Recently there have been a number of toys that have been recalled for a variety of reasons. These recalls have included everything from dangerous levels of lead being present in the paint on some toys to the exterior of some toys being treated with a chemical that is similar to a date-rape drug when ingested. As a parent, you may be worried about which toys are safe for your children and which are not. There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect your child from toys that have a potential to be dangerous.



If you are worried about the toys that your child may already possess, you can obtain a complete list of toy recalls from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. This agency has a Web site online that can provide brand names of all toys that have been recalled since 1972. The commission also lists how many of the toys were recalled, the company that manufactures it, and the danger that caused the toy to be recalled. The agency also lists the country where the toy was actually manufactured and the stores where the toy was sold. It reports how many incidents or injuries have occurred as a result of the defect and give parents advice about what to do with the recalled toys. So if you are cleaning out your child's toy box and find some toys that you may have questions about, you can find all the information you need on the commission's Web site. There are also various publications available that can inform you about potential problems that are not listed in the commission's reports.

When buying new toy, you should be cautious. If your child wants a particular toy, you can check with the commission to ensure that there have been no complaints about that toy. You can also check with the manufacturer to discover if the toys were produced overseas, since these toys seem to have the most recalls. You may want to avoid shopping on the Internet or out of a catalogue and to shop in person as the store where you choose to go may be able to answer any questions you may have.

Another good idea is to shop wisely. For example, if your child has a tendency to put things in his mouth, avoid toys that are painted or have small pieces that could break off in his mouth and get lodged in his throat. You should also be aware of the suggested age group of a particular toy and avoid purchasing any of these items that are in a higher age group than your child. You should read all labels and hazard warnings to educate yourself as to how dangerous a particular toy is. You may also decide to avoid complicated toys and opt for simpler ones such as dolls or choose to buy electronic games or books as an alternative.

It is sad to say, but toy recalls are becoming an increasing problem. Most parents feel that the government's regulations are not strict enough when importing these toys from other countries. Until the government improves its testing regulations or until more toys are manufactured in the United States, parents are wise to proceed with caution when purchasing toys. If you do the necessary research, you can help to ensure that your child will have a safe toy to enjoy.