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A Note from Nancy - Tips for Toy Safety

Age Appropriate

  • Most toys come with labels that indicate what age child they’re designed for.
  • Be aware that a toy that’s great for a 12-year-old might be hazardous to a younger sibling. Talk to older children about keeping their toys away from younger brothers or sisters who could be hurt by them.

Maintenance & Storage

  • Check toys on a regular basis. The more well-used a toy is, the more likely it is to have broken pieces or jagged edges that could be harmful to kids.
  • Make sure that toys don’t sit in storage for too long and that their storage area is dry and well-ventilated. Toys that live in an attic or basement part-time can collect mold or mildew, and toys left outside can rust – neither is good for kids.

Smart Shopping

  • Read labels. Look for household art materials, including crayons and paint sets, marked with the designation "ASTM D-4236." This means that the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist and, if necessary, labeled with cautionary information.
  • Buy American. The U.S. outlawed lead paint in 1978, but other countries, such as China, don’t have safety standards that are up to par. Not only is buying America a good way to protect kids – it’s good for our economy, too.
  • Be especially careful of thrift-store or second-hand toys. Older toys might not meet current safety standards, or they might have slipped through the cracks when a recall was issued.
  • Make sure that toy packaging is disposed of immediately. Plastic packaging, particularly plastic bags, can be dangerous.

Dangerous Toy Features

  • Cords and strings – Young children can get tangled up in cords or strings.
  • Small or removable parts – Watch out for toy parts that are small enough to be swallowed by a young child.
  • Balloons – Last year, un-inflated balloons were the leading cause of child suffocation.
  • Magnets – Toys with multiple magnetic parts can cause serious problems if swallowed.  They stay magnetized and wreak havoc in a child's digestive system.
  • Volume – Toys aren’t tested for how much noise they make.  Listen for noise levels that seem harmful to a kid’s sensitive ears.

Check for Recalls

  • You can find out which toys have been recalled at the Consumer Produce Safety Commission’s website, http://www.cpsc.gov. You can also sign up to receive email updates about recalled toys at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
  • If you don’t have a computer, you can call the CPSC’s toll-free hotline for safety information, 1-800-638-2772.
  • To find out more about the danger of lead and how to keep your home safe, check out the Centers for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm.

Report Potential Hazards

  • If you suspect a toy to be hazardous, you should report it to the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

Please note: These tips and suggestions were compiled by the Office of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda from a variety of Internet and print resources. This list is not all-inclusive, and it should not stop families from taking additional steps to keep their children safe.