Toys for young children (and the components of the toys) should be durable and sufficiently large. Remember that they can be rough and break off small parts, they like to gnaw on things and nothing gets in the way of a good teething session. But avoid potential choking hazards when making toys for young children. It may be perfectly fine to have small parts and delicate features on something an 8 year old or teenager is going to use. With children who no longer taste test everything within arm’s reach, you can obviously get away with a lot more. Which materials and finishes are appropriate for your project depends, in part, on the intended age range of the end user. It’s pumped full of poisonous chemicals that are far from “toy safe”. Your kid’s mouth is definitely NOT one of them. Avoid These When Making Or Finishing Toys – NOT Toy Safe! Pressure treated lumber is perfect for many things. As we’ll discover, there are more options that you might think. Then we’ll circle back around to the good stuff. That is, some of the things we should definitely avoid when making and finishing toys for young children. The next tier would be “food safe” in other words, safe for use on food contact items, such as countertops and salad bowls.īefore exploring what TO use, perhaps we should first discuss what is NOT toy safe. “Food grade” is the safest of all, but few finishes are truly food grade. Safe to be around is not the same as safe to ingest. One thing’s for sure: there are degrees of safety. Doll house and photo (and the truck in this article’s featured image) – David Bishop ( 1 Eye Woody) Actually, this piece was given unfinished for the new owner to paint herself. Degrees Of Safety – Baby Steps Keep in mind that “no finish” is also a valid option. So let’s dig a bit deeper and see where the simple answers begin to fall apart. But, of course, there’s a little more to the story than that. Some sources say that pretty much any topcoat – shellacs, lacquers and varnishes – is non-toxic and inert once fully cured, and leave it at that. The short, simple, answer is that a toy safe finish is one that’s non-toxic. Note that “toy” in this context refers mostly (but not exclusively) to those intended for young children, who are often prone to putting things – absolutely every thing – into their mouths. When trying to distill exactly what makes a finish (a paint, stain, clear coat, or other surface treatment) “toy safe”, it’s sometimes hard to get a straight answer. What Is A “Toy Safe” Finish? Shape sorting puzzle finished with Puritan’s Pride Organic Flaxseed Oil and beeswax. If you have any tips, concerns or favorite toy safe finishes, please let us know in the comments. So it’s ultimately up to you to verify these findings for yourself and decide whether or not to heed the advice and recommendations presented. But the realm of finishes is vast and I’ve undoubtedly missed some things. I reached out to a bunch of companies, did lots of research and even polled some fellow woodworkers to unearth the elusive answers and steer you in the right direction. The following information will help you navigate your options and avoid some common pitfalls. But don’t let the “is it toy safe?” rabbit hole overwhelm you. Having encountered the question of toy safe finishes many, many times (including once in the past half hour), I know how confusing it can be. Toy and photo – Aaron Day ( Make Crazydays) The Obligatory Disclaimer – Because, You Know, We Love Babies Too A turned baby rattle finished with a couple coats of non-toxic shellac based sanding sealer then rubbed with bees wax. So buckle up your booster seat and we’ll see if we can make some sense of it all. Whether you’re a concerned parent or just a woodworker who wants to be sure your products won’t endanger the health of curious young mouths, you too may have asked “What finishes are safe for wooden toys?” It’s a simple question with a slightly complicated answer. Of all the topics I’ve looked into over the years, few are as mired in confusion as that of toy safe finishes. There’s an old truism that if you want to test how well you understand something, try explaining it to someone else.
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