I've heard stories about babies tumbling down the stairs in walkers and kids choking on toys with small parts or getting sick from the paint. How do we know what toys are safe and what can we as parents do to help keep the play environment safe? I went to my favorite parenting website for the answer to these questions. 

1. When it comes to purchasing toys it's best to buy toys made in the USA, Europe, or Canada because standards are higher and more strictly enforced. 
2. Read labels for appropriate ages.
3. Outdoor play sets made before 2003 were built from pressure treated wood which contains arsenic.
4. Check for Recalls http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html 

CREATING A SAFE PLACE TO PLAY 

Being a parent causes enough worry these simple things can help keep your child safe.