A Swiss research team discovered that every stuffed animal tested released detectable levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," when exposed to artificial saliva that simulates how babies naturally mouth and chew their plush toys. The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, tested 18 stuffed toys marketed for infants and toddlers and found that while older banned PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS remained below European health guidelines, 100% of the toys released short-chain replacement chemicals, specifically perfluorohexanoic acid, or PFHxA.

What Are PFAS and Why Should Parents Care?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large group of human-made chemicals used in manufacturing to make products water-resistant, stain-resistant, and grease-resistant. These chemicals are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment or in the human body; instead, they accumulate over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS has been detected in the blood of 99% of Americans, including newborn babies.

The health risks associated with PFAS exposure are significant. These chemicals are toxic at extremely low levels and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, harm to the male reproductive system, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, reduced fertility, and shorter duration of breastfeeding. A recent study also links prenatal PFAS exposure to premature birth, low birth weight, and infant mortality. PFAS readily crosses the placenta and has been detected in umbilical cord blood, meaning developing fetuses face direct exposure before birth.

How Do Replacement Chemicals End Up in Stuffed Animals?

As federal and state regulators banned older PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS, manufacturers pivoted to using short-chain alternative forever chemicals in their products. The problem is that these replacement chemicals are often more water-soluble and mobile than their predecessors, meaning they can easily migrate into a child's saliva when the stuffed toy is chewed or sucked on. This represents what researchers call a "whack-a-mole" regulatory approach: chemical companies simply replace one unsafe compound with another substance that has received far less scrutiny.

The study highlights a persistent regulatory loophole. While the research involved only 18 toys and cannot represent every product on the market, the fact that short-chain replacements were found in each toy is concerning. The findings underscore the need to regulate PFAS as a class rather than one chemical at a time, the current approach.

Can Washing Stuffed Animals Help Reduce Chemical Exposure?

For years, standard advice for parents was simple: throw new plush toys in the washing machine before handing them to a child. The new research confirms that washing does help, but with important caveats. In the study, washing reduced detected amounts of the forever chemicals PFHxA and PFOS by 95% to 100% in most toys.

However, the picture is more complex for other PFAS compounds. While a simulated water rinse lowered overall chemical migration in most toys, it actually increased the release of certain short-chain chemicals in a subset of products. For the forever chemical PFBA, washing increased migration in some toys. Researchers suspect that mechanical agitation during washing may break down synthetic coatings or loosen fibers, making these chemicals more accessible on the fabric's surface.

How to Minimize Your Child's PFAS Exposure From Stuffed Animals

• Avoid stain-resistant marketing claims: Skip plush items, nap mats, or baby gear marketed as "spill-proof," "stain-resistant," or "easy-clean." These marketing labels are often red flags for fluorinated treatments and a common way PFAS gets intentionally added to textiles.
• Choose natural fiber toys: Opt for plush toys made from certified organic cotton or wool rather than synthetic materials, which are far more likely to feature stain- or water-repellent chemical treatments.
• Swap synthetic teethers during peak mouthing: During the phase when babies are most likely to mouth and chew toys, offer teethers made from 100% natural rubber, untreated wood, or solid organic cotton instead of synthetic plush toys.
• Reduce household dust: Since textile coatings break down over time and chemicals migrate into household dust where infants crawl and play, regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter and damp-mopping floors helps reduce household dust that may contain PFAS.

The research makes clear that parents shouldn't need a degree in toxicology to buy a safe stuffed animal. While parents cannot shop their way out of a systemic chemical regulation problem, these practical steps can help minimize exposure during critical developmental windows when infants and toddlers are most vulnerable to chemical harm.

The study's findings add to growing evidence that PFAS exposure begins before birth and continues through infancy. For many infants, exposure has already been accumulating for months before their first feeding, particularly through infant formula, which millions of American babies depend on as their sole source of nutrition.

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