The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is advising shoppers to exercise caution when they purchase toys this Christmas, following the recall of several Chinese-made products throughout the year.

Speaking with JIS News, communication specialist at the CAC, Dorothy Campbell, said millions of toys have been recalled by Fisher-Price, Mattel and Marvel, because of the high lead content in paint used in the manufacturing process.

"They had parts that were unsafe for children, battery-operated things were burning children, had exposed wires and some of these toys were not approved."

Toys included on the recall list were popular cartoon characters, such as Elmo, Ernie, Big Bird and all the other Sesame Street characters; Dora the Explorer; musical toys; keyboards and shakers.

"Even though the Bureau of Standards has not reported any of these toys being in the island, we know that, informally, these toys can get here," Campbell noted.

inspect toys

Campbell stressed the need for persons to thoroughly inspect toys before making purchases, warning that toys should not be bought because they are cheap, as several of them are substandard.

"They (the toys) have parts that fall apart before you even deliver them, with sharp edges that are dangerous to small children," she outlined, emphasising that parents must ensure that the toys are safe before they are given to the children.

Highlighting the harmful effects of lead, she pointed out that "the danger to the child is not just simply that he's going to have a little episode of lead poisoning and you take him to the doctor and he gets a bottle of medicine and he is fine, but it can cause developmental problems in your child".

She said learning disabilities, signs of aggression, intolerance to food and weight loss, are all associated with lead poisoning.

Campbell also advised parents to take extreme caution when purchasing bicycles.

"We want to ensure that you choose one that is safe, so it is advisable to take the child to the store, make sure they feel comfortable sitting on it and they can reach the bars comfortably, without stretching," she advised.

She also stressed the importance of including a helmet, protective gear that prevents head injuries.