Parents should beware of toxic toys

With this weekend being the last before Christmas, toy retailers such as Toys R Us are pulling out all the stops to get consumers into stores for one last shopping push before the big day. Basically, some stores pledge to be open continuously until Christmas Eve.

With all the focus on last minute shopping, we find it prudent to warn our readers about toys that may be hazardous to a child’s health. After all, more than 250,000 children wind up in emergency rooms each year because of injuries due to toys. Despite federal bans on hazardous chemicals that are included in some toys, there are still a number of products on the market that have lead, phthalates and chromium; all of which can be hazardous to a child’s health.

Also, there are a number of toys that can pose hazards to small children. Examples are toy pieces that toddlers can put in their ears and small magnets that can be swallowed, and loud toys that can damage a baby’s ears.

Indeed, parents are commonly good about choosing toys that are appropriate for their kids, but when toys are not labeled properly, it can be a recipe for disaster…even on Christmas. Because of this, manufacturers have a legal duty to make sure that products that they sell are properly labeled and safe for their intended uses. Additionally, they must be free of toxic chemicals that could make a child sick. If a manufacturer fails to adhere to these duties, and a child is injured, the manufacturer could be held liable.