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What's Lurking in the Toy Box?

Keeping Babies and Toddlers Safe from Hazardous Toys

By Teri Brown

With the massive toy recalls, more parents than ever are preoccupied with the contents of their child's toy box. It is difficult to look at a toy and think that it might be harming the very children it was meant to amuse and teach, but that is exactly what parents across the nation are wondering.

"Definitely, my shopping for toys has changed," says Carmen Berg, a mom from Calgary, Canada. "I have avoided [some toys] entirely. I have switched to [Canadian] made wooden block train set stuff despite the increase in price, as I would rather not take the risk of getting something from China."

Jenn Savedge, mother of two from Lauray, Va., is also concerned. "I am worried about what's going in our kids' toys these days," Savedge says. "I'm beginning to think that the only toys that haven't been recalled are the ones that have not yet been tested. I am definitely being more cautious about the type and origin of the toys that I purchase."

The toy industry is scrambling from attacks on all sides as the number of recalls mount and other common chemicals – such as phythalates – come under scrutiny. But is all this furor much ado about nothing? Or do parents have a real reason to be concerned?

Lead is a known health hazard that can cause impaired language and cognitive functions, poor fine motor skills and learning disabilities, or, in higher toxicity levels, nausea, seizures or diarrhea, among others. Strict laws and education has heightened awareness of this problem, but the problem still exists.

Jerry Manion is the business development manager for the Global Retail Services Division of TUV Rhineland of North America, a leader in comprehensive product testing and assessment service. The company is in the business of product certification – making sure of compliance to the safety standards required by the country of importation. Manion says lead paint – which is actually paint with a higher than legally allowed lead content – has still been used in children's toys because it is a cheaper substitute for specified "lead free" or "low lead" content paint required by virtually all toy manufacturers.

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
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