Many major toy companies are really stepping up to toy testing. Some of the biggest toy companies are implementing strict lead testing policies to new toys, so that consumers can feel confident about their infant & newborn’s toys. Toys R Us is the second-largest U.S. toy seller, just behind Wal-Mart, and they have committed to testing every one of their toy products using an independent laboratory. Mattel also has a similar policy. The cost of toys is expected to eventually increase by 10% in order to pay for the extra testing of toys before they reach the toy shelves.

The U.S. Toy Industry Association fully supports a new federal requirement that makes toy safety testing mandatory. The association is working with the American National Standards Institute to come up with an industry wide safety rules and regulations.

It’s also believed that some toy makers plan to shift a portion of their toy production from China to the U.S. since labor is more expensive in the U.S. this will also become a factor in the hiked prices of tomorrow’s toys.