Selecting toys for young children should be done carefully since there are toy manufacturers out there with sub-par safety and construction standards. Some manufacturers tend to consistently get unsafe toys made and distributed in our stores despite all of the FTC regulations.

Before purchasing toys for your children, always look them up online, and the best way to dig up any dirt is to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website at this link:

Recalled and Hazardous Toys

Make sure that you are not buying a toy that has been recalled for having hazardous features, and do some research online to see if anyone has filed any complaints or lawsuits from the use of the toy.

Here is a brief list of things to look for while purchasing toys for children:

1. If you are buying wooden toys, make sure that they are comprised of "splinter-free" wood that will not hurt your child.

2. Make sure that the manufacturer does not use lead-based paint, which is toxic and unsafe for children to handle.

3. Check the age appropriateness of each toy, and if you have small children, make sure that the toys do not have small parts that babies and toddlers can swallow.

4. Make sure that battery-operated toys have tightly-enclosed or screwed-in battery compartments to prevent small children placing the batteries in their mouths.

5. Do not purchase anything that requires electricity from an electrical outlet for young children. Toddlers tend to spill drinks, and liquids mixed with electrical objects can harm them.

6. Any products that have instructions that discuss misuse should not be purchased for a child. If a product can injure a child when a child misuses it, it is not a safe toy, and this is because children have a tendency to use toys and products in ways they were never intended to be used!

7. If you are buying a plush toy for young children, please make sure that the eyes and parts of it cannot be easily chewed off. Inspect the nose and eyes of teddy bears. They MUST be stitched in well enough to prevent children from swallowing them. If you can pry it off with your bare hands with ease, do not purchase it for young children.

Keeping our kids safe from harmful products takes careful research and testing. Always open new product packages with your children, and use the toys with your kids to identify any possible hazards. If you find a defect or potential hazard to your child, please immediately report it to the U.S. Product Safety Commission and the manufacturer.