News Coverage
Product Ingredients
Published March 1, 2008 Product Ingredients
Harmful chemicals may be present in even the cuddliest baby toys. Here's a look at some chemicals that have been identified as potentially harmful, where they may be found, what their effects may be and alternative products parents can choose.
| Chemical | What It May Be In | Why It May Be Harmful | Safer Alternatives |
| Phthalate | soft plastics (toys) and baby care products (lotions and shampoos) | linked to reproductive birth defects in boys in epidemiological studies | wooden or cloth toys; fragrance-free products |
| Bisphenol A (BPA) | hard plastics (sippy cups and baby bottles) | linked with neural and behavioral deficits and delays in animal studies | glass baby bottles, stainless steel sippy cups, BPA-free plastics |
| Lead | toys, PVC vinyl products, older paint | linked with developmental delays and IQ deficits in human studies | products made with natural materials |
| Flame retardant (PBDE) | cribs, mattresses | linked to neuro-developmental deficits in animal studies | organic cribs and mattresses |
| Volatile organic compound (VOC) | paints | some VOCs have been shown to cause cancer in human and animal studies | low or no-VOC paints |