Parents face daunting task of making sure toys are safe
Sunday, November 25, 2007 5:10 AM PST
By Brenda Blevins McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleIn case there isn't a name yet for our newest generation, here's a suggestion: The Recall Generation.
Toy recalls have multiplied faster than Barbies in a little girl's toybox, and lead paint is the main culprit. Parents are challenged with not only finding toys for the holidays that won't harm their tots --- ages 6 months to about 3 --- but also with making sure the toys they have now are not toxic.
Lead is in food, water and air; it's the threat of too much lead that is a concern.
According to OSHA, the U.S. government's department of occupational safety, overexposure to lead causes illness and is especially harmful to children younger than six, who are going through rapid neurological and physical growth.
To read more about lead, go to www.osha.gov.SLTC/lead.
With all the questions about toys, what can concerned parents do?
Sarah Gourde of the Portland Development Commission, one of the partner agencies for Oregon's Lead Safe Families Coalition, said parents can look for the symbol that shows that a toy has met the European standard for safety.
European guidelines are much stricter than American, Gourde said.
The symbol is a stylized CE.
Even with that symbol, though, parents must exercise caution. Manufacturers place the symbol on the tags, and some toymakers are adding it without meeting the safety guidelines, according to The Times newspaper of London, England.
Gourde suggested that parents check with the state health department for information on lead and its effects on youngsters. The Washington State Health Web site is http://www.doh.wa.gov/
Information on lead can be found in the list of alphabetical topics on the site.
For details on recalled toys, visit www.recall.gov and click the "search for recalls" tab to be guided to the Consumer Products Safety Commission site.
In addition, the Web site consumerreports.org offers these tips for parents:
1) Check for recalls.
2) Do frequent sort-and-toss sessions. Discard toys that have chipped paint, deteriorated plastic or other broken or damaged parts. When in doubt, throw it out.
3) Avoid giving toddlers vintage toys and antique furniture that may have been painted with older lead-based paint. If the item is a family heirloom or collectible, put it away for the youngster until they're old enough to not chew on the item.
4) To avoid lead exposure from sources in the home, keep floors and other play areas clean and free of dust and debris. Wash children's hands and playthings often.
5) Feed your child a balanced diet that includes food rich in iron and calcium. Kids who have good diets absorb less lead.
6) Do not buy jewelry --- especially cheap jewelry --- for young children. Even if the item doesn't contain lead, it can still be a choking hazard.
7) Avoid no-name products for toddlers. Even though many of the recently recalled toys have been made by high-profile companies like Mattel, it's best to be careful about toys from dollar stores, street fairs, vending machines, thrift stores and yard sales.
8) Buys toys that fit your child's age. Kids age 2 are the most likely to put toys in their mouth. The American Academy of Pediatricts offers a list of age-appropriate toys on its Web site.
In addition, Gourde said that just because a toy isn't painted, doesn't mean it's not toxic.
"The ones that get recalled are those with paint, but there is quite a bit of lead in plastic and vinyl, which do not have standards," she said. Lead can also be found in the electronics inside toys as well.
Expasperated parents might ask, "What's left?"
Good bets include board and picture books, unpainted wooden toys or balls, nontoxic paints and crayons and washable stuffed animals.
And just because a toy is made in a country other than China doesn't mean it's safe, Gourde said. As the Consumer Reports Web site points out, jewelry containing lead has been imported from India while children's furniture with lead paint has come in from Mexico.
If a parent suspects lead exposure in their child, the Cowlitz County Health Department suggests they contact their private physician for a blood test.
Other than that, keeping an eye on children and what they put in their mouths might be the best measure a mom or dad can take.
"Prevention is the only cure," Gourde said. "It's not something that you can take a pill for after it's happened."
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