It’s the holiday season, and the excitement around gifts has arrived! What’s in that really heavy gift box? Who gave the best gift? 

Opening gifts with our families, friends, and loved ones can create some magical moments. There can unfortunately be a dark side to these magical moments, however. Some toys and products contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to our health. And when kids play with these toys, they can cause real and permanent damage to their health.  

With this guide to safer holiday gift and toy shopping, learn what you need to look out for when you’re circling the toy aisles for the perfect gift. 

Hazardous materials in toys

Babies and kids are more vulnerable to the potential effects of chemical exposure compared to adults. It’s important to be mindful of what potentially hazardous materials might be lurking in the toys you buy.
 

• Lead: Some toys and jewelry for kids contain lead added to the paint or plastic.  A young child may touch the plastic toy and then ingest lead dust when putting their fingers – or even the toy itself - in their mouth. Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, decreased IQ, cognitive disorder, behavior issues, and nervous system damage. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says there is no safe lead limit.

• Phthalates: Another common group of chemicals in toys are phthalates, which help make plastic flexible. Studies show these chemicals may increase the risk of allergic diseases including asthma and eczema, as well as affect infant and toddler physical and cognitive development.

How you can protect your family 

For parents, proactively keeping kids safe from harmful chemicals is a big responsibility.  Below are additional tips to help you select children’s toys and products that are likely to be safe for you or your loved ones’ kids.  Keep in mind: Non-toxic toys are especially important in those early “everything goes in the mouth” stages. 
 

What to look for when shopping for toys

• Look for an ASTM label on the side or bottom of a toy’s packaging. This label certifies that toys have passed a safety inspection and meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.  ASTM labels are not required, so not all toys have this label.   
• Check toys for cracked or peeling paint or chips. Also check for sharp edges and strings dangling off toys that children could be injured by.
• For teething toys, look for non-toxic teethers such as those made from rubber, wood, or cloth with vegetable or metal-free dyes. 

What to avoid when shopping for toys

• Avoid imported toys made outside the United States, Canada or Europe. Lead-based paint is still widely used in many other countries today. Imported toys can also have heavy metals like cadmium and arsenic, which can cause neurological and reproductive problems.
• Avoid crayons, markers or sidewalk chalk that are not labeled “nontoxic.”
• Avoid toys made of vinyl (PVC). Phthalates are typically added to PVC toys as a softening agent.   
• Avoid toys made with BPA (Bisphenol A)- which can be found in plastic toys made from polycarbonate plastic. BPA is linked to hormone disruption and is especially concerning for infants and young children.   

Types of toys to use caution with when shopping

• Antique, vintage, secondhand, or older toys: Toys made before 1978 may have lead-based paint. Toys made of tin, brass or pewter alloys may also contain lead. 
• Jewelry: Lead can be used to make a product heavier, brighten colors, and stabilize or soften plastic. There is an increased risk for buying lead-based jewelry if it was purchased through informal and unregulated sources. 
• Rubber duckies and other plastic toys: Plastics can release chemicals such as phthalates, which are hormone disruptors. Even products with BPA-free labels can potentially release so-called estrogen chemicals in plastics, so minimizing exposure to plastic is best.   

Where can I buy non-toxic toys and gifts? 

Ask your local retail store to show you which non-toxic toys they carry. You can also find reputable online websites that have done the research for you, as there are many online retailers that specialize in selling only non-toxic products.   

For more resources on children’s toy safety, you can also visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Council (CSPC).

Regional efforts to protect children from toxic toys

The Washington Children’s Safe Products Act limits the presence of chemicals of high concern to children (CHCC) like lead, cadmium, six types of phthalates, and five types of flame retardants. in children’s products. This law also directs the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to conduct product testing studies, and Ecology has already tested hundreds of children’s products on the market for a range of chemicals. If an item is determined to have unsafe levels of restricted chemicals, Ecology will send a compliance letter. Since the product testing effort begin, over 150 compliance letters have been sent to manufacturers.   

But it’s impossible to monitor and track all toys in the marketplace. Many toys are made in other countries where heavy metals, phthalates in plastics, and other harmful chemicals are still used in toy manufacturing. Those toys can still find their way to retail stores here in Washington state. 
 

What is being done to understand and prevent childhood lead exposures in our region

King County Public Health’s Lead and Toxics Program tests for the presence of lead in children and works to ensure those with elevated blood-lead levels are treated. However, this approach does not prevent exposures from happening in the first place. Communities face significant challenges to eliminating lead poisoning, as lead can be found not only in toys. It can also exist in cookware, old paint, imported candies, art supplies, jewelry, dishware, drinking water, and lunch boxes.


Think of all this information has a gift. You now have resources and tips you need to truly make this year a magical and safe holiday season for your little loved ones.  We wish you a happy holidays!