November 24, 2009

Kim McMullens of Bend flips through the 2009 list of potentially dangerous toys.

With a 4 year old and 10 month old baby McMullens says safety is always on her mind.

"This stuff is definitely  stuff I would consider buying for my children so knowing that a lot of it has lead warnings and ya know choking hazards is  concern," said McMullens.

16 toys were on the list released Tuesday by the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group.
Ranging from a VTech Bright Lights Phone that is too loud, at 86 decibels, prolonged exposure can cause hearing loss. To a Puppy Princess Purse that is made of plastic that contains phthalates, a potentially toxic chemical that leaches out of the material. It's especially dangerous if ingested.
6 out of the 16 toys can be found at local stores including Walmart, Claire's and Target.

Shane and Larissa Roberts were holiday shopping for their niece and nephew at the Bend Walmart.
After looking over the list, they say they do consider safety while shopping.

"We look for our 18 month old niece and we look to make sure there weren't too small of parts and she's in to princess stuff now so there are a lot of little things that you have to be aware of," said Roberts.

The list of toys is not comprehensive but is meant to be examples of what to look for while shopping.
Most toys are labeled, but manufacturers are not required to label phthalates. The best tool to check for choking hazards is a toilet paper roll, if the toy slides through, it's dangerous for small children.

For the complete list go to: www.toysafety.mobi