Tag Archives: toy safety

Which Toys Don’t Include Phthalates?

Phthalates are chemicals that are considered toxic waste by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and yet they included in most plastic toys and other items that come in contact with out babies, such as sippy cups. Phthalates make plastic toys soft and flexible, and they are many different products. Research has shown a connection between phthalates and reproductive issues in boys and the early onset of puberty in girls. If you read my earlier post, House Approves Legislation for Tougher Toy Standards, you’ll know that the US government may be soon taking steps to ban the inclusion of phthalates in … Continue reading →

Don’t let Danger Dampen your Holiday Spirit

Being concerned about toy safety brought me to the point where I was becoming afraid to donate toys to less fortunate children, because I would never forgive myself if I ended up donating a dangerous toy. However, there are children out there that will not have much of a Christmas, or any Christmas at all, if others don’t donate holiday items for them and their families. Here are some ideas, if you tend to share the same concerns: Give Art Supplies Paper and crayons are great and give children the opportunity to be creative. While it’s difficult to choose brands … Continue reading →

Christmas Shopping: Recalls and finding Safe Toys

Lead paint, chemicals that mimic the date rape drug, swallowed magnets, laceration hazards, and more have led to numerous toy recalls. With Christmas just around the corner, many parents are nervous about buying toys. While 80% of toys sold in the US today come from China, and some have decided not to buy toys with the “made in China” label, that’s not the only issue. Even if dangerous toys were limited to that part of the world, avoiding them wouldn’t be enough since many toy companies construct toys using at least some parts that come from China. Manufacturers from other … Continue reading →

Worried about Buying Toys for Christmas?

I don’t want people to panic and I’m not trying to convince people to refuse to go Christmas shopping or anything like that, but I’m still uneasy about buying toys for the kids in my life with all the toy recalls lately. Are you? It’s not like this has only been an issue with one or two toys, some kind of fluke, there have been massive recalls and some of them quite serious. The AquaDots recall was quite unsettling but I’m not over all the lead paint just yet either. It seems to be used in many items, things I’d … Continue reading →

Don’t Buy These with a Baby in the House

I have written in the homeschooling blog about how much my five year old son likes anything remotely related to science. He is especially thrilled with physical science. So when we saw the little Magnetix magnet kits in the store, we immediately thought we had a great Christmas present. But we eventually went with a cooler, bigger, more geekish science related toy and left the magnets on their shelf. Have you ever felt the magnet sets? They are surprisingly strong. They have to be, they are designed so that you can build structures with them. The sets contain several little … Continue reading →

Holiday Gift Giving Safety

Did you ever stop to think that certain gifts we give to others could be dangerous? It seems that everywhere we turn these days, there are safety tips for everything. It might seem a little surprising when it comes to gift giving, but please read on. Allergies Many people are allergic to different types of foods. A peanut allergy can be very dangerous, and peanuts or at least traces of peanut oils are found in many products you might not suspect. Be sure to check labels carefully before giving a food gift to anyone that suffers from allergies. Labels today … Continue reading →

Parents Beware The Hidden Danger In Some Kids Toys

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 … Continue reading →