Toy Safety Requires Caregiver Diligence

Two new recalls this morning to keep an eye on:

The first is a linking toy with ball shaped rattle from Rhino Toys.  The yellow clips connecting the links to the ball broke on one (that’s what I said – O-N-E) toy in the hands of the consumer, posing a potential choking hazard.  No injuries were reported.

Sold for about $8 at Toys R Us and other small retailers from April through December 2010. Customers are being asked to take the product away from their child immediately. Toys R Us is offering a full refund. 

The other is a wooden floor activity center from Manhattan Group.  The small wooden pegs that hold the xylophone keys onto the side panel can fall out, creating a choking hazard for young children.  There has been one (that’s what I said – O-N-E) toy in the hands of the consumer.  No injuries were reported.

Sold for about $90 at specialty retailers and mail order catalogs from December 2010 through February 2011. Customers should stop using the product immediately. Return it to the retailer from which it was purchased, or call Manhattan Group directly (800-541-1345) full refund or replacement.           

    There must have been more going on behind the scenes to allow only one incident to create these recalls.  I say this because the method in which the small part was released was not revealed.   Did the clip break while an infant was slurping on it during normal play, or was something else at work here?  Imagine how much strength it would take for an infant to press both ends of the plastic clip in opposing directs before it would snap.  If this indeed was the case – the Incredibles’ baby is on the loose!  

     But to be serious, if you have older siblings in the home, then carefully consider any toys you give your children, particularly your infant or toddler.  They may not have the strength to break the toys, but big brother certainly might. Wooden Toys are appealing and normally very durable, but they often depend on glue alone for securing small accessories.  When small parts are attached to a toy simply by glue, there is a real damage of that glue drying out over time allowing inquisitive little fingers, to tug and pull it off.  In addition, in wooden toys we often see the “part into hole” connection poorly designed, so very little glue even reaches the end of the part it’s supposed to be holding.   Naturally, any small part that releases from a toddler toy during use goes directly into the mouth and creates a real potential for choking.

    Toys that can undergo YOUR manipulation, pulling, bending and tweaking – should be safe for your child.  Test it our before you give it to your child to play with. 

    Also - Check the toy box often for broken toys and remove any that are damaged or look like they are about to break.