海角大神

Christmas toys: Five ways to make sure they're safe

How are parents ensured that their children's new toys are safe?  Here are five ways to stay informed.

5. Be cautious at consignment shops

Melanie Stetson Freeman/海角大神/File
Beanstalk Consignment Shop owner Jacqueline Cardinale makes a sale to frequent customer Aurora Donahue in Hingham, Mass., in this 2008 file photo. Consignment shops can offer great deals, but be careful of the safety hazards posed by hand-me-down toys, especially those that come without assembly instructions.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money during the holiday season, so it鈥檚 natural to visit consignment shops, thrift stores, and other resale outlets in person and online. But keep in mind that where you shop may be as important as what you buy. While these stores provide great options for holiday shoppers, parents should be extra careful and be sure to check products against the CPSC鈥檚 website or with a product recall mobile app.

Once a manufacturer鈥檚 product leaves its primary supply chain, it can be difficult to track and remove goods from the marketplace. Also be careful of hand-me-down toys and items purchased at thrift stores and second-hand shops, particularly if they come without product assembly instructions or the original packaging. Toys and children鈥檚 products that are assembled incorrectly or used in ways that were not originally intended can put children at risk.

&苍产蝉辫;鈥 Mike Rozembajgier is vice president of recalls for , a logistics and regulatory compliance firm in Indianapolis that helps companies manage recalls.

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