Hello smick,
Thank you for your question.
There are a number of good resources online for evaluating toys and
products for children.
For example, the National Safe Kids Campaign constantly updates their
products recalls pages:
http://www.safekids.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=302
They also may have a coalition near you and you can check to see on
their home page.
Child Safety Experts Online is another excellent resource:
http://www.childsafetyexperts.com/index.shtml
"Dedicated to ensuring the safety of your child!
Our goal is to help you take control of your children's safety and
well being around the home, in the car, online, in school and when
going to the great outdoors.
We hope to help educate parents on some of the dangers around their
child and how to remove them and create a safe environment for their
child or infant..."
Some of their recent articles include:
Baby:
Baby Strollers Buying Guide
April 12, 2002
Crib & Mattress Buying Guide
October 24, 2002
Car:
New Safety Features in Baby Car-Seats
October 21, 2002
Baby Car-Seat Buying Guide
October 21, 2002
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a page for kids and kids
products that has helpful information and also lists recalls:
http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/index.html
For infants, the Danny Foundation rates cribs and other equipment:
http://www.dannyfoundation.org/
Kids in Danger targets dangerous products for children:
http://www.kidsindanger.org/
Consumer's Union has quite a few articles on product safety for
children and constantly adds more:
http://64.224.99.117/i/Product_Safety/Children_s_Products/index.html
For Baby's Sake
http://www.kohldesigns.com/safebaby/
"This site is intended to inform and educate the public about the
hazardous environment created by using many traditional baby products.
Baby product manufacturers are in business to sell baby products
through their attractive advertising campaigns. They market primarily
based on what increases their profits versus your child's safety --
cute and pretty appearances, themes, color schemes, convenience, and
matching the home or nursery decor.
These same manufacturers are aware that their products are associated
with thousands of injuries, recalls, and even numerous deaths per
year. Yet, it is not in their best interest to alert the public to
these injuries or recalls. Nor is it in the best interest of the
retailer to do so.
This site will educate you about many of these problems and how they
occur. It is not our intent to scare parents, yet you should be aware
of what the industry would probably prefer that you didn't know."
Another excellent resource for you is SafeChild.net:
http://www.safechild.net/
This page on products is extensive:
http://www.safechild.net/for_parents/index.html
And ToySafety.net has a wealth of good information:
http://www.pirg.org/toysafety/
ToySafety.net is a project of the National Association of State Public
Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). The information contained on this
site was researched and compiled by state PIRG staff across the
country and published in the state PIRGs’ 17th annual Trouble In
Toyland report. Use the links below and across the top of the page to
find out more.
You might also wish to visit Safer America for Everyone and use there
search box for "toys" or other products that interest you:
http://www.saferam.org/
Many of the above listed sites have mailing lists where you can
subscribe and keep current on recalls and product safety issues.
Search Strategy:
"child safety" +rating +group OR organization +toys OR equipment
I trust my research has provided you with useful links to investigate
the safety of products for children. If a link above should fail to
work or anything require further explanation or research, please do
post a Request for Clarification prior to rating the answer and
closing the question and I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
