Toy
Safety at Capitol Kids
How do we choose toys at Capitol Kids?
We choose toys that encourage creativity, learning, investigating and exploring.
We love toys that have extended play value. Many of our toys are old favorite
heirloom-quality classics and some are truly just wacky and fun. We have always
been concerned about toy safety and we continuously seek out companies that make
good products and can provide documentation about their safety standards and
testing.
Where
are the toys at Capitol Kids
made? What do you know about
your vendors?
We have a great selection of toys made in the United States, Canada, Europe and
Thailand. We also have some products made in China by reputable companies. The
countries of origin of many of our toys are indicated by flags on the store shelves.
We also have a binder with information from most of our vendors. Some have even
sent us detailed reports of their testing.
What
has Capitol Kids done about
toy safety?
We are shocked and concerned by the recent recalls. Now we are even more diligent
in getting information from our manufacturers and finding out what kind of safety
and testing procedures they follow. Capitol Kids has asked all of our vendors
to submit safety statements - and in many cases, testing results on their toys.
We have quite a file, and we are happy to share that information with our customers.
What
safety factors should customers
think about when selecting
a toy?
There are many factors that should be considered in choosing a toy. Assuming
that selected toys have been carefully made out of safe materials, the most important
thing a consumer should do is to consider the age and developmental stage of
a child. Even when a child is very intellectually advanced, the age and developmental
level of the child must be considered. When toys have labels indicating that
they are not appropriated for children under three, they have not been safety
tested for infants and toddlers. Generally the concern is the size of the toy
pieces and the risk or potential for choking. We urge our customers to take these
warnings and age suggestions seriously. If you would like to check a toy for
choking dangers we can show you how to do that with a “choke tube.”
Sometimes magnets add to the playability of toys. We have reviewed our selection
of magnet toys in the store and discontinued some. Some we have retained. In
some cases we have questioned our manufacturers about how they attach or secure
magnets in their toys.
Why are
toys recalled?
The large number of toys that have been recalled is alarming. There are five
main reasons for most recalls:
– Lead
content in paint or materials.
– Small
super-magnets that may become
detached.
– Small
parts that can become loose
and pose a choking hazard for
children under three years
of age.
– Fragile toys that break into sharp pieces creating
a laceration risk.
– Toys that pose a strangulation risk because of too-long
cords or defective construction.
Until this year I had never thought about lead
or magnet dangers, how can I find out more?
The issue of lead in toys is serious. Babies and toddlers who ingest very tiny
amounts of lead may suffer serious consequences. We encourage everyone to learn
more about lead exposure. It is imperative to find out if children spend time
in environments where there is lead paint and take proper precautions. The Centers
for Disease Control www.cdc.gov,
The American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org,
your child’s physician, and local public health departments have information
to help you protect children.
What
do the experts say about toy
safety and how can I find out
more?
The highly regarded Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award announcements were delayed
this year because they decided to do lead testing on all their winning toys.
Unlike other years, they did not issue their annual Toy Guide due to lead contamination
issues. For more information including “Myths about Toy Safety”,
check out the Oppenheim website at www.toyportfolio.com.
The Toy Industry of America has a new website, www.toyinfo.org,
designed for parents that addresses toy safety. The Toy Industry of American
also has a website at www.toy-tia.org.
They make an important point about the companies that make toys, and where they
are made: “All toys sold in America must conform to U.S. safety standards — the
most extensive, effective, and widely emulated standards in the world — regardless
of where they are manufactured. The recent recalls are due to company-specific
problems with their testing and inspection processes. Companies make toys, not
countries, and companies are responsible for adhering to rigorous safety standards
and inspecting their products prior to delivery.” Other important issues
related to toy safety including toxic chemicals and noise are covered in information
from U.S.PIRG. Find them at www.toysafety.net.
At Capitol Kids we are connected with The United States Consumer and Product
Safety Commission, which has responsibility for recalls. This is a great website
with lots of good information. Review recalled toys and other equipment recalls
and sign up to get your own notices on your computer at www.cpsc.gov.
What
is the significance of the
CE marking – does it
mean that the toy is safe?
A large percentage of the toys that we sell at Capitol Kids meet the European
Community’s toys standards. The CE mark is often mistaken for a standard
of safety or quality. While it is not, many people feel more assured when a toy
is marked with a CE. Currently, in most significant areas, European mandatory
standards are more stringent than American standards. The actual purpose of the
CE mark is to indicate to enforcement authorities that the toys bearing it are
intended for sale in the European Community and that the manufacturer verifies
that toys satisfy the essential safety requirements applicable to them entitling
them access to Community markets. The CE marking is not a European safety marking
or quality symbol that is intended for consumers. Currently there is discussion
about the possibility of Europe and the US sharing standards, but this is not
something that is happening now.
What
do the “toy experts” at
Capitol Kids think?
We believe that U.S. standards are not rigid enough. Toy testing standards vary
and some items intended for children are not considered toys. (For instance,
testing of children’s toy-like jewelry is not generally required.)
At Capitol Kids we believe that we have the responsibility to know as much as
we can about the companies we do business with. We are able to call and talk
to our vendors – directly. We know many of the owners of the companies
and we are able to get information quickly. When our customers have questions
-we get them answered. We continue relationships with companies that provide
our customers great customer service.
In early 2008 we will have the capacity to contact you when there is a problem
with something you have purchased when you share your name and e-mail address
with us. We want to assure you that we will do all we can to ensure toy safety
while we help customers make their selections.
For more information,
call Peg at 608-280-0744.
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