Old Toy

Keeping Recalls In Mind When Shopping For Toys

In the past generation, millions of toys have been recalled for cadmium content, dangerous magnets, or other problems. Simply because a toy gets recalled does not automatically mean it will never be sold or resold years later, so it is the responsibility of the parent to guarantee that the toys your child possesses are secure. For example, the Step2 Clubhouse Climber is a toy that requires supervision, but not one that will be recalled due to the contents. Listed below are a few suggestions for discerning which toys are harmless to play with, and which toys are not.

A practical place to start while you are intending to buy or have accepted a new toy is to scan the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Website. While you’re logged in, you will be able to search the list for your certain toy as well as sign up for immediate email notifications about toy recalls. If you discover that you own a toy which was on the list, take it away from your child immediately. The manufacturer usually has a web site or phone number you might contact for information having to do with refunds or replacements. These programs are generally valid for several years following the recall, and producers almost never demand receipts or packaging as proof of your purchase.

While this article is not intended to enhance any stereotypes, it ought to be acknowledged that quite a few toys produced in other countries have been recalled in recent years. That is why more parents are buying toys that are made in the USA like the Step2 Clubhouse Climber. The lone reason of a toy being imported is absolutely not adequate to suggest that it is dangerous, even so these toys may benefit from further scrutiny.

Obtaining pre-owned toys at flea markets is not a good idea. If you buy a second hand toy which was recalled ten years ago, the stipulations of that recall could possibly not be in effect, and you might basically have to throw the toy away. Sometimes old toys are offered which have not been manufactured in the last 15 years, however if designed today could be the object of a recall. These toys might be tricky, because they may include dangers such as loose parts or lead paint which the buyer could not know about. 

With those thoughts in mind, think carefully in advance of putting your old toys into a yard sale. If your toys are ten years old or older, determine first to learn if they have been recalled. The company’s website will often post this information, although the CPSC may be a more convenient one-stop source. Even if the used toys weren’t recalled, examine them for damaged parts in advance of offering them to a thrift shop. Buttons and strings are a problem, as are metal edges and any form of peeling paint.

One of the main aspects of parenting is making sure our children are safe. For example, it is not enough just to buy toys made in the USA like the Step2 Clubhouse Climber, but parental supervision is the key.  Establishing that the toys you purchase or sell meet the modern day safety specifications is one of the fastest ways to complete this task.

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