Both the Fisher Price farm and the Leapster2 contain significant levels of lead or mercury. Excessive exposure to these toxins will affect the nervous system leading to brain development problems.

Have you given much thought as to the safety of your child’s toys? Perhaps, now is the time to start as one in three toys tested by HealthyToys.org found significant levels of toxic chemicals. With a number of recent toy recalls, reports of high levels of lead, and an increasing concern over the safety of toys coming from China, we as parents are left in difficult straits—how do we choose safe toys for our children?

To help address that question, I’ve amassed a collection of resources to help you find safe toys, and ensure that every item in your child’s toy box is safe. First, it is worth noting that you cannot rely on the company or brand of the toy as an indicator of trust. It is tempting to think that a company like Disney or Mattel would have quality control processes in place to ensure dangerous chemicals are excluded from their manufacturing processes, but the reports in the links above suggest otherwise.

HealthyToys.org has done a wonderful job testing and classifying toys for levels of toxic chemicals. Parents.com provides a list of toys that have been recalled so that you can ensure that your toy box is filled with safe toys. If you find the parents site filled with too many ads you can get the same information at hickoryrecord.com. Finally, you can refer to the following Safe Toy Shopping Guide to help you avoid buying unsafe toys.

The reality is that toy recalls and toy safety issues have been increasing. To some extent the public concern has focused around the safety of toys coming from China. But, that is placing the focus in the wrong direction. Where our focus needs to lie is not with outside countries that you and I can’t influence, but rather with our own governments. The laws to protect our children are in place, but the laws are not being actively enforced. We need to urge our government to enforce the rules that are in place, and only then will we see our child’s safety as a primary concern.