6 signs of children’s toys that are dangerous to the health
It is better not to buy them, even if you really want to save money.
Most often, when buying a new toy for a child, we pay attention to our beloved character, price, color, size – to anything but safety. The problem is that fake toys posing as products of well-known brands or even “no-name” are not only less durable, but can also contain harmful paints and plasticizers, ooze toxins and even irritate the baby’s hearing. Together with experts who sell products for children and test their sustainability, we have formulated the main signs of unsafe toys.
Considering how many expenses parents have, it is not surprising that we are always looking for great deals, including among toys. But keep in mind: if a high-quality toy costs an average of a thousand rubles, then a dubious one is three times less.
“We should try to buy toys from large stores that carefully select and check the goods. Stores do not choose suppliers randomly – buyers visit showrooms, exhibitions, test the goods and only then make a decision on the purchase. A large company values its reputation in the market. It is better to avoid shopping in stalls, crossings and electric trains, “explains Vladimir Gaponenko, head of the” Goods for Children “department of Onlinetrade.ru.
All moms seem to sniff food before offering it to their child. The exact same habit is worth developing when choosing toys. A real toy should not have a strong smell. Counterfeits, on the other hand, often smell like rubber and plastic. Such things can cause tears in a child, difficulty breathing, even dermatitis and allergies: a pungent smell is often provided by low-quality materials that release formaldehyde into the air. With prolonged contact with this carcinogen, health problems can be expected.
Original toys, as a rule, have no more than one connecting seam, which is also quite difficult to find. Fakes usually consist of four or more parts, and the seams on them are immediately striking.
“There are thousands of fake toys of our brand“ Three Cats ”in stores. All of them not only violate copyright, but also threaten the health of children. All the forgeries that I held in my hands were collected and poorly sewn. I am sure that no parent, having studied such a toy more closely, would want to give it to their child. One of the easiest ways to determine whether it is a licensed toy or not is to find the copyright holder of the brand on the product label or packaging, ”says Ksenia Gordienko, head of the CTS Media licensing department.
Loud sound without adjustment
We often feel sorry for taking the child with us on the subway because of the deafening sound of the trains. At the same time, we do not think about what harm low-quality musical toys can cause to hearing.
“If the sound of a toy is harsh, unpleasant, very ringing, annoying for you, then it will definitely be too loud for your baby. If you need to raise your voice or shout for your child to hear you while playing, this is a hearing-hazardous toy. It is better to choose quiet options or those in which you can change the volume, ”says Vadim Rukavitsyn, environmental consultant.
A counterfeit can often be identified by an unnaturally bright color, which is a sign of a cheap dye. In such toys, missing, unpainted parts are often found.
“Laboratory studies of these toys often reveal heavy metals in the chemical composition of dyes. This is especially the case with bright yellow toys, where lead is found. True, it does not stand out into the air by itself, but if a child licks a toy, he will most likely experience a lot of negative effects on himself, ”explains Vadim Rukavitsyn.
If you know that your child is pulling everything into his mouth, it is best to avoid patterns and ornaments on toys. All details should be of the same color due to dyes added to the material, and not due to painting. If the paint is rubbed off with your finger or remains on your hands, it is better to keep such a toy away from the baby. After all, the color of the paint is provided by absolutely inedible, and even poisonous substances.