A lot of my friends are having babies, and I seem to always be on the go looking for toys to get the new additions. Since I have allergies, I always buy organic toys for my children, and have come to learn a lot about undiagnosed baby allergies as well.
Signs of Infant Allergies
Many times when babies cry uncontrollably, have trouble sleeping, or get a lot of colds, moms just automatically think colic. Even baby doctors can overlook the more subtle signs of childhood allergies when they start in infancy.
Since babies can’t take treatments for hay fever like adults can, it’s a good idea to stay away from things that can trigger allergies. A lot of the materials used in regular toys have chemicals and fibers that bring on allergy attacks.
Organic Solutions
Organic toys are a great way to give a baby a comfortable, clean and still environmentally friendly toy that won’t aggravate allergy symptoms. When my second little girl was born, I noticed she was crying a lot more than was probably normal. It didn’t seem to be colic, since pressure on her stomach didn’t make the crying worse or better, and nothing seemed to help.
After reading about infant allergy symptoms, I started replacing her regular toys with organic ones. I was pleasantly surprised to find her crying become less frequent.
Now, that’s all I use for my own kids, and I always give the same types of toys for friend’s babies. There are a wide variety of baby toys that are organic and allergy safe. These are my top 6 favorite types of infant toys that you can find in most organic baby stores online.
- Plush balls
- Plush animals
- Bath toys
- Dolls
- Rattles
- Teething rings
Organic Materials for Infant Toys
Most of the organic plush animals, balls and dolls are made with 100% cotton that is grown organically. The great thing about organic fibers is that when your baby puts it in their mouths, like all babies will, they aren’t getting a mouthful of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
Organic baby toys come in all colors, dyed with non-toxic colors. Plush animals are easy to find in a wide variety of species from dolphins to horses, doggies to kitties and even spiders and frogs.
Safe Organic Teething Toys for Babies
Teething toys are made from either hard woods that won’t splinter, or soft polypropylene that is completely PVC and BPA-free. The soft teething toys are great because you can put them in the freezer to so they soothe sore gums as those little teeth pop through.
The smooth hardwood toys also make great organic rattlers. Baby rattles end up in mouths as much as teething toys do, and being organic means pesticide and other chemical free. It also means that when you throw out old toys, they don’t pile up in landfills.
There isn’t a lot of scientific data on it, but some studies suggest that by avoiding those things that bring on allergy attacks in infants, it may help keep them from developing allergies as they get older.
I’ve dealt with allergy symptoms all my life, and even in childhood, had to take a regular remedy for allergic rhinitis. If going organic can help avoid that for the new generation, I’m all for it. If nothing else, having a baby who is less prone to crying, colds and other infant aggravations can also help moms sleep better and feel more rested as well.
Babies and moms being well-rested and healthy is what it’s all about. Like Leigh Hunt said: “The groundwork of all happiness is good health.”
Melissa Cameron is a mother of two and freelance writer who lives with her husband and children in Austin, Texas. She is a big fan of organic foods and gifts, because she herself has had to deal with allergies and take treatments for hay fever all her life. During the day she researches ways to create a healthier lifestyle for herself and her family, and shares those thoughts with readers through her writing.
