The Organic Toy Box.

I'm on the fence about organic toys. I guess if you have the money to spend, might as well air on the side of caution but is it really necessary to pay the extra money for an organic toy? Unlike food that we ingest, toys are just for play. I think the makers of these products are cashing in on new parent paranoia and our ability as affluent first-world consumers to spend a ton on the best products for our babies.

That being said, unlike older children who use their toys for their intended purpose, baby toys do spend a lot of time in the mouths of our little ones. So I do feel better when Babe is gnawing on an organic toy. Or at least one that I know isn't covered in lead paint.

Surprisingly Babe (at only three and a half months) is already quite pleased with her first bath toy. She loves his squeaky noise and soft squishiness and she giggles when I squirt water on her tummy. This Lanco rubber duck is made with natural latex rubber, is hand-painted with non-toxic paint and is biodegradable. It's eco-friendly; PVC free, BPA free and Phthalate free.

These dandelion organic rattles are really simple but really cute. The stuffing is filled with fibers made from corn. They are washable and feel like a soft washcloth - perfect for Babe to gum on. One rattles and one squeaks and the duck has crinkly hands, always a hit with Babe.

This doll made by Peppa is one of my favorites. The dolls are made of 100 per cent cotton which is dyed with AZO-free dye and they are stuffed with sheep's wool. The company claims the wool absorbs scents easily allowing the toy to pick up familiar smells such as home or mommy. They can be easily washed and have no parts to choke on so Babe can suck on it all day. The toys are fair trade too. Mostly I just think it's cute.

Babe loves this elephant rattle that she got as a present from her grandma. It's made by Franck & Fischer and is made with 100 per cent organic cotton yarn. It's washable and safety tested. Babe can easily hold onto this toy. In fact, it was one of the first that she could hold and she can shake it really well.

Wooden toys and teethers are all the rage right now, but I have some lingering concerns. Considering how porous wood is are wooden teethers really safer than plastic for drooly little babies? I would think that wood could harbour a lot of bacteria. But according to the companies that sell wooden toys and teethers the untreated wood is naturally anti-bacterial and non-toxic. There sure are a lot of cute wooden toys out there for kids, but I still prefer plastic teethers that have passed Canada's Consumer Product Safety regulations or toys made from silicone or non-toxic rubber for younger babies. Also wooden teethers are a little hard for my liking. Not necessarily for the mouth but for accidental bonks to the head by uncoordinated little hands.

And last but not least - everyone's favorite: The Sophie Giraffe. I've nannied for years and I swear every baby has one, and now Babe has one too. At $20 it's fairly expensive for a teether/baby toy but the price hasn't stopped everyone from buying one. I gave in and bought one too because I figured instead of buying a bunch of cheap plastic teethers I'd be better off buying one high quality, completely non-toxic toy. Sophie is cute, made from 100 per cent natural rubber and coloured with dyes made from food. She has lots of little nubs for Babe to chew on and best of all - she's tried and tested - having been around since 1961.

Amber or Wood?

Babe has started teething. Don't get too excited. There aren't any little white buds bursting through. Teething can be a long process. She drools everywhere and is chewing so hard on her hand that I'm afraid she may gnaw it off altogether! She is also so uncomfortable that she is waking up every hour or so throughout the night, which I'm not enjoying.

So I went out in search of an amber teething necklace. Now, I am very skeptical about the effectiveness of this little accessory. But what the hell? I'll give it a go. I am however mildly concerned about the safety of these necklaces.

The necklaces are supposed to work by releasing Succinic Acid from the amber into the skin. Succinic Acid is used in various medications such as sedatives and antiplegms. There is a lot of doubt that this seepage is even possible (here's a great blog post about this) never mind at all beneficial but parents all over the world swear by it and amber has been used medicinally for hundreds of years.

I was mostly concerned about the safety of having a necklace on my baby. It seems a little foolhardy to put any jewelry on a baby, especially a necklace, which could pose a choking or strangulation hazard. The amber necklaces usually have a knot between each bead to prevent it from exploding beads all over the place. And the clasp is designed to break before it chokes. Still I wouldn't leave it on an unattended baby and I also wouldn't leave it on all night.

When I went to buy one today two things happened: First, I found an amber anklet for Babe. This immediately relieved my fears of strangulation. Yay! And if it does break while I'm not looking, an anklet is further away from her mouth than a necklace is. This extra distance might buy me a few more seconds to notice the disaster before Babe gets the beads into her mouth. The second thing was that the store I bought it from was also selling Hazelwood teething necklaces, which I've never heard of.

Amber Glow Teething Anklet

Apparently Hazelwood absorbs excess acid through the skin. People use these necklaces for ailments such as eczema, heartburn and migraines, and baby ailments such as diaper rash and teething.

I couldn't decide between the two so I bought both to try. Here is the website for the brand of Hazelwood necklace that I purchased.

Both types of necklaces are designed to be used 24 hours a day and according to the seller's websites the more of it that is in contact with the skin the more beneficial.

Pur Noisetier Hazelwood Necklace

I however will not be leaving either one on Babe for 24 hours. Partly because I don't think it's safe for her to wear them while we're sleeping and partly because if they do in fact work I'm uncomfortable with them emitting anything into her skin in large amounts or over long periods of time. Just because it's natural does not mean it is safe!

Breaking the 24 hour rule may mean that I won't see the benefits that other parents have seen, but I'll let you know how the trials went and which I prefer.

If you've tried either and found success or failure post a comment below.