Plush Care

Plush Care

Clearing the Air on Plush Toys and Asthma

Plush toys often come in for a bad rap when it comes to asthma and allergies as being culprits for harboring dust mite and other asthma and allergy triggers.  Recent product recalls and concerns about off-gassing of irritating chemicals have added to this fear. Most medical experts have long held that children with asthma or allergies should not play with plush animals.

 

• There are over 70 million people affected by asthma and allergy in America.
• Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors where levels of most pollutants are much higher than in the outdoor environment.
• Indoor air pollution levels can be highest in the bedroom.
• Toys can provide an easy place for dust mite to live and grow.
• Toys can also be made with various allergenic or irritating materials or chemicals which often trigger asthma or allergy symptoms.

 

Asthma is an inflammatory disease affecting the airways. An allergy is a disease of the immune system.  Both diseases are adversely influenced by exposure to indoor air pollution including a long list of irritants, volatile organic chemicals (VOC) and allergens – all of which can often be found in many of the most common plush toys. That's why the asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Program has been testing and certifying plush toys for the past several years.  This program, a collaboration between the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), is leading the way in helping toy manufacturers produce better plush products, and helping parents of kids with asthma make better choices.

 

Although house dust mites may be partially removed from a toy by washing, other efforts can additionally be made to ensure that mites are killed, (and thus prevent rapid re-infestation) by placing toys in a freezer overnight before washing, or washed at temperatures greater than 130°F.) But these are not sufficient solutions in and of themselves, especially since some plush cannot withstand frequent washing or extreme hot or cold temperatures.  What is required is a comprehensive, thoughtful and scientific approach to selecting source materials during the manufacture of the toys,  attention to proper dyes, chemicals and other constituents; and clear easy-to-use care and maintenance instructions.   Many concerned Mothers do not know this. They're also left with other questions.

 

• How often should I wash my child's stuffed toy?
• Can it be washed?
• Will it withstand repeated washings?
• Are some toys more suitable than others?
• Does the stuffed toy emit harmful chemicals?
• Do the fabrics contain irritating or allergenic dyes?

 

The asthma & allergy friendly™  Certification Mark is only awarded to toys that have been scientifically tested to prove that these types of questions have been answered, thus empowering Moms to make smarter, healthier choices,  and helping millions of children with asthma and allergies to cuddle with confidence.

 

 

ASL and their test laboratory have over 10 years of research and development experience in this area and have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world to develop the most suitable toys for kids with asthma and allergies, including Disney. Their research has shown that certain toy characteristics are more suitable than others where avoidance of trigger factors is concerned. For example, long pile toys have been shown to accumulate dust mites more quickly than short pile toys, and eradication is more difficult. In prototype and component sourcing Allergy Standards Ltd. have helped avoid huge development losses and shipping delays. For example, some toy fabrics may contain allergenic dyestuffs such as azo dyes or disperse dyes and some polyester fillings may contain volatile organic compounds which may also be present as part of the fabric finishing process.

 

The Certification Program, along with the tips and tricks guide for an asthma and allergy healthy home, is communicated widely through doctors' offices, our Web site, Facebook and chat rooms.  A recent study by Harris Interactive showed that nearly half of people believe products bearing the asthma and allergy friendly™ Certification Mark are "better choices for patients."

 

 

If you are a toy manufacturer concerned about any of the issues above, please contact Michael Breshgold at michaelbreshgold@allergystandards.com or telephone (248)520-3552.

 

 

To coincide with his New York Toy Fair appointments Michael will be distributing his new e-book on the latest legal rules for toy labelling and allergies and other industry critical issues arising from ASL's latest research. He would be delighted to email you a our meeting.

 

About the Author

Sales and Business Development leader with years of experience in the Asthma, Allergy and Oncology Marketplace. Michael is currently developing business for Allergy Standards and working in a number of different product categories including Bedding, Appliances, Textiles, Paints and Toys.Michael also has vast experience in training motivating and developing talent in the Pharmaceutical and Oncology Markets.

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