Last updated: November 20, 2008
Because Christmas is right around the corner and the new bill protecting children from lead and phthalates will not go into effect until February 10, 2009, I am taking it upon myself to search for safe toys for Christmas 2008.
Here is the list I have come up with and will continue to add to it as I find new toys that meet the standards of being lead and phthalate free. If a toy has any of these toxins, I will not list them. I also did my best to steer clear of anything that contains BPA. Please note there are millions and millions of toys out there, so this is in no way a comprehensive list. If you are aware of another toy that is free of ALL lead, phthalates and BPA, please comment (along with a website or other evidence you may have if available) and I will add it to the list. Also, I will not list the obvious, like stuffed animals or books, but will do my best to include the obvious categories.
Also, some companies do have toys made with phthalate-free PVC. I have listed these and made a note by those toys. Although it would be great to avoid PVC altogether, as PVC can contain lead.
Most of the products are linked so you can read reviews, get more information and even purchase online.
Brands who are promising that all their toys are lead and phthalate free:
Edushape
Haba
Kids Give
Lamaze Baby Toys
Lego Systems
Little Tykes
Lisa LeLeu
Melissa & Doug (wood and plush toys)
Mudpuppy
Plan Toys
Publications International
Sckoon
Selecta
Step 2
Tiny Love
Under the Nile
Art supplies/Crafts
(note: many art supplies, including Play Doh, contain trace amounts of arsenic. I did not list these products in the list. Unfortunately, it makes for a shorter list)
EcoTots Art time easel
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Easel
Melissa and Doug Paints
KidKraft Deluxe Easel
Leaf Press by Selecta
Organic Crafts (book), by Kimberly Monaghan
Plant colored pastel crayons
Blocks
Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks, Melissa & Doug
Mega Blocks
Legos (all systems including Duplo)
Edushape (They had these at my daughter’s daycare and they are great! They are flexible so perfect for toddlers just learning to play with connecting type blocks.)
Kapla Wood Building Set
Wooden Animal Nesting Blocks, Melissa & Doug
Books
LIttle leaf house book, HABA
Cars/Vehicles
Automoblox mini’s (3 pack)
Automoblox vehicles
Baby Car, Plan Toys
Bulldozer Chunky Wooden Truck, FAO Schwartz
Cement Mixer Chunky wooden truck, FAO Scwartz
Discover Rig, Sprig Toys
Dump truck chunky wooden truck, FAO Schwartz
Firetruck Chuncky wooden truck, FAO Schwartz
Side Kick Vehicle, Rally Racer, Sprig Toys
Road Contruction Set, Plan Toys
Dolls
Babipouce Grenadine – 12″ Cloth Doll by Corolle
BabiCorolle Sorbet Melodie Doll
All Dolls by Corolle (made of PVC-free vinyl), including Tidoo, Calin, Chouquette Eva, and Poupette Lili These dolls are all just BEAUTIFUL
Baby Stella by Manahattan Toy
Flippippi Fortune Butterfly Red by Kathe Kruse
Kathe Kruse Dolls (some cloth, some PVC vinyl)
Keptin-Jr Dolls (some cloth, some PVC vinyl)
Keptin Jr – Organic Cotton Doll
Paola Soft Doll by Haba
Pottery Barn Kids Dolls and their Baby Dolls (though note, these are spot washable only, however cute they are)
Sweet Dolly by Baby Gund
The Earth Friends Doll Raji
Waldorf Flippippi Fortune Fairy by Kathe Kruse
Zapf Creation Dolls (made of PVC-free vinyl)
Whatever doll you choose, be sure the dolls are not treated with flame retardants, are free of heavy metals, and are painted with safe/non-toxic paints.
Games
Bamboo Art, ages 18 months+
Battelo (memory and strategy game, age 4+, made of Bamboo)
Cagola Balancing Game, Bamboo Collection, ages 4+
Colora Magnetic Design, Bamboo Collection
Dominos, Bamboo Collection
Hasbro Bamboo Matching game (I saw at Wal-Mart, but cannot find online anywhere. It’s cute though.)
Natural Wood Memory Game by Selecta
Interactive Toys
Battino Pounding Bench, Selecta
City Beads (wood), Wonderworld
Click Clack by Plan Toys
Click Clack Ball Track by HABA
Hammer Balls by Plan Toys
Pounding Tower, Plan Toys
Ryan the Zebra Activity Center, by K’s Kids
Wood Baby Gym, Selecta
Wooden Ball Track Set by Selecta
Kitchen Sets
Guidecraft Deluxe Kitchen
Guidecraft Wooden Kitchen
Plan Toys Kitchen Center
Plan Toys Kitchen Set
Pink stove top by Plan Toys and Red stove top
Dishwasher by Plan Toys
Refrigerator by Plan Toys
Melissa and Doug Classic Deluxe Kitchen
Musical Instruments
Banjo, Plan Toys
Deluxe Band Set, Melissa and Doug
Drum Set, Plan Toys
Pine wood train whistle, maple and Marks
Hohner harmonica, Rosie’s Hippo
Mini Red Piano, Schylling
Melissa and Doug Band in a Box
Oval Xylophone, Plan Toys
Push/Pull Toys
Bird Family Pull Toy, Rosie’s Hippo
Circo Pull Toy, HABA
Dancing Alligator, Plan Toys
Frolicking Frog Wooden Pull Toy, Melissa and Doug
Trotto Wooden Push Toy by Selecta
Mini Pull along Giraffe by Sevi
Natural Wood Push Toy, Pedella, by Selecta
Sorting Train, Plan Toys
Walk and Roll, Plan Toys
Wooden Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy, Melissa and Doug
Zoo Animals Pull Along, Melissa and Doug
Play Food/Cookware
Alex Toys Deluxe Cooking Set
Bambu Kids Cooking Utensils
Erzi play food: Erzi Assorted Vegetables Box; Erzi Assorted Fruit Box; Erzi Assorted Vegetables; Erzi Assorted Fruit; Erzi Assorted Fruit Box Tropical Fruits; Erzi Assorted Tropical Fruits
Learning Resources – Made of PVC and polyethylene, but is lead and phthalate free
“Lunch With Friends” wood tea party set by Djeco
Melissa and Doug: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Play Food – 10 Piece Set; Melissa & Doug Sandwich making set; Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Spice Rack Set; Melissa and Doug Cutting Food Box;
Melissa and Doug Food Groups; Melissa and Doug Pizza Party; Melissa and Doug Birthday Cake; Sushi
Plan Toys: Fruit and Vegetables, Breakfast Menu (with tray), Birthday Cake with candles, Vegetable pairs
Plan Toys Toaster
Plan Toys Microwave
Shopping cart by Plan Toys
Cookware set by Plan Toys
Tableware set by Plan Toys
Tea set (wood), Plan Toys
Tupperware Childs Kids Mini Baking Set
Tupperware Kids Cake Taker, Plates, & Spatula
Tupperware Kids Mini Party Set with Mini Cake Taker
Playmat (Infant Activity Mat)
Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe – Lights & Music
Wood Play Gym by Selecta
Pretend Play – Barn
Farm Animals, Plan Toys
Folding Barn, Melissa and Doug
Folding Horse Stable, Melissa and Doug
Plan Toys Country Barn
Plan Toys Wood barn
Pretend Play – Castles
Dragonstone Castle With Inhabitants by Haba
Princess Castle by Melissa and Doug
Folding Midevil Castle by Melissa and Doug
Dolls for Melissa and Doug Play Castles
Pretend Play – Playhouse
Neat & Tidy Cottage by Step2 (my daughter LOVES this house)
Daisy’s Market, Djeco
Pretend Play – Dollhouse
Plan Toys Chalet Dollhouse with furniture
Plan Toys My First Dollhouse
Plan Terrace Dollhouse
Plan Toys Contemporary Dollhouse
Plan Toys Victorian Dollhouse (I want this one!)
Plan Toys Modern Dollhouse
Colonial Dollhouse by Plan Toys
Deluxe Wooden Furnished Dollhouse, Melissa and Doug
Dollhouse furniture by Plan Toys
Dollhouse Furniture, Melissa and Doug
Farm House, Plan Toys
Fold and Go Dollhouse, Melissa and Doug
Victorian Dollhouse, Melissa and Doug
Wooden Doll Family for Dollhouse, Melissa and Doug
Pretend Play – Other
Children’s Broom, Camden Rose
Pet and accessories, Plan Toys
Plan City Parking Garage
Pirate Ship, Plan Toys
Tree House, Plan Toys
Doctor’s kit, HABA
Puzzles
Animal Alphabet, Imagiplay (3D puzzle)
Clutching Puzzle Sunny Land by haba
Counting Bunnies 3D puzzle
Melissa & Doug wood sound puzzles
Nativity Puzzle, Imagiplay (3D puzzle)
Wood Animal Puzzle by Selecta
Riding Toys
4×4 WD Adventure Car, Plan Toys
Arabian Rocking Horse by Plan Toys
Lights and sound fire engine, Wonderworld
Pony rocking horse by Plan Toys
Puffy Dragon Ride On, Wonderworld
Rocking Cater, Wonderworld
Sports Car by Plan Toys (this is super cute!)
Trike Rider by Brio
Sports/Interactive
Wooden Bowling Set by Sevi
Ball Track Roll ‘N Roll ‘N Roll by Haba
Stacking Toys
Fun Stacker, Plan Toys
German Stacking Tower, HABA
Monkey Ring Stacker, miYim
Rainbow Tower, HABA
Rokkolina Wood Stacking Toy, Selecta (cute flower pot design)
Stacking Rings, Plan Toys
Witty Worm Stacker, Rosie’s Hippo
Wooden Rainbow Stacking Tower, Nunoorganic
Rocky Color Cone, Holgate Toys
Stuffed Animals
Andrew the Hippo, miYim Organic
Baby Victoria the Bunny, miYim Organic
Chikos the Hen, Deglingos
Cuddlekin Bunny Molly, HABA
Natural Friends Sheep Musical Toy
Pikos the Hedgehog, Deglingos
Ronronos the Cat, Deglingos
Sandwich Striped Cat Doll by Blabla
Solid Red Goose, Lana Organic
White Goose, Lana Organic
Teethers for Baby
Please see my post here: BPA and phthalate free teethers and rattles
Tools
Handyman Tool Box (wood), Wonderworld
My first tool set, Educo
Trains, Vehicles and other accessories
Alex Activity Mat
Brio
Maple and Marks
Melissa and Doug
Plan Toys
Super City Wooden Railways from Heros!
Companies with no phthalates (PVC) – Note: I have not yet determined if they are making the same claim for being lead-free. Also note that not all Evenflo, Gerber or Sassy products are BPA free.
Brio
Chicco
Evenflo
Gerber
International Playthings
Sassy
Watch for these companies:
Leap Frog (Phthalate-free; some toys contain PVC; most packaging in boxes)
Manhattan Toy (Use phthalate-free PVC)
Vtech (Use phthalate-free PVC)
Sassy (Use phthalate-free PVC (since 2000), working to eliminate BPA and eventually, PVC)
Fisher Price (Frequently use PVC (including teething rings), only toys for kids under age 3 are phthalate-free)
Mattel (Frequently use PVC)
Playskool (Frequently use PVC)
Baby Einstein /Disney /Kids II (Frequently use PVC)
KidKraft (Claims all painted toys will have some amount of lead, anything wood is fine)
Especially for Baby @ Babies R Us (Geoffrey Inc.) (Frequently use PVC, including teething rings)
Gaming Consoles
XBox and Playstation 3 contain high levels of phthalates, though they are NOT considered toys so will not be affected by the new law banning phthalates in children’s products. Read more about it here.
Another cool site with eco-friendly toys is http://www.euphoriababy.com/
Please check back as I will be updating this post until Christmas is here! Happy shopping!
For more information or to research specific toys not listed, visit these sites:
http://www.healthytoys.org/product.searchtype.php
http://toyportfolio.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/update-complying-companies/
Related Articles
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BPA and phthalate free pacifiers
BPA and phthalate free teethers and rattles
Have we found the cause of SIDS?
Lead and PVC free lunch boxes
Lead in Christmas lights
Natural families and lifestyle 
Step 2’s play mats are made entirely with EVA, which is PVC free from what I understand. EVA is approved for use in teethers. I wonder about the rest of Step 2 products. I am going to call them and ask!
Thanks Maria!
Step 2 has signed an agreement that all their products are lead and phthalate free! 🙂 This is according to the Toy Portfolio.
thanks for the article. It is so important to make sure the toys are kids are playing with are safe. As you know, finding safe non-toxic toys can be hard. That is what I discovered this time last year when I started looking for toys for my son (now two). As most of you I was so nervous to by anything that I decided I was only going to buy toys made in the US or the European Union. Wow, that was also really hard. I discovered that there are companies out there that sell a few select items, but you really have to read the lables because some are “American Made with imported parts”. Or some sell a few American Made items and the rest are from China. What I really wanted was one website dedicated to selling American Made toys with American Made parts. And a site with a variety of toys for all ages. We are all busy parents to one-stop shopping is so much easier. So I developed one. At http://www.GiggleFliggle.com we sell American made toys (we have three from Italy, and they are PVC-free!) You can find fun, safe, educational and NON-Toxic toys for kids of all ages. I am also in the process of adding links to sites that sell other American made kids products. If you have a site like that let me know I would love to add you as a resource link.
I love lullabyorganics.com she sells safe toys, baby clothing, sleeping items such as mattresses and covers etc. She focuses on selling USA products as well as safe and organic goods. This company has been driven by a child’s story. Check them out for safe toys etc. for baby and children.
Thank you so much for this list, I have already put it to good use. Great job!
Eh bien oui, je viens de voir le dictionnaire étant dépassée, puisque la couainmcmtion et la langue évolue en permanence les définitions des mots et des titres sera modifié.
Really? I would be happy just to share that little blue pool with the puppy! But….I am actually more excited to be going to the flea market with my son. What? It's only going to be 97 degrees! At least one of the big buildings is air-conditioned. The word for today is…..WATER!
What a perfekt list!
I have contacted Zapf Creation about there Baby Born dolls, but they wont answer me. How do you know that those dolls are Phthalete-free.
If you arsk in a danish toy store, they will tell you that they are not phthalete-free!!
I would really like to know the true answer, since I’m looking for a doll for my daughter, one without a soft belly.
Henriette
if you look at the Healthy Toys.org website–it says that Edushape letters and numbers bath toys are HIGH for lead and arsenic—yet you have EDUSHAPE as a lead free toy company?? Any way to find out about this? http://www.healthytoys.org/product.details.php?getrecno=8080
Glad you enjoyed them! I can't take credit for the cookies, though, that was another blo3ger&#g9;s recipe, with just a slight tweak.The salmon patties are a popular pick! I love the artichokes, and they are quick.
Thank you so much . My twins are 13 months and im trying to give them from food to toys as natural as possible with no chemicals,BPA,PVC, lead free and its hard when it comes to the toys. I call the companies before purchasing the toys but they never have an answer for me. One question so every toy thats for ages 3 and under are PVC free?
Priscilla, new toys manufactured in the US for children under the age of 12 are supposed to now be free of phthalates (not necessarily PVC-free though). This is under the new law that went into effect in Feb earlier this year.
However, some toy manufacturers may not be fully complying and others are lobbying to get parts of this new law changed.
I would suggest sticking with wood toys from more “green” manufacturers as much as possible. We have a lot of Melissa and Doug toys — non-toxic, fun and they are affordable too!
Good luck to you!
Also, unfinished wood toys as well as stainless steel are completely safe. They make everything in unfinished wood from teethers, dumptrucks to kitchen sets in unfinished wood. Look around at various new websites searching under unfinished wood toys etc. to find great buys which will last a lifetime! Stainless steel rattles and dishware are great! Also great about stainless steel dishware is that they don’t break as glass may and they won’t leach chemicals as plastic or lead as ceramic can.
Does anyone know if the toys that are certified as being ok have actually been checked? I am not being cynical or anything, but …. ok I am being cynical!
There is not a true certification program or anything. Some companies have signed a statement saying they do not use certain items in their toys, or that they amounts are in compliance with new regulations, but there is no third party that verifies this. healthytoys.org has tested many toys and while that is not a perfect system either, it’s certainly better than anything else out there. Of course their database it limited. There are millions of different toys out there and you can only test so many. Thus it is best to opt for natural toys that do not use paint or formaldehyde glues, etc. I’m working on a new list for 2009, so stay tuned! Thanks for stopping by.
I never post photos on Facebook, but what are my rights when someone grabs a photo (which I’ve more than likely registered with the USCO) from my website, and posts it on their Facebook page, even if they give me credit and it has my watermark, and has my info in the metadata? And what if I don’t even know it has happened? What if it’s a minor (does that make a difference)? I’m just wondering if Facebook is somehow indnlerteatvy getting any of my rights.
Mega Bloks contain lead
thanks for the comment. That article was from 2007, and looks like there may have been some discrepencies in testing. Either way, they had signed an agreement in 2008 saying their products were lead-free and in looking at healthytoys.org, the Mega Bloks tested there were free from any traces of lead. I’m checking with other sources too. Also, the healthytoys.org tested a newer toy, so older versions of Mega Bloks could have lead contamination. Other than this article, there are not any others I can find nor has their been a recall, so I think new Mega Bloks are likely OK, but parents should use discretion if buying used.
TRÈS classe : cette tenue te va vraiment bien!Je ne suis pas fan des jupes taille haute mais ces photos donnent envie d’en po#B8r&re230;.tizz
Thank you for all this info! I’m currently looking for a stroller/pram for my little girl for Christmas and am trying to find a wooden one that is made with non-toxic paint or lacquer.
Thanks Rachel, I’d recommend checking out Nova Natural Toys. They have an ADORABLE wooden stroller.
For a fun, non-toxic and U.S. made craft toy, visit http://www.wikkistix.com. They have limitless creative opportunities and have been non-toxic and U.S. made for 20 years. I love them even more because they are reusable! We did a fun solar system project with Wikki Stix and old golf balls. You can view the slideshow at http://www.shoddyshirtbooks.blogspot.com.
Fisherprice/Playskool, Hasbro/Mattel, and Bright Starts will not give out information as to what plastics they are using in our toy products. I have been calling on all toys in our home and throwing out anything with the numbers 3,6 or 7 and of course the unknown. I will only purchase unfinished wood, plush(organic) or stainless steel for my children in the future. Until we stop purchasing these toxic toys and demand change from our representatives and senators we won’t have safe toys. Without efforts for change our hands are as dirty as the toy industry. Also, the paint in the wooden toys may contain many harmful toxic chemicals. Hop onto healthychild.org and check out more information regarding these and other chemicals which are harming our children. Check out http://healthychild.org/issues/policies/tsca_reform/ and take action against some of these chemicals!
Very nice write-up. I absolutely love this site. Keep it up!
Sharp thkining! Thanks for the answer.
I just did some research online and came across the following re: kidkraft toy safety. They comply with 16 C.F.R. 1303 which is a ban of lead in any paint used for their products. I am not sure I understand where this info came from that put kidkraft on the watch list: “KidKraft (Claims all painted toys will have some amount of lead, anything wood is fine)” ????
YES was just wondering the same thing……Have emailed Kidkraft twice now and spoke with a representative on the phone and all claimed there is NO lead in their painted products…
This was written 12 years ago and I’m sure they have come a long way since then. Thanks for your comment!
Does anyone know Wawa toys? It’s Chinese but they say it’s safe and sustainable? My parents in law bought a Wawa kitchenette for my daughter.. http://www.wawatoys.cn
Where did you get the information that KidKraft “claims all painted toys will have some amount of lead”? I have spoken to 3 different customer service reps who claim Kid/kraft have no lead in their paint, but use non toxic, oil based paints.
This was written 12 years ago. I’m sure they have updated their paint since then and thankful for that! Thanks for your comment
They claim that they always have (not used lead paint) which is why I was curious about where you got your info… because I don’t necessarily trust what they say!
When I called them, that is what the rep told me. Just the nature of the paint did have some levels of lead but the wood finish did not. It’s sometimes somewhat difficult because the reps may give only the information they know, so if the rep has been there for a couple years, they may only know and express what they have known since their time there. It’s also possible perhaps at the time I called 12 years ago, they may have not tested each piece or may legally have had to give that disclaimer to protect themselves just in case a product did have lead, even if they tried to source paint that was lead free. All I know, is this is the information they gave me at the time. I hope that helps! I have not called them in years because I have not had time to maintain and update this blog after having my third child. 🙂