What is the best wood for children's toys

To be simple, wood is classified into two types, softwood and hardwood.

Softwood
Softwoods come from woods such as pine, cedar, spruce, redwood, or fir. A tell-tale sign of whether the wood is considered a softwood is if it has needle-like leaves. In general, softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, however, they are less durable and prone to denting. Pinewood is too soft for toys, splintering, and water damage. If the wood has to be rotated and rolled during production, softwood toys can be dented during the manufacturing process (especially if the wood has to be dented during the manufacturing process). Finally, while softwoods are still environmentally beneficial and suitable for children, they do not last as long as hardwoods.

• Pine

A softwood that can be found on the central east coast through the great lakes and California. Pine’s grain is variable, ranging from even and tight to heavily patterned. The wood may be smooth or clear, or it may be densely knotted. Knots are often loose, embedded, or even cracked. When exposed to the sun, pine will turn yellow quickly, and thin pieces have a tendency to cup and warp. Although the wood is not sturdy enough to be used in heavy load-bearing conditions, it is extremely versatile in the craft and furniture industry. Besides, it is easy to saw, carve, and machine due to its soft nature.

• Spruce

This is the workhorse of wood. It’s perfect for framing and load-bearing application because of its strength and stability. The grain can be course to smooth and distinct. The sappy nature of this wood can wreak havoc on cutting tools. The wood's low cost and ability to hold on to nails make it attractive to housebuilders. We use spruce and fir to make the major parts of our toys because they have large cross-sections.

 

Hardwood
Woods such as maple, beech, birch, walnut, ash, maple, oak, and poplar all serve children’s toys well. Hardwoods are longer-lasting, denser, and are less likely to splinter, dent, or give in to wear and tear. Regardless of the wood used, hardwoods are always considered as one of the safest materials to make wooden toys or any other things, which are designed to last a long time than softwood. Whether chewed by toddlers or stepped by adults, hardwoods are dense enough to maintain fit for future generation to come.

• Maple

Maple is the most common wood used to make children’s toys. The wood from which maple syrup is made is sugar maple, often known as hard maple. Therefore, it is a naturally safe wood. Male is also a dense yet durable wood that does not splinter easily and can be in the mouth of an infant, which is something they tend to do.

• Birch

Birch is another great wood suitable for making children’s toys. Since birch is commonly used to make musical instruments, it would be ideal to make toy instruments such as toy guitars, xylophones, and drums that children can play with. Birch is not very hard so you will find it easy to work with. It also exhibits a reasonable resistance to water and moisture. 

• Walnut

Fruit woods and those that come from nut-bearing trees like walnut all come under the food-grade category of woods. Whenever we make wooden toys for children, especially infants, we need to keep in mind that they tend to put everything in their mouths. Hence, toys for very small children and infants should be 100% non-toxic, such as walnut wood and drums.

What makes wood hard or soft?
The classification of wood depends on the seeds that the tree produces. If the seeds produced by a tree are coated, the wood is classified as hardwood. If the seeds don’t have any coating and fall into the ground and left to the elements, the wood is classified as a softwood.

Why do people choose wooden toys?
After learning about the knowledge of different wood, you may be concerned about the reason why so many parents choose wooden toys instead of plastic toys, that is the advantage of wooden toys. According to research, wooden toys can arouse children's interest in handicrafts and stimulate their sense of meaningful combinations and spatial imagination. The clever design of wooden toys can also train children's walking ability and promote a sense of creative accomplishment...Read more

How to clean wooden toys
Kids’ toys are their most valuable possessions. They spend all day along with their toys, playing outside in the yard, inside the house, holding them in hand even when eating and sleeping. However, toys inevitably come into contact with germs and bacteria, either from the fingers of toddlers or the mouths of babies. Therefore, it is absolutely critical to keep toys clean not only for the long-term integrity of the toy, but also for the health and safety of the child using it... Read more

Conclusion
If you are going to buy some wooden toys for your children, it’s suggested that you choose toys which are made of hardwood over softwood. They will be more of an investment, but will reward you ten-fold in their beauty, hardiness, and safety. The toys in Ealingtoys are all made of high-quality wood,  testing for a variety of things to ensure the safety of the toys. We are proud of our products which are safe for children as well as our planet.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀