Vintage toys- worried

[newbie2019hf]

Hi everyone,

im driving myself mad with worry. I’ve read an article that old toys can contain all sorts of toxic chemicals including lead, plastics which are now not allowed to be in children’s toys. My 3 year old loves playing with dolls and when she is at my mums house she sometimes plays with a doll from my childhood and also my mums childhood (1980s and 1960s). Im now kicking myself at how stupid I’ve been and possibly caused her harm and put her health at risk. I’ve asked my mum to put them on display now so she can’t play with them anymore but I have this absolutely awful anxiety feeling that I can’t shake 😞 AIBU? Xx

I should add, I suffer with terrible anxiety so I’m struggling to identify if this is a real worry or not 😞

Does she lick the toys? Or just hold them in her hands? I would not have any concern about the 1980s toy it's just going to be plastic surely? My toys were from the 70s and there were no lead related scandals, I wasn't around in the 60s but id be surprised about then too. What's the doll made from?
You know yourself this is more anxiety related than realistic concerns. So by all means swap the dolls for something else if it makes you feel better, but neither you nor your mum have done anything wrong.

They will be fine, I think the main concern with vintage toys is lead paint which was generally used on metal toys like soldiers and I am sure wasn't used in the 80s anyway

Toxins are generally in paint and before the sixties. I'd be more worried about loose parts from old toys posing a choking risk. I'd hide them away until,she's a bit older and can really appreciate the sentimental value and history behind them. Keep some of her own toys at her grannies.

Its more victoriana toys that contain lead and other weird things.

80s is fine my main concern would just be mould if theynwerent stored properly. I'd remove them anyway if they are making you uncomfortable.

I totally understand your worry as I went through similar with my eldest and mad cow disease many years ago. My younger 3 didn’t eat beef until they were 10. I was convinced I had condemned him to a horrible death.

You can’t change what’s done and I eventually realised that worrying changes nothing.

You can buy lead testing kits if you're worried!

New chemicals that turn out to be toxic/bioaccumulating 20 years down the line are developed daily. I think it’s more important than toys is to address your anxiety and have it treated. This is something that can actually negatively affect your child more than potential toxins from the 1980s.

I suffer from anxiety too. Awful isn't it?

Logically, both yourself and your mum played with these toys and weren't harmed by them.

Thank you all so much for your replies. They are just standard plasticy dolls. The article said that older plastics can be toxic and then it talked about lead contents too. Sent me into an absolute spin.

i agree about the levels of anxiety, it’s both ruining and ruling my life. My brain will latch on to something (like this) and convince myself it’s true/the worse thing ever 😞

@newbie2019hf - as @Sapphire387 said, logically you and your mum played with these dolls and you’re fine. I was born in 1969. I played with dolls growing up (including chewing on some when I was really little) and I’m fine. You have nothing to worry about. What are you doing to address your anxiety?

I am so much older than you @newbie2019hf
but I’m also a worrier and having children magnified it.

I now try to only focus my worrying on what makes a difference, like current decisions or things that may affect the future.

With the majority of our worries tbh, worrying makes no difference to the outcome.
What’s happened has gone, let it go.

I would say I’m not a worrier now, I’m an over thinker. Still not great but it’s something I accept I do and it’s about things that absolutely can make a difference.

I hope you can reach a similar mindset and release yourself a little

I’m on the waiting list to be assigned a counsellor, have had the initial assessment and now waiting for a specific person to be assigned for me 👍🏻

Thank you for this reply. Having kids also made mine worse. I would love to know any tips you have of what helped over the years if you wouldn’t mind sharing.

All of these replies have hit me really hard that it’s the anxiety monster talking and I need to get a grip of what is going on x

@newbie2019hf - that’s great news. The counselling should be really helpful.

I have to get ready for work now but will come back and post later x

I would try to see it that nothing bad has happened so far, and now you are fully equipped with the knowledge to avoid any risk in the future.

Honestly I can’t thank everyone enough for their replies. It’s been a bit of an eye opener really. I spent last night tossing and turning worrying about this, hence the 630am post. I am determined to beat the anxiety voice now for myself and my kids. If anyone can recommend anything other than counselling (as I’m already on the waiting list), it would be really appreciated x

Well…. Is your and your mums health ok? No lead poisoning? Focus on that!
of course it’s fine

I think the main thing to think is that you can’t change what’s happened in the past.

In the case of the dolls, it’s likely fine, but in any case, it is in the past and not changeable. So nothing at all can be achieved by worrying about it. All you can do is to take the best decisions you can in the present.

They'll be fine if there's no damage, i.e. cracking paint, bits falling off, etc., and as long as your child isn't putting anything in their mouth to lick/chew, etc.

Just visually inspect the toys - if they still look in good condition, no signs of wear/damage, then there's nothing to worry about.

Even if there is any damage/wear, what's done is done and you can't turn back time.

For safety's sake, either remove the items or if you can't do that, ensure that your child is supervised when playing with them, to check they're not licking/biting/sucking any part of them, and do regular visual checks for damage etc. Also good practice to get the child to wash hands regularly during play or afterwards and certainly before eating/snacking.

It's bits coming off that are the danger signs, i.e. flakes of paint or other materials that can be ingested if the child is sucking/biting or even just getting "bits" on their fingers and then eating without washing their hands.

6 babies slept in my daughter’s cot before she did. It was from the 1950s and originally painted with lead paint. My mum and 3 siblings slept in it, then me and my sibling in the 70s and 80s. My dad sanded it down and repainted it for DD. We’re all absolutely fine, despite using it as a chewing toy during teething.

Thank you all for the perspective. My brain has latched on to this as a danger and you’re right, I can’t change it. I need to let it go and focus on the future and what I can change. I constantly beat myself up about past decisions about my kids, me, my life, when in fact I have a wonderful life and I can’t believe I let things like this chew my up inside. I waste time googling things, researching what could be, and coming up with terrible conclusions, instead of focussing on the present

Your my is alive. You are alive. Nothing will happen to your child.