Yes, most plastic toys for babies are safe when age-rated and compliant; avoid small parts, soft vinyl with risky phthalates, and damaged items.
New parents scan shelves packed with rattles, teethers, blocks, and bath pals. Age ratings, construction, materials, and care turn a cute trinket into a toy you can hand over with confidence. This guide gives plain checks you can run in a store aisle or at home.
Fast Safety Checklist You Can Use
Start with the basics. These checks catch choking risks and chemical worries.
| What To Check | Why It Matters | How To Spot It |
|---|---|---|
| Age rating & warnings | Matches a baby’s stage and reduces hazard risk | Look for “0+”, “6m+”, or a small-parts warning on the box |
| Small parts | Loose bits can lodge in the airway | Anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube is too small |
| Build quality | Poor seams and weak joints break into shards | Press, twist, and tug; no gaps, cracks, or sharp edges |
| Material | Some soft vinyl can carry restricted phthalates | Favor PP, PE, or silicone; be cautious with sticky-feeling PVC |
| Magnets & button cells | Ingestion can be life-threatening | Avoid toys with tiny magnets or coin batteries for little ones |
| Strings & cords | Long cords can wrap around the neck | Skip cords and lanyards; keep ribbon trim off baby toys |
| Cleanability | Saliva and bath water carry germs | Choose solid, nonporous pieces you can wash and dry fully |
Are Plastic Playthings Safe For Infants: What To Check
Safety starts with size and shape. Anything small enough to block a windpipe is off limits. That is why toys meant for under-threes can’t include test-fail small parts, and why warnings appear on sets with tiny pieces.
Standards set the bar on design. The U.S. toy rule ASTM F963 covers sharp points, edges, cords, labels, and a range of mechanical hazards. A compliant toy has been through bite, drop, torque, tension, and seam tests that mirror rough play.
Materials matter as well. Sturdy plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are common in rattles and blocks. Soft silicone shows up in teethers and suction toys. Flexible PVC (vinyl) appears in some squeeze toys and bath pals; many brands avoid certain phthalates, and federal rules cap them in toys and child-care articles.
Choking, Magnets, And Small Parts
Babies mouth everything. A bead, a loose eye, or a snapped peg can slip back fast. Do a home test: drop suspect parts into the cardboard tube from paper towels. If it slides through, keep it away from young mouths. Skip any toy with tiny magnets or coin cells. See the U.S. small-parts rule.
BPA, Phthalates, And Plastics
Concerns about chemicals in toys tend to center on two items. First, BPA once appeared in some hard plastics. It is no longer used in baby bottles and trainer cups under U.S. rules. Second, certain phthalates used to soften vinyl are restricted in toys and child-care articles; the cap sits at 0.1% for a list of specific compounds. Choose pieces from brands that state compliance, and prefer teethers made from silicone or hard PP over sticky vinyl.
Age Ratings And Good Fit
“0+” does not mean any shape will work. A newborn can’t grasp a slippery oval or handle a heavy rattle. Choose light pieces with large handles and no seams. Around 6 months, reach grows and chewing ramps up; shift to chunkier shapes that fill a palm without reaching the back of the mouth. Past 9 months, shape sorters and stackers are useful.
What The Safety Rules Cover
Behind each toy on a shelf sits a web of checks. You’ll see general rules on small parts and labeling, and material limits that target specific chemicals. Brands test for heavy metals in paints, and for sharp edges and points after drop or bite tests.
For parents, the takeaway is simple: look for third-party tested items from brands that publish compliance with the U.S. toy spec and federal chemical limits. Skip knockoffs with vague or missing labels, and avoid marketplace listings that crop out safety warnings.
Reading Labels Without Getting Lost
Turn the box. Hunt for the age grade, small-parts warnings, and a tracking label with a lot or date code. Find the materials list if present. Claims like “BPA-free” are common on feeding gear; for toys you’ll often see broad claims such as “meets ASTM F963.”
When A Recall Happens
If a brand or regulator recalls a toy, stop using it and follow the steps in the notice. Keep an eye on recall portals around holidays when toy sales spike. If you spot a hazard at home—loose parts, sharp seams, broken magnets—take the toy away and report the issue.
Cleaning, Storage, And Real-Life Care
Baby toys live in drool, snack crumbs, and bath water. For hard plastics, wash with soap and warm water, rinse, and air-dry. For silicone teethers, check the maker’s directions; many handle a top-rack dishwasher cycle. After illness in the house, disinfect nonporous toys that went into the mouth, then rinse again.
Bath toys ask for special care. Squeeze toys with a tiny hole can take in water, then trap grime. Choose solid bath cups and boats instead. If you already own a squeaker, squeeze out water fully after each bath and store it in open air. Retire any toy that smells odd, grows spots, or weeps trapped water.
Storage plays a role. Keep a small bin for “mouth-zone” toys and wash that bin weekly. Rotate a second bin so clean items are always at hand. Check the floor under sofas and cribs for stray beads or parts after playtime.
Picking Safer Materials
Not all plastics act the same. Here’s a quick map you can use when you scan packaging or feel a toy in hand.
Hard Plastics
Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE): These show up in rattles, blocks, and rings. They’re tough, light, and handle a dunk in warm soapy water.
ABS: This resin appears in many building bricks for older kids. For babies you’ll mainly see ABS in chunky cars and stacking cups from better brands.
Soft And Flexible
Silicone: Popular for teethers and suction toys. It stays flexible without plasticizers and holds up to repeated washing.
PVC (vinyl): These squeeze toys and bath pals feel soft and slightly tacky. Many brands avoid certain phthalates, and federal rules cap several plasticizers in toys and child-care gear. If a vinyl toy feels sticky or has a harsh smell, steer clear.
What About “BPA-Free” Claims?
In feeding gear the claim is standard. For toys, BPA isn’t a typical worry today, yet the badge still shows up. Treat the claim as one small data point.
When To Say No To A Toy
Some red flags make the choice easy. Skip toys with loose glitter, metal bells trapped inside thin plastic, or painted finishes that chip under a fingernail. Leave behind listings with no age grade, no warnings, or misspelled labels. If a toy sheds pieces during a gentle twist and pull test, it doesn’t belong in a nursery.
Also pass on toys with long cords, straps, or lanyards. A teether on a ribbon around the neck looks handy, yet the risk isn’t worth it. Use a short, well-made pacifier clip only on items designed for that use and only with supervision.
Common Plastics In Baby Toys
| Material | Where You’ll See It | Care Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene (PP) | Rattles, stacking cups, spoons | Wash with soap and warm water; air-dry |
| Polyethylene (PE) | Blocks, rings, bath boats | Hand-wash; check for stress cracks over time |
| Silicone | Teethers, suction toys | Top-rack dishwasher if the maker allows |
| PVC (vinyl) | Squeeze toys, bath pals | Rinse well; retire if sticky or smelly |
| ABS | Chunky cars, durable cups | Hand-wash; inspect seams for chips |
Shopping Moves That Make Sense
Buy from known brands and sellers. Stick with products that list a U.S. address or website and provide tracking labels. Check reviews for photos of broken parts and company replies. If a seller dodges basic questions about materials or testing, pick a different item.
Give gifts that grow with a child: large snap-together blocks, soft silicone teethers from reputable makers, chunky shape sorters with lids that can’t pop off, and bath sets with solid cups or boats. Skip big multi-piece sets for the first year.
Care Routines That Keep Toys Safe
Make washing easy so it happens often. Keep a small mesh bag near the sink for teethers and rings. At day’s end, wash, rinse, and dry on a clean rack. For bath items, shake off water and leave them where air can flow. Mark one night a week for a deeper clean of the whole bin.
Inspect toys during cleanup. Look for loose eyes, dents, hairline cracks, and seam splits. Bend soft items; if the surface crazes or flakes, toss them. Smell matters too; a harsh chemical odor is a cue to retire that piece.
Quick Links To Official Rules
Read the FDA’s BPA page for context.
Clear Takeaways For New Parents
Safe plastic play starts with size, shape, build, and care. Pick large, solid pieces with clean seams. Stay with PP, PE, or silicone for anything that spends time in the mouth. Treat sticky vinyl with caution. Keep toys clean and dry, store them in simple bins, and inspect them during every tidy-up. With those habits in place, the shelf holds plenty of choices you can trust.