The ZRecs Guide to Safer Bath Toys

Please note: BPA information on this site is no longer being updated. See Z Recommends at our new location for all the current news and updates and see the ZRecs Guide to Safer Children's Products for the most up-to-date information on BPA in feeding products.

So your baby bottles, sippy cups, and toddler tableware are BPA-free? (If not, head here.) Given that much of the concern is due to polycarbonate plastic's leaching of BPA when it is heated or becomes worn, it seems to us that there is at least one more product area that the precautionary principle dictates should be BPA-free: bath toys. And while phthalates have been virtually eliminated from infant teethers, pacifiers and such, they are frequently present in bath toys, as well as other toys for older children.

Healthy Child, Healthy World has a good overview of the risks of PVC and phthalates:

Exposure to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics may result in exposure to lead. Lead is used to stabilize PVC. The lead breaks down with exposure to heat and light, and migrates to the surface of the PVC product. Under certain conditions, lead may be present on the surface of PVC products, which can be transferred by hand to mouth behaviors or distributed to surfaces as dust. PVC forms hydrochloric acid when it degrades, which causes a chain reaction that proceeds rapidly to a complete loss of strength. Stabilizers are added to prevent this from occurring. Stabilizers used in PVC are generally metal salts, often lead.

Use of certain plastics may also result in exposure to phthalates. For example, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) may migrate from foodwraps during storage. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen and also causes chronic health problems, including liver and kidney abnormalities. Breathing dust contaminated by phthalates that have escaped from vinyl products used in the home may be a significant exposure for children. Children spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors breathing close to the floor, and many children’s toys are made out of phthalate-softened vinyl. [Link]

As with our previous BPA reporting, we made repeat, mind-numbing calls to customer service reps so you don't have to. What follows is a listing of all major brands producing bath toys, with results broken down into three categories: Products that are free of BPA, phthalates, and PVC; those that are made of the newly popular "phthalate-free PVC"; and those that are known to contain BPA or phthalates. The production of all PVC is harmful to the environment and poses significant hazards to those who produce it, and PVC produces off-gases that include formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals, but we provide all three categories to help you make informed decisions for your own family. Keep in mind that PVC is present in many areas of our lives, many of which currently lack viable alternatives; as with all suspect chemicals, minimizing exposure, rather than eliminating it, is a good goal for most families.

Is there a company we missed? Let us know in the comments and we'll check them out.

Accoutrements
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: None.
Contains phthalates or BPA: Devil Duckies, Dead Duck, all other "rubber" ducks.

Alex Toys
Alex toys has acknowledged Z Recommends' materials request and stated that information is forthcoming. Stay tuned.

Battat Incorporated
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: Mini Bath Buddies, Dino Bath Buddies, Farm Bath Buddies, Tubby Tug Boat
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Boon
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Frog Pod, Flo faucet cover
Phthalate-free PVC: Bath Goods
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Century Novelty
Century Novelty told Z Recommends that they do not know if their wide selection of "rubber" ducks contain phthalates.

DCI (Decor Craft, Inc.)
We are awaiting information from DCI regarding several products and will update this post when we receive it.

Design Room Group
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: All ducks.
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Elegant Baby
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: All ducks; Animal Squirties, Sea Squirties, City Squirties, Rock & Roll Squirties, Camo Squirties
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Infantino
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: All ducks.
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Kel-Gar
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Tubbly-Bubbly faucet covers; Faucet Friends.
Phthalate-free PVC: None.
Contains phthalates or BPA: Snug-Tub, Snug Tub Deluxe, Snug-Tub Jr., See N' Squeak (all contain phthalates)

Learning Curve
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Finding Nemo Bath Cups, Finding Nemo Bath Scrubby, Nemo Wash Glove
Phthalate-free PVC: Crabby Babies Bath Buddies, Drift Along Friends 2-piece set, Fill Em Up Frog Set with 4 Squirty Toys, Finding Nemo Aquarium Squirting Friends, Soft Floaty Ducky, Finding Nemo Nemo & Dory Splash and Swim Buddies
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Luvable Friends
We are still seeking information about Luvable Friends. Our bad.

Munchkin
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Bath Letters and Numbers, Sea & Learn Bath Shapes, Caterpiller Spillers, Go, Diego Go! Floating Foam Letters, Floating Foam Letters
Phthalate-free PVC: Dora the Explorer Bath Squirters, Bath Squirters, Tub Toy Organizer, Gone Fishin' Bath Toy, Zoomin' Bath Boat, Snail Stacker, Twisty Fish, Bath Dunkers, Disco Tub Lights, Go, Diego Go! Bath Squirters, Safety Bath Duck, Super Safety Bath Ducky, Super Scooper, Bubble Ducky Spout Guard, Bath Critters, Sea Squirts
Contains phthalates or BPA: Baby Bath Turtles (BPA).

Oriental Trading Company
Oriental Trading Company told Z Recommends that their ducks are made from phthalate-free "vinyl." Their customer service reps would not confirm that it was PVC, but we suspect it is.

Rich Frog Industries
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Royal Ducks, Original Rubber Duck, Ooh and Aah, Pirate Duck, Reader Duck, Squeaky Bathtub Frog, Sitting Duck, Mr. Big the Giant Rubber Duck.
Phthalate-free PVC: Tube Ducks, Tube Dudes, Daddy & Baby Ducks, Mommy & Baby Ducks, Li'l Duck, Li'l Duck Jr., Sitting Bullfrog, Li'l Squirts
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

Rubba Ducks
Phthalate-free PVC: All "rubber" ducks.

Sassy
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: Al-i-Sorter, Aquatic Bobbers, Bath Links, Bath Wigglers, Bloom 'N Groom Garden Set, Count 'N Spell Bath Appliques, Counting Fish 'N Net, Double Duckies, Fishing Links, Hip-O Boat, Hook, Line and Linkers, Musical Bobbing Sprites, Soft Ducky, Squirting Sea Creatures, Squishy Squirt Pals, Tubby Tumblers, Twist and Turn Trio
Phthalate-free PVC: Super Soft Spout Guard, Bathtime Kitchen Sink
, Counting Bath Time Bucket, Car Wash, Snap and Squirt Sea Creatures, Gator Boat,
Contains phthalates or BPA: Boogie Board Buddy (BPA), Scoop Pour 'N Squirt Water Fish (BPA), Squirting Sea Pals

Schylling
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: All "rubber" ducks.
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.

WEDGITS
BPA-/PVC-/phthalate-free: None.
Phthalate-free PVC: All WEDGimals Ducks.
Contains phthalates or BPA: None.


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