Safe Toys

Choosing safe toys for Baby. It's simple isn't it?

As long as the toy is BPA and Phthalate free, has low VOC, isn't painted with lead paint, is bigger than an apple, but smaller than a fridge, is not sprayed with fire-retardant chemicals, isn't too loud, isn't chipping, breaking, rusting or sharp and isn't recalled, then you're okay.  Oh, and watch out for Cadmium too! And it can't be made in China, 'cause you never know about those toys from China, right? It's safer if it's a seemingly overpriced, wooden puzzle from Germany, made in Thailand, right? Make sure you read the warning labels just in case you can't use it while sleeping, jump on it, or submerge it in water (all fun things to do, by the way) Oh, and no magnets! And to top it all off no annoying adult voice pretending to be a kid repeating: "Let's play 1-2-3!" over and over again.

Where are those affordable, fun, all organic, painted with beet juice toys made with recycled corn husks, that make soft, soothing noises, which are not wrapped in questionable containers? uh?

My kid loves banging on plastic bowls and cardboard boxes, he loves to wave my keys around and loves to chew his books.... hum....

Sometimes I feel like I'm back in university. Okay, for Toys 101, research and write a 50 page report on safety. Then for Car Seat 102, research and test 50 models and write a 20 page summary. Don't forget Baby Nutrition 201... Midterm is today.

Luckily, I have husband who loves research. Baby and I do all the testing.

All joking aside, it's worth looking online to familiarize yourself with good toy-choosing habits and to check products if you have any doubts. Visit

Healthy Stuff
 
Health Canada

One last funny bit. Read Curious Dad, Chad Skelton's funny article "Warning: Don't file away children in storage containers."

Gotta go! I have Installing Safety Gate 101 today!