Tis the season to be jolly and to shop. But when shopping for kids toys, how do you know what’s safe and what’s not?
A few years ago we were inundated with reports about toxic toys from China and the dangers of lead. To be sure the dangers are still out there…one consumer safety group found that a third of the most popular toys contain chemicals like lead, arsenic and cadmium.

However earlier this year tough new safety standards for toys were adopted by the federal government, forcing toy manufacturers to be sure to use less lead and other harmful chemicals in their products. Yet there are still older toys on the market and others that have slipped through the cracks.

One of the most popular toys for girls this year is the Dora the Explorer tote bag. It’s pink with a picture of Dora and sure to attract any lady. But according the testing by one private organization, it has unacceptable levels of lead.

Healthystuff.org is one website parents should keep in their favorites. They have put together a list of products they have personally tested and feel good about. Healthychild.org has done something similar coming up with a list of favorites for parents including organic toys, toys that don’t need batteries which can leak mercury, and other benign items.

Also look for the label ASTM on toy products. It stands for American Society for Testing Materials, and if you see that stamp, consider it a stamp of approval. It has been tested and checks out ok.

Finally at the end of the day if this seems like these reports and groups are taking the fun out of being a kid at Christmas, that’s just not the case. Unfortunately 22 kids died here in the US last year from exposure to the dangerous chemicals these toys can release.

So spend an extra ten minutes reviewing what’s actually in the toys and what the experts recommend to buy. It’s an extra ten minutes that can be beneficial for your child’s health.