Who are the BTHA and what do they do? Do the recent recalls mean that all toys are unsafe? Do toys cause accidents? What should I look for when buying toys? Should I avoid buying toys from China? Will there be a shortage at Christmas? How do I keep my play environment safe? Toy recalls
Who are the BTHA and what do they do?
The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) was founded in 1944 to raise the standards of practice within the toy industry. Its principal duty is to promote the highest possible standards of safety in the design and manufacture of toys. All members of the BTHA are required to sign and adhere to a very strict code of conduct relating to toy safety, which includes 26 different tests.
The BTHA members account for 95% of toys sold in the UK, working to generate consistently high standards of safety, quality and ethical behaviour. Every one of these toys is absolutely safe for your children to play with and enjoy. Up
Do the recent recalls mean that all toys are unsafe?
No, the recalls represent less than 1% of the toys on retail shelves in the UK. Up
In the UK, just 1.5% of all accidents that occur in the home are toy-related, and very rarely has a defect in the toy itself been responsible for causing that accident: for example, when adults trip over a toy left lying on the floor or on the stairs. Up
What should I look for when buying toys?
The Lion Mark. The Lion Mark can only be used by BTHA members who have signed up to its strict Code of Practice.
The CE mark. Although not a mark of safety as such, the CE mark indicates that the toy conforms with the essential safety requirements of the European toy safety directive.
Toy warning. This means ‘warning, do not give to children less than three years, nor allow them to play with it’.
Age advice: Many manufacturers will put age guidelines on to toys, which can be helpful for parents to choose the right toy for their child.
If the toy does not have a Lion Mark, then please look out for small parts, loose fur, ripped seams and sharp or rough edges and be certain that eyes and noses are secure and can not be bitten or pulled off.
Always buy your toys from reputable retailers and avoid street traders, car boot sales and fairgrounds, and don’t be afraid to ask the retailer for safety advice. Up
Should I avoid buying toys from China?
No, China supplies 80% of the world’s toys and is a safe and reliable source for good toys. Products supplied to any number of countries could have suffered a similar problem, as the contaminated paint came from a supplier TO the industry. That is the reason why toy companies have such stringent systems of checks on the toys they are producing. It was during an internal check that the problem was found in the Mattel and Fisher Price toys. They immediately, and very publicly, initiated the recall of products. Up
Will there be a shortage at Christmas?
There may be some shortage of toys since the Chinese authorities have cancelled some toy manufacturers’ export licenses since the recent discovery of lead contamination of paints. There are many factories that are still producing toys however and these will obviously still export in time for Christmas. Up
How do I keep my play environment safe?
- Age ratings - never mix toys meant for children of different ages. It can be dangerous for younger children to get hold of toys that are too old for them.
- The toy box - have a regular clear out of your toy boxes to check loose fur, ripped seams, sharp or rough edges, loose eyes and noses, broken parts that may cause choking. If you find broken or damaged toys, throw them away. Please don't pass them on - you may be handing on an accident to another parent's child.
- Tidy up! - it may sound obvious, but toys left on the floor or the stairs can cause accidents for the entire family.
- Cot toys – take string toys out of the cot when your baby is about five months old to prevent strangulation. Remove activity centres as soon as your baby can pull to stand.
- Noisy toys – never allow children to hold noisy toys close to their ears or any other children’s ears - it can damage hearing.
- Battery toys – always change all batteries at once. New batteries can cause old batteries to get dangerously hot.
- Garden toys – fix garden toys over grass or soil, never concrete. Make sure there is plenty of room to walk around a swing to avoid being hit by the swing seat. Empty paddling pools after use and store them deflated or upside down.
For more information, please visit:
www.btha.co.uk/publications
www.capt.org.uk
www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork
If you are worried that you have any of the recalled toys in your home, first remove them from the toy box, then please click on the links below. They will take you to the toy companies’ websites where you will find all the information you need:
Megabrands www.megabrands.com
Character Options: www.character-online.co.uk
RC2: www.recalls.rc2.com/
Mattel: www.mattel.com/safety/
Fisher Price: www.fisher-price.com/uk/help/customerservice.asp#safety
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Click here to see the latest interview with David Hawtin, Director General of the British Toy & Hobby Association, on the findings of a recent Toy Safety Summit. He also addressed concerns sent in by parents. Up
Click here to see our list of publications, which include parent-focused pamphlets including 'The Value of Play' and 'Intergenerational Play' Up