! Again, I thank you for getting to the bottom of this! Shauna

[Samantha Fox]

To make this all a little more confusing, here is Edushape's reply. Again, I am still following up to find where the creditability is and why all this contradicting information is out there for us parents....

Dear Judith,
SafBaby.com has recently received an email from you stating that all of
your toys are "free of lead."
Although a reader of ours has brought this to our attention...
"In my research, I found a website which has tested various toys for
chemical content. Apparently, Edushape Thistle Blocks has HIGH lead
content. Please see this link ->
http://www.healthytoys.org/product.details.php?getrecno=6873
You may want to modify this list ->
http://www.safbaby.com/lead-free-pvc-free-and-fire-retardant-free-t...
cturers"

acturers>

Can you please comment on this, for we are searching for the truth and
why maybe HealthyToys.org has information different than yours.
I will also contact HealthyToys.org about this matter.
Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you,
Samantha Fox
www.SAFbaby.com

acturers>


HI Samantha,

The site the information was taken from is Healthy Toys.com and is NOT a
certified Testing Organization.

Our current product "Thistle Blocks" do not contain "Surface Lead" and have
passed the appropriate ASTM / CPSC testing for lead contents. Also note that
this item is marked for children ages 3 trs & up and also carries a Small
Parts Warning (as noted on our web site), thus being with in the compliance
level for the current CPSIA regulations.

Thank you for your Email and should you have any further questions please
feel free to contact us at any time.

Kindest Regards,
Judith Culberson
National Sales Manager
Edushape Ltd. USA
[e-mail]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Shauna]

Ok I hate to sound nit-picky, and am probably going to get black-listed somewhere :) But doesn't this sound alot like "marketing" trickery? What the heck is surface lead? So there is lead under the surface? I would say there's alot lying under the surface, metaphorically speaking! And somehow I'm suppose to feel better that only the 3 & up group is being exposed to "safe" levels of lead? And also being in "compliance" to me sounds like "good enough" makes me think of a C+ (and I'm being generous) rather than an A+! I know I'm starting to sound nuts, but toys aren't cheap, we deserve safe toys! And we shouldn't be lied to and there shouldn't be a "good enough" attitude. If there are safer alternatives they should all have to comply. I know I'm starting to sound a little obsessed but I'm not about to go out and buy more junk, poisonous junk for that matter!!!! And to say they are not a certified testing organization...who has the motive to lie? Healthytoys.org is looking for donations, they aren't charging for the info, I don't see them making any money off polluting our kids. I love the slogan here...there is always a safer alternative! And I believe there is! And we've got to find it! Again many thanks Samantha!

[BabyBoyNames]

Hi Shauna!

Why don't you try to buy toys like soft ball, stuff toys, or anything that your baby cannot put into his or her mouth. There are lots of toys in stores and you can choose the best one for your child.


Baby Boy Names

[Shauna]

Hi Babyboy while I appreciate your suggestion, I don't think you completely understood my issue. We have stuffed balls, toys etc. but sometime they too can contain bromine, arsenic, even lead! At first thought you think lead? I thought that was just in painted toys, but its not. There are many ways they sneak these toxins in or sometimes they're a byproduct of manufacturing. I find that there are not many options in stores, there are of course soft toys but that doesn't mean safe. And my baby can put anything in her mouth! :) Even if its large she will suck or lick the foot of an animal, etc. Sometimes she tries to sit and lick the highchair tray, swear she's just trying to make me nuts :) I've even found some organic stuffed toys that have bromine in them! Under the Nile is found in some stores near me and we've bought them but other than that we really research rather than simply pick up a toy a Target or wherever! I mostly shop online now so I can cross-reference. Even alot of the European toys with higher standards sometimes are completely safe. Since my first post on this matter I've taken myself through a crash course in this topic and have found some safe options. For me I'm a stickler and want it COMPLETELY safe, not mostly safe. Thats why I love this website's philosophy, "there is always a safer alternative" because I won't be satisfied with good enough! I've since started an online mom's group at Raisingthem.com -Earth Angels Online Support to help moms talk this stuff out! And so I don't drive everyone here crazy with all my questions! And in an attempt to find local moms to share local resource suggestions with. www.healthytoys.org is a great resource to search for safer options and to see what exactly is lurking in our toy boxes, I was shocked to see many Christmas gifts on the "bad" list and they went back to the store!! Again I thank you for your reply without the help of this website and of other parents I would be completely lost! Shauna
BabyBoyNames said:

Hi Shauna!

Why don't you try to buy toys like soft ball, stuff toys, or anything that your baby cannot put into his or her mouth. There are lots of toys in stores and you can choose the best one for your child.


Baby Boy Names

[Liz Slaybaugh]

I wanted to tell you that I contacted Melissa and Doug toy company after I found a negative report on Healthytoys.org about one of their products. I talked to a very helpful and informed woman named Lisa. She explained that the type of testing Healthytoys.org does is different from what is required of toy manufacturers. I read up on the testing instrument healthytoys uses and I emailed them asking to explain to me how they INFERRED their reported test results from the testing itself. I never got a reply from them, but I now use other sources of information as well as their reports. I read their site and found where they said that they inferred what chemicals were in products. I guess I do not understand exactly what that means. Toxic Consumer and Healthy Child , Healthy World are both very good books which I find helpful.

[http://www.ownadaycare.com/]

Good Day! You make an excellent point. I think that despite several attempts to find a toy that is 100% safe and child friendly, there will always be several intrinsic and extrinsic factors that will contribute to a toy or accessory providing some form of bacterial introduction to the child. I believe that only in a sterile environment can you be certain of a childs protection from exposure to harmful substances. The best way you can protect your child is to minimize the risk of infection and exposure by choosing the safest possible accesories and buying items which are approved for daycare use, they have a higher safety code regulation check so you can feel safer when your kids use and play with them.