Non Toxic Kids Favorites & How I Avoid Taking It Too Far
I know “non toxic” is kind of a mystery term in that we don’t really know for sure how much it matters to use certain materials or avoid certain chemicals in our home and personal products, but kids items are one area I always try to play it safe. Our pediatrician’s office has a note hanging about unregulated imported toys being a high source of lead exposure for kids which motivated me to become extra picky about looking for safety regulations.
I’ve also seen though how this can quickly turn into an unsustainable and unhelpful paranoia around product materials, and all the actual research is really new and unproven. Shopping for potentially less toxic products can also be more expensive and makes buying used more questionable, so it’s not always sustainable. I think it’s ok to have other things you prioritize higher.
But all that said, what I’ve found easiest is just to look for three things whenever possible:
1. Trustworthy certifications
These are the USA certifications I’m most aware of:
GREENGUARD GOLD: Tests for low VOCs from a whole finished product (e.g. a bed)
OEKO TEX: Tests textiles for harmful substances (e.g. bed sheets)
CertiPUR-US: Tests foam for harmful chemicals and low VOC (e.g. a mattress)
Some Favorites:
(ad) Brooklyn Bedding Kids Mattress (Certified by all of the above)
Carters Pajamas (OEKO TEX Certified)
Nugget Play Couch (GREENGUARD GOLD & CertiPUR-US)
Pottery Barn has a bunch of certified products
2. Sold in a country that regulates safety.
Something can be manufactured in many different countries, but if it’s sold in stores in the US, Korea, the UK, Australia, etc, then it has to pass that country’s safety rules. If it’s sold online only (like some brands on Amazon), from what I understand, the rules start to be a lot more gray and a lot less enforced. So, when I’m shopping online or even thrifting/buying used, I try to see if a brick and mortar store like Target, sells the product or brand also. If it does, I feel like it’s probably safe enough. If it doesn’t, I look for more information.
Some Favorites:
Any toys by the brand Melissa & Doug (Target)
3. Natural (ish) materials (sometimes)
Natural materials in my opinion is complicated. I don’t always want natural materials, because natural materials can attract more pests, mold more easily, stain more easily and have other issues in some cases. A perfect example is mattresses. None of our mattresses are completely natural materials because I wanted to avoid dust mites, allergens, mold, etc. But, I also know mattresses can be a high source of toxic VOCs. I looked specifically for mattresses made with some synthetic materials but that still had the above certifications so I could feel good about both issues. I have a whole blog post on mattresses here.
However, in general I think natural materials is a good thing to look for when there are not certified options within your budget. For example, I try to buy solid wood furniture instead of particle board when possible to avoid all of the glue that is used to make particle board. When I’m crafting or thrifting, I try to choose 100% cotton fabric or yarn.
For kids stuff, we def have a good amount of plastic in the house, but if there’s a reasonable option for stainless steel or wood instead, I’ll usually go for that one.
Some Favorites:
Max & Lily solid wood beds (some are also certified)
I am working on a database of products that fall under these three categories HERE so you can easily shop them. It’s very glitchy and incomplete as of now, but stay tuned and feel free to be a BETA tester in the mean time. Send me your feedback on Instagram @weekendartistssociety