Updated 3/2023

I spent my childhood playing with dolls and yet, as a mom of two boys that did not have interest in dolls, have spent most of motherhood completely oblivious to the newest dolls that kids are playing with today.  

However a couple of years ago through my consulting work with The Tot reviewing popular dolls I came to realize that many of today’s dolls are made of some nasty materials.   

1. PVC (vinyl) 

Most plastic dolls are made from vinyl, otherwise known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The basic building block of PVC is vinyl chloride, which is a known carcinogen.   PVC is an endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemical that has been linked to cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. We can be exposed to PVC through inhalation (placing PVC in our mouth) and sometimes through skin contact. Additionally, PVC it terrible for the environment during production and during end of life.  There are different ‘grades’ of PVC some contain more plasticizers (are more flexible) than others and some are reportedly more stable  including ‘phthalate free PVC’ and ‘medical grade PVC’  but ultimately PVC will always require a plasticizer - often these use substitute chemicals that have no long term studies on it… and PVC will always be bad for the environment. ..it  is just not a good material and is definitely not non-toxic.

2. Phthalates: 

While some phthalates are regulated in children’s products, including toys, there are many phthalates that are not as well studied and are not regulated.   PVC is quite rigid and brittle and requires plasticizers (most often phthalates) to make it more bendable and soft.  In fact PVC can contain  up to 60% plasticizers! Most dolls made of PVC will contain phthalates.   Phthalates are known endocrine disrupting chemicals that mimic and disrupt our hormonal systems and can affect liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system

3. phthalate alternatives:  

Some PVC is labeled as ‘phthalate free’ :  these products often contain unregulated phthalates and /or  newer plasticizers that could be better but, since they are newer they haven’t been widely studied for safety especially with children.  One particularly popular replacement chemical is  DINCH, used by Mattel in the American Girl Dolls,  but new studies are now showing it might cause biological effects on metabolic processes in mammals

 Other additives include plasticizers, stabilizers, processing aids, lubricants, pigments, and fillers including lead are often added to PVC

4. Fragrance: 

Many dolls today also come with ‘light scents’,  These scents require fragrance chemicals  which companies do not disclose.  Fragrance chemicals are notorious for including endocrine disrupting chemicals that mimic and displace our hormones.  

DOLLS MADE (at least partially) VINYL

Barbie (head made of vinyl)

American Girl  (they use “phthalate free PVC” and use DINCH as a plasticizer) 

Madame Alexander Dolls

Our Generation, 

My Little Pony,

Baby Alive

Bratz Dolls 

My Pet Pals

Lil Cutesies

BETTER ALTERNATIVES



Eco Baby Dolls :  Only hard dolls not made of PVC- these are made of 100% natural rubber 

Eco Baby Doll: Mia. Same as above but a smaller size.

Meri Meri Gracie Doll :  made of 80% Organic Cotton

Alimrose: Linen cotton body with all new poly fiber fill

Apple park:  organic cotton

Hazel Village dolls: organic cotton jersey, and stuffed with washable poly fill. 

Best Friends Mia : Made of 100% organic cotton jersey knit, and filled with organic cotton and hypoallergenic corn fiber and Made with OEKO-TEX 100 eco-friendly dyes

Under the Nile Toddler Sasha Girl Doll with Change of Clothes 13" Organic Cotton

Dumye Dolls: handmade with a 100% GOTS-certified cotton body and polyfill stuffing, and organic linen clothing. Super chic dolls

not pictured:

Tikiri toys Boy Doll: Made from 100% cotton jersey, 100% printed jersey, 100% polyester soft boa

TIKIRI TOYS ARIA - ORGANIC BABY DOLL: This soft doll made with GOTS certified cotton

OLLI ELLA Daydream Dozy Dinkums - Pip Goldie: body made of 100% cotton

OOMPA BABY - SMALL ORGANIC WALDORF DOLL: extra small in size for baby hands, made made with certified organic cotton terrycloth and filled with pure organic Bioland wool, 

Sarahs silks

Mia and Leo waldorf dolls

Made in Indiana, USA out of organic cotton and wool

SOURCES

: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Plastic-Doll.html#ixzz6ZxIRNZLN

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935115001140

https://www.ecocenter.org/healthy-stuff/samples/bratz-magic-hair-color-doll-set

https://www.ecocenter.org/search/node/dolls

https://www.ecocenter.org/healthy-stuff/pvc