Wooden toys have several benefits as compared to plastic toys. Toys are indeed the only entertainment item for a growing child. It helps them in developing skills, learning colors and shapes, refining their coordination, and a lot more.

Toys accompany children till their adulthood and help them in building their concentration ability. The woods are the safest means for producing biodegradable, ecological, and safe toys. Well, not all wood types are safe for children, thus you must pay attention to the following:

  • Wood type
  • Wood’s origin
  • Its final treatment

Types of wood suitable for making children’s toys

The physical and chemical composition of the wood, being a renewable raw material present in nature, makes it the safest and best option for making children’s toys.

Let’s have a look at the two types of woods which are ideal for making toys. This includes:

  • Hardwood
  • Softwood

Hardwood: If you are choosing solid wood, then hardwood is the best option. They are highly durable and toys which are made of hardwoods, they can pass on to generations for long.

Softwood: Softwoods are cost-effective as compared to hardwoods. They are more prone to dents and also less durable. Even though softwoods are safe for children and environment friendly, they are not that superior to hardwoods, when you talk about durability and longevity.

Let’s have a look at the common hardwoods used for making children’s toys

Maple: It is the highly recommended wood for making toys. They are durable enough and heavy as they don’t splinter easily. They are food-safe wood and hypoallergenic. It will never harm your child even if they will put the toy in their mouth.

Beech: Many big toy companies choose beech for making good wooden toys. It is because it is the cheapest alternative, grained finely, known for its durability, and has a high-end bending resistance. It is easily used by toymakers for giving it a perfect shape and cutting.

Oak: Oak is a wood used commonly for making wood crafts or furniture. It is a strong and dense wood that has its features when it comes to water resistance. It is ideal for outdoor wooden toys and handling baby slobbers.

Walnut: Walnut is strong and hardwood which is not that heavy. But be aware, some people around are allergic to nuts, so if your child is allergic to walnuts, then never opt for such toys.

Let’s have a look at the common softwoods used for making children’s toys

Pine: It is softwood which can be used for making toys easily. Its splinters and warps are also easy enough to use. If your baby is allergic to pines, then don’t consider toys made of pine wood.

Basswood: They are light in weight and soft. It possesses a low density. They are mainly used to carve woods. They are ideal for painting and it gives nice look and feels to the toys, once painted.

Thus, you can go for either hardwood or softwood while choosing the best wood toy for your child.