Teddy Bears, Fire Engines, and Soccer Balls: Choosing Safe Toys

An immense variety of toys crowds store shelves today. How do you decide which ones are safe for your child to play with? Fortunately, most toys are safe, thanks to U.S. government regulations and industry standards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates rattles, small parts in toys intended for children younger than three years, lead content of paint and surface coatings on toys, electrical toys, labeling for art supplies, and bicycles. It is mandatory for toy manufacturers to comply with these regulations. The Commission has the authority to recall products that fail to conform to its regulations. If it determines that a product poses a substantial risk of injury, even if there is no applicable regulation or standard, the Commission can recall that product as well. The Commission can also impose penalties on manufacturers or distributors for their failure to abide by the regulations.

A voluntary industry toy safety standard has been in place since 1986, and since then it has undergone several changes and expansion in coverage. The standard addresses a broad variety of hazards for many different types of toy. Most toys, especially those made or imported by reputable U.S. companies, are tested against this industry standard before they are marketed, but compliance is not mandatory.

The industry toy safety standard recommends that manufacturers provide age grades on toys. Age grading generally establishes a lower age limit, the minimum age a child should be to use the toy as intended. Sometimes, age grading also includes an upper limit, thus establishing the most appropriate age group to use the toy.