Safe Alternatives for Baby and Child

The new American Standard Toy Safety Standard (ASTM-963) requires children toys to be phthalates free and contain none to very low levels of lead.   However, not all toxic substances are addressed in the ASTM-963 law.

We at Safbaby.com looking for even safer standards, like 100% free of PVC, Lead and Fire retardants.  (The ASTM-F963 has not considered fire retardant chemical exposure to our children as dangerous.)

Not always is it clear that a toy has dangerous toxic components such as PVC, phthalates, lead and more hiding within itself. Unless it is stated clearly on the packaging or toy itself, a parent is left in wonder.  The other option is for parents to spend countless hours calling customer service, and sometimes still, only to get an answer that can be somewhat deceiving if you are not listening with a fine-tuned ear.

That’s why we emailed and called many toy companies to find out if they are above safety standards. Some companies are not a 100% clear (see our letters) and seems they would rather beat around the bush than give us a straight forward answer.

Therefore, our list below contains the companies who have clearly stated to us that they are a 100% free of PVC, Phthalates, Lead and Fire-retardants.  PLEASE NOTE:  We have not personally tested these manufacturers ourselves, we have simply contacted them to receive that information from them.  HealthyToys.org has listed Edushade to have a toy with high amount of lead, but Edushade clearly tells SAFbaby that they are 100% free of lead.

If you have other letters/information you wish to share with us, we would love to have you post them here too.  Please comment below if you have additional feedback we are missing (not every company we contacted got back with us.

PVC-Free, Phthalates-Free, Lead-Free and Fire Retardant-Free Toy Manufacturers

We only list companies here that do not use PVC, lead and fire retardants in their toys. However some of these companies still use PVC in their packaging.

LETTERS FROM TOY MANUFACTURERS:

Brio and K’Nex Toys

Are all your products lead-free? Are they all pvc free?

Greetings from K’NEX and BRIO. Thank you for your interest in the BRIO product line. Safety is the number one priority here at K’NEX and also for BRIO products. All BRIO products meet the current safety standards for toys products as set down by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) as well as European EN part 3 standards and are PVC free. For your further assurance, we have included a statement put out by BRIO in Sweden regarding the safety of BRIO products.

Your friends at K’NEX and BRIO!

Chicco

Are all you products 100% free of lead? pvc-free? fire retardant free?

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Chicco is very aware of and concerned about recent studies which discuss the toxicity of certain chemicals or elements in child car seats.  ALL Chicco products meet or exceed the stringent safety standards in the U.S. and Europe regarding chemical content. Additionally all Chicco products are Phthalates-free.

Customer Service
Chicco USA, Inc

Edushape

Are all your toys free of PVC sold in the USA?
YES – they Meet & Exceed all ASTM requirements.

Are they 100% free of lead?
YES – they Meet & Exceed all ASTM requirements

Are they Fire retardant free?
YES – they Meet & Exceed all ASTM requirements

Is packaging free of PVC too?
YES – they Meet & Exceed all ASTM requirements

Judith Culberson
Edushape Ltd. USA

Haba

Are all your products PVC-free? Lead-free? Fire retardant free?

All Haba items meet and or exceed the LGA European standards for content and safety.

They also meet and or exceed ASTM-USA guidelines for content and safety. While I can not broadly say that all our items are ‘free’ of these chemical components-I can say they meet all testing guidelines for these components.

Please know that Haba cares about your child’s safety.

HabaUSA

Ikea

Ikea asked us not to share their response with our readers!
We did not get a clear answer if their products are 100% free of PVC and Fire Retardants!

Infantino

All of toys are PVC free with an exception of our rubber ducks and our products are phthalates free. We are working on packaging and we will provide this in the near future.

Cynthia Rich
Infantino.com

Learning Curve

Are all your toys lead and PVC-free for all your Lamaze brand toys?
Thank you for your inquiry.

In order to assist you and work with you toward trouble-shooting any problems you are having with a First Years product, we need to know which product. Please view our website at Learningcurve.com. Click on The First Years and identify the product. Email us with the information or a picture, and we will be happy to help you.

Alternatively, you may call our consumer toll free number at 1-800-533-6708 for help. Our operating hours are from Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central/Standard Time.
Consumer Services

Lego

Thank you for contacting us regarding the quality of LEGO® products.

Children’s safe and enjoyable use of our products is of utmost importance to us, and we make every effort to ensure that LEGO products are among the safest for children of all ages.

All LEGO toys are tested by independent third party labs and meet or exceed all mandatory toy safety requirements in the 130 countries where they are sold, including the current and future lead requirements of the recently enacted US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). Additionally, our products comply with the voluntary toy safety standard ASTM F963, which will become a mandatory standard under the CPSIA in February 2009. This standard encompasses safety requirements for toys such as age grading, small parts, material composition, no sharp edges or points, and much more.

The majority of LEGO elements are made from ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), a high-quality plastic that meets our extensive list of safety and quality specifications. The colors and materials in ABS plastic do not rub off or leach and, in fact, meet the same material standards for safety that are required of plastic eating utensils. Tires and elastic materials found in some LEGO sets are manufactured from Styrene-Butadiene Styrene (SBS), a material commonly found in vehicle mud guards and shoe soles.

Categorically, LEGO elements do not contain PVC. However, PVC may be found in limited exceptions where no other practical alternative materials exist, such as in electrical wire insulation. It is critical to note, however, that those few elements which do contain PVC meet or exceed the regulations and standards for product safety. Phthalate plasticizers are not permitted for use in any LEGO element, and may only exist in trace amounts at or below the requirements of the CPSIA. We will continue to evaluate test results and use a PVC substitute whenever one is available.

And finally, we thought you would like to know that LEGO elements are tested in conditions that replicate what can actually occur during normal playtime. All of our materials are tested for heavy metals such as lead and cadmium and fully comply with global standards for safe products. All decorated elements undergo rigorous testing to be certain that they can withstand countless hours of playtime and maintain safety and quality.

Thank you again for contacting us. We wish your family many happy hours of creative building with LEGO brand toys in the years to come.

Christopher
LEGO Direct Consumer Services

Little Tikes

Are all you products 100% free of lead? pvc-free? fire retardant free?
Thank you for contacting Little Tikes.

All of our products are safety tested and meet or exceed all safety guidelines.

Little Tikes

Manhattan Toy

Are all you products 100% free of lead? pvc-free? fire retardant free?

Thank you for contacting Manhattan Toy.  Manhattan Toy understands the concerns parents have after the recent toy recalls announced by major US toy manufacturers. We are committed to providing quality toys and products that enrich young lives and developing minds.  Safety has always been a focus at Manhattan Toy.

Our toys are designed, developed, and manufactured with every child’s safety in mind.  Manhattan Toy ensures that each of its products comply with federal toy safety standards of the US and Europe. Our products are manufactured to meet or exceed all applicable regulatory standards as well as voluntary safety standards.  Our toys meet the requirements put forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the European Union (EN71), as well as additional safety tests when applicable.  These requirements include checking for the presence of lead in our toys.  We further ensure testing integrity by using only third party, independent accredited toy testing laboratories.

Manhattan Toy will continue to make safety our priority when designing and manufacturing toys.   All of our products are designed to meet or exceed the standards set forth by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).   For more information, please visit the Toy Industry Association website at ww.toy-tia.org or the American Society for Testing and Materials at www.ASTM.org.

Magnets:
Manhattan Toy has developed toys which include magnets.  Every precaution is exercised in the design and development of these items to ensure that the magnets do not separate from the toy and present a danger to children.  When magnets are used in our toys, they are enclosed in a fabric pouch which is sewn shut.  The closed pouch is then sewn to the inside of the toy to prevent it from coming loose.  In addition, our magnets are only used in toys that are too large to be swallowed by children.

Lead:
Recently, lead has been found in some children’s products including jewelry and painted items.  Every product design manufactured by Manhattan Toy is tested to ASTM and EN71 regulations before it is released to the market.  These regulations include testing for lead content.  All of our toys meet or exceed the requirements of all US and European regulatory bodies.

General Testing:
Manhattan Toy tests every product design before it is introduced to the market place.  We regularly retest each design.  These comprehensive testing procedures address every attribute of toy safety including physical and mechanical testing (use and abuse) as well as toxic elements and flammability.  These tests check for the presence of lead, phthalates, small parts, sharp edges, and many more potential hazards.

We have transitioned to non- phthalate PVC.  If you will let me know which item you are interested in, I will be able to provide you with a more definitive answer.

Warm regards,
Manhattan Toy Customer Service

Sassy™

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns. Be assured we only use safe non-toxic materials. All of our products are phthalate-free.

Sassy, Inc., as a concerned infant product manufacturer, takes great pride as well as exceptionally committed to providing safe, durable and trustworthy products for you and your child. Our standards meet and exceed those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM), and we’re proud of that! These safety requirements can be reviewed by contacting the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a copy or at: http://www.cpsc.gov. Within these standards, is the 16 CFR 1303 – Total Lead Content, which we are significantly below what is acceptable by the federal government (http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/regs.aspx). We have our own people in China that test and re-test our products. A 3rd party lab, for safety and compliance to standards, reviews our product designs and that same 3rd party lab, for safety compliance, reviews production of each product. We then perform in-house testing before shipment to our retailers. Please be assured that the safety of our products is our primary concern.

Best Regards, Sassy

Sevi, Trudi and Olli Toys

Are all Trudi/Servi and Olli Toys pvc-free (including pellets in stuffed animals and packaging)? Are they 100% free of lead? Are they Fire retardant free?

All Trudi/Sevi and Olli products are fire-retardant and lead free. The plush is hand-made with double-stitching and is all machine-washable.

All of the products free of pvc on the outside. I believe the pellets that are in some of the stuffed animals are polyethylene.

All products pass or exceed all ASTM F963-07 and EN-71 standards.

Spielstabil Products

Hello there, Can you tell me if all your Spielstabil products are PVC-Free please. Phthalate free? BPA-free?
Yes they are!!

Only duck from our bath set item no. 3704 and squirter animals from our baby water fun set item no. 7524 include PVC, but they are phthalate free, of course.

Tiny Love

Thank you for contacting Tiny Love. Please be assured that all of our products undergo rigorous safety testing and contain no Bisphenol-A, PVC, lead, phthalates or any other harmful chemicals. We have passed both the American Standard Safety Test (ASTM-963) as well as the European test (EN-71) and have had no recalls on any of our items.

At Tiny Love, your baby’s safety is our primary concern and you can feel confident when using our products that they are free of any toxic materials of any kind. We also have no flame retardants in our items.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Best Regards,

Sheri Clements
Tiny Love USA

Wonderworld Toys

Are all you products 100% free of lead? pvc-free? fire retardant free?

Yes, the Wonderworld line is pvc free, lead free and fire retardant free.

Jason Cohen
SmartGearToys.com

Wow!™

Do you use pvc/vinyl in any of your packaging?

No, we do not.  We have never used these materials in any of our toys or
packaging.wow-toy-safety-press-release-feb-2008

Best wishes,
Tanya

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