Toy Safety

What's New

24th Trouble in Toyland report

Toys should bring kids joy, but sometimes they bring injury, serious harm, or even death. This holiday season, as we have for the past 23 years, Illinois PIRG is working to reduce the number of injuries and tragedies caused by dangerous toys.

The 24th annual Trouble in Toyland survey focuses on three categories of toy hazards:
• toys that may pose choking hazards,
• toys that are excessively loud, and
• toys that contain the toxic chemicals lead and phthalates.

Illinois PIRG also has a new interactive smart phone website – http://www.toysafety.mobi – to help parents and other toy-shoppers avoid common hazards and report potential dangers they find on toy store shelves, right from their mobile phones or home computers.

How You Can Help

Spread the word about toy safety

Check out the interactive toy tool and report potentially dangerous toys here.

Also, if you suspect you have a toxic or otherwise dangerous toy or any unsafe product (coffeemaker, lawn mower, etc.), you can report it to the CPSC either online at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html or over the phone at Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Send a copy of your report to us at info@illinoispirg.org.

Overview

While most toys on store shelves are safe, we continue to find toys that pose a range of safety hazards to small children. As a result, parents and other child-care providers need to remain vigilant in order to prevent toy-related deaths and injuries.

Recently, Illinois PIRG broadened the scope of unsafe toys to include toys labeled as phthalate-free. Our analysis last year shows that even some products labeled phthalate-free contain the dangerous chemical.

Toy manufacturers should act swiftly to recall unsafe products and give parents the information they need to allow them to purchase safe toys for their children. Illinois PIRG and our allies have prompted recalls or regulatory action on over 100 toys.

Tainted Toys - This fall, Illinois PIRG's Brian Imus and Federal Public Health Advocate, Liz Hitchcock tested toys and discovered a number with lead and other dangerous chemicals. Watch the video, and read the news release.

Check out the 24th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

Illinois PIRG is also releasing a new, interactive mobile phone tool and website on November 24. This simple interactive tool will allow shoppers to check on possible hazards while at the store, or before they go shopping, as well as report hazards they find.

ISSUES

Toy Safety

What's New

24th Trouble in Toyland report

How You Can Help

Spread the word about toy safety

Overview

Resources

Fact Sheet: Bisphenol A (BPA) and Associated Risks

Reports

Trouble In Toyland: The 24th Annual Survey of Toy Safety 11/24/2009

Trouble In Toyland: The 23rd Annual Survey of Toy Safety 11/25/2008

Total Recall: The Need for CPSC Reform Now 7/23/2008