There doesn’t seem to be anything unsafe about the kindness and generosity associated with the holiday season. But now that the biggest gift-giving celebrations of 2007 have passed, a little vigilance can go a long way when it comes to the gifts you or your children received.
According to the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission, more than 61 items involving more than 25 million products were recalled over the past year due to malfunctioning parts or dangerous components. It’s important to know what your children received and how each product could affect them. Keep your kids safe by following these tips from the CPSC:
- Know from whom your child received gifts. Aside from family, find out about gifts from friends, parents of friends or strangers.
- Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
- For all children under eight, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
- Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings or neighbors.
- Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.
It’s a good idea to inspect every toy for indicators that it may have been recalled. Any product with applied paint or many small parts should warrant a search on the CPSC’s recall database for potential hazards. You can also keep up to date on regular product recalls by subscribing to the CPSC’s free recall e-mail list. Check out the CPSC’s website for more information on safe toys and how to inspect gifts.
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