Lead-Tainted Toys Could Still Be Available at Holiday Time

What This Means to You

Although the new federal act will help make playthings and kids' products safer in the future, it'll take some time to put its full effects into action. So, it's wise to be as vigilant about toy safety this year as you were the last.

As you shop for birthdays, the holidays, or whenever, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Sign up for the CPSC's regular email announcements — go to their website and choose the categories you're interested in (like infant/children's products, sports equipment, household products, etc.).
• Search the CPSC's site to see if any of your new or used items have been recalled.
• Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) site for a list — with pictures — of toys, crafts, and children's jewelry recalled for lead concerns (from as far back as the 1970s). Enter "lead recalls" in the search box then click on the first link.
• Send in the registration card whenever you buy a new product.
• Make sure toys aren't too loud. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn — even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears — and can contribute to hearing damage.
• Look for safety-minded language on labels and packaging:
  • age recommendations (to ensure that toys are age- and stage-appropriate)
  • "flame resistant" or "flame retardant" for toys made of fabric
  • "washable" for stuffed toys
  • "nontoxic" or "ASTM D-4236" for art materials (which means that they've been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials)
  • "UL" for electric toys, UL, meaning they meet safety standards set by Underwriters Laboratories
  • CPSC or Snell certification for bike helmets
  • choking hazards warnings for kids under age 3. (You can also buy a "choke tube" designed to be about the same diameter as a child's windpipe. If an object fits inside the tube, then it's too small for young kids.)

Also, keep in mind that secondhand toys and kids' items (from friends, family, thrift or consignment shops, or community yard sales) may look gently used or even brand new, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: September 2008