How to Determine if Your Child's Toys Are Safe

Make sure that your child's toys were manufactured in accordance with safety standards, and learn how to determine if a toy is appropriate and safe for your child.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small-object Testers For Toys
• Toy-safety Reports
• Toy Packaging

1. Read labels on the packaging before you buy a toy.

2. Make sure that the toy is appropriate for your child's age group - anything too "advanced" may be dangerous.

3. Avoid buying toys with small parts for children under 6 years of age.

4. Pull on all toys' eyes, noses or other small parts to ensure that they are securely attached.

5. Invest in an inexpensive small-object tester. This clear, plastic cylinder is sized according to the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and identifies those objects that are too small to be given to a young child.

6. Wait until children are over 8 years old before you buy them toys that have sharp edges or points, heat up with electricity, involve water, or include mixable chemicals.

7. Monitor the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) report on unsafe or recalled items. Visit its Web site (cpsc.gov) or call the CPSC's public relations department at [phone] for a copy of its newsletter, "Safety News."

8. Check out the listing of the year's 10 most dangerous toys published by PIRG, the nonprofit U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Order this report and its other product/toy safety information over the phone by calling [phone] or visit the PIRG Web site (pirg.org).

Tips & Warnings

• Supervise your children's playtime and observe how they investigate and manipulate their toys. If a child has a habit of placing items in his mouth or other orifices, pay special attention to the construction of the toys he or she has access to.
• Allow your children to play with any potentially hazardous toys only in your presence. These toys may include those with small parts, items that could bind to the head or neck, or those involving water, chemicals, electricity or heat.
• Be a part of the solution. Report problems you may have with a toy to the CPSC at [phone]. The CPSC does not test all toys, and not all recalled toys are pulled from the shelves.

[newyorkdad]

on 11/29/2007 This lead issue is really serious. How can you know if it's safe to give to your kids?

on 11/22/2005 Videos aren't a bad thing.. but be sure your kids sit at least ten feet from the television to avoid any excess radiation.