There were 200 toys gathered from households, charities, second-hand stores, and nurseries in the South-West of England for a research published in Environmental Science & Technology (Jan 2018). They wanted to find out whether older, plastic second-hand toys posed a danger to youngsters. A total of 9 dangerous substances were being tested, with chronium, selenium, and lead being of particular concern. Twenty of the 200 toys tested had all nine of the substances tested – some at levels that would not fulfil European Council Toy Safety Directive safety guidelines. Regulations governing the use of chemicals in children’s toys went into force in 2013. Toys like these might be “chronically harmful” to a youngster if they are chewed on for a long length of time, according to researchers.
What’s the best way to clean toys?
Second-hand toys are likely to be dirty and unsanitary, making them unsuitable for children. It might be difficult to figure out the best technique to clean these.
Soft toy cleaning:
The majority of soft toys may be disinfected with a disinfectant spray or washed in the dishwasher. Keep little pieces like eyeballs out of harm’s way by placing the drums inside pillowcases and checking the labels.
How to clean tough toys:
Remove any batteries before cleaning hard toys using a disinfectant-soaked cloth, hot water, and a mild detergent. Plastic blocks may be disinfected in the sink using a disinfectant to keep them in good condition. Put them in a pillowcase and put them in the washing machine. Playing with antiques and toys that evoke fond memories is a priceless experience that fosters the creation of new ones. Please, however, keep in mind the aforementioned warnings about safety.
Should toys have any safety markings?
On toy labels, you’ll find two well-known symbols:
Lion’s Mark. When the British Toy and Hobby Association first unveiled it in 1988, it was widely recognised as a reliable mark of high-quality and well-made children’s toys. Toys sold in the EU must have the CE Mark, as well as the manufacturer’s name and address. The CE Mark demonstrates that the manufacturer has declared that the toy fulfils the European Toy Safety Directive’s safety criteria and may be transported and sold throughout the EU. As a result, you should always search for the Lion Mark rather than the CE Mark, which is only a trading standard mark. Robot dinosaurs can be the best toys for your kids.
Funniest and scariest toys
If your youngster swallows a toy that has easily accessible button batteries, the batteries might burn through their oesophagus. More than one of these powerful magnets may come together and distort your child’s digestive tract, cutting off his or her blood supply and inflicting significant injury. Magnets are very dangerous. Suffocation-inducing toys with lengthy strings. Toys containing unsafe charges or cables that might electrocute your youngster are not recommended.
What to do if a toy is harmful
Please contact Trading Standards if you have concerns about unsafe toys. When it comes to purchasing anything from a brick-and-mortar store or online, they are intrigued.