Free Baby Stuff
Where Can I Test My Existing Toys?
The Toy Industry of America (TIA) recommends that parents visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html to review the toy recall list. And parents should also sign up at the Consumer Product Safety Commission to receive email alerts about any future recalls. The Toy Industry of America also offers current information about recalled toys and parents can visit their website at www.toyinfo.org
Some parents choose to buy home lead testing kits to test their infant & newborns’s toys for lead. Although some experts warn that these home-based tests can give an unreliable reading, some parents feel confident in the results provided by home lead testing kits, like those sold by www.leadtesttoys.com. These inexpensive kits (often under $10.00) are intended to allow parents to instantly check the surface of any object for lead. The kit’s swab turns pink or red in the presence of lead. The kits are designed as a fast, simple and reliable way to check for lead and prevent lead accumulation and poisoning.
Although it is not as convenient, experts agree that the most reliable way to test a toy for lead would be to send the toy to a certified environmental laboratory where the test would cost about $20 to $30 per toy tested. You can search for a lead testing professional at www.leadlisting.org or check out environmental laboratories at www.epa.gov/lead.
Top 3 Toy Tips;
1 Do not buy Soft Plastic Toys. These include rubber ducks and similar items that your baby might innocently chew on.
2 Recalled Products: Check that no recalled products are being used and that a current list of recalled infant & newborns's products is readily visible. You will find the following websites on recalled products helpful to find out whether your baby product is safe or not.
• http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html
With so many recalls, it would be easier to start with a safe toy company. You can start your toy shopping here:
• http://www.healthytoys.org/product.least.php
3 Use only approved safe baby toys. You may visit www.healthytoys.org to learn more about safe toys. The following are a list of baby toy brands that are committed to safety and have removed Bisphenol A (BPA):
• Lego
• BRIO
• IKEA
• Gerber
• Little Tykes
• Sassy
• Tiny Love