The best non-toxic summer water and sand toys
Looking for summer toys full of fun and free of toxins? I’ve rounded up the best imaginative, active, non-toxic, and open-ended summer toys for babies to elementary that can be used again and again!
The following are some of our favorite open-ended toys that balance quality with affordability, perfect for kids to grow with and for families with multiple kids, and eliminate the worst toxic offenders, including BPA, phthalates, and PVC when possible. These are favorites of ours that are easy for both my 2 and 4.5 year old to play with together and also got a lot of use last year, too. Hope you enjoy!
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Pools and sprinklers
When at home this summer, without a doubt the biggest category of outdoor summer water play is pools and sprinklers. Unfortunately, inflatable pools or sprinklers are all made with PVC . However, I love companies like Hearthsong and Magic Cabin that go above and beyond for product safety to remove phthalates. Companies like Intex also go beyond the industry safety standards with their NoTox formula that is 8P free (safe from 8 phthalates identified as toxins). Step2 uses hard #2 plastics in many of their products (such as their water and sand tables) and I love that they offer a pool as well. The classic, hard plastic kiddie pools you can get at big box stores also are made of #2 plastic which makes them safer as well.
A quick note on plastics: Safer plastics are harder and have resin codes #2, #4 and #5. Plastics leach chemicals (the softer the plastic, the more they leach), and though many companies working with plastic have eliminated BPA, other plastics can leach chemicals, too.
You can reduce PVC offgasing with a very effective process called sunning that uses solar heat to release (outgas) VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Simply put the item in the sun, rotate it frequently, and begin using the product once the noticeable “new” smell is gone or greatly reduced. Buying items used can also help as their offgasing period has likely ended.
Regardless of what pools or sprinklers you use, don’t forget to use a lead-free drinking water safe hose as you know that water is definitely going into your kiddo’s mouth way more than it should.
Water and sand tables
While an ideal material for water and sand tables is stainless steel, they are almost impossible to find and often prohibitively expensive (and hot in the sun!). But luckily there are some great safer options! Step2 is my favorite brand of water and sand tables, with their products made with #2 plastic and are PVC, phthalate, and BPA-free and are mostly made in the USA. Two favorites at our house are this super versatile sand and water table and the amazingly fun water wall, and this great water table combines elements of the two.
Little Tikes makes great water tables as well that are free of BPA but they are less specific and state they do not use “harmful PVC and/or phthalates.” Also mostly made in the USA, they do have some really creative water tables that are fun for variety of ages playing together.
Sand and water toys
The the options for non-toxic sand and beach toys have really exploded over the past few years with so many amazing options that are BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free. I’ll share some highlights from a few of my favorite brands.
Green Toys are made with 100% recycled, safe, high density polyethylene plastic (#2). They are eco-friendly since they use recycled products, manufacture all of their products in the USA, and their packaging is usually only cardboard. The toys are BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free. We have a lot of their vehicles, but the seaplane and the digger set get a ton of use. They’re a good size without being a chore to pack, easily shake or rinse clean, and stand up beautifully to rough toddler play. Also their watering can is the only one I’ve ever liked!
German brand HABA has been another favorite toy brand of ours for years with lots of great wooden toys with non-toxic finishes. I love HABA water and sand toys because they are BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free and are always so well made. Their diggers and dump trucks have this cool minimalist vibe and are actually very easy for a young toddler to use–major win!
Hape is another favorite German-company that makes high-quality wooden and natural toys, and their plastics are made from durable and HDPE, ABS plastics that are BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free. Their water wheel is a nice alternative to other brands and their sand/water toys are super sturdy and durable, especially their digger and the bucket/shovel set which I give an A+.
American Plastic Toys creates toys that are BPA and phthalate-free. I love their creative water playset that is lots of fun for older kids. They have a great sand & water wheel and their sand mold set is adorable as well.
And Quut is another cool brands that makes BPA, phthalates, and latex-free toys that are super innovative and recyclable! Their designs really add a wow factor to typical beach accessories. And though Melissa & Doug make some adorable toys that meet EU safety standards (though they don’t commit to remove the big three entirely so I didn’t include in our roundup) products such as their shark water toy have given us hours and hours of fun for versatile family play!
Whether you’re a non-toxic purist or taking baby steps toward better choices, I’m so glad you’re part of this movement that’s making waves for a safer future for our kids and our planet. Have a happy and safe summer!
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