Bouncy balls, stuffed animals, fake fries. What toys can lead to fiascos instead of fun? We put some parents to the test. First off, which toy is unlikely to contain high levels of toxic chemicals? Play jewelry, a stuffed animal or a plastic truck?
The Public Interest Research Group or PIRG, studied them all and says toys made out of PVC plastics contain phthalates, which have been linked to developmental problems. PIRG says go with stuffed animals since they are less likely to contain hazardous chemicals.
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Now, what's the most useful tool to make sure that a toy is safe for a child under three? Duck tape, a toilet paper roll, or a screwdriver? The correct answer is the toilet paper tube. If a toy, or any part of a toy, can pass through this tube, do not give it to children under three.
Which toy is least likely to produce dangerous levels of noise for small children? Toy instruments or sound producing toys like a guitar or phone? PIRG says avoid loud toys, or choose toys that a child cannot use close to their heads.
Nychelle Fleming is with the consumer product safety commission. Fleming said, "Parents should keep in mind both proximity and duration when it comes to noisy toys. Toys intended to be close to the body, such as a toy cell phone that may be close to the ear, cannot exceed decibel levels of 65 decibels."
So even though child's play seems like all fun and games, there are some twists and turns that can put parents to the test.
Don't panic if you didn't pass the test, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says it has some of the most stringent toy standards in the world, including mandatory testing, so this agency is keeping a close eye on what's on the toy shelves, but make sure you buy age appropriate toys. If you want to take a look at the complete quiz, here's the link from the public internet research group.