Toy Shopping Safety Tips for the Holidays

December 2008

Lead paint, toy recalls, and chemicals like BPA and phthalates have shoppers anxious about buying presents for children this holiday season. Consumer advocates say that toy safety has improved but warned that caution is still needed, and experts have offered shopping tips to help consumers navigate the toy safety maze.

A sweeping toy safety bill was passed by Congress last August, but because its standards will not be enforced until February 10, some lawmakers worry that dangerous toys will be for sale over the holidays. Of particular concern are products that contain high levels of phthalates and lead. One legislator said that toys with high lead content may be marked down to get them off of shelves by the deadline, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission said that toys containing phthalates will remain on the market indefinitely if they were manufactured before February 10.

Here are some of the tips that experts have recommended for buying toys that are safe for children:

• Only buy brand-name toys. Large manufacturers have an interest in keeping toys safe to protect their reputations.
• Don't shop at dollar stores. Their inventory consists of a lot of cheaper, imported toys.
• Shop on sites like Amazon.com – they email consumers if a product is recalled.
• Don't buy toys that contain bisphenol A (BPA).
• Don't buy toys that contain with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) because it often includes phthalates.