How to Avoid Unsafe Children's Toys in Stores

Dear Santa,
For Christmas this year I would like teethers and other toys I can chew that don't have any of those chemicals that could potentially disrupt my hormones, cause liver damage or contribute to asthma. I'd also like fun, brightly colored toys and play jewelry that don't contain icky lead that causes brain damage.

Unfortunately, new regulations that protect children from toys that have higher levels of lead or controversial chemicals called Phthalates won't go into effect until next year. So toys that will be deemed unsafe come February, or later in the year where phthalates are concerned, could still be on the shelves this Christmas.

Phthalates make vinyl and other plastics soft and pliable. Teethers are the most controversial items they've been used to manufacturer because they're meant to be put in children's mouths where the chemicals can be readily absorbed into tiny bodies.

Lead makes toys shiny, bright and attractive. But it tends to dim developing brains. Next year, toys containing lead at a level of 600 parts per million will be banned and the limit will gradually lowered to 100 ppm. The amount of lead allowed in the paint on toys will be lowered in February from 600 ppm to 90.

Stores and toymakers have known for a while that these standards are coming, but the toy industry does 65% of its business between the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, according to the not-for-profit group Safe Kids Worldwide. So some manufacturers and stores have inventory kicking around that doesn't meet these new standards. According to a recent story in The Wall Street Journal, they're hoping to unload this inventory by selling those toys to you this year.

What's the parent of an Elmo, Dora-the-Explorer or Barbie fan to do?

Alan Korn, director of policy for Safe Kids says that major companies like Mattel (MAT) that got into trouble last year for troublesome toys are likely to be especially vigilant this year to protect their reputations and bottom line. "Mattel paid a huge price by not paying attention to this. If they haven't learned their lesson they're facing a huge financial and health disaster."