| Safety is everything when it comes to our kids. | | | | 1. Keep abreast of toy and product recalls. You can |
| Unfortunately, the sad fact is that Mattel voluntarily | | | | sign up for free email alerts and announcements from |
| recalled nearly a million toys in 2007 for being | | | | the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) |
| covered in lead paint, and the US Consumer Product | | | | at The CPSC is s charged with protecting the public |
| Safety Commission (CPSC) and Centers for Disease | | | | from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death |
| Control (CDC) have long lists of consumer products | | | | from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. |
| recalled for containing excessive amounts of lead | | | | Their list of Toy Recalls is online at cpsc.gov/cpscpub |
| (half of the products are toys). It's enough to want | | | | prerel/category/toy.html. Also, the Centers for |
| to forego buying any toys at all, especially for our | | | | Disease Control and Prevention maintains a list of all |
| very youngest children. | | | | lead consumer product recalls by category. Both sites |
| Lead is not the only problem, though, we've also | | | | have pictures and descriptions of recalled products. |
| heard about hormone-disrupting chemicals called | | | | 2. Check for published safety statements from toy |
| phthalates in plastic products, such as baby bottles, | | | | manufacturers or vendors where you purchase toys. |
| that can affect reproductive and developmental | | | | The best online toy retailers, for example, will post |
| health. Other news headlines include various hazards | | | | manufacturer statements about quality testing, lead |
| from chocking, magnets, and more. These headlines | | | | content and more. |
| about lead and toxics in toys, as well as other | | | | 3. Buy age-appropriate toys. Check the packaging to |
| hazards are scary, to say the least. For a time, I did | | | | make sure you are not buying toys intended for |
| not want to buy any new toys for my soon to be | | | | older children, which may have small parks that can |
| two-year old, mostly because everything goes in his | | | | break off. |
| mouth at some point! | | | | 4. Follow safety guidelines for buying toys (e.g. |
| Yet this is the real world, where toys and bottles are | | | | making sure toys for toddlers contain no parts too |
| a part of life. The question becomes, how can we be | | | | small that can break off, using helmets, putting toys |
| sure the products we buy are safe? The good news | | | | away, etc.) The CPSC maintains several guides on |
| is that national political leaders have finally taken | | | | toy safety, including a list of "toy safety shopping |
| some action. On August 14, 2008, President Bush | | | | tips" (online at Tips include how to determine |
| signed into law a consumer safety bill that will ban | | | | whether a product has been reviewed by a |
| lead in nearly all products designed for children 12 | | | | toxicologist. (It will be marked with the designation |
| years old and younger. A second major step forward | | | | ASTM D-4236). |
| will occur next year, when a nationwide ban on six | | | | 5. Find independent reviews of toys and products. |
| phthalates in soft plastic toys and cosmetics takes | | | | Probably the most well-known organization for |
| effect. The law marks a major shift in the way | | | | independent product testing is Consumer Reports. |
| toxics are regulated in the U.S. | | | | Their website contains a section for Babies & |
| The burden of proof will now be on manufacturers | | | | Kids. |
| to prove chemicals are safe in products for babies | | | | 6. Read reviews, talk to people, and search online. |
| and children before they can be used (this has not | | | | Find out others' experience with the products you |
| been the case up until now). Until these laws really | | | | want to buy. You can learn a lot (and save yourself |
| take effect (and even afterwards as no law can | | | | some headache and heartache) by reading other |
| take all the risk out of purchasing toys), as parents | | | | opinions first. |
| we must be proactive, vigilant and stay informed. | | | | 7. Finally, monitor your child's play and the condition of |
| Here is a checklist of 7 things you can do to help | | | | the toys you do buy. Check toys periodically for |
| make sure that you purchase quality, safe products | | | | breakage and potential hazards. Damaged toys should |
| for the children in your life. | | | | be repaired or thrown away. |
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