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Original poster

'Washable' Crayola and if it could be dangerous to babies.

17 replies

LynnefromYork · 25/03/2022 14:53

I bought these markers last year when my granddaughter was two. The 'Washable' lulled me into a false sense of security which then ended up staining a suite cushion bright purple. I then found out that it is only washable on a hot wash, and that it took 2 attempts just to get it out of my cleaning cloths. I contacted Crayola, (Vivid in the UK) and was given a few tips, none of which worked. They have a disclaimer on the back of the pack, of course, but who reads the back.
This got me thinking though. The pack is recommended for babies of 12 months plus. Babies of a year old are very prone to put things in their mouth. Although there is a CE mark, I assume that it is tested for skin contact, but there is no list of chemicals on the pack, so who knows what the babies might be ingesting. I have asked Vivid for their feedback, but, apart from general cleaning advice, no-one has got back to me yet.

'Washable' Crayola and if it could be dangerous to babies.
OP posts:
namechange30455 · 25/03/2022 14:56

But surely you supervise little DC with pens. If they put them in their mouth or scribble on the sofa, that's kind of on you?

De88 · 25/03/2022 14:59

@namechange30455

But surely you supervise little DC with pens. If they put them in their mouth or scribble on the sofa, that's kind of on you?
Ditto. Just upervise them when they play, don't let them eat stuff that isn't food and they'll generally be fine.
Original poster
LynnefromYork · 26/03/2022 14:43

I totally agree, babies should be supervised, but you only need to look away for a second and things will be in their mouth. As a mother, and now, grandmother of three, I know that from experience. I made a point of not giving my children, or grandchildren, anything that might cause them harm. Having now seen how much dye is in the markers, all I am saying is I wouldn't trust a 12 month old baby with them, even with expert supervision.

OP posts:
Original poster
LynnefromYork · 28/03/2022 09:52

I would just like to add that my granddaughter didn't scribble on the furniture. One of the marker pens was lodged down the side of the cushion without the top on and I didn't notice it was missing until the following day.

OP posts:
Blurp · 28/03/2022 10:00

I always thought "washable" meant "can be washed without destroying your washing machine" rather than "will be removed by washing". But I would expect that anything that can be used by children wouldn't be dangerous. Of course they should be supervised, but accidents happen really easily.

namechange30455 · 28/03/2022 10:04

@LynnefromYork

I would just like to add that my granddaughter didn't scribble on the furniture. One of the marker pens was lodged down the side of the cushion without the top on and I didn't notice it was missing until the following day.
You're clearly upset about your sofa, but it's not the manufacturer's fault that your granddaughter has shoved a pen down the side of your sofa cushion. When did she get a chance to do that if you were supervising? Surely you weren't using the pens on the sofa if you have a sofa that marks?

I wouldn't expect pens to be safe to put in a baby's mouth, so I wouldn't let them...! Hmm They're "washable", not edible!

SpaghettiNotCourgetti · 28/03/2022 10:04

We got a very similar pack (different box, but I think same pens) for DD. I've found them very washable, which has been an absolute godsend, but they're also marked non-toxic. So while I wouldn't encourage your DGD to eat them, I don't think she'll come to serious harm if she does?

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/crayola-my-first-washable-markers/5852341000.html

Original poster
LynnefromYork · 28/03/2022 10:23

In answer to the two comments! My granddaughter wasn't crayoning on the sofa, she walked into the lounge with the markers and put them down on the armchair (not sofa). I picked, what I thought was, all of them up but didn't realise one was missing until the following day.
She is now three and was two when I bought them, so I wouldn't expect her to put them in her mouth, but at 12 months old, she possibly would. Yes, I am upset about my armchair, but I'm more worried about the recommendation to let a 12 month old baby use them.

OP posts:
TulipsGarden · 28/03/2022 10:28

Yes, I was going to say as per pp, I think they're non-toxic as well as washable? My very similar ones are.

But the answer is - you don't let them put them in their mouths. I remember buying them when mine was about 14 months... he kept mouthing them, so I put the pens away for a few months until he was less likely to explore things with his mouth. Surely parents don't just let their children eat pens?

skgnome · 28/03/2022 10:28

I get you’re upset, but you’re overreacting
Yes 12 months old put everything on their mouths
And only takes a millisecond for them to do so
But I would imagine anyone with a toddler will keep an eye on them and will remove the pen from their mouth the minute they realise and I’m assuming the amount of chemicals consumed in 2 seconds won’t harm the baby
Yes probably an issue if the kid sucks on them for 20 minutes - but then that’s really up to the parent
And once you notice your baby likes to suck on them you’ll be more vigilant

GlumyGloomer · 28/03/2022 10:31

Is there also a lion mark? That's the British certification (BSEN71). If it has the Lion mark then it would have been tested for toxicity, every component including the ink.
disclaimer my professional knowledge is a decade out of date, but I doubt standards have slipped that much.

BertieBotts · 28/03/2022 10:32

I looked this up because DS2 was a bugger for stealing pens and sucking the ink out. I found out the amount of ink in one pen is highly unlikely to do any harm but if a child gets hold of an ink pad or ink refill bottle and has drunk/sucked on that, it's advisable to take them to hospital just in case, because the amount would be larger.

I wouldn't give felt tip pens to a 12mo because they wouldn't understand not to eat them, but by 18/24 months it's been fine with supervision.

Not really sure what you're looking for with this post, not letting them drink ink is common sense and good parenting, and children wandering around with things and staining a sofa is just part of having children. I dread to think what is growing in my sofa! DS2 accidentally kicked a bowl of cereal on it yesterday and that's far from the worst thing Shock if I could go back in time I'd buy one with zip off covers!

BertieBotts · 28/03/2022 10:34

I would also guess with the washable thing that it's designed to wash off skin and clothing with light accidental marks. Leaving a pen in contact with something like a cushion where the ink is continually being drawn out in large quantities is a very different matter and I wouldn't expect that to wash out as easily.

BertieBotts · 28/03/2022 10:35

Also are you not in the UK? Crayola is a well known brand here so not sure why you think we wouldn't know it.

Original poster
LynnefromYork · 28/03/2022 11:11

Yes, I am in the UK, but my original contact with Crayola went to the USA. They then transferred me to the UK branch which is called Vivid, apparently. I have never heard of them either.
Trust me, I've had just about everything on my furniture in the 53 years I have been a mother and a grandmother. As there is no warning on the box, I just wanted to warn people to be careful. I also still think there should be a list of ingredients on the box as so many children these days are allergic to more and more chemicals.

OP posts:
Duracellbunnywannabe · 28/03/2022 11:17

I have used crayola washables for years and they have always washed out of clothes. I won’t leave a 1 year old unattended with them or anything else that size.

SpaghettiNotCourgetti · 28/03/2022 11:49

@LynnefromYork

Yes, I am in the UK, but my original contact with Crayola went to the USA. They then transferred me to the UK branch which is called Vivid, apparently. I have never heard of them either. Trust me, I've had just about everything on my furniture in the 53 years I have been a mother and a grandmother. As there is no warning on the box, I just wanted to warn people to be careful. I also still think there should be a list of ingredients on the box as so many children these days are allergic to more and more chemicals.
A warning for what, though? Not to let your kid eat the marker? What do you want from this?

I don't think very many parents would assume that Crayola are ideal for their kids to stick in their mouths - the best we can hope for is that they're not instantly and actively harmful at low concentrations, and presumably their being labelled 'non-toxic' is indicative of this. I've also not seen a spate of felt-tip induced allergies being reported in the news so I think our kids are largely safe for now.

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about a child choking from biting the tip off the pen than I would about the ink in it.

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