Safety tips for buying children's gifts

Parents who plan to buy toys and games for their children this holiday season should exercise caution and research all products before purchasing them. With the economy in trouble, federal safety officials are concerned that financially strained parents will head to second-hand or online dealers that sell unsafe toys.

"With the increased popularity of second-hand stores and online vendors, gift givers should be especially vigilant to prevent the sale or purchase of hazardous products that have been recalled, banned or do not meet current safety standards," the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in an advisory Wednesday.

The top five toy hazards, according to the CPSC...

Scooters and other riding toys: Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times and be sized to fit.

Small balls and other toys with small parts: For children younger than 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.

Balloons: Children younger than 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Keep uninflated balloons away from children. Discard broken balloons immediately.

Magnets: For children younger than 6, avoid building toys or playsets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and death can occur.

Chargers and adapters: Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can get hot enough to burn children.

And, as always, be careful about buying products that contain lead paint.

One reader, a mother of three from Sherman Oaks, told me this morning that she was shopping for Christmas presents recently and was stunned by how many children's products carried lead paint warnings. "My concern is that with the economy going the way it is ... people are going to be getting the cheap stuff, and the cheap stuff has lead in it," she said.

You can check the recall status of products at www.cpsc.gov.

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: The Center for Environmental Health in Oakland said in March that it found high levels of lead in several Hannah Montana products.