Question from JackieStonberg
My son is six months old and he has been given some plastic toys. I am trying to figure out which to keep and which to remove. I understand that any plastics marked with “PC,” “#7,” and “3” are unsafe. I think that I may trust those that are labelled “phthalate free,” “no BPA,” and “no PVC.” But many plastic toys are unmarked. For those toys, I have kept them if they are old used ones because I am thinking that if they were once harmful, then over time they have done most of their off-gassing. Is this thinking correct? Or does dangerous plastic get even more dangerous over time? Along these lines, is it sufficient to buy new plastic toys and let then air outside for a few months? Thank you for you help.
Debra’s Answer
If I had a baby, I would not allow ANY plastic toys. I know that is an extreme position, but there are a lot of moms who agree with me, thus the availability of many natural toys. These are not usually sold in toy stores, but are easily available in on internet. See Debra’s List: Toys.
The reason I say this is that all plastics have some harm to them to one degree or another. And a baby’s body does not yet have a fully developed defense system to handle incoming toxic chemicals. The early months are the most important time to create an environment that is as nontoxic as possible.
That said, if you must keep your plastic toys, you’re on the right track.
Toys marked with “PC,” “#7,” and “3” are clearly unsafe. Toys labelled “phthalate free,” “no BPA,” and “no PVC” are safer. Don’t use plastic toys are unmarked. You are correct in thinking that if they were once harmful, then over time they have done most of their off-gassing. Dangerous plastic does not get even more dangerous over time. But the question is, how long does it take for the plastic to become “safe”?
I would not buy new plastic toys and let them air outside for a few months. Better to buy or make natural toys.
There is a whole different philosophy of natural play. I wrote an article about it on my old site, which I will put below because I’m not sure what is going to happen to it when the new site comes down.
