Non-Toxic Crayons for Toddlers and Kids
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
Modern-day moms are more eager these days to train their child’s creativity skill as early as toddler years (age 1 – 3). They let their kids express their inner Picasso by giving them crayons and allowing them to draw on every possible surfaces they could think of (e.g. walls). However, toddlers also have a habit of putting everything into their mouth – including crayons.
Most commercial crayons are made with paraffin wax – a byproduct of petroleum. Paraffin wax is not really toxic by industry standard but knowing that it’s a derivative of petroleum will make moms think twice when it comes to their children’s crayons. It is also scary to know that there are some crayon brands that are contaminated with either mercury or asbestos.
Fortunately, there are now non-toxic and environment-friendly crayon brands available in the market. These non-toxic crayons are made of natural and biodegradable wax such as beeswax, soy wax and carnauba wax. Beeswax (Cera Alba) is a natural wax secreted by honeybees which they use to build their honeycomb. Crayons made of 100% beeswax smells like honey but they are a bit sticky. On the other hand, soy wax crayons are made from soybeans and are quite soft compared to other waxes. Carnauba wax is a vegetable wax obtained from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree. Crayons made of pure carnauba wax are too hard and have a tendency to break easily when they are accidentally dropped on the floor. It is for this reason that carnauba wax is often combined with softer waxes like beeswax or soy wax to make crayons. If you are looking for vegan-friendly crayons, then stick to either soy wax or carnauba wax crayons. When it comes to pigments, non-toxic crayon manufacturers use either mineral or plant-derived pigments instead of using FD&C dyes (colors that are derived from coal tar).
Here are some of the popular non-toxic crayon brands for toddlers and kids.
Honeysticks Beeswax Crayons
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| Image Credit: http://www.honeysticks.co.nz/ |
Honeysticks crayons are handmade from 100% pure New Zealand beeswax which gives the crayons their wonderful honey scent that kids will surely love to sniff. What makes Honeysticks crayons unique are their short and chubby sizes, perfect for the small hands of your little ones and at the same time makes it harder for them to break the crayons into small bite-size pieces. Honeysticks crayons also use non-toxic pigments and come in 12 vibrant colors.
Where to buy: Honeysticks Distributors (New Zealand), Amazon (US)
Wee Can Too Veggie Baby Crayons
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| Image Credit: https://weecantooart.com/ |
Ever heard of edible crayons? Wee Can Too Veggie Baby Crayons are made with food-grade organic soy wax and colored with organic fruit and vegetable powders. Their crayons are purely vegan and don’t contain sugar, wheat and preservative. Also, their block-shaped crayons come in 5 different colors and are CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) compliant so parents can be sure that they are safe for toddlers who have a habit of chewing crayons.
Where to buy: Wee Can Too Online Shop (US), Babies to Toddlers (Philippines)
Crayon Rocks
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| Image Credit: http://www.crayonrocks.com/ |
Crayon Rocks are small pebble-like natural soy wax crayons made from USA-grown soybeans and non-toxic mineral-based pigments. The unique rock shape of their crayons helps train young kids in proper placement of the fingers when holding a pencil. Crayon Rocks come in 16 different colors and are CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) compliant. It is important to note though that the manufacturer of Crayon Rocks specifically not recommend their crayons for children under 3 years of age because its small size can be a potential choking hazard for toddlers.
Where to buy: Crayon Rocks Online Shop (US), Lazada (Philippines)
Have you tried buying non-toxic crayons for your kids? Did your kids love them? Share your experience on the comment section below.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and purchase the products, I’ll receive some commission.
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