Worried About Lead in Toys - How Can You Tell If a Toy Has Lead?

Updated on December 18, 2007
J.A. asks from Elk Grove Village, IL
6 answers

The daughter will be 3 the end of Feburuay and we still caught her putting things in her mouth. Recently, with all the lead in toys we purges some of my son's action figures and other cheap toys.
Yesterday, I found my daughter with the end of a play sword on her mouth (not ours it came form her cousins house and forgot we had it). It has or should I say had gold colored paint on the end that she got most of it off.
How do I tell if this paint has lead in it??
I am so worried about their saftey in other respects that this is just tearing me apart that she could be harming herself. We are going to go through the toys again but EVERYTHING is made in china.
Also, anyone know how to stop this behavior of putting things in her mouth. I have talked to her and she says, "we only put food in our mouths", and then she does it again.
I did have her lead level and iron checked at her 2 1/2 yr physical and everything was normal.

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.F.

answers from Indianapolis on

There was a website on the news the other night that I found very helpful and listed almost everything it seemed like that has been recalled for lead. HealthyToys.org You can search for toys a couple different ways and I found a few things that I had and was shocked!! Hope this helps!

And as far as puttig things in her mouth . . . I think it is her just being her age!! My son is 2 1/2 and he every once in a while will put things in his mouth. I think it is just them exploring!! Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.

answers from Chicago on

They sell lead test kits in the hardware store.

Honestly, there are so many environmental hazards to be worried about - from pesticides and hormones in foods to lead in toys, to who knows what in cleaning products. All you can do is avoid the most obvious problems, watch the recall lists. I heard on some news report that red painted items made in china are more likely to have lead in them than other colors (which is true with the products we have at home that have been recalled) so get rid of anything painted red. I've also read that toys imported from or purchased from Europe may be safer because they have higher standards for their products and imports.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from Chicago on

If I am not mistaken, the only paint that has lead in it is the red paint. However, if you are uncomfortable about not knowing if the toy has lead, I would second buying some lead testing kits.

I do want to say that if you test a toy and find that it has lead in it...please report it. Don't just throw the toy out. It needs to be reported so other parents can get the toy out of their house, as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Chicago on

This is the government U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website. You can subscribe to their email list and they will send you new recalls. It is really helpful. I just get it in my inbox and look through to see if any apply to me.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

Very scary all those recalls. It is the main reason why I became a Discovery Toys consultant since they do their own testing with an independent lab for every product before it gets imported.
Just keep a close eye out for new recalls. And I second the lead test.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

I read that those swab tests you get in the store aren't accurate at all :( I got one and now I'm afraid to rely on it. What you should do is go to the county and have her tested (you can go to the WIC office at Methodist). Not only is it free, but if her levels are too high, they will send someone to check out your home at no cost to you! Getting someone private to come will run you $3-400:(

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