Unsafe Toys, A Pernicious Problem
Do not purchase items with sharp edges or detachable parts for small children.
The guidelines for choking hazards require small parts to be 1.75 inches in diameter or more, including any detachable part or accessible battery.
Purchase helmets and other safety gear like hand, wrist and shin guards which meet safety guidelines and are marked with CPSC or Snell certification labels.
Toy weapons should have orange tips.
Repair or dispose of these toys immediately.
Check toys regularly to make sure that they aren’t broken or unusable.
This problem reaches far past the issue of children’s toys and right into the core of our culture.
Toys which have been recalled or banned may still show up at used-toy establishments.
The report, available at www.healthy toys.org, found that one-third of the 1,500 toys tested contained medium to high levels of toxins, including lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium, cadmium and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Do not purchase hard plastic toys thin enough to break, leaving sharp edges.
Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old.
Cloth or rubberized plastic toys are best for this age.
Consumer product Safety Commission (CPSC) monitors and regulates toys.
If you own a toy which has been recalled, return it or throw it away — do not donate it or give it away, as it poses a risk to other children.
Outdoor toys — If purchasing a bicycle, scooter, skateboard or skates, read age guidelines.
Plastic toys — like all products for children — should be free of lead paints.
14, we ran an editorial about the need for thoroughly inspected toys in the wake of the highly publicized recalls of Chinese toys.
We do not advise that you purchase toys used or accept hand-me-down toys made before 1995, as they may not be safety-tested.
Plastic toys — CSPC warns that trendy Phthalate free toys could result in weaker or more brittle plastics which present breaking and choking hazards.
No toy or detachable part of a toy should be small enough to become lodged in a child’s windpipe.
Electric toys — Any toy with a power source should be labeled UL, complying with safety standards for minimized shock and burn risks.
Age levels are determined by the CSPC based on safety — a child’s maturity or intelligence does not mean he is safe with toys meant for older children.For Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers Toys should be sturdy enough to stand up to pounding, pulling, twisting and mouthing.
Its guidelines, as well as safety advisories and recall information, is available at www.cpsc.govChild Safety Task Force Safe Toy Shopping Guide Fabric and stuffed toys — Materials should be washable and flame resistant.
Age-Appropriate Toys — Use labeling on toys as guidelines for the appropriate toys for your child’s age.
Loud toys can contribute to hearing damage, especially in young children, who are more likely to hold a toy directly to the ear.For Grade-Schoolers Any projectile part of a toy (balls, darts, arrows) should be soft-tipped.
