Q&A: Are pre-owned toys safe?

 Do you recommend shopping at thrift stores or buying second-hand toys?

Used toys, especially solid, molded-plastic ones, can be a great buy, but you need to be aware of potential safety issues. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and yard and garage sales often have toys in excellent condition. But carefully check every toy to make sure that it's well made (i.e. not flimsy or sloppily constructed, with no rough edges or slipshod finishing) and there are no loose or missing parts. Wash it before giving it to your child. Avoid buying used toys that have no packaging or that are missing some type of label or brand identification, without which it might be difficult or impossible to tell if the toy has been recalled.

When you’re buying for a baby or an older child who has a baby or toddler sibling, think about whether that toy could be potentially dangerous for the baby. Toys for kids age 3 and up can have small parts and other hazards that are dangerous for little ones. Babies experience much of their world through sucking, so expect that most toys will go straight to their mouths. If you are not sure if the toy you are considering for a toddler is designed for kids under 3, don't buy it.

Lots of toys have been recalled in recent years. To avoid buying toys that may have been recalled, check the government’s recall site, www.recalls.gov, before you buy. You should also sign up for free e-mail alerts of recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site. Staying up-to-date can keep you from buying recalled products and help you remedy the situation if you already have one. If you’ve had a bad experience with a toy, call the CPSC at 800-638-2772 or log on. Your call could lead to a recall.

For more information, see our report on toys for toddler and preschoolers. Also see what to do about recalls, and be sure to check out our Safety Blog, too.

Comments

[x-ray fluorescence]

Yeah its much better to buy good and safe toys.Because today most of the toys contain lead which is dangerous to children health...

[Neely]

Good point!! Always prefer to buy safe toys...