Are Your Child's Toys Safe?
Barbie Toys Toxic, Mattel Recalls
These news stories can be scary. Are you wondering if the toys your child is playing with are safe?
How would you know what do you need to actually look out for while buying a toy for your child and what problems can it give rise to? Here is how you can recognise the toys and how they harm your child
What Are Toxic Toys
Dr. Abhay Kumar from Toxics Link, an NGO which is researching on such toys says, "Toxic toys are those toys which use bright coloured paints and also PVC or polyvinyl chloride. PVC is a cheap quality plastic.
These materials contain high lead contents." When your child puts such materials in her mouth, the lead particles enter her body and can cause serious problems. Even teethers having bright colours may not be safe for your baby.
| Read How Toxic Toys Haunt Parents |
Recognising the Culprit
Paresh Chawla, President of Toy Manufacturers of India says, "You can differentiate between the safe and unsafe toys by looking out for the company's name and full address. If you find the name and address, you can hold them responsible if you discover that the toy is toxic. Avoid toys that carry a "Made in China" tag. This is because such toys may be highly toxic and can cause lead poisoning."
Lead Poisoning
Dr. Visalakshy Sundaram, Paediatrician and child specialist explains, lead poisoning is a slow poisoning. It does not affect the system immediately. When you give toys to your child, the first thing that your child may do is put it in her mouth. This is the way your child explores the objects she gets in her hand.
So when she puts the toy in her mouth, small amounts of lead enters her system.
Not only do these lead particles enter her body but also tend to cause problems in the long run.
Mail this Topic 
A Network Eighteen Venture
Tell us what you think…