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Grandparent News
Five Tips for Grandparents on Buying the Safest Toys
This Holiday Season
Lead content not only thing grandparents should
watch for this holiday season
Dec. 3, 2007 - It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but
recent toy recalls are putting a damper on the joyful holiday shopping
season. As grandparents and parents begin perusing toy stores with lists
in hand, many worry about picking goodies that are safe for their little
ones.
I am very concerned about what toys to buy, says
Linda Mata, who is buying toys for her grandchildren.
You may buy them
now, and then find out later that there is a recall after the children
have already played with them.
Jolene Duckworth, a mother of two, is also being
extra cautious this holiday season: It is very important to know what
types of toys are safe. The recent recalls due to lead have made me very
worried about what to buy.
While toys exceeding federal standards for lead
content should be a concern, it should not be the only thing on parents
minds while shopping this holiday season, says Sharon Swindell, M.D.,
M.P.H., a pediatrician at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens
Hospital.
The fact of the matter is that although these toy
exposures are a concern for children, the biggest risk of lead exposure
is still in the homes of the United States, she says. Parents need to
really look at the toy carefully and read the labeling for many other
things too, including if it is age-appropriate for your child.
To help parents and grandparents become smart toy
shoppers, Swindell offers these five tips to pick the safest and most
appropriate toys for kids this holiday season.
Swindell's 5 tips for safe holiday toy shopping:
1. Dont worry, but be vigilant.
The toy
recalls have raised concerns about a number of features on imported
toys, notes Swindell. Check online for up-to-date recall information
before heading out to the stores. Look for warnings about small parts,
breaking, fire and choking hazards, as well as information about lead
paint. Even made in the U.S.A. does not mean it is a safe toy, so make
sure to check all labels and recalls, Swindell cautions.
2. Be cautious when shopping online.
There
are pros and cons to online shopping, Swindell says. While it may be
more convenient, you are not able to hold the toy and examine it as
effectively as you would in-person. If you
prefer online shopping, Swindell recommends reading product reviews from
multiple sources by other customers and independent panels to make
sure the toy is safe.
3. Chose toys wisely to make your children
wiser.
Toys that promote healthy behavior or require children to
use their imagination should always be top picks, Swindell says. Toys
such as a new bike, a puppet or doll, a book, or anything that involves
the active engagement of the childs mind are good ways to promote
mental activity and healthy habits.
4. Inspect toys carefully and always read the
labels.
Toy testing is only done when the toy is intact, so even a
safe toy can become dangerous, Swindell warns. Broken toys must be
thrown away. And before you purchase a toy, make sure it is well
constructed. When pieces break off a toy, it can leave a sharp edge or
cause a possible chocking hazard. When selecting a toy, make sure it is
age-appropriate. Age recommendations are made by independent review
panels that look at the size of the parts, strangulation and choking
hazards as well as the ability of children to use the toys according to
their motor skills, Swindell says
5. Research the toys on your little ones wish
list.
If your child has been dying for a toy all year and
advertisements for it seem to be popping up everywhere, make sure to
check it out before you buy. Look online for any recall information,
product reviews by other customers and independent panels. If you find
that the particular toy is just not right, look for other, similar
options. If it is something that the kids have seen on TV or in a
movie, try to find another toy that has that same theme but is just
right, Swindell says. For example, consider a puzzle from your childs
favorite movie instead of a movie action figure that may include small
pieces.
And, before you buy, be sure to read these other
toy-buying tips:
Buying a bike, tricycle, scooter, or anything with wheels? Make sure
to buy a helmet.
Dont forget books they count as toys too.
Organic toys are becoming more popular, but Swindell cautions that
there is not yet a designated label that provides information about a
toy being organic.
Look for toys that are flame resistant, retardant or nonflammable.
If the toy is battery-operated or requires recharging of any sort,
have a parent do it. Serious burns and other injuries may result if not
done properly.
If you are buying a stuffed animal, doll or other toy that is filled,
make sure the inside contents would not pose a choking hazard if the toy
was ripped or broken. Avoid substances such as beans and pellets
whenever possible.
To learn more, visit these web sites:
UMHS Health Topics A-Z: Toy safety, ages 18 months to 3 years:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_plymatto_pep.htm
UMHS Health Topics A-Z: Toy safety, ages 3 to 6
years:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_plymatpr_pep.htm
UMHS Health Topics A-Z: Toy safety, ages 6 to 9
years:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_plymatyo_pep.htm
UMHS Your Child: Safety Tips for the Holiday
Season:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/holiday.htm
KidsHealth: Choosing Safe Toys:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/safe_toys.html
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov
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