ZRecs Guide to Safer Teethers

Please note: This report has been substantially revised and updated since this post was published, most recently in our ZRecs Guide to Safer Children's Products. Much of the information in this post is outdated, and we encourage you to refer instead to our new consumer guide to BPA and other potentially harmful chemicals in children's products, the ZRecs Guide.


The U.S. government asked manufacturers to voluntarily stop using phthalates in teethers back in 1999, and the potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals rapidly faded from teethers and mouth-contact infant toys, foreshadowing one possible fate of the similarly scary chemical Bisphenol-A. BPA, on the other hand, is in a few items by a few brands, and many companies still use phthalate-free PVC, which is emerging as a new material of potential concern and also takes a substantial toll on the environment and on factory workers due to the heavy use of chlorine in its production.

The good news is, there aren't many items out there that contain these substances. We think we have all the relevant companies here except Nuby, whom we've contacted but hasn't yet responded; we're also waiting on some more information from Manhattan Toy, which was able to tell us about a few products but says we should have info on the rest of them by Monday. We'll update this post when we have more information, and alert readers to the update in a new post. We're also working on updates to our Safer Bath Toy guide based on reader requests.

All of the images shown in the company listings below are BPA-, phthalate-, and PVC-free, but first we'll show you all of the products we found that do contain some of these avoidable substances.

Shortlist: Products to Avoid
Items reported by companies we surveyed as containing Bisphenol-A:

Manhattan Toy's Tulu Rattle (left)
Sassy's Circle Rattle (right)


Recommendation: Do not buy; if purchased, discard.


Items reported by companies as containing phthalate-free PVC:












From left to right: Infantino's Cuddly Teether Blanket; Learning Curve/1st Years' Soft Friends Cooling Teether, Disney Friends Teether, and Floating Friends Teether; Munchkin's Dora the Explorer Soothing Ring Teether and Twisty Teether Ball.
Not shown: infantino's Bop & Wobble Lion and Aqua Duck, Learning Curve's Cool Animal Teethers.

Recommendation: Do not buy; if already owned, continue to use or pass on to others.

Company Listings
Waiting for response from Nuby and for further information from Manhattan Toy. Please provide requests for other companies' products in these areas in the comments.

babylife
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: comfort + joy teether (not yet released)
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Camden Rose
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Maple Teether, Cheery Rattle
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Combi
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: 4 month teether, 6 month teether, 8 month teether
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

The First Years/Learning Curve
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Bristle Buddy Teether, Cool Triangle Teether with Handle, Disney Mickey Giggle Teether, Freddie the Firefly, Jacques the Peacock, John Deere Animal Sounds Teether, John Deere Massaging Corn Teether, John Deere Real Phone, Link Along Friends, Massaging Action Teether, Massaging Buzzing Bee Teether, My Three Favorite Friends, Pooh Cuddly Teether Blankets, Soft Teething Beads, Terry Teething Pals, Vibrating Flutterbug Teether, Winnie the Pooh Cool Beehive Teether, Winnie the Pooh Musical Balloon Teether
Phthalate-free PVC: Cool Animal Teethers, Floating Friends Teether, Soothing Disney Friends Teether, Soft Friends Cooling Teether
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.


Fisher-Price
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Laugh & Learn Learning Keys, Ocean Wonders Portable Mobile, Rainforest Giraffe Rainstick Rattle, Miracles & Milestones Musical Zebra, Lil' Laugh & Learn 1-2-3 Puppy Rattle, Miracles & Milestones Sunshine Activity Ring, Miracles & Milestones Penguin Water Teether, Rainforest Monkey Teether
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Infantino
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Lil’ Clackers, Clack & Teethe, Musical Pull & Play, Rocky the Lobster, Morty the Moose, Petey the Peacock, Lola the Poodle, Riley the Rocketpup, Mallory the Monkey, Dylan the Duck, Parker the Penguin, Piper the Pony, Casey the Cow, Cleo the Cowgirl, Love Notes, Lil Pals & Mirror Wall Mounted Mobile, Peek & Play Pal, Wiggle Worm Gym, Giddy Up & Go, Peek-a-Boo Rattle, Zoo Mobile, Tag Along Chimes, Surfboard Tummy Time, MatLink Along Friend, Peek, Rattle & Teethe, Barn Babies, Happy Hippo Gym, Musical Funkeys, Ring-a-Links, Changing Table FlutterBug, Jittery Pal, Tag Along Chime Trio, Soft Teethers, Activity Shapes, Footsy Friends, Busy Bug, Pinwheel Rattle, Bird Teether, Lion Teether, Light & Sound Rattle, Shake-a-Tune, Love Bug Rattle, Baby Bugs, Movers & Shakers, Lobster Teether, Twist 'Em Rattle, Stick & Spin Monkey, Giggle Ball Toy Set, Pail Pets, Baby Magician, Clickety Clack, Discovery Elephant, Block Party Zebra, Big Mouth Basket Toss, Discovery Bunny, Pullies, Hula Hut, Twist & Teethe, Baby Mail, Baby Beach Band, First Bank of Oink, Pail Pals, Safari Roller, Bendy Bug, Activity Triangle, Giggle Ball
Phthalate-free PVC: Water-Filled Teethers, Bop & Wobble Lion, Aqua Duck, Cuddly Teether Blanket
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Manhattan Toy
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Take Along Dog, Tizoo
Phthalate-free PVC: Unknown
Contains phthalates or BPA: Tulu Rattle (BPA)

Munchkin
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Dora the Explorer Teething Blanket with Pacifier Attachment, Dora the Explorer Rolling Wheel Teether, Dora the Explorer Clicky Key Teether, Dora the Explorer Twisty Star Teether, Dora the Explorer Chewy Teether, Teether Blankie Buddy, Fun Ice Teether Babies, Teething Blanket, Fun Ice Soothing Ring Teether, Fun Ice Twisty Ring Teether, Fun Ice Twisty Star Teether, Fun Ice Rattle 'n Roll Teether, Fun Ice Rolling Wheel Teether, Fun Ice Chewy Teethers, Twisty Barbell Teether, Twisty Figure 8 Teether Toy
Phthalate-free PVC: Dora the Explorer Soothing Ring Teether, Twisty Teether Ball
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Playskool
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Crinkle'n Teether, Glo-worm Teether, Scrunch'n Peek Soft Teether, Electronic Phone'n Teether, Grip'n Teether Rattle, Fun'n Teething Blankie, Moon & Stars Rattle
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

RaZbaby
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: RaZ-Berry Teether
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Sassy
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Beginning Bites, Bumble Bites, Buzz 'N Bites, Chilly Chewy Chirp, Chilly Dilly Daisy, Coolin' Droolin' Teether, Coolin' Teethers, Cuddle and Chew Pals, Gummy Grippy Galaxy Teether, Gummy Guppy, Jelly Fish, Link Along Ladybug, Springy Ringy, Take Along Teether, Teething Tail Fish, Teething Tropics, Teething Tunes, Teething Wing Butterfly, Textured Terry Teething Cloth, Traveling Teether Blocks, Twirl 'N Teethe Catepillar, Tad's Cell Phone, Count & Chew Keys, Gentle Vibes Teether, Number Crunch Teether Book, Water-Filled Teether
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: Circle Rattle (BPA in those with clear plastic component), Teething Wing Dragonfly (BPA)

Sckoon
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Baby Flat Doll
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Under the Nile
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Grapes, Carrot, Sleeping Doll, Ring Bear, Blanket Friend Toy, Eggplant, Broccoli, Minimo Doll, Banana, Cat Toy, Green Bean, Mushroom, Tomato, Strawberry, Minimo Ethnic Doll, Terry Duck Toy, Bumble Bee Ring, Centipede, Corn, Frog Toy, Pear, Bear Toy, Mouse Toy, Asparagus, Watermelon, Doll, Security Bear Blanket, Baby Buddy Teething Doll
Phthalate-free PVC: No teethers.
Contains phthalates or BPA: No teethers.

Vulli
BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free: Sophie the Giraffe, Chan Pie Gnon
Phthalate-free PVC: Unknown
Contains phthalates or BPA: Unknown



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