As you begin your shopping this holiday season we hope you keep a few things in mind. "Safety and Quality"
SAFETEY:
The consumer advocate's report, released Tuesday, found just over a dozen toys on store shelves that violate federal safety standards. Some had unsafe levels of lead or chemicals called phthalates, and others contained small parts that young children could choke on. Government figures show 34 toy recalls in fiscal year 2011 -- down from 46 recalls the previous year; 50 in 2009 and 172 in 2008. Recalls related to lead were down from 19 in 2008 to four this past year.To read the full article and see the list of "unsafe" toys click HERE and for the full list click HERE.
QUALITY:
The consumer advocate's report, released Tuesday, found just over a dozen toys on store shelves that violate federal safety standards. Some had unsafe levels of lead or chemicals called phthalates, and others contained small parts that young children could choke on. Government figures show 34 toy recalls in fiscal year 2011 -- down from 46 recalls the previous year; 50 in 2009 and 172 in 2008. Recalls related to lead were down from 19 in 2008 to four this past year.To read the full article and see the list of "unsafe" toys click HERE and for the full list click HERE.
QUALITY:
Babies rely primarily on their 5 senses (seeing, smelling, hearing, touching, and—yes—tasting) to play and explore. If you keep this concept in mind, it will serve you well when selecting the best toys for your baby.
**info from The Boston Globe/Associated Press
**info from http://www.healthychildren.org/
- Eye catching. Babies typically prefer objects with bright colors, high contrast, simple designs, and clear lines.
- Shakes, rattles, and rolls. Your baby’s exploratory efforts will be rewarded with both sounds and movement.
- Touchy feely. Remember to let your baby explore various textures. Think soft, smooth, fluffy, and fuzzy.
- Holds its own. Look for toys that will be easy to hold so your baby can get a good grasp.
- Drool resistant. As soon as they’re able, babies use their mouths to explore their world. Fortunately, there are plenty of baby toys today designed with this in mind.
- Stands up under pressure…not to mention all of the pushing, pulling, dropping, and smushing that baby toys are inevitably subjected to.
Be Pro-Active
When it comes to toys (and, ultimately, learning), active play always wins out over passive entertainment such as watching a TV. Although your newborn certainly won’t be getting a full-fledged workout just yet, she’ll be moving more in a matter of mere months. As she does, offer her toys that she can reach for and hold, look at, listen to, wave, shake, chew on, make noise with, and more. An activity mat that you put on the floor can make an excellent fitness center for your new baby as she learns about the textures and sounds of different objects as well as works on her depth perception skills by trying to grab such items as hanging rings and plastic mirrors.The Perfect Fit
Finally, be sure to offer toys to your baby that are at an appropriate level for her development. While you may love the idea of building Legos together, she won’t yet have the required dexterity (or self-control to avoid eating the pieces) to make them a good fit. If a toy is too advanced (or too simplistic) for a child, they will quickly lose interest or get frustrated.**info from The Boston Globe/Associated Press
**info from http://www.healthychildren.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment