Toy Safety

Most toys carry safety labels, but it's still impertant to aware of hazards when shopping children's gifts. Toys can pose different risks depending on the age of the child, according to the National Association of state Public Interest Research Groups. Here are a few noteworthy points:

Small parts and cords pose choking and strangulation risks for young childern.

Make sure the sound level of toys and audio products doesn't exceed 85 decibels; higher
levels can cause loss of hearing

Consider how kids might actually use a toy. If it shoots or launches an object, determine if children could substitute items such as pencils or nails, which would make the toy hazardous.

Check girls' cosmetics sets for hazerdous chemicals such as propane (found in glitter hairsprays) and xylene or dibutlyl phthalate (common in nail polosh).

Supervise kids if they use polymer clays to make crafts and jewlery. If inhailed or ingested, the clays can expose kids to harmful chemicals.