BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free Bath Toy Guide

rich-frog-rubber-ducky

NEWLY UPDATED 12/8/08

Sadly, PVC is a mainstay in children’s bath toys. But with some digging, we were able to find an array of alternatives. Keep an eye on our list, because we’ll add to it as we learn of more BPA and PVC free options.

Boon, Inc. Bath Goods (updated 12/8/08 )

  • The Flo Faucet Cover, Frog Pod, Appliqués and Mini-scrubbies included in the  Designer Bath Toys are BPA, PVC and phthalate free
  • The balls included in the Designer set are currently made with PVC, but Boon just confirmed for us that they are working to reformulate the balls to be PVC-free soon
  • All of Boon’s new bath toys are BPA, PVC and phthalate free:  Bug Pod,  Splat, Water Bugs, Scrubble, Squish Duck, Slim Duck, Jane Duck, Bob Duck (they’re due out soon, so watch for them at The Soft Landing first!)

PUJ Baby (12/2/08 )

The new PUJ Baby Bath (pronounced “pudge”) is a Mom-invented and very unique bathtub.  It’s made on non-toxic EVA foam, making it soft and comfortable for baby.

International Play Things (12/2/08 )

We ran into International Play Things bath toys everywhere we turned.  They have quite an array of toys, but only a few are BPA/PVC-free.  They are in the process of changing that for 2009 and we’ll keep you updated.

Rich Frog Industries Bath Toys

Sassy Bath Toys

  • Aquatic Bobbers
  • Count ‘n Spell Bath Appliques
  • Bath Wigglers
  • Stack Up Critter Cups
  • Bath Links
  • Squirting Sea Creatures
  • Squishy Squirt Pals
  • Counting Fish ‘n Net
  • Double Duckies
  • Hip-O-Boat (please note that the Gator Boat does contain PVC).
  • Fishing Links
  • Hook, Line and Sinkers
  • Bloom and Groom Garden Set
  • Twist and Turn Trio
  • Tubby Tumblers

Needless to say, we were thrilled to hear that Sassy offers so many great bath toy options. By the way, Sassy responded to our inquiries immediately and thoroughly.

Spielstabil

  • Splashing Fun: 5 pc. set includes boat, water mill, spoon scoop, draining cup and a rubber ducky (the rubber ducky is made from phthalate free PVC).
  • Stacking Cups
  • Transparent Bucket with Geometrical Sands Molds
  • Transparent Bucket with Small Boats
  • Beaker Set
  • Baby’s Water Fun Set: Funny bucket with rattle rings and foot print on bottom, watering can, baby spoon and 3 animal water squirters (all of the animal water squirters are made from PVC).
  • All Sand Toys are BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free: Baby Foot Bucket, Baby Sand Set, Baby’s Sand Play, Baby Sand Spoons

We were thoroughly impressed with Spielstabil’s very quick response. We also learned their whole line of toys (with the exception of the ones listed above) are completely BPA, PVC and Phthalate free!

Juvenile Solutions, Inc.

  • Baby Cocoon Bath Seat
  • Thermobaby Daphne Infant Bath Seat
  • Thermobaby Plastic Bathtub
  • Peli’s Play Pouch Bath Toy Organizer
  • Digital Dolphin Thermometer

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that each and every product offered by Juvenile Solutions, Inc. is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free! Their line includes the very popular Baby Cubes, as well as baby dishes, utensils, bibs, etc.

Fisher Price

We hit a wall when inquiring about Fisher Price’s Aquarium Bath Center and Rainforest Bath Center. We were told by the rep and the rep’s supervisor that their list of materials is “proprietary.” Then they topped off our disappointment with letters of BPA and PVC safety assurance.

62 Responses

  1. Excellent!

  2. Yay! I was thinking today about the pitch I was going to have to use on my family in order to convince them that we needed to start a small business making BPA, PVC and Phthalate free bath toys! So glad to hear that there is a company out there who has some so I can recycle the ones that I have :) Thanks Alicia and all the other folks out there!!!

  3. What about lead?

  4. @Lisa: That’s a great question. Sassy does periodic testing for lead, as do all companies we work with at The Soft Landing.

    We’ll be sure to make special note of each company’s policy on lead-testing as we continue to make our way through the bath toys on the market.

  5. Thanks so much for this information, it is MUCH needed. Have you looked into a company called Spielstabil? They make beautiful bath toys (that are sold on Amazon) and they say they are PVC-free. The plastic they use is the same as Lego has used for years, but they don’t offer any information on BPA, Phalates or Lead. I have tried several times to contact the company to no avail. Maybe you will have better luck?

    Thanks as always for providing great info :)

  6. Ah, you are superb, thank you! I started to check out other bath toys before I got your email…I came across the brands “Boon” and “Alex.” Any thoughts? I will be looking for Sassy toys as the washcloth puppet is getting old fast! Thank you again.

  7. Spielstabil is considered in Germany as the best, i.e safest plastic toys you can buy. They don’t use PVC, they are BPA free and their colors are all according to the tough EU and German toy standards (which much stricter than the U.S. standards), ie lead and poison free. Moreover, they are produced in Germany and not in China as most of Sassy’s stuff.

  8. @Kim: Thanks for sharing Spielstabil toys with us. They do appear to be PVC free and in accordance with EU standards, which are much higher than US standards.

    I did notice that several of their products are made in China as noted on at a Spielstabil retailer website (www.maukilo.com):

    “Spielstabil Bath Splash Fun, 5pc – PVC-Free – Lots of fun in the bathtub or paddling pool. Included are one boat (made in China), one cup with drainage holes, one spoon, one water mill and of course a yellow rubber ducky (made in China), all packaged on a vinyl pouch with 2 suction cups.”

    We worry more about the company producing the product than we do about where the product is made. You can read more about our view on products made in China here.

  9. Thanks for a great website/blog! I just discovered you, but have already passed on your information to all my friends with children.

    I wanted to follow up on the question about Spielstabil toys. Your reply to Chandra’s original post about the company says that the toys are PVC-free and in accordance with EU standards. However, I’m still left wondering (since I don’t know the details of EU standards): are the toys also phthlate- and BPA-free?

    I’m ready to get rid of my son’s doubtlessly toxic rubber duckies, but didn’t want to spend the money on these products without assurance that they truly are toxic free.

    Thanks!

  10. Hi Lisa,

    Thanks so much for your kinds words!

    I decided to contact the company directly to make sure that all products are also BPA and Phthalate free and this is the response I received this morning:

    Dear Alicia,

    Thank you for your interest in our spielstabil items. I am glad to confirm you that all of our products are phthalate and BPA free!
    We have only two items made from PVC, but phthalate free of course. It is the duck in our item 3704 splashing fun and the squirter animals in item 7524 baby set.

    Hope that helps!

    Alicia

  11. Thanks, Alicia, for your diligent research and prompt reply.

    My follow-up question for you or any other moms out there who are replacing products is: what do you do with the stuff you want to get rid of?

    The environmentalist in me has a difficult time sending all those bath toys, spoons, pacifiers, bottles, etc. to the landfill, but at the same time, I don’t feel quite right sending them to my local consignment shop either. Any input?

  12. This posting promted me to contact Munchkin because we have a white/hot safety duck and also the safety spoons… (incidentally there were no materials listed on the spoon packaging)… and of course I’m now obsessed w/plastics (and not the credit card kind)

    Their response to my inquires:
    Ducks:
    White/Hot Safety Ducks are made out of”Phthalate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride”.
    Thank You-
    Munchkin,Inc.
    Consumer Relations

    and the spoons:
    Steel, Phthalate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride
    Thank You-
    Munchkin,Inc.
    Consumer Relations

    Now here’s my question… polyvinyl chloride… is that a material (w/out the phthalates) that I should still be concerned with?

    Thanks so much for any help & of course for this great resource!
    Col

  13. Can you also suggest “good” plastic baby bath tubs?

  14. I also talked to Spielstabil and ended up ordering some sand toys. Some of them came with numbers 2 & 4 plastic and they told me they use ABS. I also e-mailed Sassy about a few toys and they responded that they use ABS plastic. What kind of plastic is this and is it safe?

  15. Melissa,

    Many, many teethers and toys are made with ABS. We began our research of ABS about six months ago and it has been difficult to find much information on it.

    So far, we’ve learned that initial production of ABS is toxic, but it appears that the plastic is stable after production. So it should be suitable for use in children’s products as long as it’s not compounded with other problematic chemicals, such as phthalates or bisphenol-a.

    We’ll continue working to find a more in-depth answer and we’ll post it as soon as we can.

    Alicia

  16. Alicia,
    What sort of concern should we have over products that are not intended to be mouthed? In other words, if a toy (say, a sand pail) is made of plastic that is not free of BPA/phthlates and the child isn’t putting it in his/her mouth, is it safe? Can anything be absorbed through the skin?
    In other news (although I’m sure you’ve heard this by now!) Nalgene announced today (4/18) that it is no longer using BPA in its bottles…
    Thanks!

  17. I contacted Munchkin today about their Bath Letters and Numbers (foam letters/numbers, similar to Sassy’s). They responded extremely quickly. I thought I’d share what they had to say:

    Hello Meghan-

    Thank you for contacting munchkin, the Bath Letter and Numbers are made out of Eva Foam which is standard for all foam use. The product does not contain Polycarbonate which is the BPA, or Polyvinyl Cholride.

    If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us again.
    Have a great day!

    Thank You-
    Munchkin,Inc.
    Consumer Relations

  18. Are the boon bath toys safe?

  19. Hi Nadine,

    Please see Boon products in our list above :)

    Alicia

  20. What about the three-pack of bath toys made by Carter’s? It includes a ducky, frog, and bear. Anyone know anything about those?

  21. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into your website! I use it all the time! Do you know if Sassy’s Counting Friends ‘n Net is safe? I tried contacting the company but have yet to hear back from them. I wasn’t sure if the toys not listed were not included because they are not safe or if it was just a newer toy etc. I should probably just stick to your lists in the future for purchases. Thanks!

  22. Hi Jessica,

    Thanks so much for the compliment! I haven’t heard of the Counting Friends n’ Net yet, so it may be new. It’s not currently listed on the Sassy website.

    Wish we could help you on that one right away, we’ll have to add it to our next list of inquiries :)

    Alicia

  23. I have a question- how about plastic baby tubs? I have been bathing my son since he was born in a large plastic tub I bought at Target. With all of the vinyl/lead/pthalate/bpa controversy, I am really starting to question ANY type of plastic my son comes into contact with for repeated/long periods of time.

    Here’s another thought- how about the car seats? I’m in FL and it gets VERY HOT here- I wonder sometimes if the plastics used to make the car seat/buckles/even the seat covers may have VOCs that get activated by the heat? Kind of like the leaching of the chemicals into bottled water during their transport…

    If anybody has any thoughts, tips on this – I would love to hear it.

  24. Hi Alicia,

    I just wanted to let you know that I heard back from Sassy and their Counting Friends ‘n Net is also BPA/PVC/phthalate free. I don’t know if it’s a newer or older product but luckily it’s a safe one!

    Thank you for your quick response and thanks again for all you do. Trying to research all our plastics is nothing short of overwhelming but your site helps immensely! If there is anything your readers can do to help just let us know!

    Thanks again!

  25. [...] an abundance of research to reveal what products are safe for your baby in every area from bibs, to bath toys, to pacifiers, to safe cups and dishes. A great resource! Definitely do a little research before [...]

  26. hello

    Just wondering if, in your search for safe bath toys, you checked out any bath squirters from Nuby? We have a set with a crocodile, elephant and duck, and my daughter adores them, so I’m hoping we don’t have to get rid of them…
    I have an email in to the company as well.

    Thanks so much!
    Carolyn

  27. Does anyone have information on little tikes bath toys? I have an email into the company but figured I would ask. Thanks!!!

  28. hi,
    I got an email back from Nuby about the crocodile, elephant and duck bath squirters. Here it is:

    RE: Plastics

    Dear Carolyn:

    With regards to your query, most of our products are made from materials that are BPA-free. However, a few items still have some polycarbonate parts. In order to change these parts, new molds have to be built to take into consideration the properties of the new materials, but we are in the process of building new molds for most of these parts. However, this does take time, and it may be a few months before these products are on the store shelves.

    Item #6022 is BPA-free and Phthalate-free.

    In the interim, we have provided the attached spreadsheet which contains information regarding whether an item is BPA-free. This spreadsheet is regularly updated to reflect all changes and introductions of additional BPA-free products. You may also request another copy at your future convenience.

    If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-LUVNCARE (588-6227) ext. 3106.

    Best Regards,

    Becca Jones
    Consumer Services and
    Plastics Information Specialist
    Luv n’ care, Ltd. / Nuby

  29. Kids II, the makers of Bright Starts toys, stated “All of our teethers and toys are phthalate, BPA, PVC and latex free.” Still waiting for an email response from Little Tikes!

  30. Dear Softlanding and friends,
    I can’t thank you enough for this information! I am expecting my first in August, and have been searching for a forum just like this. The info on BPA-free baby tubs, pacifiers, toys, etc. is like manna from heaven! I’m so delighted to have found you!

  31. Garsh, Annie! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. Folks like you make it all worth while :)

    Alicia and Sisters

  32. Dear Softlanding and fellow Mommy commentors,
    Your posting is PRICELESS! Thank you so much for sharing all your findings. Your website is the best place that I’ve found with all the latest and most detailed info on baby products. I’m a new mom…and ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS! Thank you for making this info easier to find. I’m so very grateful. You moms rock!

  33. Thank you, Joannie! I can’t tell you how much it means to know that the work we’re doing is helping a great Mom like you :)

    Alicia and Sisters

  34. Hi, Under the information about the Spielstabil toys, it reads:

    “We were thoroughly impressed with Spielstabil’s very quick response. We also learned their whole line of toys (with the exception of the ones listed above) are completely BPA, PVC and Phthalate free!”

    The “ones listed above” are BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free accoridng to the text, so is the statement above a mis print?

  35. Hi Babara,

    I can see how that would be confusing! If you read through the list of Spielstabil toys, you’ll notice that periodically we point out something that is not BPA/PVC free – those are the items we’re talking about.

    We were amazed to find that they made so many BPA/PVC free options, that we wanted to let everyone know the Spielstabil brand is a good bet overall.

    Hope that helps clarify a bit,

    Alicia

  36. Thank you, what a wonderful job you are all doing on this website!

  37. This blog and the Soft Landing Store have been so helpful in my quest to find safer toys! Thanks so much!

    I do have one quick question: Gowi of Austria makes some plastic stacking and nesting cups that my son loves as well as bath and beach toys. I know they are PVC-free, but does anyone know whether they are BPA-free as well?

    Thanks again and best wishes,

    Sheyene

  38. I know that I’m late to the game with this post, but I just realized that soft landing has a blog! I’m glad to see that there are other sassy toys that are BPA-free. I’m also interested in Alex toys since they have such cute bath toys.

    I do sometimes want to fall over with all the concern over stuff…I just read a post on safermama with someone asking about safe bathmats! I’m still working on feeding stuff, lotions/shampoo/etc, and toys, bath mats hadn’t even crossed my mind!

  39. I came looking to see if I could find information on Non-PVC bath mats or any non-slip alternative, such as bath appliques. Thanks to the comment regarding safemama’s site, I found that there are 2 PVC-free bath mats offered by Vitafutura. Here are the links for anyone who is interested.
    http://www.vitafutura.com/mats/details.asp?fam=00063
    http://www.vitafutura.com/mats/details.asp?fam=00209
    Thanks for making facts about safe/unsafe products more readily available to us, Alicia!

  40. I called Fisher-Price about their Tubtime Tugboat and the rep also told me that their ingredients list is proprietary. I then asked specifically about PVC and he said, “Yes, PVC is used in some of our products.” But he couldn’t specify which products. Now what do I do with the Fisher Price toy (still in the box) that my son received for his birthday? I have a handful of toys that i want to chuck, but then I feel just as guilty putting them in a landfill.

  41. I saw a lot of people were asking about Alex baby toys and since I have a little knowledge I thought I’d share. Alex Toys e-mailed me back and said that their bath foam appliques are all made of EVA that includes all the bath sticker things but all the bath squirters are made of PVC…phthalate-free PVC but still PVC. The bags are also vinyl. Ihave since asked them about the use of phthalates in their finger paints since I’m aware that it’s a commonly used stabalizer in such products. Unfortunetly it’s been months with no response. Hope this helps.

  42. This is a great list. I have been working on a toy list for Christmas, beyond bath toys! :) As you know, Congress just passed a law banning these toxins in toys, but they have until Feb 2009 to get rid of their toxic stock before they must comply. Which means we’ll be buying lead and phthalates for Christmas if we are not smart about it. I will be updating this list until Christmas.

    http://amomsblog.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/lead-and-phthalate-free-toys-for-christmas/

  43. AUGH!!!!! I didn’t even *think* about the plastic her bathtub is made of!!!

  44. All Battat soft bath toys are made from phthalate-free PVC, which is better than having phthalates I guess. They make bath toys for Pottery Barn Kids and the also the Parents brand.
    I am under the impression that any soft squirty bath toy is going to be made of PVC (unless it is made of natural rubber). Is this true?

  45. Thanks for the info, Anna. Yes, it’s safe to assume that the more flexible bath toys are made from PVC, unless otherwise labeled. We’ve seen a few bath duckies made from plastic other than PVC, but they are more firm and not nearly as flexible. Still, it’s so hard to know that I wouldn’t suggest taking the risk.

    Alicia

  46. Update on ALEX finger paints. After my local toy store found out for me that the paints were phthalate-free we used them the first chance we got only to find my son swollen, red and irritated minutes into it. Everywhere he came in contact with the paint was bright red and raised. I contacted to company again and said “hey whats the deal?” They e-mail me a list of ingredients. After researching the things I couldn’t pronounce we found they contained formaldehyde! My local toy store pulled all the paints and contacted her rep. Turns out other kids have been having the same reaction. The rep is now in contact with the president of ALEX toys. We’ll see what happens. ALEX toys has repeatedly e-mailed me and assured me their products are safe and my son must just be allergic. They’ve ask me to stop sharing my story because because it’s causing a bit of an up roar and just because my son’s allergic doesn’t make their product bad. I don’t know about you all but allergic or not I don’t and won’t knowingly expose my son to formaldehyde!

  47. Are rubber ducks by Bud BPA free? I have seen they are phtalate free.

  48. Hi there,
    is Tubby Tug Boat in Clear Packaging by parents bpa, pvc, and phthalate free?

  49. Just thought I would mention that I found a bath mat at IKEA that is PVC free (in the kids section).

    They said that their shower curtains are also PVC free.

  50. Hello…I am new to the blog, but have been using the Soft Landing & have purchased safe stuff via here before. I am wondering if you can tell me about Sassy bath toys further. I purchased 2 today, the Counting & friends n net…which I see the blog that states it is “free” of everything…but I also purchased the “aquatic bobbers” which are called “bobblers” on the soft landing safe bath toy guide & also both products look a bit different than pictured on the Squddio guide. Are the toys just their newer version? Are they still safe? & also I saw the pelican & penquin boats…are they the same as the safe hippo boat? Any information would be so helpful…my 11 month old needs something other than her wash cloth to play w/ in the tub…poor thing has a paranoid mama!

  51. [...] Puj Tub is a wonderful concept.  It’s made from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate foam (EVA), which is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free.   The Puj Baby Company was kind enough to send me one to try with my three month old son.  [...]

  52. TO RENEE, AND TO ALL MOTHERS WITH TODDLERS BEGINNING TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART… I ordered Alex finger paints for my son, Dante, from The Land of Nod. They advertised them as (and angrily assured me that they are) non-toxic. When I could not find a non-toxic label on the packaging, I did some research. If it’s not ACMI approved, I’m not touching it. Check out coopamerica.org. In the search menu, type ‘Are Art Supplies Toxic’. It’s an extremely informative article, and you’ll find all you need to know there. I started to take a closer look at all of the supplies I use on a daily basis, for my business, and with my son… Sharpies, Expo dry-erase markers, just about all Crayola products I’ve come across, and even things like certain stick glues are ACMI approved. Please blog back if you have any more info!

  53. The Boon bath toys are wonderful! They are so colorful and made with children in mind. My daughter loves using the net and water spiders outside of the bath – we use them to help count and learn colors. Same with the rings. I’m so glad there are finally bath toys that I can feel good about letting her play with!

  54. Hi, thanks so much for all of this useful information! I am finding it invaluable and wanted to ask a question about the Munchkin Inflatable Safety Duck Tub, which I received as a gift. I emailed the company to find out what material the tub is made of and whether it contains any PVC or BPA. Here is the response I received: “The Munchkin Inflatable Safety Duck Tub is made of a Phthalate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride which is also BPA free.” Do you know whether Phthalate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is safe for babies? Thanks in advance!

    • Hi ibnyc,

      Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment of our blog!

      We recommend avoiding PVC (even if it free of phthalate chemicals), because it inherently carries so many other toxins such as lead and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). You can learn more about why avoiding PVC with children is best in our article CHEJ Pulls Back the Curtain on PVC.

      Hope that helps :)

      Alicia

  55. Add to the Sassy list Sassy Bath Tme Kitchen Sink and Snap and Squirt Sea Creatures. Hurray!

  56. Any word on when we can buy the bath toy sampler set? I am hanging on to mu daughter’s christmas money to buy one!

  57. thanks for all the information. I was looking into the munchkin bath scoop, similar to the boon one, since I had seen it on sale. Because I had no information about it, I emailed Munchkin and got the following response…

    “The bath super scooper is made out of the following materials:

    Phthalate-Free Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Adhesion Tapes

    If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us again.

    Have a great day!

    Thank You-

    Patricia Silva

    Munchkin, Inc.

    Consumer Relations”

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but I though PVC has the potential to leach out phalates and other toxins

  58. HI
    Your website is just great! Thanks for the incredible products and source material. I will be referring my listeners here tonight! I will also be back researching. I am very loyal to safe producers.
    I have been doing a radio program on toxics for some 17 years on a local public radio station (www.kzyx.org). I am currently doing shows on toxics in the different rooms of the house provoked by the excellent new book Poisonous Profits: The Assault on Our Children by Alice and Philip Shabecoff, Random house. This is a very excellent book that has the whole roller coaster ride of toxics from exposing us all, to non regulation, solutions by devoted parents in their homes and united, business like yours and the organizations that helping us stay informed. They had a section that is a tour of the house which I am feature tonight 3/3/09 from 7-8 PST (first tuesday of every month.) I hope to also interview Mark Shapiro, Author of Exposed, the solution to unwilling toxic industries via a defiant European Union that is saying no to the toxic Trojan horse these industries are presenting us with. They are leading a world that is tired of the US’s toxic solutions, but alas folks like you are turning it around too.
    Kudos
    Greg Krouse
    Toxic Trespass Radio
    go to the website listed above if you want to listen in and follow the live feeds. It is call in with an 800 number so you can join us too.

    • Hi Greg,

      Thanks for the great compliment on our website! We really appreciate you referring your listeners to us and we’ll look forward to answering any questions they have. Please feel free to share our email address with them info@thesoftlanding.com.

      I’m going to try to make the radio program tonight too. I’m reading Mark Shapiro’s book right now, and will be writing a review on it soon.

      Thanks again!

      Alicia

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