AblePlay is a toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs. A strong rating in any category makes the product a good toy. Very few toys have strong ratings in all categories. Most toys score strongly in one area as toys have different areas of emphasis. For example, a child with a sensory disability such as a visual impairment may not benefit as much from a board game that has read-only cards. But this toy may be a great game for a child with a cognitive disability such as learning delays.
Name of Product: Hooded Sweatshirts
Distributor: Baycreek Inc., of New York, N.Y.
Hazard: The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996 CPSC, issued guidelines (pdf) (which were incorporated in to an industry voluntary standard in 1997) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Name of Product: Allreds Design Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips
Manufacturer: Allreds Design (doing business as Hidden Hollow Beads), of Fort Duchesne, Utah
Hazard: The recalled bracelets and pacifier clip clasps contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: Allreds Design received one report of a 10-month-old child who was treated by a physician for elevated lead levels.
Name of Product: Wind Chime Toys
Units: About 600,000 in the United States and 200,000 in Canada
Distributor: Tiny Love Inc., of New York, N.Y. and the Maya Group Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Hazard: The wind chime toy can be pulled apart exposing sharp metal rods, posing puncture and laceration hazards to the baby.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of babies pulling apart the wind chimes exposing the sharp metal rods, including a report of a minor injury to a 24-month-old baby who punctured his cheek with the rods.
Name of Product: Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps
Importer: Innovage LLC, of Foothill Ranch, Calif.
Hazard: A defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Innovage has received nine reports of incidents, including seven reports of lamps catching fire, one involving smoke inhalation injury to a child and three involving minor property damage.
