| When I choose a toy to give to my godchildren or | | | | others, lead levels in painted toys to be reduced to |
| niece or nephews, the first thing I look into is the | | | | 100 parts per million and phthalate content to be |
| age recommendation. I actually only consider two | | | | below 0.1 percent. It also requires mandatory testing |
| factors when buying toys for kids - age | | | | and safety certifications as well as tracking |
| appropriateness and my budget. | | | | information for parents to easily find out if the toy |
| Reading about baby injuries caused by what I | | | | they bought has been recalled. For some parents, the |
| consider to be pretty harmless toys made me | | | | new law might not be the solution to some problems |
| rethink my selection criteria. It made me aware about | | | | on child safety but it is a good start. |
| the safety aspect of kids' toys. After a few hours of | | | | The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a lot |
| Internet surfing, I've learned that: | | | | of information for parents like safety tips not only on |
| 1. Toys must not have sharp surfaces or points. | | | | toys but also on baby cribs and play yards, bicycles, |
| 2. Toys for kids under three years of age must not | | | | pools, playgrounds and playpens. A visit at their Web |
| contain small parts or produce small parts when they | | | | site, is enlightening. There's an updated list of recalled |
| break, like rattles with small balls in them. | | | | toys and other products in the site that will prove to |
| 3. Toys must not have pinching parts or wires that | | | | be helpful for parents. |
| could poke through. | | | | Parents can even receive direct e-mail notification of |
| 4. Stuffed toys or dolls should have no ribbons, | | | | product recalls through the agency's Web site. This is |
| strings, cords, or necklaces that can be wrapped | | | | one free e-mail subscription parents should have. |
| around a child's neck. | | | | They can also subscribe to electronically receive new |
| 5. Any toy that can fit through a toilet paper tube is | | | | recalls and safety information at |
| a choking and ingestion hazard. | | | | A blog by independent and nonprofit organization, |
| 6. Projectile toys like darts and slingshots are for | | | | Consumers Union, is another great site for parents to |
| older children. | | | | visit. The site is regularly updated with safety news |
| 7. I should also consider if there are younger siblings | | | | and tips from the Consumer Product Safety |
| that can be interested to the toy because that toy | | | | Commission as well as news relating to child safety |
| can be a potential hazard for the younger ones. | | | | from publishers like The New York Times, The |
| The Consumer Product Safety Commission bans toys | | | | Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco |
| for sale in the U.S. that do not pass federal safety | | | | Chronicle, and Time magazine. |
| standards on small parts, low levels of lead in paint, | | | | There is so much to learn about toys and their |
| flammability limits, and hazardous chemicals. | | | | safety standards. Hopefully, we all can be made |
| In August 2008, new toy safety standards have | | | | aware of these standards to prevent tragedies. |
| become a law in the U.S. The law requires, among | | | | |