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The last thing we need as busy parents is to stress about whether the ingredients in our kids’ toys are harming their health. From before my babies were born, I have been on the hunt for non-toxic, eco-friendly toys for my kids that I can trust to be safe and healthy, even if they start gnawing on them (all kids do it, it’s normal! Right?).
Why Eco-Friendly Toys?
Traditional toys are often made with toxic materials like PVC, phthalates, and lead, which can be harmful to our little ones. Eco-friendly toys and stuffed animals, on the other hand, are made from natural, non-toxic materials like wood, organic cotton, and plant-based plastics and paints.
It’s also key to make sure these toys are not harming the environment. As much as I enjoy cruising down the toy aisles at Target, I can’t help but notice how many of them are made of cheap plastic that will ultimately end up in a landfill.
When shopping for eco-friendly toys, it’s important to consider the materials used, the manufacturing process and the packaging. Look for toys made from sustainable materials, such as FSC-certified wood or recycled plastic. You also want to try choosing toys that are packaged with minimal or recyclable materials.
In this article, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite eco-friendly toy picks, from wooden toys and puzzles to recycled plastic toys and art supplies. These toys are not only good for the environment but also provide endless hours of fun for your little ones. So, let’s get started!
Toys for Infants and Babies
Here are our top eco-friendly toys for kids that are safe for both them and the planet:
1. Green Toys Stacking Cups ($10)
These colorful cups are made from recycled milk jugs and are free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. Green Toys also uses minimal packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials.
These cute cups are perfect for infants who are learning to stack and sort objects, and they also make great bath toys! My kids played with these ALL the time as babies and toddlers, both in the bath and out. It was one of their favorite toys.
2. HABA Clutching Toy ($20)
This cute little wooden toy is perfect for babies who are teething. It’s made from sustainably harvested beech wood and finished with non-toxic, water-based stains. The different textures and colors provide sensory stimulation for babies, while also helping with hand-eye coordination.
HABA sources its wood from sustainably managed forests in Germany, and their toys are manufactured in Europe under strict environmental standards. My kids loved every HABA toy we ever got them. Another favorite was the Pyramid clutching toy.
3. Under the Nile Organic Cotton Elephant ($23)
This adorable plush toy is made from 100% organic Egyptian cotton. It’s perfect for snuggles and also makes a great teething toy.
Under the Nile uses organic cotton that’s grown without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. They also employ fair trade practices to ensure their workers are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.
4. PlanToys Sensory Tumbling Toy ($25)
This eco-friendly toy is made from sustainable hardwood and painted with non-toxic, water-based dyes. It’s designed to stimulate all of a baby’s senses with its different textures, colors, and sounds. Plus, it’s great for encouraging gross motor skills and coordination.
PlanToys uses eco-friendly materials like rubberwood, which is harvested from trees that are no longer producing latex. They use formaldehyde-free glues, organic pigments, and water-based dyes in their pants.
5. Fat Brain Toys Dimpl ($13)
This innovative toy is made from food-grade silicone and is free from BPA, phthalates, and latex. Babies love to push and pop the colorful buttons, which provide sensory stimulation and help with fine motor skills. Plus, it’s great for on-the-go entertainment!
Another cute Dimpl version has numbers on it, so your budding Einstein can also start learning some math while refining their fine motor skills. Fat Brain Toys also minimizes packaging and uses recycled materials whenever possible.
6. Hape Wonder Walker ($77)
Once your baby-toddler starts taking those first steps, a walker can be a great way for them to practice their new skill around the house. Hape is an amazing company that uses non-toxic materials for all of its toys, and its Wonder Walker is no exception. This award-winning toy has lots of fun knobs and gears to play with when your little one isn’t strutting their stuff around the house.
Toys for Toddlers
We love that there are so many eco-friendly toddler toys out there today! Here are some of our favorites:
1. PlanToys Dancing Alligator ($41)
Toddlers love the wiggly tail and the clacking sound of the alligator’s body as they pull it along. This adorable wooden toy is made from sustainable rubberwood and painted with non-toxic, water-based dyes. The company also uses a chemical-free kiln-drying process to reduce their environmental impact.
My daughter was obsessed with this alligator! For a while, she took it everywhere with her. I think the clacking sound made it especially fun to tug around on the floor after her, like a little reptilian pet.
2. Green Toys Ferry Boat ($14)
I don’t know why toddlers love putting things in other things, but they really really do. My son was obsessed with this ferry boat because it came with cars to put inside it, again and again. It actually bought me a a little time to get some work done while he played!
This fun bath toy (we used it outside the bath as well) is made from recycled milk jugs and is free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. Green Toys also uses minimal packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials, and their toys are manufactured in the USA.
3. Hape Pound & Tap Bench ($30)
Toddlers love the satisfying clack of the balls as they hit the xylophone and the bench on this classic toy made from sustainably sourced wood and finished with non-toxic, water-based paint. My kids were obsessed with this toy, and it was almost too cute to see them using their first hammer.
They also loved this similar pounding bench from Melissa and Doug. These kinds of toys have staying power, meaning they aren’t the kind that kids play with once and forget. Hape also uses eco-friendly materials like bamboo and works to reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources.
4. Tegu Magnetic Floating Stacker Building Block Set
We are huge fans of Tegu in our house (check below for options for older kiddos). The magnetic design allows for easy stacking and building, while the floating feature adds an extra element of excitement.
These fun and colorful blocks are made from sustainably sourced hardwoods and finished with non-toxic, water-based stains. Tegu also partners with local communities in Honduras to plant new trees and reduce deforestation.
In short, they’re an awesome company I feel good about supporting, even though their toys are a bit more costly than their plastic counterparts.
5. Hape Alphabet Blocks Learning Puzzle ($17)
This wooden puzzle is not only adorable, it’s also educational! It features bright and colorful letters that help your toddler learn the alphabet while practicing their fine motor skills.
We love that it’s made from high-quality, sustainably sourced materials and non-toxic, child-safe finishes. Plus, it’s the perfect size for tiny hands to grasp and maneuver. Highly recommend!
6. Sammy the Seal ($25)
This adorable little seal from the company Shore Buddies is made from 6 recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are shredded into plastic pellets, which are then transformed into yarn to make these adorable stuffies. Talk about the perfect way to speak to your kids about recycling! Be aware that Sammy makes an “authentic seal sound” when squeezed, so he may not be the best little pal for sleeping with at night.
Toys for Kids Ages 3-5
Read on for our favorite non-toxic toys for kids between the ages of 3 and 5.
1. Green Toys Tool Set ($12)
Kids love pretending to fix things and build with their own tools. This fun set is made from recycled milk jugs and is free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. If your little builder prefers a different color scheme, they also make this tool set in blue.
Green Toys also uses minimal packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials, and their toys are manufactured in the USA.
2. PlanToys Tea Set ($35)
My daughter has had SO much fun “making tea” in her little wooden tea set. This set is made from sustainable rubberwood in Thailand. PlanToys makes many adorable non-toxic toys under the strictest safety standards, so you can feel safe even if your little one pretends to drink from these cups!
3. Hape Quadrilla Marble Run ($58)
My kids absolutely love building their own marble runs and seeing their marbles race down the tracks. This wooden toy is made from sustainably sourced wood and finished with non-toxic, water-based paint. It also comes in larger and smaller versions, depending on what your kiddo is ready for and how much you care to spend.
Hape also uses eco-friendly materials like bamboo and works to reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources.
4. PlanToys Beehives ($30)
Kids love using the tweezers to move the bees and match them to the right hives. This colorful game is made from sustainable rubberwood and painted with non-toxic, water-based dyes. PlanToys also uses eco-friendly materials like organic rubberwood and e-zero glue, which does not contain formaldehyde.
5. Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set ($32)
Kids love playing house and cooking up their own meals with this fun set. Made from recycled milk jugs and free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC, this set also includes minimal packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials. The toys are manufactured in the USA using renewable energy, and Green Toys has a closed-loop recycling program for any damaged or unsellable products.
6. BeginAgain Balance Boat ($28)
With the “Endangered Animal Balancing Boat Puzzle Playset,” children can embark on a thrilling balancing journey while developing essential skills and promoting environmental awareness. It’s a perfect blend of entertainment, education, and portability that will captivate young minds and ignite their curiosity about the natural world. To accommodate storage, travel, or display, this adorable non-toxic playset comes in a thoughtfully crafted wooden tray. This puzzle is made of eco-friendly rubber wood finished with non-toxic, child-safe stains.
7. PlanToys Parking Garage ($130)
Kids love zooming their cars up and down the ramps and the working elevator of this wooden parking garage. This toy is made from sustainable rubberwood and painted with non-toxic, water-based dyes. The company also uses solar energy in their manufacturing process and works to reduce waste through their recycling and composting programs. Our kids had literally hours of fun with this one!
Kids love the cute animal figures and the challenge of balancing them on this adorable wooden boat. This balancing game is made from sustainably harvested rubberwood and finished with non-toxic, child-safe stains. BeginAgain also uses recycled materials in their packaging and their toys are designed to be durable and long-lasting.
8. Grimms Spiel & Holtz Puzzle ($84)
I know it seems crazy to drop $84 on a puzzle, and in most cases it would be- but this hand-crafted, non-toxic and eco-friendly one is part puzzle, part work of art. We received the larger version as a gift from a relative, and our kids played for many, many hours with it. It’s truly beautiful once it’s together, and the pieces are unique and challenging to figure out (in a good way!). Each of the quarters of the puzzle represents one of the elements (earth, air, water, and fire), and it’s even fun for adults to put together (I say this from experience). This makes a great gift for that special little one in your life.
9. Micro Mini Deluxe Eco Scooter ($90)
When it comes to scooters, Micro makes some of the very best. Their new version for ages 3 to 5 is an eco-friendly line of scooters made of recycled materials (like old fishing nets and ropes), an awesome innovation that saves on plastic waste. My kids both learned to ride scooters very quickly on their Micros. They are nice and sturdy as far as scooters go, due to the double wheels in the front and the adjustable handle. This scooter also comes in a larger size for bigger riders, ages 5 to 12.
Toys for Kids Ages 5 and up
When your kiddo hits five, the fun doesn’t stop! Here are our favorite eco-friendly toys for the older kids.
1. Fat Brain Toys Squigz ($34)
For a while, this was my son’s favorite toy. He enjoys anything he can build things with, and these versatile silicone suction toys provide a lot of creative options. They are free from BPA, latex, and phthalates, and the company uses eco-friendly packaging made from recycled materials. Plus, Fat Brain Toys partners with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every order placed!
2. Green Science Enviro Battery ($42)
Kids love learning about science and building their own working “enviro battery” with this kit. It is made from eco-friendly materials like bamboo and recycled paper, and the company uses recycled and recyclable packaging. The battery can actually be powered by natural materials like mud, lemon juice, or even a soda can!
3. Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks ($60)
My kids are huge fans of building and experimenting with these magnetic Tegu wooden blocks. They are made from sustainably sourced hardwoods and finished with non-toxic, water-based coatings. You can also get larger 42-piece sets ($102) if you’re looking for more building fun.
The company also operates their own sustainably managed forestry program and works with local communities in Honduras to promote responsible forestry practices. My son loved these Tegu magnetic blocks, which did a fantastic job keeping him busy in restaurants so his dad and I could actually get in a few words to each another!
4. Green Toys Jump Rope ($11)
Kids love getting active and jumping rope with their friends. This jump rope is made from recycled plastic milk jugs and is free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. Green Toys for the win, again!
The company also uses minimal packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials and operates a closed-loop recycling program for any damaged or unsellable products.
5. Honeystix Pure Beeswax Crayons($22)
Honeystix beeswax crayons are made in New Zealand by hand out of 100% pure beeswax mixed with food grade color pigments. These beautiful crayons don’t have any of the paraffin wax or chemicals found in traditional crayons. They also smell amazing, with a super sweet beeswax scent that only comes from real bee products. Honeystix also makes chunkier, easier to hold beeswax crayons for younger budding artists.
6. PlanToys Green Wooden Dollhouse ($300)
Kids love playing house and creating their own stories with this beautiful dollhouse. It is made from sustainable hardwood and painted with non-toxic, water-based dyes. The dollhouse is designed to be energy-efficient and eco-friendly, with features like a wind turbine, solar panels, and recycling bins.
We had a PlanToys wooden dollhouse, and it provided hours of imaginary fun for both my kids. My daughter’s favorite accessories were the cute little animals. PlanToys also makes little family members to live sustainably in their dollhouse.
PlanToys uses eco-friendly materials like organic rubberwood and glue which does not contain any formaldehyde.
Eco-Friendly Toys: Good for Kids and the Planet
Not only will these non-toxic toys keep your kids safe and entertained for hours, but they’ll also make you feel good about making ethical choices to help protect the planet. These toys are all free from nasty chemicals, so you can let your kids chew on them without worry (well, except for the Green Science battery!).
Many of these companies use sustainable materials, recyclable packaging, and even plant trees to offset their carbon footprint. These small choices matter, and choosing healthy toys is a small step in the right direction to a healthier home and a greener Earth.
If you’re a parent looking to eco-edit other parts of your home, come on over and check out our guides to organic stuffed animals, non-toxic dinnerware and baby bottles.
