Playtime is more than fun and games with tips from Sprout it’s safe and educational, too! We keep you up to date on the latest research into keeping toys healthy, safe, and free from harmful chemicals. From play dates to relaxing at home, we’ve got you covered.
I recently got together with a couple of friends and we had all five of our daughters (between 6 and 12) tested for phthalates in their bodies with a simple urine test. What Are Phthalates? Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in plastics and in personal care products. They have been proven to affect… Read more »
Glyphosate is the most extensively used herbicide in the world today for both residential and agricultural purposes. It is the main ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup produced by Monsanto. Because the herbicide glyphosate is so common, you and your family may be exposed in your everyday life. Should I worry about my children being exposed to the… Read more »
Is your child’s playground surface safe? Recycled rubber artificial turf products were introduced in the 1990s and swiftly installed on playgrounds and athletic fields around the world—with no prior safety testing. Tires contain heavy metals, carcinogens, and other toxic substances. Yet, they are routinely grinded into small crumb rubber pellets for recreational use. Harmful chemicals… Read more »
You’ve probably seen them – Squishies are the current toy craze for elementary school kids. They have the texture and feel of “stress balls”, but come in all sorts of kid-themed designs, and kids love to squish them. Sensing that the odd smell coming off of them could be a sign of something dangerous, the… Read more »
On April 25th, 2018, a new federal regulation went into effect banning phthalates in plastic toys. As this made almost no news, we wanted to explain it to you. What are Phthalates? Phthalates are a class of chemicals used in many plastics. They are often used to make plastics soft, hence their use in many… Read more »
Want to shop for these great wood toys? Check out all of our PlanToys. When PlanToys called and invited us to be a part of their 2014 Green Ambassador Program, we were beyond thrilled. What did this mean exactly? It meant that we were on our way to Thailand for a first-hand look how their… Read more »
At Sprout we often find that being “green” as in “good for the environment” can conflict with creating a healthy home for our children. When this conflict arises, we see no choice but to protect our families first and worry about the environment later. Some of you may not agree, but protecting children from the… Read more »
Phthalates in Vinyl School Supplies A 2013 laboratory test revealed children’s vinyl school supplies can contain high levels of phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals that have been banned in toys for young kids. Yet they can still be found in vinyl school supplies. Phthalates are hormone disrupting chemicals that are hazardous at low levels… Read more »
We get a lot of questions about why we do not have Sophie for sale in our stores. Though we believed Sophie to be an excellent toy, we pulled the toy from our shelves in 2012 while waiting for some answers from the manufacturer about the Sophies we currently had in stock at the time…. Read more »
By Suzanne Price. A Familiar Scene There you are at checkout, trying to pack up, all the while your baby or toddler is having a fit about something. To keep them quiet and entertained you give them the only thing you have on hand—the store receipt. Many of us have done this, including myself. We… Read more »
