Jun
5
Filed Under Dear SafeMama, PVC Free
Q: Do you know of any baby/wading pools that are safe from phthalates/pvc/bpa? I really want to get one for play at home with my 9 month old but am concerned they will leach chemicals. Thanks.
I get this question a lot and really wish I had a better answer. Hopefully in the next few years there will be better options available but for now we’re pretty limited when it comes to water toys and the use of vinyl or PVC. Most mainstream blow up style pools are made with vinyl because of its water resistant nature and its ability (through the use of phthalates) to be flexible. Same with beach balls, slip n slides and all those fun outdoor water toys. I’ll admit all those vinyl pools look like a LOT more fun, but if you’re worried about using PVC then unfortunately there aren’t a ton of options in this area but I have but one answer for right now:
Molded Pools. From what I’ve gathered, the majority of molded kid pools are made of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene or #4 on the recycling scale). These are available many times out front at the grocery store. You’ve seen them propped up by the door sometimes in 2 sizes with weird fish all over them. Toys R Us carries a couple molded pools made of #4 plastic as well.
Many of the molded pools I’ve found have a recycling mark on them somewhere but I have seen some that were not marked with recycling codes. However my best guess is that most molded pools are not made of PVC. (But don’t quote me on that – there is always the exception). If anyone has ideas I’m happy to add reader feedback!
Related articles:
- Summer Series! Safer Ice Pop Molds
- Dear SafeMama: sterilizing baby products
- FAQ: Teethers made of EVA Safe
Comments
One Response to “Dear SafeMama: Summer Series – Baby Pools”
Latest CPSC Recalls and Product Safety News
- Schylling Associates to Pay a $200,000 Civil Penalty for Violation of Lead Paint Ban and for Failure to Report
- Dollar General Recalls Toy Guns Due to Choking Hazard
- Children's Toy Jewelry Sets Recalled by Playmates Toys; Charms Violate the Total Lead Standard
- Children's Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by GTM Sportswear Due to Strangulation Hazard
- Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by New Mode Sportswear Due to Strangulation Hazard
Latest FDA Recalls
- Cousins Products, Llc, Issues An Allergy Alert On Undeclared Egg, Soy, And Wheat In Spinach Vinaigrette
- Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. Issues An Allert On Uneviscerated Whole Schmaltz Herring
- Pierino Frozen Foods Inc. Issues an Allergy Alert on Undeclared Eggs in Its Jumbo Shells with Cheese
Latest Recalls in Canada
- Dollarama recalls decorative plates over lead content
- Ikea recalls children's high chair over falling risk
- Balloon-blowing kit, Star Trek set and gel-filled balls recalled
Safer States Action Alerts
- Washington State mom testifies before Congress
- Washington State gets close to a BPA ban
- The health case for TSCA reform
Visit Our Friends
Popular Topics
** Cheat Sheets! allergies Articles bath products Bisphenol-A bottles bpa BPA-Free car seats cheat sheet cleaning products coupons CPSC Dear SafeMama eco-friendly Eco-Mama EWG FAQ FDA giveaway Giveaways Coupons green Green Mama lead links paraben free phthalate free phthalates free Phthalates Info polypropylene Product Reviews Product Safety PVC PVC Free recalls shopping sippy cups Skin Care teethers tips toy recalls toys Toy Safety utensils winRecent Articles
- Cheat Sheet: BPA Free Baby Food, Baby Food Creation and Storage Tools
- Scientists Link Flame Retardants to Reduced Fertility
- Safer Skin Care: How Far Do You Go?
- SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Dishwashing Detergents
- Whole Foods 365 Brand Body Care Reviewed on LovelySafeMama.com
Popular Articles
- BPA Free Bottle and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet
- BPA Free Pacifiers and Teethers Cheat Sheet
- Cheat Sheet: Paraben and Phthalate Free Baby Products
- Baby Skin Care Products: A Quick Users Guide
- Gerber Baby Food and Number 7 Plastics
- SafeMama's Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet: BPA, PVC & Phthalate Free Dishes
- Avent Launching BPA Free Bottle Summer of 08
- SafeMama's Safer Sunscreen Showdown!
- SafeMama: Wipes Review
- Baby Cubes: BPA Free & Phthalate Free Food Storage for Baby
Fellow Safe Mama's
Grab Our Badge!
SafeMama Elsewhere
SafeMama MySpace!
Join our Facebook Group
Follow Us on Twitter
We Squidoo
In Europe, phthalates are banned from children’s products, so we got our inflatable pool and beach ball from this toy store in Italy and had our family bring it over to us. It is possible they will mail it.
http://www.ipiccolissimi.it/root/ricerca.php?articolo=pvc
These pools and toys are all “senza ftalati” which means without phthalates, and we’ve been very happy with ours. Maybe also try the European amazon.com web sites.