Safe Parenting

As we rush around this holiday season trying to get everything done, do you consider toys that you are purchasing and how safe they are for your child? While a child might make a wishlist for you that includes toys they really want, it is very important to check the age appropriate levels on the toy to make sure that the toy is 100% safe for your child.

While you shop for toys to stick under the Christmas tree, child safety advocates suggest following this set of rules.  First, read the label.  Check the age recommendation manufacturers put on the bright colored packaging.

"Even though it may be something they think that a child might like, there is some reason that the manufacturer feels that that toy needs to be in the hands of an older child," said Michael Hughes, Executive Director of Safe Kids Mississippi.

Small parts that can be easily ingested by little children.  Tiny button batteries often found in electronics are particularly dangerous.

Hughes said, "You got a two fold problem in that there is a blockage of the gastro intestinal tract.  They will also discharge their electrical current into the tissue causing an electrical burn."

It seems these days that we are hearing more and more about unsafe toys and other items for our children. From lead in the paint used and more recently a substance called BPA was found in some plastic baby bottles. BPA has been linked to early puberty in girls and various forms of cancer. So how can we keep up with the neverending stream of data and recalls? HealthyToys.org has launched to help parents keep up with just that. According to their website:

HealthyToys.org is based on research conducted by environmental health organizations and other researchers around the country. The Ecology Center is the coordinating organization for HealthyToys.org, but the following groups provided data or participated in the release of HealthyToys.org. Please visit their websites to learn more about activities in each of the states.

For more information about your particular state, visit the about section on HealthyToys.org.