The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) is constantly testing and analyzing consumer products, including toys, to ensure safety standards are met.  Although not armed with the CPSC’s power to recall products, other consumer protection groups like the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (“CoPIRG”) and World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (“W.A.T.C.H.”) conduct independent tests and publish reports alerting consumers to hazards in common toys.  During this shopping season, we collect, review and summarize these toys which these “watchdogs” have identified as hazards and look at what components made them dangerous in the first place.

Some of the common hazards associated with children’s toys include small parts and strings, which constitute choking hazards, and projectiles, rigid materials, toxic substances, and inaccurate warnings and labels.  Violative toys may be recalled by the CPSC or voluntarily by manufacturers, but some toys available for purchase today still pose these dangers.  For instance, the CoPIRG’s 2015 Report found ten times the legal limit of phthalate DEHP in the Fun Bubbles jump rope from Dollar Tree.  However, lab tests found no toys that violated industry standards for lead paint.  The 2015 list of “10 Worst Toys” published by W.A.T.C.H. cited no toys for lead paint violations, but found that a play dough-like product called “Poo-Dough” contains wheat, which could trigger an allergic reaction in affected children.  Although the product packaging contains appropriate warnings, W.A.T.C.H. admonished that the warning was only on the “throw-away packaging,” and not the product itself.  W.A.T.C.H. also cited realistic-looking toy weapons on its Worst Toys list, as well as several toys believed to have insufficient warnings of potential choking hazards or risk of injury.  The most common offenders in the CoPIRG Report were insufficient or missing warnings regarding potential choking, projectile, and loud noise hazards.  

Choking hazards were among those most commonly seen in toys that were recalled during 2015.  Other cited dangers included lead paint and projectile or laceration hazards.

Toys recalled in 2015 for choking hazards:

1. Airplane and Butterfly Push Toys by LS Import (due to potential detachment of the wheels of the airplane and the balls at the tip of the butterfly’s antenna)
2. Levels of Discovery Airplane Rocker (due to potential detachment of red wooden knobs on the rocker's steering panel console)
3. Branded LLC Kaleidoscope Toy (end caps could be removed to expose small parts; also a laceration hazard from internal components)
4. Schylling Toy Police Cars (due to hat detaching from the policeman's head)
5. Bunnies by the Bay Pull Toys (due to hub caps breaking or coming off the wheel

1. Children’s Elephant Activity Toys (due to a breakable wooden ring)
2. Juratoys Fishing Games (due to the small magnet inside the worm at the end of the fishing line, which could be swallowed)
3. Build-A-Bear Stuffed Animals (the satin seam of the stuffed animal could open, allowing the stuffing material to be exposed)
4. LaRose Industries Peanuts Flying Ace Ride-On Toys (also found to contain excessive levels of lead in the paint used on one of the parts)

Toys recalled in 2015 for risk of injury from projectile or laceration:

1. Slingshots by Barnett Outdoors (due to potential for wrist brace to detach)
2. Tough Treadz Auto Carrier Toy Sets sold in Family Dollar Stores (due to sharp edges of die-case metal cars)

Toys recalled in 2015 for lead paint hazards:

1. Northern Tool + Equipment Little Digger Toy
2. Cycle Gear Semi Truck and Motorcycle Toys  

Although the average consumer might not be able to test for toxic substances, other dangers like choking, strangulation, lacerations or blunt force injuries can sometimes be anticipated depending on the toy and age of intended user.  The CPSC offers 3 tips to consumers shopping for toys during the holiday season (www.cpsc.gov):

1. The CPSC advises consumers to carefully consider the age ranges indicated on a toy’s label to choose age-appropriate toys. For children younger than 3, consumers are advised to avoid toys with small parts or choking hazards, especially deflated or broken balloons, small components that could break off, or small balls.

1. High-powered magnet sets for building or play should be kept away from small children, regardless of whether they are marketed for children or adults.  Children’s magnetic toys are covered by a strong safety standard that prevents magnets from being swallowed, but magnetic sets marketed toward higher age groups contain small magnets that could easily be swallowed.

2. The CPSC warns that helmets and safety gear should be used appropriately with any riding toys, and that riding a scooter or other toy on a street or roadway with other motor vehicles should be avoided.