Parents are being more careful about toys they buy - grandparents have the same obligation. Things to think about when buing Holiday toys and gifts for grandchildren.
Our favorite watchdog, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued their statements about this year's holiday crop of child-pleasing delights. The latest hip Baby Boomer humor says we all survived our childhood even though we played with sharp metal toys, were perambulated in unbalanced strollers and wore clothes that had been soaked in flame retardants that turned out to be carcinogenic. It might be funny from a stand-up comic, but in real time, there are still hazards in products made for children and we need to watch for them.
- Make sure the toy or item you buy is age appropriate. What may be perfectly safe for a 6 year- old can be devastating in the hands of a toddler.
- You know the drill - no small pieces, no sharp edges, no electrical parts for little ones under 6. Those charming Polly Pocket play sets that little girls adore were recalled after kids allegedly suffered internal injusries (some serious) after eating parts.
- Handle the toy you're going to buy. If it seems like your grandchild could break off parts or crack plastic sections, choose something else.
- Think about cords, streamers, or dangling ties on toys. Stangulation can result from a poor design.
- Buy only name brand art supplies - you can have more confidence in their ingredients. Look for a designation "ASTM D-4236" meaning a toxicologist has evaluated the ingredients.
- Read all labels carefully. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires toy manufacturers to meet stringent safety standards and to label certain toys that could be a hazard for younger children. Labels give age recommendation. Labels on toys that state "not recommended for children under three ... contains small parts," are labeled that way because they may pose a choking hazard to children under three. Toys should be developmentally appropriate to suit the skills, abilities and interests of the child.
- Never let children of any age play with uninflated or broken balloons. They can aspirate the pieces or the whole item.
- NEVER buy toy guns or weapons that look like anything but a toy. Realism has gotten kids hurt and killed. Of course, there is the option of never buying toy weapons at all, isn't there?
- Last year, according to the CPSC, an estimated 140,700 children were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms after toy-related incidents and 13 children died.
MORE:
Here's the latest recall list from the CPSC.
From the American Academy of Pediatrics - safety info on decorating, toys, food, and visitng.
