Do plastic teething toys leak bisphenols when a baby chews them?
Yes. A 2025 study found bisphenols migrating from popular children's products into simulated saliva at concerning levels.
What's actually in it
Plastic teething rings, rattles, bath toys, and hard kids' tableware are often made with polycarbonate or epoxy resin components that contain BPA, BPS, or BPF. "BPA-free" labels usually mean the maker swapped to BPS or BPF, which behave the same in the body. The toy doesn't need to break to leach; saliva and chewing pressure are enough to pull bisphenol out of the surface.
Babies and toddlers chew everything. They also have tiny bodies. A dose that's small for an adult is a big dose per pound for a 20-pound toddler.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Chemosphere tested children's products on the Swiss market using a simulated oral exposure model that mimics a baby chewing and sucking. Several products released BPA, BPS, and BPF into the simulated saliva. A few samples crossed the EU's strict tolerable daily intake limits for a child who mouths the item for even a short time each day.
Hard plastic toys with a glossy finish leached more than soft silicone. Older, scratched toys leached more than new ones. Dishwasher cycles sped up surface breakdown.
Safer picks: solid wood teethers, food-grade silicone, natural rubber, and stainless steel dishes. If you keep plastic toys, avoid the dishwasher and retire anything scratched or faded.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Assessing bisphenols migration from children's products on the Swiss market: simulated oral exposure and risk implications. | Chemosphere | 2025 |
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