Are you looking for safe non-toxic bath toys? Toys can be made with various questionable chemicals that infants and toddlers may ingest because the mouth plays a huge role in exploration at this stage. With bath toys, another concern is chemicals leaching into the bath water which can then be absorbed through the skin and add to the overall exposure.
If you’re concerned about exposing your child to harmful chemicals during bath time, I want to share with you a few practical tips for finding the best non-toxic bath toys for babies and toddlers that are easy to follow and will make a difference.
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- Things to consider when shopping for bath toys
- Materials and chemicals of concern to avoid in bath toys
- Best non-toxic bath toys for babies and toddlers in 2021
Things to consider when shopping for bath toys
If you’ve read my Best Natural Baby Toys guide, you know I recommend avoiding certain materials and finishes when shopping for toys. It is, however, much easier to find safer everyday toys for babies and toddlers than it is coming across natural, 100% safe bath toys. With bath toys you are limited to only a few materials which drastically shrinks your choices, and it’s nearly impossible to avoid plastic.
That being said, while I encourage you to seek safer bath toys for your infant or a toddler, I consider chemical exposure from bath toys to be less problematic than cumulative exposure from everyday toys – as long as you avoid the most risky bath toy materials. Firstly, the exposure window is much smaller – babies and toddlers typically don’t spend excessive amounts of time taking baths. Secondly, while chemical leaching can certainly occur in bath water if the toys are made with chemicals that are capable of migrating from the toy surfaces, their overall concentration will be diluted by the volume of the bath water.
What I consider the most important in the search for the best non-toxic bath toys is avoiding the most problematic materials and certain types of bath toys, and that’s what I would like to discuss in this article. I also dove into Amazon offerings for safer bath toys and found several options for bath toys that are made with safer materials, so those are included in this article as well – feel free to try the ones you like.
Bath toys: materials and chemicals of concern
Avoid soft bath toys made from PVC
Soft PVC bath toys (PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride) are made with plasticizers such as phthalates which are not chemically bound to the plastic and leach easily.
Phthalates fall under a large group of chemicals, some of which appear to have the potential to interfere with the endocrine system. Exposure to phthalates in childhood has been linked to early puberty onset in girls, sperm damage and reduced testosterone production in males, genital defects, and obesity.
A few phthalates have already been banned in the Unites States for use in children’s toys and care articles (source), and it’s possible this list will continue to expand as we learn more about these chemicals.
To avoid bath toys made from PVC, specifically search for soft bath toys that are labeled “PVC-free.”
Safer alternatives to soft PVC bath toys include:
- silicone
- thermoplastic elastomer (similar to silicone)
- natural rubber
Phthalate-free bath toys
“Phthalate-free” labels on bath toys alone do not necessarily indicate a safer choice unless the toy has been made entirely without using plasticizers. Phthalates are increasingly being replaced with other plasticizing chemicals which aren’t regulated and can prove to be just as problematic as the phthalates they have replaced.
Avoiding BPA in bath toys
BPA (bisphenol A) is another chemical used in plastic production that has been linked to developmental problems, hormone disruption, and obesity. BPA is associated with the production of polycarbonate plastic (hard clear plastic). When plastic is made with BPA, small amounts of this chemical can be left over in the material and leach from the plastic over time.
The FDA banned BPA in 2012 from being used in baby bottles and children’s drinking cups – but not toys.
The problem with BPA-free plastic is that it may not be free of other bisphenols besides bisphenol A. The plastic industry has been replacing BPA with other bisphenols (namely BPS and BPF) which seem to be just as bad, if not worse than BPA (source, source). For this reason, “BPA-free” labels don’t mean a whole lot in the search for the best non-toxic bath toys without knowing whether the toy has been made without the use of bisphenols altogether, or just without bisphenol A.
Safer plastic bath toys
Though all plastic materials can leach harmful chemicals to some degree, some types of plastics are considered safer for use in bath toys (and toys in general):
- ABS plastic (short for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) – a type of thermoplastic polymer made without bisphenols and phthalates. While ABS plastic is made using toxic chemicals, pure ABS plastic without any other blends is considered stable (non-leaching) once it has cooled and solidified.
- Polypropylene (PP) – another type of thermoplastic polymer that’s considered unlikely to leach chemicals even when subjected to warm and hot water. Polypropylene plastic is made without bisphenol compounds. Phthalates are not used as additives in manufacturing PP plastic, but phthalate-based catalysts are. These catalysts may survive the polymerization process and be detected in the final product albeit in amounts below the allowed threshold.
Avoid bath toys that attract mold
Don’t buy just about any squirt toys for bath time unless you’re a fan of mold.
Moldy bath toys are a health hazard but one that’s easily avoided – the best non-toxic bath toys should not have small holes or crevices where water can enter and stagnate unless they can be opened and left to dry thoroughly.
Best non-toxic bath toys for babies and toddlers
Here are a few examples of safer non-toxic bath toys that I found on Amazon, including safer plastic bath toys, rubber bath toys, wood-based bath toys, and non-toxic bath crayons. All have very good to excellent reviews.
Pluï toys
Buy Pluï Rain Cloud | Pluï Sunny Brush
Pluï toys are made by MOLUK, a European-based company that focuses on simple toys that are powered by a child’s imagination instead of batteries. The Pluï Rain Cloud works like a pipette and teaches kids basic physics principles – submerge the cloud in water to let it fill up, and watch it rain! It can be opened and the inside of the toy cleaned out. The Sunny Brush is a sensory toy. Both toys are made with ABS plastic, the sunny toy has nylon bristles.
BPA/phthalate/latex-free
Made in: China
Ubbi Boat and Buoys Bath Toy
Buy Ubbi Boat & Buoys Bath Toy
The Ubbi Boat & Buoys bath toy includes 1 soft boat and 4 plastic buoys. The soft boat is made from either silicone or TPR (thermoplastic rubber) and has holes for rain effect, the buoys are hard plastic (polypropylene). All components of this toy float. This toy has no holes for water to get in (to prevent mold growth) and is dishwasher-safe (top rack).
PVC/BPA/phthalate-free
Made in: China
Ubbi Squeeze and Squirt Bath Toys
Buy Ubbi Squeeze and Squirt Bath Toys
These soft squeezable bath toys made by Ubbi are a great alternative to traditional PVC bath toys. They are made from silicone which is a much better alternative to PVC, and while they are squirt toys, they actually twist open which allows them to dry out. This set comes with 3 toys, each has 2 pieces, and the bottoms are interchangeable. Ubbi bath toys are dishwasher safe (top rack only).
PVC/BPA/phthalate-free
Made in: China
Ubbi Baby Bath Toy Gift Set
This Ubbi baby bath toy set includes a bath toy drying and storage bin and 11 bath toys (3 squeeze toys that open, 3 suction toys, 4 interchangeable bath toys, 2 rain effect toys – all made from plastic or silicone). The toys are dishwasher-safe (top rack). This set DOES contain the squeezable squirt Ubbi toys listed above but DOES NOT contain the Ubbi boat displayed further above.
The Ubbi bath toy drying and storage bin is very highly rated by parents. It is durable (made from hard plastic), practical, and doesn’t attract mold as long as you empty the water from the lower basin once the toys have drained which is easy to do. It is a free-standing bin with no suction cups to fail. Ubbi sells the bath toy drying bin and the bath toys separately, but if you get the combo you get the Ubbi toys for about 1/3 less.
PVC/BPA/phthalate-free
Made in: China
Innobaby Bathin’ Smart Rainbow Spots
Buy Innobaby Bathin’ Smart Rainbow Spots
The Innobaby Bathin’ Smart Rainbow Spots are made from 100% silicone which is naturally odor- and mildew-resistant and can be sterilized in a dishwasher or boiled. One side of the rainbow discs is smooth and sticks to the side of the bathtub or a shower door if lathered up, the other side is textured and contains lots of tiny soft silicone bristles. The textured side can be used as a gentle scrub as well. The disks come in a pack of 7.
Free of: BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead, latex
Made in: South Korea
Honeysticks Beeswax Bath Tub Crayons
Buy Honeysticks Beeswax Bath Tub Cranyons
Unlike traditional bath crayons that are made from crude oil and synthetic dyes, the Honeysticks bath crayons are made with 100% pure New Zealand beeswax, soy wax, food-grade pigments, and a non-toxic plant-based emulsifier, and are wrapped in biodegradable wrappers. Each package contains 7 crayons of different colors. The crayons come in a recyclable tin storage jar with drainage holes at the bottom.
FYI: Based on the reviews you’ll want to wipe these bath crayons off soon after bath time or they may become difficult to remove and will need to be scrubbed off. In all fairness, this is a good tip for all types of bath crayons. Also, if left submerged in water, they will crumble apart.
Made in: New Zealand
PlanToys Sailing Boat with Seal
Buy PlanToys Sailing Boat with Seal
This bath toy made by PlanToys consists of a sailboat and a removable seal. The toy is made from what the company calls “PlanWood” which uses leftover rubberwood sawdust from their wooden toys production as the main material. The sawdust is blended with a small amount of formaldehyde-free glue (the ratio used is 99% sawdust and 1% glue), pressed under high pressure, dyed with organic pigments, and moulded into a range of shapes. PlanToys is an award-winning toy manufacturer known for safe non-toxic toys made with sustainability in mind. Based on reviews the sailboat floats, though not for a very long time.
All PlanToys products exceed international safety standards (including ASTM – USA, and EN71 – Europe).
Made in: Thailand
CaaOcho Natural Rubber Bath Toys
CaaOcho bath toys are a great addition to your non-toxic bath toy collection. They are made from 100% natural rubber and dyed with plant-based pigments. The designs are hermetically sealed to prevent water from entering the interior of the toy, so these toys are suitable for both dry and wet play. You should, however, allow rubber toys to dry thoroughly between use to prevent mold and mildew from forming on the surface of the toy.
Quite a few companies make rubber toys but these seem to have some of the best reviews coupled with nice colorful designs. These natural rubber bath toys float but don’t stay upright in the water.
Free of BPA, PVC, phthalate, nitrosamines
Made in: China
Hape Ocean Floor Squirters
Buy Hape Ocean Floor Squirters
Hape Ocean Floor Squirters are made from silicone. Each package of Ocean Floor Squirters contains an octopus and a starfish. Both designs squirt water and have detachable rear plugs for easy draining and cleaning to prevent mold problems. The starfish has suction cups that stick to smooth surfaces, the octopus tentacle bottom part rotates.
All Hape toys meet or exceed European and U.S. toy standards (EN71 and ASTM).
Made in: China
HABA Stacking Boat Set
These HABA ships float, and when filled with water, the water slowly drips out. Each package contains 3 stacking ships in different colors (red, orange, and blue). The material is PP plastic (polypropylene). With excellent reviews (full 5 stars!), these HABA ships are another great addition to this best non-toxic bath toys list.
FYI: These boats can hold quite a lot of water so they are not ideal for younger babies as they could accidentally pour a lot of water into the mouth at once.
HABA is a toy company with very good reputation for making quality non-toxic toys both in Germany and in China.
Made in: China
HABA Bath Boats
Buy HABA Boat with a Frog | Boat with a Mouse | Boat with a Duck
These HABA bath boats float, and the animals double up as finger puppets when removed from the boats. The boats and animals are made from plastic – type not specified – but HABA toys are regularly tested for safety and harmful substances.
Made in: China
Green Sprouts Floating Boats
Buy Green Sprouts Floating Boats
These boats made by Green Sprouts are created from the combination of crude oil and plants. They are made from bio-based PSM (plant-based starch material) that’s blended with petroleum-based polypropylene for greater durability and heat tolerance. Each set comes with 4 boats. The boats are dishwasher safe (top rack only) but should not be boiled. Keep in mind that natural colors may fade over time.
Free of: BPA, BPS, BPF, PVC
Made in: China
Final words
The single best and easiest way to create a safe non-toxic bath toy collection is to:
- Eliminate mold problems by not getting soft squirt toys that can’t be opened.
- Reduce chemical exposure by avoiding soft toys made from PVC.
- Know that hard plastic bath toys may be made with bisphenols (polycarbonate plastic). If a bath toy has been made with pure ABS plastic, it has been made without bisphenols and phthalates.
And, of course, always check bath toy labels for age recommendations.
Even if you make a few safer choices when it comes to bath toys, you will have made bath time a safer environment for your child.
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