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Aug

24

FAQ: Safe Play Room Flooring: What’s Best?

Filed Under Healthy Home, PVC Free, Product Safety | 15 Comments

I get an email about those foam puzzle piece mats about once a week.  If you have emailed me recently about it and I didn’t respond it’s because I have been rolling this one around in my brain for a while and I don’t have a “best” case scenario to offer you.  But what I can do is talk about what they are made of and whether that fits into your definition of “safe”.  I will also provide some alternative suggestions in a variety of price points.

In general, MOST foam play flooring / mats are made with a material called EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) which is a foam rubber compound.  For a while now it has been viewed as a healthier alternative to PVC and the process of making it excludes the use of chlorine which can produce carcinogenic compounds called dioxins.  This is part of why PVC is something to avoid.  Healthy Child Healthy World discussed EVA in an article back in October of 2008, giving EVA the thumbs up as an alternative.

Despite the fact that EVA foam does emit an “off-gassing” type smell, I cannot find information to disprove EVA’s safety as a material for use with children.  Now, this doesn’t mean I am recommending you run out and buy them. There are three things to consider, I’ve discovered in my investigating:

  1. PVC/Phthalates? Some companies who make these foam mats for kids will only go so far as to say that their product “meets the ASTM standards (American Standards for Toy Manufacturing) and are phthalate compliant.”  Step2 told one of our readers that “Some components that are used with our ‘Playmats’ may contain small traces of pvc.“  I don’t know if that means accessories or components of the mats themselves. But they will not go so far as to say they are phthalate free. I will be following up with them on this as soon as I get a moment to hop on the phone.
  2. Microban. I’ve found a few brands of these play mats that boast they use Microban.  Let’s not forget my position on the use of Microban and the extreme disillusion it creates for parents and caregivers.  Microban does not protect your child from germs or illnesses, it protects the product from mildew and discoloration.  Microban also does not disclose what its made of so the possibility of its use of Triclosan is a possibility.  You can decide whether you want to avoid it or not.
  3. Flame Retardants. Many of the EVA Foam flooring companies use EVA foam that has been treated with flame retardants.  Some have and some haven’t… this is where the information gets a little sketchy and I’m still trying to determine if it’s an issue for all EVA foam matting.  There is some suggestion that EVA Foam in its original state is inherently flame resistant.  What I can’t determine is whether the foam is treated in addition to that.  On the plus side, when EVA foam does burn it doesn’t have the same toxicity as PVC – no chlorine, dioxins, etc.  I’m still looking into this part.

So there you go.  I do believe EVA foam can be recycled and reused but it may be very tricky to find a place to bring it who’ll take it for recycling.  From an environmental standpoint, EVA isn’t going to save the planet.   So this one is up to you.

What Products Are Safe?

This is where your judgment as a consumer and a parent will come in to play.  I’ll provide you with a list of brands that I feel are acceptable as far as safety goes and I’ll give you a few more eco-friendly suggestions if that’s the direction you wish to go.

EVA Foam Options

  • Skip Hop Playspot Interlocking Foam Tiles – These claim to be PVC, Phthalate and BPA free and made of EVA.  They are cute, colorful and moderately stylish compared to most but they do come at a higher price.
  • One Step Ahead Wood Floor Foam Mats – According to One Step Ahead these are PVC and Phthalate free.  They look cool… but they do mention the off-gassing smell that I worry about.  They say in the description “Don’t worry its safe, we tested it” but we have all heard that before.  They make the traditional alphabet puzzle mats too. (Note: I emailed One Step Ahead to confirm the lack of PVC/Phthalates and was told that “Yes, the item meets all US Federal Laws and regulations and has passed all testing. and Yes they are free of PVC and Phthalates.“)
  • Soft Tiles Interlocking Foam Floor Mats – Made of EVA and website claims they do not use any phthalates or BPA.

Alternative Options

  • Wool Rugs – Wool is a safe choice (if you don’t have allergies to it) and eliminates the potential for off gassing carpet materials and padding.
  • FLOR Carpet Tiles – These are modular carpet tiles so its not permanent and you can move it when you need to.  They have stylish colors and patterns.  FLOR carpet tiles are made with renewable and recycled content and are recyclable.
  • Skip It – Save yourself some money and just properly child proof your home. Rhoost your sharp corners and gate off areas that are unsafe for baby and toddlers.  I’ve got 2 boys and never used any type of floor padding other than the area rugs we already have.  They get hurt more outside than anywhere else!

Have something to add? Tip? Let me know in the comments or via safemama [at] gmail.com!

Aug

4

Cheat Sheet: Safer & Eco-Friendly Lunch Gear

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Food Safety, PVC Free | 13 Comments

A while back we did a quick write up of safer alternatives to lunch boxes when all that “lead in lunchboxes” hoopla went down.  Since then there are so many great alternatives to lunch boxes available that it totally warrants a new cheat sheet. Lunchboxes are perfect for little and big kids and help reduce waste that’s clogging up our environment.  Whether stainless steel, canvas or recyclable plastic is your thing – there is a lunch system for you.  No matter what age.  Note: This is not a comprehensive list – if you think a brand should be on here please let us know and we’ll verify it! (Last Updated August 26, 2010)

Lunch Boxes, Bags and Lunch Systems

We looked high and low for lunch boxes and gear that was free of BPA, PVC, Phthalates and either claims to be lead-free or meets CPSIA testing standards for lead.  I’ve noted which brands claim what regarding lead. All of our picks are also free of Microban.   Here are our picks

Lunchable Storage Containers

I also encourage you to download the CHEJ 2010 Back to School PVC Free School Supplies shopping guide and the EWG Back to School Guide for more ideas on having a less toxic school year.

Great places to shop for lunch/food storage gear:

Mar

22

SafeMama Baby Pool Cheat Sheet

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, PVC Free | 10 Comments

Last year we had gotten the question about baby and wading pools for small kids.  What better way to spend a summer afternoon than sitting in your backyard with some friends and letting the kids splash around?  It’s a nice cheap afternoon.  The kids are having fun, you’re working on your tan (in moderation of course), and you’re able to have a somewhat peaceful conversation with other adults.  One of my friends has what we refer to as “block party,” during the summer.  She puts every outdoor toy in her driveway, along with her pool and we all just hang out under umbrellas while the kids have fun.   The only drawback is, her pool is vinyl, which makes me a little paranoid sometimes.   I tend to be phobic of chemicals, so this year, I was determined to search for better alternatives.  I wasn’t going to stop until I found a suitable alternative.  And thankfully, I came up with a few ideas.

PVC Free Baby Pools

EverEarth Inflatable Pool: Looks like a regular blow up pool but it’s made of TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) which according to EverEarth is biodegradable and phthalate free.  They also have a full line of pool toys, inflatables, swimmies, and rafts. Woo!  Check out their website for the selection.  I don’t think these are available just yet but as soon as they are I’ll update and let you know where to find them.  I have to thank Inhabitots for the find – thanks!

Molded Plastic Pools: This is your typical and least expensive option if you’re looking to go with something PVC and phthalate free.   You can typically find these anywhere, including grocery stores, toy stores and department stores like, Target and Wal Mart.   They range from $8 to $20 depending on the size.  They’re generally made of LDPE (low density polyethylene, which is #4 on the recycling scale).  Sometimes they have a recycling code on them, and sometimes they don’t.   But they are a good option if you’re looking for something inexpensive and fun.  The only drawback to these is that they tend to be a pain to empty, but that’s a pretty low con to deal with for the price.

Sun Smarties Pop up Pool: Another great, but a little more expensive option is one that I found over at One Step Ahead, called the Sun Smarties Pop Up Pool.  I was really excited about this find, and went ahead and ordered one (I can’t give you any details on it yet, though, because it’s back-ordered until next month.  Thankfully it’s still late winter and not summer yet!).  This pool just seems like an all around great option. The great thing about this pool is that it pops up easily folds up so flat, that you can pack it with you if you’re going on vacation!  Neat.   It comes with a sun canopy that clips on easily, which is great because you can move it around as the day wears on to make sure that your child has all day sun shade (but remember to still put sunscreen on them.  You know how kids are, in out in out in out).   Because of its ease of use, you can also get use out if it in the winter by using it as a ball pit.   It also comes in three sizes, which is a nice plus.  The smallest model retails for about $40, but the biggest one is pretty pricey at $90.   The Sun Smarties pop up pool is made from puncture resistant polyester.   Once I get mine, I’ll add my two cents to the information.

Statia Says (5/20/09): I received my pool and unfortunately, I’m going to have to remove the Sun Smarties Pop up Pool from our list.  Sadly, when I opened my pool, I noticed the plastic liner suspiciously looked like PVC (which is not mentioned in the product description).  However, One Step Ahead will not confirm what the liner is made of, so I’ll leave this information here in case One Step Ahead wants to clarify any information, or if any of you went ahead and ordered the pool.   I’m so disappointed, because this seemed like a great space saving option.

Little Tikes Butterfly Beach Sand and Wading Pool: This is a really cute, fun option for smaller toddlers.  The pool is somewhat small, so use would be limited, but if you really wanted to, you could fill both sides with water for more pool room.  Sometimes though, all kids need is just a little bit of water to have a lot of fun.  I also like that you can fold it up when it’s not in use and that there’s an umbrella to give the kids some shade on a hot day.  Little Tikes products are made of polypropylene (#5 plastic), which is recyclable in nearly all areas and Little Tikes products hold their value really well, so when you’re done with it, you could sell it to recoup your cost or donate it.

Phthalate free vinyl pool Perhaps this isn’t the most eco-friendly option, but there are PVC pools that are phthalate free.   They’re made without using all of the phthalates to soften the pvc.  I’ve researched and found some options, particularly one company by the name of Intex, that makes them, but they seem to be hard to find.  Maybe as the demand becomes higher, they will be more readily available.   There is however, the issue of how it could be recycled, and if it could be recycled easily, given that most PVC is made with phthalates.  I haven’t done a ton of research on it yet, since summer is still around the corner.   But it’s on my list of things to look into.

Little Tikes Wade Lagoon: This is beyond expensive as an option for something phthalate free, but it is phthalate free, nonetheless.   Little Tikes inflatables are all made of a mix of polyethylene and phthalate free PVC (as confirmed by a rep from little tikes).  All Little Tikes products are free of phthalates and BPA, so that’s comforting to know.  This product is built to last, which is one of the things I love about Little Tikes.  The inflatable products are expensive, but they definitely hold up to a beating (we have one of their bouncers, and a very active jumpy little boy, so I know how sturdy they are).   The good thing about this, is that you’d no doubt get quite a few years out of it, and it would probably last until your kids outgrew it and again, Little Tikes products hold their value, so you can sell it later on down the road and extend its life a little longer.

Another option that isn’t technically a “wading pool” but could also be used as a pool, would be a stock tank.  I’ve seen these as options around the internet, and while they could get pricey, they are a little bigger than your typical plastic molded pool.  I actually researched this option, but we’re a little low on garage space, so I went with the foldable pool instead, to save space.  They’re extremely sturdy and are higher on the sides than an actual wading pool, which might be nice if you wanted to say, fill it up on a hot summer day and kick the kids out, while the mom’s enjoyed some nice cold beverages.   I’m just sayin’…

Know a product you think belongs in this list? Let us know!

Mar

3

Hidden Filth & PVC in Bath Toys

Filed Under PVC Free, Toy Safety | 17 Comments

I’ve been watching this weeks series of “expose” reports concerning Hidden Filth on the Today Show this week.  Today they discussed the filth lurking in children’s bath toys.  My purpose for reporting it is two fold.  First, I knew bath toys could harbor mold which is why I try to air dry the kids toys each night.  However I was nicely ignorant to just how gross they could possibly be.  A group of mothers surrendered their kids bath toys to the Today Show for testing and what they found was frightening.  Fecal matter (alarming levels), staph and e. coli bacteria in just about every single toy.  The worst offenders were bath squirties or toys with holes that allow water to get trapped inside. If you watch the report, the scientist splits open a toy shark to reveal a hot bed of black bacteria and mold.

How does it get there?

The bath water you bathed the child in has become a “bacteria soup” they called it which the toys marinate in.  Additionally, since the tub is usually situated near the toilet, flushing can spread germs, bacterial and fecal matter as far as 20 feet. (I don’t even want to think about what that’s doing to toothbrushes).

What do I do?

  • Air dry bath toys after each use, preferably somewhere away from the family toilet. A closet would be a good spot.
  • Periodically run them through the dishwasher or hand wash them with soap and clean water (not bath water)
  • Avoid toys with holes in them (like bath squirties) and if you do have bath squirties beware that they can be gross inside.  In the past I have held them up to a light to see if anything was growing in there but when in doubt, chuck them or recycle.

About Bath Squirties and Bath Toys

During the report, they showed kids in the tub gnawing on bath squirties and toys that were all clearly made of PVC which is a really toxic type of plastic.  It pained me! To me that’s worse than some exposure to e. coli.  The reporter also replaced the confiscated bath toys with a big PVC duckie.  PVC can and often contains Phthalates (which softens the plastic to make it squishy), and chlorine.. not to mention the incredible strain on the environment it causes to create it.  You know that “shower curtain smell”?  That’s you inhaling the off gassing plastic and phthalates.

Instead of choosing toxic PVC bath squirties and ducks, I recommend the Boon Bath Toys that are just as good, if not way cooler and more fun:

Boon Odd Ducks – They come in 4 shapes and fun colors, are PVC Free and have no holes where water can get trapped inside (I like Squish.. he’s cute, but we also have Bob and Slim who make a regular appearance in our tub)

Boon Scrubble Interchangeable Bath Toy Scrub Set – These squirties all come apart and you can run them through the dishwasher… they’re PVC free and my kids love them.  Boon also makes a ring toss called Boon Splat Floating Ring Toy and a Water Bugs Floating Toys set that are good fun.  We have all of those too, haha!

There are other PVC free bath toys but many have holes in them, making cleaning tough to do, or are made from a badly off-gassing foam (think foam letters) so I really prefer the Boon Toys over many others (so do my kids). If you have any PVC free bath toys you love that are not Boon, please let me know about them in the comments!

Note: Boon did not pay me to say this… I purchased all my Boon bath toys from The Soft Landing and genuinely like them!

Feb

11

Cheat Sheet: Natural Toothpaste & BPA Free Toothbrushes For Kids

Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Bisphenol-A, PVC Free, Product Safety | 12 Comments

We get a lot of questions about toothpaste and fluoride and “my Dentist says my son needs fluoride drops”  here and I am still kind of wishy washy about fluoride.  Especially after having read the great articles on SAFBaby regarding Fluoride… it really makes you wonder whether it’s the best thing.  Whether you are anti or pro fluoride, you might also be concerned with the other ingredients in toothpaste such as: sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial colors, and triclosan. Here’s a quickie Cheat Sheet based on the natural toothpastes for kids we have tried or know of that are free of the ingredients in question. I figured a new list of BPA Free toothbrushes was appropriate too.

Last updated: July 18, 2010

Natural Toothpastes

  • Weleda Tooth Gel (Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 3
  • Kiss My Face Kids Toothpaste (Fluoride and Fluoride Free): Sweetened with Stevia – Skin Deep Rating: 3 (w/ Fluoride: 4)
  • Toms of Maine (Fluoride and Fluoride Free): NOTE: The only caveat with this one is that it  contains sodium lauryl sulfate so if that’s a problem for you skip it and try one of the other brands. – Skin Deep Rating: 3 (w/ Fluoride: 4)
  • Burt’s Bees Kids Toothpaste (Fluoride and Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 1 (old formulation)
  • Green Beaver Natural Toothpaste (Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep Rating: 2
  • Jason Natural Cosmetics Orange Kids Only Toothpaste: (Fluoride and Fluoride Free)  Certified organic, wheat and gluten free – Skin Deep Rating: 2 (w/ Fluoride: N/A)
  • Natural Dentist (Fluoride and Fluoride Free) – Skin Deep: 4 – They only have a rating for the kids toothpaste with Fluoride
  • Miessence Organics Toothpaste (Fluoride Free) - Skin Deep Rating (0-1)
  • Toothsoap (Fluoride Free)

(Note: It was just pointed out to me that some aluminum toothpaste tubes may contain BPA so depending on whether recyclable vs possible traces of BPA is your concern, you can make that call.

Make Your Own

Our friends at LuSa Organics (they make awesome soaps and body care… I live for their body scrubs) posted a great blog post and tutorial for making your own toothpaste.  Check it out:

LuSa Organics Homemade Toothpaste

  • 2 tsp Natural Liquid Soap (try unscented Dr. Bronner’s or similar)
  • 4 Tb Coconut Oil
  • 1 Tb Water
  • 2 Tb Xylitol (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp Stevia powder
  • 10-20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
  • 5-10 drops Spearmint or Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Boil a small pan of water. Measure out 1 Tb and stir into it Xylitol (optional). Stir to dissolve. Melt coconut oil and add to water mixture. Measure in soap and stevia and blend (a stick blender works well if you have one. Otherwise use your regular blender or whisk by hand like mad).  Blend while the formula cools enough to stay combined. Add essential oils and transfer to a clean squeeze or pump bottle. Cool completely, shake well.

Read their full post here… make sure to also check out their skincare items…. Looooove!

BPA / PVC / Phthalate Free Toothbrushes

Here’s a quick list of the toothbrushes we know of that are BPA and PVC free from our previous search for safer toothbrushes, FAQ: What’s In My Toddlers Toothbrush, along with a couple new ones.

I *JUST* stumbled onto The Soft Landing’s safer toothbrush finds in their blog. (I should have known Alicia would be on top of this one!)  She says the following are all BPA/PVC/Phthalate Free too:

Dental Sealants

many people worry about BPA in dental sealants and it’s a real concern, especially for kids.  Our pediatric dentist uses UltraSeal XT Plus (Made by UltraDent Products. Inc.) which contains no BPA according to the company.  So if your dentist tells you it doesn’t exist, educate them or find a dentist that is up to speed on issues like BPA in dentistry.

Nov

10

Dear SafeMama: What’s TPR and Is It Safe? Answer from The Soft Landing!

Filed Under Dear SafeMama, PVC Free, Product Safety | Comments Off

dear safemamaQuestion: Do you know the identity of the soft, non-skid “rubbery” parts that are often included on Sassy or Munchkin products? These seem a lot like PVC to me, but might be silicone. I know they are BPA free and SAY they are PVC free, but then what exactly is the material and is it safe?

Answer: It’s a pain not knowing what’s what, so we reached out to our favorite expert Alicia from The Soft Landing to get the skinny on this mystery material so often found on baby toys and teethers. She knew exactly what it was of course! Here’s what she had to say:

“While PVC is sometimes used in various parts of teethers, the dense “rubbery” areas on teethers (and even non-skid bowls and such) are usually made from either silicone or thermoplasticized rubber (TPR).  TPR is a great choice because it doesn’t require the use of BPA and is made without PVC (and thus phthalates).  Thermos uses it for their Foogo sippy spouts.  PVC is typically found in hollow, squeeky bath toys or dense, plastic baby dolls with a harder feel (less rubbery) and is hardly ever used in eating gear.  Silicone and TPR are both usually BPA-free, because they simply don’t require the use of a hardening/strengthening agent like polycarbonate plastic does.

If a manufacturer goes the extra trouble of actually labeling a product as BPA or PVC-free, you can usually assume that it’s true.  They are not required by law to label their products with materials used (or not used in some cases), so if they do, they are laying their reputation on the line.”

Thanks Alicia!  As always, if you’re ever in doubt about a product or material… do your shopping at The Soft Landing. There you are sure to get non-toxic safe feeding and baby gear.  Be sure to check out her great holiday specials too!  Alicia also runs the The Soft Landing Blog where you can find great information on a bevy of other children’s feeding and toy gear… check it out!

Aug

18

Review: Spa Baby Bathing Tub

Filed Under PVC Free, Product Reviews, Product Safety, product finds | 3 Comments

spababyWith my new addition to the family I’ve been reconsidering a lot of things I used the first time around, including our baby tub.  I had a basic blue baby tub with the infant sling attachment and my son always screamed through baths as a little baby.  Only did he start liking being bathed when I put him in a bigger tub with more water.  I’ve since recycled my old baby tub to someone else who needed one so when I went looking for a new tub I wanted something better.

I discovered Spa Baby in one of my late night Internet searches and was in awe of this genius idea.  The Spa Baby tub is basically a European style bathing tub that allows the baby to sit in an upright position as opposed to laying down so the baby is somewhat submerged up to their shoulders.  This keeps the baby warm and comfy, whereas in traditional tubs the baby is wet and can get cold easier -hence all that crying!

You can set the tub on a low flat surface, or in a regular tub – anywhere safe and sturdy so you can bathe and rinse easily.  The nice part about this is it’s made of #5 plastic (is totally recyclable once you’re done with it) and doesn’t contain anything like BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead or flame retardant foam inserts or slings.  The tub is much larger than I imagined and can fit a baby up to 6+ months old.  You could also use this later to keep toys (in or out of the tub) organized, or use it to store extra towels in the bathroom when baby gets too big for it.

I’m really quite smitten with this tub and I think it would make a great baby shower gift for that mom-to-be.   I always seem to struggle finding a unique gift and this is definitely perfect for that.  I gave it a go and I have to admit, there is a bit of a learning curve with this tub as I felt pretty awkward and nervous about using it with a newborn who can’t hold his head up.  He wasn’t too happy about it but I think it was mostly because it was one of his first bath experiences and he felt my awkwardness.  With a little practice this is a great tub, although I think I’ll wait until he’s a little bit bigger before I try it again.  Once you get yourself comfortable with this tub I think it would be a great alternative. 

Get A Spa Baby: You can purchase Spa Baby tubs on their website SpaBabyTubs.com!

Aug

3

Bumkins Dr Suess Waterproof Aprons

Filed Under PVC Free, Product Reviews | 16 Comments

apronIt’s already “back to school” time for many, especially those of us who have kids starting back in mid-August so school supplies and school items are coming to the forefront.   So the people at Bumkins are doing a great Back to School Blog Tour and giveaway that we’re happy to be taking part in.  Bumkins sent us a Dr Seuss Apron to test run and we certainly did.  I’ve given their products a thumbs up in the past and this didn’t disappoint either.  Aprons and art smocks are something I’ve needed for a million different things… painting projects, clay work, cooking, baking, the messy stuff that kids get into on a day to day basis, as well as at school!  My little man loves to help me bake and make messes so we tried it out on a vanilla cake recipe.

Bumkins aprons are made of the same waterproof material as their bibs (which many of you wrote in to tell us you loved as much as we did).  The apron fit my 3 1/2 year old perfectly and has a nice pinch adjuster on the neck piece so you aren’t stuck tying the strings to fit.  Their proprietary waterproof fabric is PVC, Vinyl, BPA, Phthalate free and is totally machine washable.  They wash up great and look good as new after abuse.  They’re made for kids 6 and up but this fit my average sized 3 year old just fine.

Win! The kind folks at Bumkins are also giving away $35 gift certificates to 5 lucky people.  All you have to do is comment on their blog or on any of the blogs (including this one) in their Back to School Blog Tour to enter!  Go check it out or visit their website at Bumkins.com

Jul

12

Waterproof Mattress Covers without the Vinyl

Filed Under PVC Free, product finds | Comments Off

aller-easeThis will probably be my last post for a short time – baby comes on Monday so I’ll be laid up for a bit.  But before I go, I wanted to post this last thing because I’ve gotten the question a few times and I had this own challenge myself.  My 3 1/2 year old graduated to a real big bed, twin style!  And while I went through lengths to make sure he had the safest everything – wood bed that wasn’t off gassing, organic mattress, and I even went so far as Dr. Suess organic sheets.  But then there’s the problem of leaking and accidents with little kids.  Even though the mattress has some great waterpoofing to it – I wanted some added protection to help me avoid a lot of washing.  After all the effort I spent on making him a safe sleep environment I didn’t want to cover his organic mattress with a piece of vinyl.  Kind of defeats the point, no?

So I went on another hunt to find a mattress protector that wasn’t vinyl.  Easier said than done but on a whim I tried a few super stores to see what they had and what I was up against.  Vinyl, vinyl everywhere!  But I hit the jackpot.

A company called AllerEase makes mattress and pillow protection made entirely of polypropylene and polyethylene plastic, weaved in a manner that it is thin and has a soft material feel like those reusable bags at grocery stores.  It fits the mattress well and has helped us avoid some major “wet” incidents so far so I can attest to its waterproof ability.  I feel better knowing there is no vinyl between my son and his bed.  Plus it wasn’t a fortune..I think I spent a total of $23 on a twin cover.

Where Do I Find It?  I found mine in WalMart of all places and according to AllerEase’s website they sell them at Target, KMart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohl’s and Sears (although I checked almost all those places and only found it at WalMart… the other stores I looked in only had vinyl but perhaps its regional).  You can also order them online at Amazon.com and a few other retailers.

Jun

5

Dear SafeMama: Summer Series – Baby Pools

Filed Under Dear SafeMama, PVC Free | 1 Comment

dear safemamaQ: 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!

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