When people think baby toys, they do not often think of wooden toys. However, with a few precautions, there is no reason that one could not make a wooden toy for a baby. The great part about wooden toys is that they tend to last longer than plastic toys and can become treasured favorites in the years as they grow up. They may even be toys that they pass on to their children. Here are some things that one should think about when making a wooden toy for the baby.
1.Size. Babies are small. However, they manage to fit a lot of larger things in their mouths. When a baby is exploring his or her environment, they tend to taste everything. For this reason, the wooden toy must be big enough to not fit in the baby's mouth. The wooden toy should not have any small parts that can be pulled off the toy since the baby might do that while playing with it. You do not want the baby to accidentally choke on the toy that was created to entertain him.
2.Coatings. As previously stated, babies tend to put everything in their mouths. They even tend to chew on things while teething. For this reason, one may wish to refrain from varnishing or painting the toy. If you do decide to paint or varnish the toy, be sure to use a non toxic coating and to check the toy frequently for damage to the coating. If the coating is beginning to chip off, it may be a good idea to remove the coating and reapply.
3. Materials. Be sure the wood is not pre-treated. Some of the pre-treated wood is sprayed or dipped with an arsenic type bug killer or a cyanide type treatment to help the wood to resist warping. This can be fatal to the baby if he or she swallows it. If you are creating a toy for the baby, consider using all natural wood. A soft wood is also a good idea because it will have some give to it if it is chewed and will not splinter like the hard wood would.
4. Shape. Make sure there are no pointed edges on the wooden toy before giving it to the baby. A pointed edge could easily injure the baby if he or she falls on it. To avoid this potentially dangerous situation, the wooden toy should have all the edges sanded down and all points should be sanded to a nice curve.
5. Make up. Most wooden toys have more than just wood on them. Often time's people add things like eyes and hair to their wooden toys. This is a great idea, but you must be sure to frequently check these additions to the wood for damage. If the eyes or hair appear to be falling off, it may be a good idea to remove the accessory and replace it with new. This way the baby does not risk choking on a piece from the wooden toy.
