Pros and Cons of Silicone Baby Toys

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As a parent, you want to provide your baby with the best toys to support their growth and development. With so many options on the market, knowing which materials are safe and beneficial for your child can be challenging.

Silicone is a popular material used for baby toys, but it has pros and cons. On one hand, silicone is easy to clean, non-toxic, and durable. But on the other hand, good-quality silicone toys tend to be more expensive than other options and get hot if left in direct sunlight or near a heat source.

So, do the pros outweigh the cons? Let's talk about it so you can decide whether you want to give your little one silicone baby toys.

What is Silicone?

 

Silicon is one of Earth's most abundant elements. When reacted with methyl chloride and then with water, you get silicone polymers incredibly resistant to high heat and low temperatures. That resistance to temperature makes silicones useful in everything from health care to textiles to transportation to electronics (source).

Construction, tools, cooking, kid toys, a Mars rover---you name it---a type of silicone is likely already employed somewhere in that context. But why? Simply put, silicones can take a lot of heat, cold, and ultraviolet radiation, while also being flexible and moisture resistant (source).

Even more impressive is that the flexibility of different silicones means they can replace less sustainably produced materials in vehicles, electronics, solar panels, keyboards, cell phones, and many, many other modern, everyday conveniences.

Is Silicone Safe for Humans?

Study after study has shown that silicone is indeed safe for humans, from silicone teethers and bottle nipples for babies to surgical implants and cookware (source).

Though made of silica dug out of the Earth, one should consider silicone to be something between synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer due to how it is created. That's because factories must process the silica to form silicon, which, after more processing, becomes siloxane (silicone).

Moreover, the backbone structure of silicone is silicone, oxygen, and hydrocarbons, not purely raw, organic material. But this is precisely what makes silicones stable: they don't break down easily.

Silicone stability is highly sought-after in the medical field, where implants and equipment really don't need to chemically break down in the midst of an operation or medical procedure. And no one wants anything leaching into a person's bloodstream, either.

Some silicones are not suitable for human health, particularly low-molecular weight silicones or high-quality silicone that has been filled or mixed with low-quality silicone. Such silicones can actually seep through your skin and build up in your system but are still considered either totally non-toxic or toxic to a very low degree (source).

Is Silicone Safe for Infants?

High-quality silicones, which are high-molecular-weight silicones free of impurities, are considered safe for the medical field. You can also call these "medical-grade silicones." A step below is food-grade silicones, rated for their stability in cooking and food processing (source). Both of these silicone grades are common in baby products, teethers, toys, and bottles.

But how do you know if a silicone toy is high-quality silicone? Pinch a part of the toy and twist it. If it turns white, then there is likely a filler in the silicone, and therefore, not to par safety-wise. Additionally, if a clear silicone bottle nipple gets cloudy, then it is best to replace it with a new one.

If you want to be absolutely above any potential problems with silicone baby products, don't let them get super hot, like in an oven, on a heating element, or on the dashboard of a car in the summertime. You can check the maximum temperature recommendation to keep your silicone products from getting hot enough to pass on chemicals (source).

Moonkie's Silicone Products

At Moonkie, we are well aware of silicone quality. We seek to design practical, durable silicone baby products, and that all starts with choosing high-quality, food-grade silicone. We never mix food-grade silicone with lower-quality silicones to ensure little ones have safe toys, teethers, and dishes.

When you examine a Moonkie silicone baby toy, teether, or other product, you will see that it passes the pinch test, has no oily patches, and has no stickiness. As one of the most flexible, durable, and safe materials available to humans, silicone is far better than plastic baby toys.

Though not a "100% natural" material, such as rubber, food-grade silicone is a polymer mostly made from sand (silica) and is non-toxic to humans. Read on to learn more about the benefits of silicone baby toys.

Pros of Silicone Baby Toys

 

The pros of silicone baby toys are plentiful! Silicone is durable, flexible, easy to grasp, and clean.

Here is a list of silicone baby toy pros and a quick comparison to other common materials.

Safety

One of the main advantages of silicone baby toys is that they are non-toxic and safe. Unlike plastic toys, silicone toys do not contain any harmful chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, or PVC.

Compared to wooden baby toys, silicone toys hold up much better to little teeth because they don't dent or splinter when chewed on. 

The closest comparison to silicone baby toys is natural rubber, which, though natural, eco-friendly, and softer does not stand up to silicone's durability and cleanliness standards.

For example, natural rubber is not nearly as temperature-resistant as silicone and can be slowly reformed over time (especially pacifiers). Moreover, natural rubber doesn't last as long as silicone as it begins peeling or becoming sticky with wear and tear, especially rubber teethers and pacifiers. 

And if you or your little one has a latex allergy, natural rubber baby toys, teethers, and pacifiers may cause issues.

Cleanliness

Silicone baby toys are outstanding for cleanliness because they are odor and stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, and easy to clean. You can simply wash them with soap and warm water or put them into the dishwasher.

If you have furry family members at home, their hair will not stick to your little one's silicone baby toys. Did they get left outside for a couple of days? No problem!

Should your dog or cat chew on your baby's silicone toys, don't worry! Give them a good wash or boil them for five minutes on the stove to sterilize them. Once cool and dry, baby can have them back!

Even better, silicone baby toys are less likely to get moldy or develop bacteria, making them a hygienic choice for your baby.

Wooden and plastic toys just cannot be cleaned as well as silicone. With too much cleaning, wooden blocks will either chip off paint or soak up water. Plastic toys cannot withstand heated cleaning or sterilization without weakening or leaching chemicals.

Durability and Versatility

Silicone baby toys resist damage and can withstand rough play and chewing. They are less likely to break or crack than plastic or wooden toys, which means they will last longer and save you money in the long run.

Silicone can be molded into all kinds of shapes and textures, making it practical for different stages of development. To read more on what works for each early stage of your little one's development, read our article From Teething to Tummy Time: The Top Sensory Toys for Every Stage of Babyhood.

By carefully choosing baby toy designs, you can have a set of silicone baby toys that your infant can explore early on, teeth on in her teething stage, stack as a crawler, carry around as a toddler, and build with as a young child. This long-lasting fun and versatility is one of our joys in designing Moonkie silicone baby toys.

If your pet punctures a toy, however, you should replace it to avoid bacteria hiding spots and keep your curious little one from digging into those holes when more adept and able to break little pieces off.

Soft and Gentle

Silicone baby toys are soft and gentle to touch, making them ideal for teething babies. They are also less likely to cause injury if your little one accidentally hits himself or someone else with the toy.

The softness also makes silicone baby toys exceptionally graspable for tiny hands, which builds hand-eye coordination and builds hand muscles.

Cons of Silicone Baby Toys

 

No guide on silicone baby toys would be complete without a quick overview of the cons of silicone baby toys. Knowing the facts will help you weigh what is best for your baby.

Here are a few common cons parents have for silicone baby toys.

Cost

One of the main drawbacks of silicone baby toys is that they can be more expensive than other types of toys. Silicone is a high-quality material that is durable and safe for babies (and the higher the grade, the more costly it is).

However, the cost of silicone baby toys is justified by the fact that you will not need to replace them as often. If you intend to have more children, silicone is the way to go!

Not Eco-Friendly

Silicone baby toys are not eco-friendly because they are not biodegradable. This means they will not decompose and will remain in landfills for a long time. This concerns environmentally conscious parents who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

The counter to this is, of course, the durability of the silicone baby toy. You can get years of entertainment for multiple kids out of one silicone baby toy. And, if it has no pockmarks, punctures, or cracks, then you can pass it along to a new family once your kids have outgrown it.

If a silicone baby toy does become damaged, you can take it to a special recycling facility. You cannot put it in your regular recycling because it takes a unique process that most normal recycling facilities do not do. You can call your local recycling center for options locally or mail your used silicone to a silicone recycling program.

Unfortunately, silicone can only be recycled a certain number of times and loses quality with each recycle. However, it can be ground up and used in playground mats, track surfaces, or machine oil.

Chemical Fillers

Not all silicone baby toys are created equal. Some are mixed with lower grades of silicone to keep manufacturing costs down or filled with a silicone gel for teething. Both of these are unsafe for your little one.

As mentioned earlier, "food-grade" and "medical-grade" silicone are the safest grades for humans. They are the most durable, free of impurities, resistant to temperature, and less likely to release siloxanes into the body.

Silicone gel fillers for gel teethers are comfortable for teething babies and, after being chilled in the fridge for thirty minutes, even deliver a cool teething treat for sore gums. However, if your little one manages to puncture the outer silicone (which would be surprising), he or she would likely ingest some of that gel.

If your baby prefers silicone gel teethers, make sure you keep a close eye on him or her to avoid anything like that happening!

Heats Up

Silicone toys can become hot if left in direct sunlight or close to a heat source for a time. So, if your little one grabs a hot toy, it will be an unpleasant surprise!

To avoid this, make sure silicone toys are brought inside soon after playing outdoors or riding in the car. Furthermore, never directly place them on a stove, furnace, or other heating element! You can boil silicone baby toys and teethers on the stove for up to five minutes, but ensure they cool down before giving them back to your baby.

Potential for Choking

As with any toy, there is a risk of choking if a baby manages to bite off a piece of the toy. You can get around this by choosing smart designs: no small parts to bite off, texturing that doesn't stand tall, and no small individual pieces.

For this reason, teething jewelry is a bad idea!

Comparison to Other Materials

 

When compared to other baby toy materials, silicone is simply excellent. When cared for properly, it's the best of nearly every category combined!

Check out this chart to see what we mean:

Category

Wood

Rubber

Plastic

Silicone

Safe

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The Development and Future of Lithium Ion Batteries
Cooling Tower Repair & Service: Cost & Benefits
Lithium-Ion Battery Cells vs. Traditional Batteries: Key Differences Explained

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Ultra Wide Neck Baby Bottle.

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Easy to Clean

 

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Durable

     

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Versatile

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Cost

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Eco-friendly

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Safe: How safe a toy is by common safety standards

Easy to Clean: Ease of cleaning thoroughly

Durable: A toy's unbreakability

Versatile: The range of designs, colors, and textures available

Cost: Cheap upfront or cheap cost-per-use (i.e. greater durability is cheaper with more uses)

Eco-friendly: Biodegradability or recyclability

Tips for Choosing and Using Silicone Baby Toys

 

Tips for choosing and using silicone baby toys come down to the silicone's grade, the toy's design, regular cleaning, and looking for signs of wear and tear.

A silicone baby toy is well worth the cost if you opt for a safe design that will engage your little one in multiple stages of development and has no pieces that can be bit off easily. Try as you might; your little one is bound to chew on each toy at some point.

As a general rule of thumb, washing your little one's silicone baby toys once a week with warm water and soap (or in the dishwasher) is a superb way to safeguard your baby's health and prevent bacteria buildup. More frequent washing is a good idea during cold and flu season or when you have other little friends visit.

If you want to know more about choosing and caring for silicone baby teethers, check out our article Are Silicone Baby Teethers Safe? What You Need to Know.

In a Nutshell

 

Silicone baby toys can be a safe and durable option for parents looking for toys that support their child's development. However, as with any material, there are pros and cons to weigh when making your decision. By understanding the benefits and drawbacks of silicone toys, you can make an informed choice that meets your child's needs and preferences.

Mothers have high standards for the items they use to take care of their children, and so does the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last updated in May in a guidance to provide additional information on how to prepare Food Contact Notifications (FCNs) for food contact substances that will come into contact with infant formula and/or human (breast) milk. Mother and child care products require materials that are hypoallergenic, durable, smooth and comfortable, and easy to clean. For these characteristics, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) has emerged as the material of choice.

LSR baby products include items like pacifiers, while mothers may find them in infant formula packaging, such as baby bottles, bottle inserts, nipples, and any other products used to collect and store baby formula or breast milk. The molecular structure of LSR makes it inherently resistant to many harmful agents, and the injection molding process allows for unique designs for a variety of products. Injection molding and LSR are the best options for many mother and infant care products.

BENEFITS OF LSR MATERIALS

Part of the reason LSR materials are so widely used is that they have a variety of benefits applicable to many products. The unique chemical structure of LSR offers an array of characteristics that help prevent bottles from harboring bacteria, nipple protectors from irritating the skin and pacifiers from deforming in the dishwasher, among other useful qualities:

· Biocompatible: LSR is compatible with the body and an ideal choice for parts with prolonged human contact.

· Hypoallergenic: LSR is also hypoallergenic, it will not cause skin irritation. Many products in the life sciences industry, particularly mother and child care products see extensive human contact.

· Hygienic: Many mother and child care parts do not necessarily require production in an environmentally-controlled or a clean room environment, however a clean, highly-automated manufacturing process with minimal human touch is important and contributes positively to the overall hygiene of the part.

· Inert: LSR is inert and does not react to other chemicals, making it water resistant and resistant to oxidization, UV and ozone radiation. Because LSR is also resistant to cleaning agents, it offers ease of cleaning ' important for baby-related products.

· Thermal properties: LSR materials maintain their structure throughout a wide range of temperatures between -40 and 200 degrees Celsius. They maintain flexibility at both low and high temperatures. Mother and child care products benefit greatly from LSR's performance in wide range of temperature, important for products exposed to cold and hot temperatures, such as refrigeration and frequent dishwashing or heat sterilization.

· Tasteless and odorless: Using tasteless and odorless materials is essential when designing parts such as bottle teats and sippy cups. A bad smell or taste can easily prevent a baby from accepting the food or medicine fed.

· Soft touch and comfort: The soft and smooth texture of LSR make it ideal for baby feeding and soothing products, and breast-feeding products for mothers.

· Durable: Food-grade LSR has a low compression set, meaning it can significantly withstand deformation from compression and temperature changes. This quality makes it ideal for parts like nipples and pacifiers that a baby will bite or suck on. Even after stretching and pulling, it returns to its original shape without breaking or becoming brittle.

BENEFITS OF LSR INJECTION MOLDING

The LSR injection molding process combined with the inherent properties of LSRs are used in a wide range of products, and especially favorable for mother and child care products. The following are examples of some of the custom solutions we've offered our customers in the mother and child care industry:

· Bottle teats (nipples)

· Seals

· Teethers

· Pacifiers/Soothers

· Nipple protectors

· Breast pump accessories

· Sippy cup spouts

Our LSR injection molding process is clean, highly automated and provides precision shot-to-shot consistency, process stability, and minimal to no human interference. With our advanced technology, automated manufacturing, and high capacity molds, SIMTEC is ideally suited for high-volume, hygienic production requirements.

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY

LSR injection molding offers the flexibility needed to create parts with unique features such as the following:

· Thin walls and undercuts: Typically parts with thin walls and undercuts can be a challenge when removing the part from the mold during the molding process. Undercuts can be particularly problematic with a rigid material. With LSRs, the parts can be more easily removed without sustaining damage due to its good compression set and elongation properties. Because LSR maintains its shape, it works well for thin walls. The degree of thinness will vary depending on the part geometry, function/intended use and other design aspects including size and location.

· Soft and comfort attributes: LSR is soft and smooth and comfortable to the touch. When LSR is joined together with a hard thermoplastic in an overmolded or two-shot application, such as a soft grip handle or spout, it offers both the structural rigidity needed and the softness for more enjoyable use.

· LSR provides an easy integration of design features within the part e.g. Valves and membranes. This helps in manufacturing products with anti-colic features to keep babies gas-free during feeding and to create tight seals to prevent spilling

FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION

A true, two-shot injection molding process integrates LSRs with engineering thermoplastics, molding them together in the same process, creating multi-functional, multi-material components that offer the benefits of both materials. Child care products that use two-shot molding include sealed caps, sippy cup soft spouts and handles, and bottles designed with integrated LSR vents that prevent air penetration. Air penetration can cause gas in infants as they swallow air that becomes trapped in the milk. Venting can prevent this by adding small holes, slits or valves in certain locations on the bottle to allow the air to escape as the baby drinks. The two-shot process combines the components and offers the characteristics and property benefits of both the rigid plastic and LSR.

AUTOMATED, HYGIENIC MANUFACTURING

Our manufacturing process is highly automated, minimizing or eliminating human touch and the potential for the introduction of contaminants including bacteria, viruses and other germs. From the mixing and delivery of the raw material into the mold, and multi-axis robotics removing the parts, to the delivery of the parts to conveyors, ' each step is performed without human intervention for full control of each part during the complete production process.

In addition to the hygienic benefits, our advanced molding technology also provides consistent and efficient manufacturing and process stability, reducing errors and ensuring identical products over and over ' from the first part to the last.

POST CURING

The chemical reactions involved in processing LSRs create some byproducts 'volatiles' that remain in the material. Some volatiles escape the material over time, however when LSR is exposed to heat, the driving out of the volatiles is controlled and fast. In the LSR molding process, the mold is subjected to elevated temperatures which drives out almost all of the volatiles in the material. Sometimes the finished parts are put in a static oven at around 200°C for post-curing. The length of time and temperature will vary depending on the type of product and the manufacturing process. The curing process serves to remove excess volatiles and can also serve to improve mechanical properties. The post-curing process drives off any remaining volatile content, bringing it to appropriate levels for food and medical use. During this process, volatiles evaporate from the material.

For standard LSR grades, post-curing is typically required when used in sensitive applications such as baby care or medical devices. The most notable reason is to reduce the volatile content to meet specific acceptable levels of volatiles.

EMERGENCE OF NEW GENERATION LOW-VOLATILE LSRS FOR MOTHER & CHILD CARE PRODUCTS

While post-curing drives volatiles out of the molded product, new generation low-volatile LSRs can eliminate the need for post-curing. Low-volatile LSRs are a new grade of materials that have the volatiles already removed in the process of manufacturing the raw material thus complying with regulations requiring maximum 0.5 weight percent volatile content and also fulfilling challenging limits for migrating and extractable substances without the post-cure heat treatment.

The result is a product that does not require a second processing step reducing cost and risk of contamination.

This transparent, blue-tinged low volatile LSR has a variety of Shore hardnessess between 30 and 70A. The Shore hardness scale measures how well a material resists indentation, and is an essential factor in the degree of flexibility in the part. For volatile-sensitive products used in baby care, food, and medical products, the shore hardness typically required is within this range.

Conventional LSRs that are not post-cured can have around 1 to 2% volatile content by weight, the newer lower volatile LSR products have about a 0.2 to 0.3% volatile content by weight. The conventional LSRs may have Dx siloxanes of 7,000 parts per million (ppm), compared to the 500 ppm of their low-volatile counterparts. These low levels of volatiles can make post-curing a thing of the past.

Many industries have products that must meet rigorous standards for the maximum allowable volatile content in their products, and with standard LSR materials, post-curing is usually required to meet these requirements. While post-curing is effective in reducing volatiles, it also has risks. Post curing can increase the opportunity for contamination. Therefore, it would be beneficial for products that must meet hygienic standards, such as those in medical, food, and mother and child care industries, if the post-curing process could be eliminated. There is also a risk of potential fire or explosion that can occur if oven ventilation is poor, another advantage of eliminating the need for post curing.

The new low-volatile LSRs help meet the volatile content requirements for various products in a variety of industries, without the need for post-curing ' from baby care applications to medical components.

With conventional LSRs, post-curing is a necessity, but with these new low-volatile LSR options they eliminate the need for a secondary post-curing step. Although low volatile grades are more expensive than standard grades of LSR, they offer some cost savings and eliminate the additional source of contamination associated with the post-curing process:

· Ovens: The capital investment in commercial-grade ovens can be significant, especially if multiple ovens are needed.

· Energy Costs: The associated cost of electricity to heat the ovens.

· Time: Post-curing adds time to the manufacturing process. Depending on the product and method, it's possible some LSRs may require several days to post cure.

· Space: Between floor space for the ovens and racks and trays for cooling, post-curing can take up valuable space throughout a facility that could otherwise see more efficient use.

· Labor: Manpower needed for operating the ovens, moving the product and overseeing the process.

Eliminating the need for post-curing with low-volatile LSRs can offer time and cost savings, and contribute to an improved final product by reducing contaminants without the added risks incurred to achieve the characteristics that make it beneficial.

CONTACT SIMTEC FOR YOUR MOTHER AND CHILD CARE PRODUCTS

From day one, SIMTEC has focused exclusively on LSR and in providing the best solutions for our customers' component requirements. Since then, we've built long and valued relationships with our customers, in a variety of industries and a wide range of products, including mother and child care.

SIMTEC is a proud member of the RICO Group with a strong global presence. We have a full portfolio of services in place to meet our customers' needs, from design support, high-capacity molds, pre-production prototypes through high volume, long-term parts production. SIMTEC's advanced technology and automation maximizes process stability, efficiency and consistent manufacturing, and minimizes contamination risks for hygienic production to meet stringent volatile content standards. SIMTEC also operates molding equipment in a class 8 clean room for customers with clean room production requirements. Contact us today to find the best solution to meet your specific product requirements.