Lead in toys are not safe for little ones!

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Protect Your Little One Against Lead In Toys.

Learn how to safeguard your little one against lead in toys.

There is no doubt about it, little ones love putting things in their mouth. It is how they learn. However, with the lead that is being used in toys, this is a dangerous combination.

Lead in toys (and other things) is an emerging issue and it has been going on for a long time. Even though this has been a problem for some time, it seems to be a more significant problem now because so many products are coming from other countries. Most of the toys sold in U.S. stores today are imported. Unfortunately, we (the U.S.) do not have regulatory systems in place that assure product safety. Let's face it, it is impossible to test every item that comes across the border. However, as a parent, we can inspect EVERYTHING that our little ones come in contact with.

I think lead in toys is unacceptable. However, these big toy companies probably disagree.

Lead is used in toy paint because it maintains the brightness of colors, the paint last longer, it's flexible, fast-drying, and CHEAP! Lead-based paint is about 30% cheaper than paint without lead. Unfortunately our little ones are paying the cost.

Most of the time, lead poisoning occurs with no symptoms and unfortunately, it can cause irreversible learning disabilities and behavioral problems. And even though the federal guidelines define lead poisoning as occurring at a measurement of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, most experts agree that there are no safe levels of exposure to lead in children.

While toys with unacceptable lead levels have been recalled, lead has been found in some that haven't made any recall list. Therefore, let's safeguard our little ones ourselves. Here are some ways you can protect your little one from potential lead poisoning.

When in doubt, throw it out! If you are questioning if a particular toy should stay or go, because you are not sure it contains lead, it is best to just throw the toy away. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Brightly painted imported toys (especially the ones from China, Mexico, and India) are more at risk of having lead-based paint.

Lead is in other things besides toys. Car keys, canvas lunch boxes (especially those with metallic linings), vinyl bibs, and children's chalk are just SOME of the things that contain lead. Therefore, take caution.

Leave the toy jewelry in the vending machines and toy stores. Just wearing toy jewelry will not cause your child to have a high level of lead. However remember: small children often put things in their mouth. And if swallowed or put in the mouth, lead jewelry is hazardous to children.

Do not buy ceramic or pottery toys manufactured outside the U.S., especially those made in China, India, and Mexico.

That goes for Mexican candies too. Yep, a lot of these candies have lead in it. So it is best to buy candy that is only made in the U.S.

In general, toys made in the United States and Europe are considered "safe". Books, CDs, and DVDs are also included. If you are not sure, you can also home test the toy for lead. However, they can be unreliable and do not tell you how much lead was detected. They also only detect lead that is on the surface and cannot detect if there is lead embedded below the surface. In most cases, however, a positive result means your little one should not play with the toy.

It is also a good idea to have your little one tested to make sure he/she does not have lead in their system. This inexpensive test will put your mind at ease, and it is the only way to tell if your child has lead in their system. Therefore talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

Are you curious to know which Mexican candy is safe to eat? If so, then click here.

Don't forget to click here to find out which kid's items have been recalled because of lead.

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