As a parent, you may be striving to make sure that everything you do is for your baby's benefit. So much so that you can spend time with your baby to meet the nutrients he needs for his physiological development, to support his mental development with activities and to play with him a lot to support his emotional intelligence.
The thing you need to pay attention to in all these devoted parenting efforts is that the games you play with your baby can affect his entire development process. Because even when choosing a toy for your baby, you may be making a decision that may affect his physiological and mental health. You can bring your baby together with carcinogenic baby toys by purchasing plastic toys on all shelves with their attractive colors. “What are the harms of plastic toys?” Check out our article to find the answer to the question and make the right choice for your baby.
Why Are Plastic Baby Toys Dangerous?
Plastic toys are commonly made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). This plastic derivative contains carcinogenic substances such as vinyl chloride, dioxins and phthalates, which can cause asthma, allergy problems and affect the central nervous system, skin, liver, immune system and reproductive system.
Make sure that the toy you choose for your baby has the "PVC free" label. If the toy has the letters “#3” or “PVC” at the bottom, do not choose these toys. Other substances found in plastic toys that may adversely affect the health of babies are as follows:
BPA
BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical frequently used in baby toys and training cups. It can lead to disruption of the endocrine system, liver and kidney functions, developmental disorders and obesity in infants. If a baby toy says "7" on the bottom, it means it contains BPA.
Phthalate
Phthalate gives plastic toys a soft texture. However, phthalates can disrupt the body's hormonal balance and cause cancer cells to grow.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a carcinogenic substance used to make plastics durable. It can affect brain growth and lead to kidney damage. China is one of the top 3 cadmium producing countries in the world. Cadmium is also found in many toys imported from China (PRC).
Bullet
Lead is used to make plastic toys more durable. It can affect the nervous system and cause hearing loss.
What Should You Consider When Buying Toys?
When choosing a toy, you can consider the following features:
Toys made of natural materials such as wood and cotton yarn should be preferred.
Colored toys must be painted with lead-free paint.
Plush toys must be washable.
"Flame resistant" on the labels of fabric toys. statement should be included.
Paints should not contain toxic substances.
Do not choose loud toys so that your baby does not experience hearing loss.