One of parents’ greatest fears today is that they might be buying their children some dangerous toys. We have all heard of the problems with lead and other dangerous metals. Now we must consider other features of toys that could create harm to our children.

Many hazardous toys are sold across the country. There is a new law overhauling the nation’s product safety watchdog agency. Unfortunately, while much of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is a step forward, many of its protections don’t take effect until 2009. Therefore, parents must maintain a ‘buyer beware’ attitude for this shopping season. Even worse, the CPSC told companies that they could keep selling toys with toxic phthalate chemicals until their inventory was depleted.

People are concerned about phthalates because they may disrupt the reproductive hormones and may disrupt the development of the reproductive organs. Experts say the worst toys are the ones that are heavily painted and have bendable plastic. Be especially careful of the toys with “Made in China” stickers on them. Congress is not removing these toys until February of 2009.

Parents must also watch for toys with small parts too. The problem is these can cause a choking hazard. You can test toys with the help of a toilet paper roll. If any part of the toy can fit inside the roll, it’s not safe for children under the age of three.

There is a list of the most dangerous toys of 2008 for children. That list includes, Animal Alley Purse Pet, Ninja Battle Gear Michelangelo, Walk N’ Sounds Digger the Dog, Pucci Puppies, Meadow Mystery Play, Inflatable Giga Ball, Spider Man Adjustable Toy Skates, Sportsman Shotgun, Extreme Spiral Copters, and Go Go Minis Pullback Vehicle. You can get more information about these toys on various web sites. You will soon find out just what makes them so dangerous.

Last year there was a toy named Aqua Dots that was laced with the date rape drug GHB. It was a toy that was intended for children ages four and up. This drug would cause people to become comatose. You can see why parents were concerned about the product.

The New York Public Interest Research Group offers a consumer guide to toxic chemicals found in toys. It claims that around 500 of the slightly more than 1,500 toys that were examined, contained medium to high levels of poisonous substances like cadmium, arsenic, lead, PVC or others chemicals. These chemicals result in problems ranging from developmental, behavioral, learning to hormonal and also cancer in developing children. The group added that the law requires toys to aim for safety standards, yet there is no testing required to ensure those standards are fully met.

Reports show lead was discovered in one in five toys, with 3.5 percent of the toys containing more lead than in federal standards for lead-based paint. Parents need to know that jewelry sold under the High School Musical and Hannah Montana names contained high levels of lead. This is a popular toy for girls.

Parents can find more information about these toys in various reports available through the Internet and television stations. It would be wise to check on all toys before buying anything for children. The safety of our children rests with the adults in charge of their well being. These adults will only be satisfied when they get answers to their questions and can be sure they are buying a product that is not only fun but completely safe.

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Category: Parenting
Keywords: toy,toys for toddle