Filling Material for Baby Toys

Dear Experts,

I’ve always used polyester stuffing, but now I’ve come across Soft-Flocks (also made of polyester). Do you have any experience with how tightly these can be stuffed and, most importantly, how the two materials hold up after washing?
I’d really appreciate your tips.

Best regards, Christina

For toys, I always use old sheer tights (or sponges—for example, sponges work well for cars and can be easily cut to size).
Cutting up tights into small pieces is a bit tedious, but then you can just toss them in the washing machine when needed.

Hi Christina,
if you have any leftover knitting or crochet yarn, that leftover yarn works well too. And you can follow the care label instructions to know how to wash the finished item. How firm it feels depends on the amount of filling used.
Best wishes, Traudelina

Dear Christina, I specialize in making toys, and especially when it comes to baby toys, you really should pay attention to the materials used. I use only flocks (in accordance with DIN EN 71, suitable for toys); they’re easy to work with, and you get to decide for yourself how firm the finished product will be. I’d advise against using “leftover bits” here—they can slip through the stitches and end up in the baby’s mouth.... That’s really something we want to avoid. 

Dear Christina,
I recently discovered a new stuffing material. It’s called “Holy,” is made from natural fibers, and still keeps its shape almost as well as polyester. Plus, it can be washed at temperatures up to 60 degrees. So it’s ideal for babies (and it’s completely plastic-free, too) :)
Best regards,
Mareike