It’s no secret that children love toys. From stuffed animals to bicycles, toys help children explore their imaginations, stay active, and learn. As a parent, you may have some concerns about what toys are best for your child. Today, there are millions of toy options and thousands of different companies producing them. With so many choices, it can be difficult to make a decision. Here are some tips and tricks to finding the right toy for your child, no matter what age they are.
Toy Safety in the United States
Toys are regulated differently in every country. The United States has some of the strictest rules regarding toy safety and enforces them, diligently. Toys must adhere to safety guidelines and appropriately label their products according to set standards. In the event that a toy is found to be unsafe after it has been produced and sold, a recall is issued. Recalls serve to alert the public to any safety hazards that the toy may pose and give the public a chance to return their products.
In 2008, the United States passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This act limited the number of harmful substances that could be found in a product. It changed the testing and documentation required for products to pass safety regulations and made the consequences for failing to adhere to the standards much more severe. While these rules apply to all products, the law was specifically enacted to prohibit the manufacturing of unsafe toys in the United States.
Potential Hazards to Look Out For When Shopping for Toys
- Age Restrictions – Many toys come with age restrictions. Toys with small pieces aren’t ideal for children under the age of 3 years old to play with because they pose a choking hazard. Additionally, some toys require children to be able to hold themselves up and support themselves.
- Chemicals – The materials that toys are made out of matter. Parents have become more and more concerned about the BPA, PVC, dyes and other potentially harmful chemicals that have been found in toys. More and more parents are opting for wooden toys in favor of their simplicity, sturdiness, and lack of chemicals.
- Poor Craftsmanship – If a company has a history of making toys that have been recalled or utilizes unsafe production methods, you should stay away from their products. These toys can come apart and harm your child while they play. Stick with companies that have a good reputation when it comes to safety and quality.
- Hand-me-down or older toys – Toys that were made prior to 1978 may contain lead-based paint which has been shown to have negative effects on children’s health. Toys that have been homemade, likely won’t pass any safety regulations. Specifically, homemade toys aren’t typically made to be flame retardant.
Other Factors to Consider:
In response to the over-consumption of raw materials and the astounding amount of toys that end up in landfills, many companies have begun to manufacture more eco-friendly products. These products are made from recycled materials and are typically free of any harmful chemicals that are usually found in plastic. No more worrying about BPA and you’re helping to conserve natural resources. It’s a win-win.
Safe Toys 101
Toy safety has become a number one priority for parents. In order to make sure that you are buying the safest toys for your children, you should perform research on the products that you’re considering. However, as the United States has some of the strictest laws regarding toy safety, your chances of purchasing an unsafe product is low. When looking for the right toy for your children, finding one that encourages play and captures their imagination is invaluable.
Adoption Choices of Colorado
For more information on adoption or if you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Adoption Choices of Colorado. We can be reached via our website or by calling: 303-670-4401.
Make an Impact
Adoption Choices, Inc. is partnering with Crowdrise, a fundraising website for nonprofits, to help our adoptive parents and birth parents with much needed financial assistance. We understand that expenses keep clients from fulfilling their dreams. Both with birth parents making a plan for adoption, and with adoptive parents growing their family. It is our mission to provide financial assistance through grants and scholarships, awarded annually in November, in honor of National Adoption Month. Funds assist adoptive parents with matching and placements, adoption finalization and helping birth mothers improve their lives through higher education — and much more.
However, we can’t do it alone. Please read up on our programs and donate money where you are able. Your donation will make a huge impact.
About the Author
Davina grew up in the outskirts of New York City, before eventually moving to Buffalo, New York at the age of 10. Her passion for adoption comes from her own experiences of being in foster care and being an adoptee herself. She hopes to help others to understand the intricacies of adoption and encourage them to consider it as an option.
Davina is a proud Geneseo Knights alum having graduated in 2018. She has been writing for as long as she can remember and chose to pursue a degree in English with hopes of making her hobby a career. Thus far, she has enjoyed her time as an intern for Adoption Choices Inc. and looks forward to a bright future in writing. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, building websites, and making lists.
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References:
Cronan, Kate. “Choosing Safe Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers.” Kids Health. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safetoys-young.html
Nims, Brittany. “22 Non-Toxic Toys For Babies And Toddlers On Amazon.” HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/non-toxic-toys-for-babies-and-toddlers-on-amazon_n_5b293aece4b0a4dc99216b28
Watson, Stephanie. “Are Toys and Gadgets Good for Your Baby?” Web MD. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/baby-toys#1
BabyCenter Staff. “Toys for 6- to 9-month-olds.” BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/0_toys-for-6-to-9-month-olds_819.bc
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!