Oh, the never-ending quest to protect ourselves from that which we thought was harmless...
Following up on an interesting discussion with a friend, take eco one step further and look at your baby toys: are they plastic? Do they contain phtalates, PVC or bPa (bisphenol-A)? We always prefer toys that are more "natural" for the baby - wood, metal, classic.
We strive to choose ones that are simple, safe and smart. I am trying to educate myself on the phtalates and bPa that is now found in most baby products. I know all about baby bottles, and choose silicone nipples instead of latex (due to my allergy). Now I look for the "safe for 3+" years of age sign on most toys - that means that either there are small parts, or that the plastic item contains phtalates, PVC (to make it flexible) or bPa and is unsafe for developing infants. For example, if your rubber ducky says "3+" on it, or, for example, a pail I got for Easter had that label, neither of which had small parts - that means there is either phtalates or bPa, and is unsafe for bambino to put in his mouth.
Of course babies will try to put everything in their mouths - this is the nature of exploration. So now I try to swap with a different toy, or (in practicality), let it go every once in a while. For more information, check out the San Francisco Chronicle's report, or to learn more about toxins, check out Rick Smith's "The Danger of Everyday Things".
For safer toys, check out Wee Organics, or just take a close look at the packaging.
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