Don't touch that! You can play with this...this...piece of paper.

http://www.healthytoys.org

I went on one night when not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

I clicked on "Search by Brand" or something like that and went through all the names of manufacturers I knew were in the house.

Funny how many of the toys other people across the country are checking are also in my cabinet. Good marketing...

Anyways, the chlorine/PVC is what scared me the most. I got rid of anything Oriental Trading Co. or questionable as to origin. Any toy whose color came off in Mr. Mischief's mouth was scraped as well as random crap I just didn't want.

The few, the brave, the "I can't part with that" included the "Who Loves Baby?" photo book that I've given to everyone I know (sorry) and the Fascination Stations by Sassy. The photo book has a clear vinyl slip for each photo and the Fascination Station has vinyl INSIDE one of the circles. I love the photo books and so do the boys. I just won't let them eat it anymore.

Problem solved?

We'll see when they hit puberty.

I also went through ALL of the toys, pulled any that I could call the manufacturer about and kept any that were cited as safe on other websites such as http://www.zrecs.blogspot.com.

Check out this article from BabyCenter as well.

Tips for toy safety Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board Last updated: September 2007

Highlights General guidelines Specific hazards to watch out for
Toys are the treasures of childhood, as long as they're chosen with care. But are toys really hazardous?Consider the year 2004: In that year, an estimated 210,300 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Seventy-seven percent (161,100) of the injuries involved kids under 15 years old, and 35 percent (72,800) involved kids under 5. Also in 2004, 16 toy-related deaths of kids under age 15 were reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
General guidelines • Suit the toy to your child's development. Most toys bear a "recommended age" sticker, which should be taken as a starting point in the selection process. Be realistic about your child's abilities and level of maturity when choosing an age-appropriate toy. Toys that have projectiles, for example, are never suitable for a child under age 4 — and even some 6-year-olds aren't mature enough to handle them. Likewise, if your 3-year old still puts everything into his mouth, continue to steer clear of toys and games with small parts and pieces.• Think big. Until your child turns 3, toy parts should be bigger than his mouth to avoid the possibility of choking. To determine whether a toy poses a choking risk, try fitting it through a toilet paper roll. If a toy or part of a toy can fit inside the cylinder, it's not safe.• Avoid heavy, tippy toys. Could your child be harmed if it fell on him? If so, pass.• Look for toys that are well put together. Make sure tails are securely sewn, seams of stuffed animals are reinforced, and paint is not peeling. Stuffed animals should also be free of buttons, yarn, ribbons, and anything else your child could yank off and put in his mouth.• Make sure your child's physically ready for the toy. For example, parents may buy a bike one size too big so as not to have to buy a new bike the next year. This tactic can lead to serious injury if a child doesn't have the physical skills to control the bigger bike.• Check the condition. Used toys passed down from older relatives or siblings or bought at yard sales can be worn or frayed. Examine all new or used toys for possible dangers.
Specific hazards to watch out for • Toys that use small magnets. In 2007, the CPSC named magnets the #1 hidden home hazard. Small, powerful magnets are often used in toys, and may fall out of the toy and be swallowed by a child. Two or more swallowed magnets (or a magnet and a metal object) can be attracted to each other through intestinal walls, causing twisting and pinching of the intestines, holes, blockages, infection, and worse if not discovered and treated promptly. As of August 2007, one death and 86 injuries from magnets had been reported to the CPSC, and 8 million magnetic toys had been recalled. The agency recommends keeping toys with magnets away from kids under 6 years old.• Toys with a string or cord longer than 12 inches. A cord can too easily be wrapped around a young child's neck, causing strangulation. Be particularly vigilant about older toys. For example, an older model of a popular play kitchen may have a phone attached with a potentially deadly cord, while the latest model of the same kitchen has the more current and safer cordless phone.• Balloons. Uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons pose a choking hazard. Keep them out of reach of kids younger than 6.Older kids' toys. Whether you have older kids at home, older kids are visiting and they bring their toys, or you're at someone else's house, make sure all the playthings your child can get his hands on are age-appropriate.