All of the recent toy recalls due to dangers with lead paint have left some Iowans skittish about their holiday shopping trips. Dr. Dianne McBrien, a developmental pediatrician at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, says daunted would-be toy buyers only need to look to the Internet.
McBrien says consumers with questions about the safety of any toy, whether it’s one they are considering buying or one their child already has, they should look at the recall list on the website for the Consumer Product Safety Commission . She says you can even subscribe to the website and be notified immediately of future toy recalls.
McBrien says the U.S. toy industry has very high standards for child safety. McBrien says: "The concentration of lead can be no more than point-oh-six-percent per toy, however the toys that were recently imported violated that standard. The toy industry is re-tightening their standards, looking at this stuff, being ever more vigilant."
Even if toys check out as being safe, McBrien reminds that not every toy will be safe for every kid — be sure and read the package. McBrien says most toys have labeling for the age range for which it’s recommended, like toys that contain small parts that might pose a choking hazard for small children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission website also contains recall lists of a host of other products, from holiday ornaments to clothing to tools, and it enables consumers to report problem products.