There's almost nothing more thrilling than watching a child excitedly unwrap his or her gifts on Christmas morning. Giddy with the magic of the holiday season, they race downstairs early in the morning to find that Santa Claus has paid them a visit, and hopefully, those items at the top of their Christmas list will be under the tree.
And while parents may strive to find their children the perfect gift for the holidays, some toys present potential hazards. Although federal regulations and recalls are in place, toys still make it to store shelves across the country that are unsafe for children.
Here are some of those toys.
The Consumer Federation of America partnered with the U.S. Public Interest Group to release the 29th Annual Survey of Toy Safety, "Trouble in Toyland" to help consumers identify potentially harmful products.
Click through the following slides to find out which toys are the most dangerous for 2014 and why.
Lead
Childhood exposure to even low levels of lead can undermine development, which in turn can damage academic achievements and attentiveness.
Toys containing lead:
Product name: Badge Playset
Label on toy: 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The sheriff's star and the "special police" badge contain lead above the legal coatings limit of 90ppm, measuring above 110ppm.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Greenbrier International
Item number (if known): 186445-16750-004-1306
Store: Dollar Tree
Price: $1
Chromium
Skin contact with chromium can cause severe allergic reactions, which can include anything from skin redness and irritation, to swelling, to ulcers. Chromium compounds are also carcinogenic.
Toys containing Chromium:
Product name: Jake and the Neverland Pirates tambourine
Label on toy: 2+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The metal cymbals contain 580 ppm chromium, above the standard of 60 ppm.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Greenbrier International
Item number (if known): 187254-23285-015-1403
Store: Dollar Tree
Price: $1
Phthalates
Exposure to phthalates at crucial developmental stages can harm or hinder the development of the male reproductive system, and can be linked to the early onset of puberty.
Toys containing Phthalates:
Product name: Hello Kitty Bracelet and Hair Clips Accessory Set
Label on toy: 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The plastic covering of the hairclips contains 5,100 ppm of the phthalate DEHP, above the legal limit of 1,000 ppm.
Manufacturer/Distributer: H.E.R. Accessories/Joann Stores Inc.
Item number (if known): 1342-8966
Store: Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores
Price: $3
Product name: Leopard pattern rubber duck
Label on toy: 2+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The duck contains 1400 ppm of the phthalate DINP, above the legal limit of 1000 ppm.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Infantino
Store: Walmart
Price: $0.97
Product name: Dora the Explorer backpack
Label on toy: 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The plastic portion of the backpack contains 200,000 ppm of the phthalate DEHP and 3,000 ppm DINP, both of which are banned above 1,000 ppm. The backpack may not be considered a toy, and therefore, it may be exempt from the standard. Regardless, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund believes that all children's products should be held to a standard that keeps children safe.
Manufacturer/Distributer: HFAB Starpoint
Item number (if known): k56684-AN-012411
Store: Walgreens
Price: $4.99
Small parts and pieces
Small parts and pieces can block a child's airway and become a choke hazard. For children, especially under the age of three, this can be a potentially deadly hazard.
Toys containing small parts:
Product name: Edushape 80 Pieces Textured Blocks
Label on toy: 2+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The smallest semi-circular foam blocks in the set fit into the choke test cylinder. Not every set that was purchased in the survey contained these small parts, but small parts are not permitted in toys for children under the age of three.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Edushape
Item number (if known): Cat. No. 716080
Store: Purchased by researchers from both a boutique toy store and Amazon.com.
Price: $34.99
Product name: Our Generation: Sydney Lee and "Stars in Your Eyes"
Label on toy: Non-standard choke hazard warning; 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The yo-yo included with the doll fits into the choke test cylinder. The toy should have a CPSC small parts warning label, as required for toys containing small parts and intended for children ages three to five.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Maison Joseph Battat
Item number (if known): 08609130
Store: Target
Price: $31
Product name: Disney Junior Doc McStuffins Figurine Playset
Label on toy: Non-standard choke hazard warning; 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The figurines can be broken off their bases, creating small parts that fit into the choke test cylinder. The toy should have a CPSC small parts warning label, as required for toys containing small parts and intended for children ages three to five.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Disney Store
Item number (if known): B00BQD7LU2
Store: Amazon
Price: $13.84
Small balls less than 1.75 inches in diameter
These balls can be a hazard for children three years old and younger.
Toys containing small balls:
Product name: Magic Towel (football and baseball shaped)
Label on toy: 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: The ball is larger than the choke test cylinder, but smaller than the small ball tester. The toy lacks a small ball warning, required for any small ball intended for children over the age of three
Manufacturer/Distributer: Greenbrier International
Item number (if known): 119208-10062-001-1207
Store: Dollar Tree
Price: $1
Balloons
Balloons can be easily inhaled while attempting to inflate, and potentially can become stuck in a child's throat. According to the survey, balloons are responsible for more choking deaths among children than any other toy or children's product.
Toys containing balloons:
Product name: Mega Value Pack 16 Latex Punch Balloons
Label on toy: Statutory balloon warning (Children under 8 can suffocate), the statutory small parts warning (not for children under 3), and the 3+ label
Why toy is a potential hazard: Balloons are dangerous for children under 8, but the package is labeled for 3+
Manufacturer/Distributer: Amscan
Item number (if known): No. 392656 13158 or UPC 0 48419 93287 1
Store: Party City
Price: $5.99
Magnets
The study warns that when two or more powerful magnets are swallowed, they can have fatal health consequences as their attractive forces draw them together inside the body.
Toys containing powerful magnets:
Product name: The Mini Set
Label on toy: Lengthy disclaimer
Why toy is a potential hazard: Comparable toys have been subject to recall by the CPSC. Zen Magnets is fighting the CPSC's efforts to recall its products
Manufacturer/Distributer: Zen Magnets
Store: Zen Magnets online store
Price: $12.65
Product name: Buckyballs
Label on toy: Lengthy disclaimer
Why toy is a potential hazard: This toy is subject to recall by the CPSC. It is illegal to sell it in the U.S.
Manufacturer/Distributer: Maxfield & Oberton
Item number (if known): UPC 8 56590 00322 4
Store: Buckyballstore.com
Price: $20
Batteries
If batteries are ingested, chemical reactions can burn through the esophagus and blood vessels, causing fatal internal bleeding.
Toys containing battery hazards:
Product name: Cherubic Cetacean
Label on toy: Non-standard choke hazard warning; 3+
Why toy is a potential hazard: Children can remove the batteries, which are near-small parts. The toy has already been recalled for this reason in Australia. In addition, under mild abuse, the toy broke into small parts that fit into the choke tube, and it does not have the CPSC warning label
Manufacturer/Distributer: Hua Cai
Item number (if known): B698A
Store: Super 99c Century
Price: $6.99
Excessive noise
Exposure to excessive noise can lead to hearing loss, which is especially problematic for young children, as the loss of hearing at a young age has ramifications for speech development. In this year's study, shoppers found toys that are very loud, though not necessarily in violation of federal limits.
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