At a baby shower in Roseville the other weekend, I watched a little one reach for a toy and pop it straight into his mouth, where he could give it a good gnawing on and learn what it was all about. At this stage of development this is exactly how Baby Logan and all of his infant friends learn about their world. Knowing this, and how vulnerable babies’ little bodies can be to even small amounts of toxins, we need to be extra diligent about what our babies’ toys are made of.

For over a decade, the rest of the developed world has acknowledged that many plastics are harmful for babies (EU countries and 14 other countries, including Canada, have banned them). Thankfully, California is the first U.S. state to pass a law banning phthalates from products for children under three (the ban took effect just this year). As the U.S. catches up and debates rage on, we benefit our babies and the Earth by choosing wisely in the toy aisles. Here’s a basic guide to avoiding the baddies and picking healthier alternatives:

*BPA: Not all plastics are created equal. There are chemicals used in manufacturing certain plastics that you want to avoid. Bisphenol-A, known as BPA, mimics estrogen and interferes with your baby’s developing hormones. Plastics coded with a two, four and five are not made with BPA and are said to be safer.

*PVC: PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, has been linked to cancer and other health problems. Many toy manufacturers have removed PVC, sometimes called vinyl, from their products and now label toys “PVC-free,” but if you’re not sure, call the 800 number on the box and ask.

*Phthalates: When it comes to baby toys, softer is not better. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics soft. Once thought to be ideal for little ones who want to chew on things, we now know they can cause cancer and interfere with normal development. To make matters worse, there are no labeling requirements for phthalates, so you will find no mention of them on any label!

Recently, Congress banned the use of several different phthalates in toys and child care products, the same chemicals that have been banned in Europe for almost a decade. This is scheduled to go into effect in February 2010. Unfortunately, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) applied the ban to the manufacture of items, not the sale.

American companies and others around the world do make safe toys; it just takes a little more work to find them. You can look for natural alternatives (toys made from wood, cloth, bamboo or rubber), throw out as many plastic baby items as you can, check HealthyToys.org for a wealth of information, and enjoy shopping with your new arsenal of safety facts. Your baby will thank you.