ecofriendlytoys

I recall a couple of years ago there was quite a scare about toys containing lead.  Although that scare has abated, many toys contain various toxins . You should not be scared, but you should be cautions about the contents of the products you buy for your children.  We are starting to learn of many more toxins in consumer goods, especially toys.  To ensure you are getting eco-friendly toys, follow these guidelines.

• Smell the toys you are purchasing for your children. If they have a strong chemical smell, put them back on the shelf and keep looking.

• Read the fine print on the packaging to make sure that the toy is manufactured from non-toxic materials.

• Avoid toys made from #3 plastics, which have been known to contain dioxins, disrupt hormones, and cause immune system damage in children and adults.

• Look for toys that are made in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Stay away from toys made in China.

• Don’t buy used toys from an antique store, because they might contain lead paint.

• Research the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site to stay abreast of toy and baby supply recalls.

• Avoid purchasing play cosmetics.

• Follow the manufacturer’s age recommendations from the packaging of the toy. Many toys manufactured for older children pose a choking hazard for babies.

• Choose classic toys that have stood the test of time, such as blocks, crayons, books, swings, bikes, stuffed animals, puzzles and others. These are often safer than cheap, glitzy plastic toys with many small pieces.

• Do not leave batteries in toys that are not being used regularly, as old batteries can start to leach unsafe chemicals such as mercury.

• Organic and eco-friendly toys are a good place to start your search for safe toys.

Source:  article by Kelly Bryan Smith from the Jackson Free Press
May 6, 2009

Trackback URI | Comments RSS