My daughter just loves the vintage Fisher Price toys at our church. I recently bought her a 1972 toy, which she sometimes puts in her mouth. Do these old toys pose any health risks to her? Do they contain lead based paint, etc? I would just like to know for sure to be safe! Done some research online, but havn’t found much information. Any answers would be appreciated!
No and "maybe". No if they have been opened and not sealed but due to no limitations in the 70′s on lead paint usage I would say no unless the toy is vinyl and not plastic. Maybe if the toy is new and never been opened due to large amounts of metal they used in the 70′s and these parts oxidize and you can never thoroughly clean these enough so toys without exposed metal I would say no. It’s really not a good choice.
We have 2 kids ages 10 + 13 and we have never let them have pre 90′s Fisher-Price due to the "unseen" dangers.
Fisher-Price can send you a testing kit and some other manufacturers offers these too.
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No and "maybe". No if they have been opened and not sealed but due to no limitations in the 70′s on lead paint usage I would say no unless the toy is vinyl and not plastic. Maybe if the toy is new and never been opened due to large amounts of metal they used in the 70′s and these parts oxidize and you can never thoroughly clean these enough so toys without exposed metal I would say no. It’s really not a good choice.
We have 2 kids ages 10 + 13 and we have never let them have pre 90′s Fisher-Price due to the "unseen" dangers.
Fisher-Price can send you a testing kit and some other manufacturers offers these too.
References :
Toy addict with 2 kids.
There was a web site for recalled toys. This site may not list all the toys effected with lead. And it may not list 1972 toys. Its a good start but I would test each wooden OR PLASTIC type toy I bought. There can be also be lead in plastic or vinyl.
the web site… http://www.babycenter.com
lead in paint was REDUCED in the 60′s and Banned in 1978. (for homes and toys etc)
The easiest way to test them is with a product call "Lead Check". They are small white tubes that deliver a chemical (sodium rodizinate) to the surface. If there is leach-able lead it will turn color (pink or red). Call around to your local paint stores to find them. There are many types of these chemical test kits but my opinion is Lead Check is the best / easiest.
HINT: They cost about $3.00 each BUT !!! (Lead Check hates me to teach this) … There are 5 to 7 drops in each tube. If you use a clean dry cotton swab on each item, you can get 5 to 7 tests.
(no I don’t work for or own stock in this co.) …
For more info plese read http://home.mindspring.com/~wrltc/lswp.pdf A book I wrote for parents doing re-modeling or having it done. And lead issues in general. It was paid for by a fed/state grant. Which means its your book as much as mine. I am NOT trying to sell you anything. Education about this subject is my job.
References :
I have been focused on the lead issue for 23 years, teaching it for 14, and have completed thousands of inspections, risk assessments and poisoning investigations nation wide. In the late 90′s I helped to write the HUD Guidelines which are the industry bible.
If there is even a question of the safety of the toy in question I would test it. You can get these lead test kids from Amazon that will allow you to feel a little better about the toy. I keep a stack of these kits in my house.. Lead is no joke. Lifetime of harm. I also bought a kit from http://www.check4lead.com that was a little cheaper for larger kit sizes.
Mary
References :
http://www.cpsc.gov
http://www.check4lead.com