Toy Recalls - Important Information
The toys of today have become much safer than they were thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago. Toy recalls are more common and important than ever. It seems as if each week there are toy recalls on news reports. Recalls for Stroller, infants carrier, crib, high chairs, and other baby equipment used around the home have increased as well as toy recalls.
In the early 1970’s when I was a young child, the toys which I remember most were the Fisher Price telephone, the Fisher Price dog, the stackable rings, and the Fisher Price farm. Of these, the farm is perhaps the only one that would not be subject to toy recalls today. However, the wheel on the tractor may have been small enough to be a choking hazard.
The telephone had a string on it that you could pull on, plus a cord that connected the receiver with the base. Both would be strangulation hazard today and would make the toy recalls list.
The Fisher Price dog also had a string by which you could pull it. It also had a small, round ball on the end of its tail. The size was small enough that it posed a potential choking hazard.
The stackable plastic playrings you may think would be safe. For the most part they were, except for the part where the rings go around. The old version was thinner and pointier on the end, which would be harmful and cause injuries if poked in the eye.
My mother still has my old telephone and ring set, although she cut the strings off the phone before my children played with them. I wonder why she didn’t think of doing that back when I was a kid?! Then again, maybe if there were toy recalls then, she would have!
Even the seemingly normal or simplest of toys could be subject to toy recalls. Just recent the jelly-type, squishy yo-yo’s were subject to recall. I never considered it could be a strangulation hazard until I saw a report about it on the news. Many times we don’t realize the how dangerous some products are until we have heard of other people who had bad experiences. Toy recalls have made us all aware of the everyday hazards our kids face. Toy recalls have become a necessity in order to keep our kids safe, even while they are at play.
If you own a product which you feel should be subjected to toy recalls, or if a product you own has already been recalled, contact the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, or follow the instructions given by the manufacturer of the product.
Check the links for specific information on recalls. If you have young children, parents protect your family by taking toy recalls seriously. They may save the life of your child.