Avoiding Toxic Toys Isn't Child's Play

~*~Parents know how to protect children from dangers like small toys that can be choking hazards and dangling, frayed electrical cords that can cause shock. But what about the dangers you can't see, like lead in the paint of brightly colored blocks or the chemicals in a plastic sippy cup? Here are the latest toy safety guidelines you should be aware of.

>Toxic Toys: Get the lead out...

According to George W. Shannon, MD, a family physician in Georgia who is on the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians, parents should be most concerned about protecting their children from paint that contains lead. "The government agencies that help us in the U.S. can supervise overseas manufacturers, but you may want to avoid buying toys [made] overseas because lead paint can be a problem," warns Dr. Shannon.

New rules from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are further cracking down on products that contain lead, especially limiting the amount of lead that's permissible. A new law is requiring that U.S. toy makers and importers certify that kids' products meet the stricter safety rules and the ban on lead. But beware of thrift stores and consignment shops that resell older toys: They aren't required to give the same certification. You might also want to throw out any older toys in your home, especially those with chipping paint.