Consumer Beat: Buying toys

Choosing toys that are well suited to kids' ages isn't important just because it will bring big smiles to young faces, say smart-shopping experts at Ontario's consumer ministry. It's also vital for your children's safety.

Every year children are injured by toys, and the province's Ministry of Consumer and Business Services has teamed up with Kid Care at Health Canada and the Canadian Toy Testing Council to offer some tips on buying safe playthings.

All agree, the best way to prevent a mishap is by taking the child's abilities, habits and age into account before making a purchase.

"A toy that is perfectly safe in the hands of a five-year-old may be dangerous for a toddler, so we urge people to keep age appropriateness in mind when making their choices," says Marie Levine of the testing council. "Also, we hope parents will teach older children their playthings could be hazardous to younger kids."

When you head to the stores with the general idea of the sort of toys you'd like to buy, start by reading the labels, warnings and safety messages on the packaging. If a label says "Not recommended for children under the age of three," chances are the reason is a safety concern. Until age three most children tend to put toys in their mouths - a signal to steer clear of items with detachable parts or dolls with long hair.

Help avoid mishaps by checking the toy carefully. Look for sharp edges, make sure seams are well stitched and check to see that any small parts are secure.

Before buying a gift of a cute stuffed animal the child will love for years, check that the toy is safe on the inside.

Look for the provincial declaration label that states "New material only." On behalf of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, Ontario's Technical Standards and Safety Authority, a not-for-profit corporation, registers and inspects the premises of manufacturers and retailers and investigates consumer complaints about all upholstered and stuffed articles - ranging from mattresses to clothing materials - sold in the province.

Across the country, the federal government has set safety standards for toys that include the ability to withstand dropping, chemical content, flammability, noise levels and electrical specifications. Federal inspectors monitor toys sold across Canada to make sure they're safe.

But, although toys sold in this country are legally required to meet the standards, consumers who buy grey goods - items produced for sale on a foreign market that are sometimes imported and sold in this country at prices lower than usual - have no way of knowing if their purchases meet the national standards.

It may be impossible for consumers to recognize grey goods - unless something goes wrong and they attempt to make warranty claims. In most cases manufacturers won't honour warranties on grey goods. As a general rule, the experts say to watch for toys offered at a much lower price than normal, especially over the holiday season.

Anyone who would like information on a variety of topics of interest to consumers can call the ministry's Consumer Services Bureau at 416-326-8800 in the Toronto area or at toll free 1-800-889-9768 from other parts of the province. Special electronic equipment for use by the hearing and speech impaired is available at 416-325-3408 or Toll free 1-800-268-7095.