You have a lot of toys laying around that your older children used. The thought comes to your mind that they aren’t the safest. Most of them are made from plastic and aren’t eco-friendly.
You want natural baby toys that are non-toxic for your baby or toddler.
Natural baby toys are made from organic or natural materials ensuring your child will be healthier and safer.
These materials are organic cotton, natural rubber, wood, wool, linen and silk.
Read on to find out about these different materials and toys you can find that are made from them.
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Organic Cotton
You hear a lot of hype about organic cotton and might wonder (like I did) how it is different from regular cotton.
Organic cotton is grown via methods having a low impact on the environment. It is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides.
Natural, chemical-free procedures are used from seed preparation to harvesting to production to dyeing.
For more useful information and resources on organic cotton visit Organic Cotton Plus.
Here are some ideas of toys made from organic cotton:
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- Balls
- Dolls
- Grasping Toys
- Plush Toys
- Stuffed Animals
- Rattles
- Teething Toys
Natural Rubber
Most toys are made from synthetic rubber which are man-made polymers under conditions that are controlled.
Synthetic rubbers are synthesized from crude oil by-products.
Natural rubber is a natural biosynthesis polymer obtained from the Hevea brasiliensis plant.
It occurs naturally in the cells of this plant.
As you can probably guess, natural rubber is less toxic and therefore safer and healthier for your baby or toddler.
You can visit this site to learn more about the difference between natural and synthetic rubber.
Check out these toys made from natural rubber:
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- Balls
- Bath Toys
- Blocks
- Rubber Duckies
- Rubber Foam Toys
- Teething Toys
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Wood
Since wood is a natural material, it is easy to see why any toys made from this resource are safe for your child.
Toys made from wood are the obvious alternative to toys made from plastic.
To keep your child even safer, avoid toys painted before 1978. Lead wasn’t banned from toys until then and so there is a higher chance babies or toddlers could ingest lead if they put those toys in their mouth.
Also avoid imported painted toys. Toys manufactured in any countries other than the US, Canada or the EU are less regulated and therefore carry a higher risk of containing lead based paint.
For more information about toxins in toys visit greenamerica.org.
There are lots of toys made from wood:
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- Balls
- Blocks
- Cars and Trucks
- Dolls
- Push or Pull Toys
- Puzzles
- Rattles
- Teething Toys
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Wool, linen or silk
Three more options for natural materials that toys can be made from are wool, linen or silk.
Wool is a natural occurring fiber from animals such as sheep, llamas or alpacas.
Linen comes from the fiber that grows inside the stalks of the flax plant.
Silk is made from the fibers of silkworms.
Synthetic fabrics, just like synthetic rubbers, are man-made and contain toxic materials.
Definitely consider toys made from wool, linen or silk if you are interested in buying fabric toys for your baby.
Possibility of toys made from wool, linen or silk:
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- Balls
- Dolls
- Grasping Toys
- Plush Toys
- Stuffed Animals
- Teething Toys
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Naturally safer
As you can see, there are many options for natural baby toys for your little ones.
Any toy made from organic cotton, natural rubber, wood, wool, linen or silk is healthier and safer for your baby or toddler.
Another option you have is to make toys yourself. There are many do it yourself tutorials and videos online that walk you through the steps of making your own toys out of natural materials.
The most important thing is that you spend quality time playing with your child.
Toys are just tools that enhance play and help your child develop.
You are the one your child bonds with and wants to interact with the most.
May you savor every precious moment you have to connect with your little one.
Dawn says
I’m so glad to see that we’re going back to some of the more natural toys we’ve had in the past. Modern does not equal healthy so it’s great to offer options for parents trying to do the best for their children. Great article!
Sharon says
Thanks Dawn! Yes, it is good to have natural options.
Sharon says
You have a very valid concern, Antonio. I think it is very important that toys are marked as safe. As a mother of a toddler, I am constantly concerned about choking hazards. You are right that even natural toys can be dangerous if they pose a choking hazard. Every parent and caregiver must be very careful and vigilant about the toys they let their little ones play with.
Andrey says
Dear Sharon
Thank you very much for your fantastic website. It is amazing that you show people where to start and what steps to make towards their proper understanding of the process of toy selection and its value for children. I hope more people will know about your website and follow your guidance.
Kind regards,
Andrey
Sharon says
Thanks for your encouragement, Andrey! I feel it is important that parents and caregivers understand how babies develop so they can make informed decisions about their children.
Antonio says
Hi
That was an interesting article on materials suitable for manufacturing toddlers’ toys. The concern must be the choking hazard that toys can pose, and this does not matter if it is natural or not. Any toys in children hands must be watched very carefully, as some people will make substandard toys.
How important do you think that toys must have a safety mark on them?
Thanks
Antonio