The 27th Annual Trouble In Toyland Report is out.
Small parts, magnets, batteries, loud noises, and toxic chemicals, just a few of the things researchers found on toys that were picked up in Ohio stores.
"We went to Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, dollar stores, and a wide variety of outlets and all of them had these dangerous toys, said Tabitha Woodruff with the Ohio Public Interest Research Group.
There are more federal regulations on toys now then ever before, but with every rule there's an exception and Woodruff says those exceptions can injure or kill your children. In one case, a small plastic strawberry that's part of a fake food set is smaller than the required diameter for the toy to carry a choking hazard warning. But since the strawberry isn't perfectly round it doesn't have to pass that test. Other toys fall just outside the noise levels suitable for young children.
Woodruff suggests doing your own research before you head to the store. Her group has plenty of information on their website you can print out and take with you. They've also developed a mobile website, toysafety.mobi, so you can look for issues with toys while you're at the store.
One of the most dangerous items isn't a toy at all. Balloons pose a big danger if they are swallowed. Tracey Mann with Nationwide Children's Hospital says balloons can cover the airways of children and within minutes cause permanent brain damage or death. Small rubber balls can also pose a choking hazard.
She says parents need to always keep an eye on their children while playing. Most of the stories she hears in the emergency room begin with parents saying they only turned their back for a minute.
