Here is a rainbow headband produced by Sarah‘s Silks and purchased in 2022. These headbands have an elastic core with silk fabric covering. This particular headband is embellished with a small polyester rosette and ribbons. This is a very cute product for a young child.
Reading on the fabric headband (several colors and internal synthetic elastic cording under scope):
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Antimony (Sb) | 50 | +/- 8 |
| Other Elements | ||
| Copper (Cu)* | 8 | +/- 5 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 2,429 | +/- 16 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 897 | +/- 97 |
| Bromine (Br)* | 2 | +/- 1 |
| Iron (Fe) | 104 | +/- 8 |
| Bismuth (Bi) | 3 | +/- 1 |
*When the error range for an element is half or more of the detected value, the element is considered present but not quantified.
Reading on the polyester rosette:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 131 | +/- 8 |
| Other Elements | ||
| Nickel (Ni) | 7 | +/- 3 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 266 | +/- 5 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 684 | +/- 95 |
| Iron (Fe) | 20 | +/- 7 |
Reading on the polyester ribbon (multiple colors under scope):
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 82 | +/- 7 |
| Other Elements | ||
| Nickel (Ni)* | 6 | +/- 3 |
| Zinc (Zn)* | 4 | +/- 2 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 610 | +/- 96 |
| Iron (Fe) | 16 | +/- 7 |
*When the error range for an element is half or more of the detected value, the element is considered present but not quantified.
All samples were tested in consumer goods TestAll mode using a Niton XL3t 700S for at least 30 seconds. Results are rounded to the nearest whole number. Analyst’s note: the headband is thin and irregularly shaped. We folded the fabric in layers to obtain the best readings on the components tested. The elastic is internal and we did not disassemble any pieces for testing.
Test Summary:
Trace antimony was detected on the polyester components and in the silk band with internal elastic.
We normally expect to find trace antimony when we screen soft toys and similar products made with polyester fibers. Antimony is used as a catalyst for most PET production and trace antimony can remain in the product.
There is no regulatory limit for total antimony content in children’s products. Some products likely to be mouthed by young children are subject to metals migration testing which includes antimony, which we cover here.
We provide our readings so parents can make their own decisions about which products are appropriate for their kids. We are not perfect and we have both organic and polyester toys and accessories in our home. We do prefer products made with natural fibers to reduce our overall dependence on plastic.
No other elements of concern were detected.
We Prefer:
We like accessories that incorporate natural materials such as silk and wool.
But don’t feel bad if something you own is made from synthetic fibers or contains trace antimony. It is important to keep risks in perspective and it is unlikely a polyester toy or similar product will have any meaningful impact on a child’s health. Some parents prefer to buy products made from natural fibers and are concerned about the body burden of micro plastics, which is an emerging area of research. We’re not perfect either: we own both natural and polyester toys and accessories.
Recommended Silk Accessories for Kids:
Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.
The example we tested above is not currently available on Amazon. Here are some similar options made with silk, which do not appear to contain polyester components:
Why we like it: This simple option from Sarah’s Silks is made entirely from natural fabric.
Why we like it: What’s better than a headband? A superhero cape made from rainbow silk! Many colors available.
Why we like it: It’s like a cat toy, but for children. Get ready for hours of self-directed play.
Disclaimer: Our recommendations have not always been personally tested by us but are likely to be lead free or low lead and/or cadmium based on our research into the materials, discussions with manufacturers, and/or testing on similar products. We only recommend items we would use love and ourselves.
We provide our XRF testing for general educational or informational purposes only to help consumers identify low lead and lead-free products. We hereby disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, and assume no duty or responsibility with respect to how any person or entity chooses to use the information on this website.