It's hard to always be sensible about gifts during the holidays. Though a sweater might keep a child warm, it's not likely to be received with as much glee as a toy.
What does make sense is being careful about the toys you buy, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission can help. The agency is charged, in part, with protecting children from products that can hurt them, and it regularly lists product recalls. You can sign up for alerts.
If you find your child has a toy on the following list of 2010 recalls, take it away immediately; then you can consult the manufacturer or distributor listed on the recall notice about your next steps.
Strangulation hazards
The following toys might present a strangulation hazard. About 1,200 rocking horses sold at RockingHorseDepot.com. About 8,800 Horse-on-a-Stick toys sold at Love's Travel Stop and Country stores nationwide.
Risks of injury
The following toys might present a risk of injury:
About 34,000 bathtub submarine toys sold at mass merchandise retail stores and children's stores nationwide. About 2.5 million Push Around and Whisper Ride buggies sold at major retailers and specialty stores.
Choking hazards
About 2.8 million infant toys with inflatable balls -- including Baby Playzone Crawl & Cruise Playground, Baby Playzone Crawl & Slide Arcade, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall, Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium (C3068 and H8094), 1-2-3 Tetherball, Bat & Score Goal. About 100,000 Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampways sold at mass merchandise stores nationwide.
More choking hazards
About 5,500 Beado handheld bead play toys sold at specialty toy and juvenile retailers. About 1,200 Sandy the Squirrel Plush Toys sold at exclusively at Nickelodeon, 4U and NU stores in the Mall of America. About 21,000 Step2 Basic Rhythms Drums sold at Toys "R" Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other retail stores nationwide.
Laceration hazards
The following toys might present a laceration hazard:
About 2,100 "Play With Your Veggies" toys sold at The Land of Nod stores in Illinois and Washington, the Land of Nod catalog and www.landofnod.com. About 800,000 Wind Chime Toys sold at Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, Target, Buy Buy Baby and T.J. Maxx stores.
Aspiration hazards
The following toys might present an aspiration hazard:
After two boys died, about 1.8 million toy dart gun sets sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores were recalled. About 2,700 Animal Crackers Giant Stacking Toys sold in One Step Ahead's catalog and on the firm's website at www.onestepahead.com.
Fire & burn hazards
The following toys might present a fire and burn hazard:
About 46,000 "Fly Dragonfly" (also called "Queen Bee") Remote-Controlled Helicopters sold at book/gift fairs held in schools, hospitals and office buildings nationwide. About 6,000 Danbar Knight Hawk Toy Helicopters sold at RadioShack stores, RadioShack dealer franchise stores nationwide and at www.radioshack.com.
Lead paint hazards
The following toys might present a lead paint hazard:
About 1,000 TechnoSkin Foam Balls and Sportime TechStitched Soccer Balls sold in Sportime's catalog and on the firm's website, www.schoolspecialty.com. About 3,000 Double Egg Shakers sold at Discount School Supply stores nationwide. About 580 BigBox Hockey Sets sold in Sportime's catalog and online at www.sportime.com. About 252,000 Tiny Tink and Friends Children's Toy Jewelry Sets sold at retailers nationwide.
Other hazards
The following toys might present an ingestion hazard or violate a federal toy standard. About 175,000 Buckyballs High Powered Magnets Sets sold at a variety of stores, including stores selling children's toys, stationery and office supplies and various online sites. About 1.2 million Chuck E. Cheese's Light-up Rings and Star Glasses sold at Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants.
