I want to make some unpainted blocks and the like for my son, who is 10 months old and teething, so I have to be sure that the wood and finish are safe, not just for skin contact but also for gnawing on. I know that maple is considered very safe for childrens’ toys, but I’d rather not be limited to just one species. I’ve looked for some toxicity charts online, but for the most part I’ve only been able to find data on either sawdust or prolonged skin contact, but nothing that really relates to teething toys. I have some walnut, cherry, oak, and maple scraps I was thinking of using. Also, what finishes are completely safe when cured – again, I’m not just thinking of skin contact, but to actually be chewed on. I’m not interested in paining them, and I know some will reccomend leaving them unfinished, but I’d prefer to have a finish on them if there are any completely safe options. I have some ‘Tried and True’ linseed oil that I thought would be pretty harmless.
I welcome your thoughts!