Use Caution When Choosing Toys For Children

It's a jungle out there in Toyland.

In the last month, a federal agency, a consumer advocate group, and a Boston attorney have issued dire warnings about dangerous toys.

And then there was the recent warning about the potential for cuts from those popular, bendable, metal bracelets.

So what's a holiday shopper to do?

We decided to take an expert toy shopping and share what we learned.

By the time we finished, we discovered that the most important things to consider when shopping for the children are the child's age and abilities. A toy that is perfectly safe for a 6-year-old could be deadly for a 2-year-old.

We also had our common sense reinforced because it's quite clear that the most dangerous toys are riding toys, balloons and those with small parts that can find their way into young mouths.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission received reports of 33 deaths related to toys between January 1989 and September 1990. Choking on balloons, marbles, small balls and small toy parts led to 20 fatalities.

Riding toys, such as bicycles, skateboards, sleds and roller skates are associated with more injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms than any other type of toy, according to CPSC. The commission estimates that bicycles were involved in about 350,000 injuries last year.

No parent or grandparent is about to stop buying riding toys. But if you're giving a bike, skateboard, sled or skates, it makes sense to put a package of protective gear - such as a helmet, and knee and elbow pads - under the tree, too. And spend time talking about safety rules.

That old party favorite, the balloon, is responsible for more choking deaths than any other children's product, according to the commission.

Balloons, marbles and small balls pose a serious enough hazard that the commission is considering a mandatory label on these products to warn shoppers about choking hazards to children younger than 3.

The commission also is considering mandatory warning labels on toys intended for children from 3 to 6 years.

Our expert shopper, Jerry Bjork, from the Seattle office of CPSC, stressed over and over again the importance of reading labels. But, he added, it's also important not to rely the on labels entirely.

While the current age labels on toys give some guidance, they don't always tell consumers enough.

I asked Bjork to rate some labels and safety information.

That information often is in small print,

and not all of it appears at the top or on the front of a package. And sometimes it's not in English!

Bjork gave high marks to Kenner, which makes Beetlejuice, an action figure. The top left corner of the Beetlejuice Shish Kebab package said: ``Caution: Not recommended for children who still put objects in their mouths. Contains small parts. Ages 4 and up.''

That warning label is specific. It tells shoppers why it's not a good gift for a child under 4. However, if it said a small child could choke on the toy's small parts, that would make the potential hazard clearer.

The label on Trans Formers, made by Hasbro, wasn't as specific. This action figure also contains small parts. The age label, ``Ages: 5 & Up,'' appears in the lower right corner of the package.

On the back of the package, I found a phrase in German that translates roughly as: ``Not recommended for children under 3, since small pieces may be swallowed.''

On the balloon rack we found two extremes. American Greetings Corp.'s balloon package warned at the bottom on the front: ``See safety warning on back of this package.''

On the reverse side American Greetings got graphic:

``Safety warning: Young children could choke on or be suffocated by an uninflated balloon or piece of broken balloon. Adults should inflate balloons and supervise their use with children under six years.''

Given the hazards of balloons, it's too bad that information isn't at the top on the front of the package.

Labeling on a package of Oak Rubber Balloons was less specific. On the back side it merely said:

``For children 3 years or older.'' There was no mention of the choking hazards.

In the stuffed-toys department, we noticed a Raggedy Ann with printed-on eyes, lashes, mouth and nose. Good! Bjork said. No small eyes or noses to be pulled off by busy little fingers and stuffed into the mouth.

We checked the bears and other stuffed animals and didn't find any eyes or noses that looked as if they could be pulled off.

However, we weren't so sure about some big cuddly bears with what appeared to be a ``designer'' identification tag. The tag was attached with a plastic hook. Information on a manufacturer's tag about washing noted that plastic parts should be removed. Did that mean the ``designer'' tag, too? It looked to us as if it would fit completely inside the commission's ``choke tube,'' a plastic tube that simulates the throat of a 3-year-old that the CPSC uses to check whether toy parts pose a choking hazard to a small child.

Moving on to toy cars, we looked at Tuffies, described as ``safe, chunky, soft plastic, flexible and nontoxic'' on the label.

Because Tuffies' cars, trucks, planes and trains are in bright primary colors, Bjork said the commission would hold the toy maker to standards for toys for children under 3 years, because those colors traditionally appeal to this age group. That means no small parts should break off easily.

We wondered if Tuffies were indeed as flexible as the illustration promised, or whether the wheels and the smokestack on the train engine might break off. So I bought one.

To date, my researchers and I haven't been able to break off Tuffies' wheels or parts. Tuffies' label says ``Ages 2 and up,'' which is appropriate.

Still in the car section, we looked at Micro Machines Limo Collection by Lewis Galoob Toys Inc.

The warning label said ``Ages 5 and up. Contains small parts.''

The toy maker could have been more specific, telling parents that such toys aren't recommended for use by youngsters who put things in their mouths. These little cars fit easily into the choke tube. And they are the kind of small, colorful toys that don't require the dexterity of an older child to roll along. Hmmm. We put a question mark by them on our shopping list.

Not long ago the commission recalled some toy trucks in primary colors. Although the manufacturer had labeled the cars for kids age 4 and older, they would appeal to younger children, and the parts broke off.

The stocking stuffers were a problem. These are inexpensive, appealing gifts that nearly everyone buys. But if you're shopping for children younger than 3, our advice is to think BIG.

A small, brightly colored ball with glittering streamers fit inside the choke tube.

The bottom of the ball package said: ``with small parts. Not suitable for children under 5 years old.''

A small whistle with a 24-inch cord also fit inside the testing device. Its warning, ``recommended for children over 5 years old,'' appeared at the bottom of the package.

The CPSC harps on the hazards of young children and small parts because lots of problems occur with such toys. CPSC Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith also urges parents and older children to keep toys with small parts away from young children.

For more information: Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, and ask for ``Which Toy for Which Child'' for advice on birth to 5 years, and ``Think Toy Safety'' for ages 6 through 12 years.

To report problems: If you have a defective product or a product-related injury, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free line, 1-800-638-2772.

The commission's number for the hearing-impaired is 1-800-638-8270.

helby Gilje's Troubleshooter column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday in the Scene section of The Times. Do you have a problem? Write to Times Troubleshooter, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Include copies, not originals, of documents indicating payment, guarantees, contracts and other relevant materials.