As we approach the Christmas shopping season, parents are reminded that when it comes to toys, toddlers put everything in their mouths. As a result, we have to be very cautious of what we put in their hands. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) has been publishing a “Trouble In Toyland” report for the past 21 years. The group has found significant progress in toy safety over the past two decades since they have been advocating for toy safety, but sadly, many problems still exist. And some of the problems are the same old problems that have been around for years.
The latest report highlights a very dangerous toy component- magnets. Magnets are very powerful and can cause serious damage to a child’s body if swallowed. If more than one is swallowed they can attract inside the body and cause intestinal blockage, for instance.
Other categories of dangerous toys include: toys that are chocking hazards, toys that contain lead and toys that are too loud.
The report also found that many toys that are choking hazards do not have the hazard label as required by the 1994 Child Safety Protection Act. But the report also cautions parents that kids can still choke on toys that bare the required label. Many small items pose a choking hazard but the classic example of a choking hazard remains the balloon.
The report said that lead continues to be a problem in children’s toys especially in toy jewelry. In one instance, a 4-year-old died after swallowing a bracelet charm that contained a whopping 99% lead.
Finally, toys that make a lot of noise can permanently damage a child’s hearing. Any toy that produces a sound of 85 decibels is too loud. Geoffrey’s Dream Dazzlers Stylin’ Guitar can produce sounds at 110 decibels, the researchers reported.
Parents are cautioned to protect their children by always examining toys for hidden or obvious dangers before they make purchases or allow their kids to play with toys given to them by others.
See also:
2006 Best Infant and Preschool Toys