Don’t Buy Schleich Animals | Unsafe Toxic Toys

Typically, we focus on the toys we love on this site, but in this case we want to use this platform to warn other parents - don’t buy Schleich animals!

We totally get the appeal of Schleich toys. Trust us….we get it.

Schleich is known for their huge variety of toy animals. They’re realistic, durable, readily available and reasonably priced. Kids are naturally drawn to them. Parents love them. Schleich also make dinosaur toys which are also wildly popular.

Schleich animals are especially popular and recommended in Montessori communities. Montessori values realistic toys and you really can’t get more realistic than Schleich. Even the footprints of the Schleich animals are realistic. You can put he animals through play-dough and they leave realistic footprints!

So what’s the problem? Schleich toys are made with toxic PVC.

People often think that because they’re buying toys from a well-known company like Schleich, they are completely safe. Perhaps even more of a false sense of security comes from that fact that Schleich is a German company! Many think that products that come from Europe are automatically safe(r) due to stricter laws.

However, this is simply not the case.

PVC is one of the most toxic materials. PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride.

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice, a non-profit organization based in New York, calls polyvinyl chloride “one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created” and refers to it as the “poison plastic”.

PVC is toxic to humans and the environment during production, use and disposal.

Vinly chloride, the primary ingredient in PVC is classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

One common misconception is that phthalate-free PVC is safe. Though phthalates are toxic and commonly found in PVC, this is not the only thing that makes PVC toxic. This is important to remember, as Schleich once boasted on it’s website (since removed) that their toys are phthalate-free. Instead of using a phthalate plasticzer, Schleich uses a softener called Hexamoll DINCH. This phthalate-free alternative is not definitively safe. Some researchers are beginning to believe that Hexamoll DINCH may have negative effects on the endocrine and reproductive systems. Perhaps this is why Schliech also removed the “Hexamoll DINCH” plasticizer by name from their website?

Another problem with Schleich toys? Look closely and you’ll see that all Schleich toys contain the Prop 65 warning.

The California Proposition 65 Warning is required when products contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Yes, Prop 65 warnings seem to be on everything (which is very alarming), but we recommend not overlooking the Prop 65 warnings when it comes to toys. There are plenty of toys on the market that do not contain the Prop 65 warning.

In a news article, Danelle Fisher, chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California gives her professional opinion about toys with the Prop 65 warning. “If your child is older and you end up purchasing a toy that’s been flagged by the Prop 65 warning, Fisher says you can encourage your little one to wash his or her hands after playing with the toy “if you want to be completely cautious and safe about the warning.”

Frankly, washing your child’s hands everytime they’re done playing with Schliech toys is unrealistic. Better to avoid these toys entirely. Needless to say, if your chlld puts toys in their mouth, do not let them play with Schleich toys!

We reached out to Schleich to express our concern with the use of PVC and inquire if there was any plan to move away from PVC. We did not receive a response. We encourage other parents and caregivers to reach out to Schleich as well! We have a huge power as consumers and can prompt positive change with our voice and our dollar!

Hopefully this article has been informative and has swayed you not to buy Schliech (or other toys made of PVC). Please help spread the word and share this with others!