Choosing toys forlittle ones is a bit more difficult than taking your infant into a toy store and getting him/her indicate what toys to have. There’s a number of factors to be aware of, including choking hazards, to synthetic chemicals, to pollutants that could possibly be in the toys. The easiest method to avoid many of these harmful components and make sure you get the safest toys for your child is always to simply go green.
Carefully created skillfully by hand using organic materials, eco-friendly toys keep kids protected from any immediate danger as well as help with keeping their health intact. Therefore, you can’t make a mistake with eco-friendly toys. Here are a couple simple methods to approach selecting eco-friendly toys that that place your child’s wellness our environment first.
Always Read Labels
Everything you need to know about a toy to determine its level of safety is in the label. What material is the toy made of? Does it pose any direct danger to the user? Is the toy BPA free or not? Always take a minute to carefully read all the information on a toy’s label before making a purchase. Toys that are considered safe are those that are toxic free and feature labels such as phthalate-free, PVC-free, BPA, free, and so on.
Stick with Trusted Brands
Just like all store-bought items, toys come from a variety of brands. Each toy brand has its own uniqueness. Some companies are famous for producing educational toys. Others brands have carved a niche for themselves in making toys that offer endless fun, and there are those known for being responsible and transparent by putting safety first. So, before you go toy shopping, do some research to find out what the market is saying about different brands. The way to go is trusted brands, which have a reputation for offering toys that are both safe and fun.
Go for Open-Ended Toys
Open-ended toys are always a great option to go for because they offer a variety of play options, encourage imaginative play, and help grow your child’s creativity. What’s more, open-ended toys can last through different stages and ages of your child’s life. Therefore, make sure to keep an eye out for fun and safe open-ended toys during your trips to the toyshop.
Avoid Batteries and Plastics
When it comes to ensuring the safety of your child, plastics and batteries are top on the list of things to avoid. Plastics may contain high levels of harmful chemicals such as lead and phthalates while batteries can either be swallowed or leak out life-threatening toxins. So, to be on the safe side, stay clear of toys made of plastic and those that run on batteries. However, if you must get these kinds of toys, go for re-chargeable batteries and safer plastics (e.g. those labeled PVC or BPA free, and those with the numbers 1, 2, 4, or 5 in the recycling symbol).
While sticking to the dos’ and don’ts listed above when toy shopping, it’s also important to go for quality toys. Although a little costly, high quality toys last longer and have a strong build that prevents premature breakage, which can pose another set of problems to children.