Do plastic teething toys leak bisphenols when a baby chews them?
A 2025 Chemosphere study found bisphenols moved from children's products into artificial saliva, especially items made for mouth contact.
What's actually in it
Some plastic baby toys, feeding parts, and mouth-contact items can contain or pick up bisphenols. That includes BPA and related chemicals such as BPB.
Babies and toddlers mouth toys often. Saliva matters because it can pull small amounts of chemicals off the surface, even when the product does not break.
What the research says
A 2025 Chemosphere study tested 162 children's products from the Swiss market. The researchers used artificial saliva to copy mouth exposure in infants and young children.
The study found widespread bisphenol release. BPA and BPB were the most common. Products made for direct mouth contact, including oral supports and feeding accessories, had higher migration than toys and bath toys.
The study also estimated that BPA intake from these products alone could exceed the European Food Safety Authority threshold for a child. For true teethers, use products made for chewing and retire damaged plastic. For everyday toys that get mouthed, solid wood toys are a better fit than glossy plastic.
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 |