Toys To Avoid

World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) released it's annual worst toys list today.

The toys on the list all contain hazards to kids - magnets that can be swallowed, lead paint concerns, rubber bands that can cause eye injury, etc. According to CBS News, "WATCH, whose directors and founder are civil attorneys, does not conduct tests on the toys, but rather shops with an eye toward features such as small, detachable parts or hard, pointed edges it says are not safe."

Here's their top 10 toys to avoid this holiday season and the reason for inclusion on the list:

# Go Diego Go Animal Rescue boat, by Fisher Price. Contains lead paint.

# Sticky Stones, GeoCentral. Magnetized stones that, if swallowed, could "stick together across the intestines, causing serious infections and death."

# Jack Sparrow's Spinning Dagger, Zizzle. Viewed as eye hazard.

# Dora The Explorer Lamp, Funhouse. Potential for electric shocks and burns.

# Lil "Giddy Up" Horse - Sassy Pet Saks, Douglas. Contains fibers and small parts that could be a choking hazard.

# Spider Man 3 New Goblin Sword, Hasbro. Rigid plastic could cause injuries.

# Hip Hoppa, by Spin Master Ltd. and Vivid Imaginations, Ltd. A combination footboard and bouncing ball that children jump on has the potential for head and other injuries.

# B'Loonies Party Park, Ja-Ru, Inc. Children blow balloon-like toy out of substance squeezed from tube. Has potential for chemical ingestion.

# My Little Baby Born, Entertainment, Inc.; Zapf Creations AG. Baby doll comes attached to tiny pacifier that could be swallowed.

# Rubber Band Shooter, Simple Toys LLC. Shoots rubber bands and presents eye hazard.

Here's a link to the WATCH website that has a picture of each of these toys on the home page.

As a parent and a pediatrician, I really can't argue with this list. All the toys listed do appear to have a safety issue that bear noting. If nothing else, this information gives us a moment to pause and consider the age of our kids and how they use toys before we purchase any of these products. And, this list just goes to show that just because a toy isn't recalled, doesn't mean it is safe.

By the way, while looking into this story, I discovered CBS News has an interactive toy safety page that is worth perusing.

My advice for this holiday shopping season, if your gut is telling you to not buy something for your kids, don't.

As always, I'll keep you posted as I learn more.


Image: AP on CBSNews.com