July 10, 2013

Choosing Safer Toys for Your Kids

Recently, the Huffington Post featured an article describing how fossil fuels are found in many everyday products, particularly those made out of plastics. After reading the article, I got to thinking about the various additives in children's toys. To me, this is one of the scariest places that toxins can lurk as we all know many kids' toys end up in their little mouths, no matter how closely you watch your children.

I did some research to compile a list of some of the most dangerous materials still used in toys. These include:

- Bisphenol-A or BPA

- Phthalates

- Lead and lead-based paints

- Nonylphenol ethoxylate

- Heavy metals like cadmium and mercury

- Arsenic

So how can you tell if a toy is safe? Unfortunately, it's not always simple.

One thing you can look for is organic certification or certification from a well-known organization like Cradle to Cradle. You can also look at the recycling symbols on the bottoms of plastic toys. Those marked #7 are made out of polycarbonate and likely tainted with BPA. #3 plastic is often phthalate-laced PVC. Here at Paperless Kitchen, we have some nontoxic kitchen toys that are a good starting point for choosing safer toys for your kids.