Choosing safe toys

It's Christmas and Santa does NOT make all the toys safely with his elves @ the North Pole! 70-80% of toys that we see on the shelves are made in foreign countries, where safety standards don't exist. Yes, there is a new Federal law going to effect to more closely monitor for safeness, but it won't be in effect until next February @ the earliest. Therefore, it remains the responsibility of parents to research that toy SO wanted by your kids, as U.S. screening is random , and recalls many times follow the death of a child, playing with a dangerous toy.

Things You'll Need:

• a desire to find safe toys

Instructions

Step 1

While lead contaminated paint was last years biggest threat, statistics show a steady downfall in the lead paint usage. But jewelry is NOT covered in the new law, and kids jewelry can also contain lead. In fact, a child DID die after ingesting a charm containing mostly lead.
Consumer safety experts suggest NOT buying any cheap jewelry for kids at this time.

Step 2

Some toys contain tiny magnets. If they become dislodged from the toy, they are likely to be eaten, because there appearance is that of candy pellets. Eating them results in intestinal hemorrhage, and possibly death.

Step 3

During tough economic times, a parent may be tightly budgeting, and buy toys from yard sales, ebay or any discount store. Know that these toys may be older and not at all screened for safety.

Step 4

Since the vast majority of recalled toys are those from China, should you boycott all china toys? Experts feel that this would create a false sense of security, since toys from Taiwan and India have also been deemed unsafe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)web site lists recalls and will allow you to sign up for an email notification of newly discovered problems.

Tips & Warnings

• It's pretty difficult to please kids, yet keep them safe, when 70-80% of toys are foreign made, under poor safety conditions.
• Check your child's list against the CPSC web sit listings.
• Still, since the Federal Law is not yet in effect, follow these CPSC tips: Buy age appropriate toys, so a baby won't have access to swallow able magnets, etc. Balloons continue to cause choking deaths in small kids, due to their deflation and causing choking. Riding toys may allow more power than a child is ready to maneuver.