Deciphering the Toy Recalls: Is It Safe to Go Back in the Toy Store?

Toys. Everyone is obsessed with them. Children want them. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles rush out to get the biggest, best and coolest ones. Toys are meant to entertain and educate the young and a company’s fortunes can rise and fall with the latest crazes and must-have gifts. Some people worry about giving too many toys and spoiling a child. Nowadays, it seems, what they should really worry about is giving the wrong toy and killing a child.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Whoa, slow down there, most dangerous or recalled toys don’t kill anyone. So, why focus on this extreme—if unlikely—threat? There are two reasons.

1. They can kill. Some of the headlines from the last couple of years look like this:

"Playskool Voluntarily Recalls Toy Tool Benches after the Death of Two Toddlers"

"Kolcraft Recalls Play Yards After the Death of a 10-Month-Old Child"

"Child's Death Prompts Replacement Program of Magnetic Building Sets"

2. Most people need to see the ultimate threat before they’ll respond to something. "Harming" could mean bumps, cuts, and scrapes. While we would prefer that toys not cause further risk of these things, bumps, cuts and scrapes are ordinary hazards of childhood. However, when we realize that defective toys can cause extreme injuries and even death, we pay attention. Here's a good example. In the time I've had my current car there have been four safety recalls on it. Because I am busy (and lazy, I'll admit it) I've looked at each one of those and thought, "Oh, that won't kill me" and tossed it in the trash. “Harm” is easy to overlook. “Death” is not.

Okay, so we’ve established that dangerous toys can kill. How does this happen and, more importantly, what can be done about it?

In 2007 the number of toy recalls was staggering and it reached into nearly every area of the toy store. One of the biggest problems was toys manufactured in China that were coated with lead paint or other, harsher toxins. These toys could cause problems ranging from seizures to death. Even though the Chinese government has attempted to rectify the situation, the outcome is not promising. Of the roughly 9,000 Chinese toy manufacturers, only 20% have attended government training courses on product safety and quality.

From a legal standpoint there is very little that can be done to hold the Chinese manufacturers responsible. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to identify specific companies or factories which produce a given item. Going after a company in China is unlikely to accomplish anything. Instead, lawyers target U.S. distributors and retailers for deaths and injuries related to these faulty toys. This means that from the large stores like Wal-mart to the local mom and pop grocery, those who sell toys in this country can potentially be held responsible for the injuries they cause. If your child has been seriously injured by a defective product, consider consulting an attorney about your options.

Of course, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is far better to protect our children from harm in the first place than to sue someone if the child is killed or injured.

So, what can you do to protect the children you love? There are a few simple things you can do quite easily.

• First, determine where the toy you wish to buy was made. “Made in the U.S.A.” means something. It ensures that the standards used in making the toy conform to consumer protection laws in this country.
• Second, keep abreast of the latest toy recalls and issues by visiting www.cpsc.gov, the website for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can even sign up for email alerts that will let you know when new recalls occur.
• Third, use common sense. If you can see one way to destroy a toy or render it dangerous, a child can find three.
• Fourth, consider home testing of toys. A local hardware store can sell you a kit that you can use at home on your child’s toys to check for lead paint. Although several government agencies are concerned that the tests aren’t accurate enough , it’s at least a start.
• Fifth, be aware of the types of hazards. Lead paint has received a lot of headlines lately but there are also many other types of hazards that toys can present. Make sure you check for small parts that are loose or easily broken since they can be swallowed. Check to see if a toy has any sharp edges or could be broken in such a way to create edges that could cut a child. If the toy runs on batteries, make sure the batteries won’t come into contact with your child.
• Sixth, remember to adequately supervise younger children. Even the safest toy and the calmest child could still be the makings of an accident. Proper supervision helps ensure that if something goes wrong, you’ll know about it in time to do something about it.

Ultimately the responsibility for protecting our children lies with us, the ones who love them enough to shop for them. So, is it safe to go back into a toy store? The answer depends entirely on you. Toy stores carry both safe and potentially dangerous products and a little research and care on your part goes a long way in keeping your child from becoming a statistic.

• Check for the latest in safety concerns and recalls. www.cpsc.gov
• April 2008 Recalls to date http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelapr08.html
• FUNTASTIC fake hillbilly teeth – lead
• Interchange Robot Toys – lead
• Little Builder Children’s Board Book Sets with Toys – choking hazard
• Fun ‘N Games Magnetic Dart Boards – aspiration and intestinal hazards due to magnets
• Dollar Tree Stores Cuddly Cousins