Yesterday we discussed the chemical concern around toys and the newly introduced Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act to show a glimpse of the current toy industry. Today we fill you in on how to get great toys without filling up on LEAD.

We’ve all heard about lead in toys–it’s hard to miss that information when massive recalls are taking place and buyers are being urged to throw away suspicious toys. That doesn’t mean, however, that we all know what to do about it. Sure you can toss out all the toys you’ve acquired and lay down a ban on play things that will prove rather unpopular come birthday time, but there are less extreme steps you can take that will let your little one have toys and still keep your lives lead-free.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), when fully active sometime around September 2009, will help keep lead and phthalates from getting into stores and you can periodically check their website to see what’s taking place, what toys have been recalled and sign up for their e-mail alerts for future recalls. Go through the toys you already own and check for painted surfaces and plastic components (especially small ones that may be swallowed) which may contain lead. If your child has been playing with a toy that is now recalled you may want to check with your doctor to see if lead testing would be a good idea; this is especially wise if your child tends to suck or teeth on toys.

As you approach buying new toys, look for ones with as many natural components as possible. You can use the Toy Rankings at HealthyToys.org (a great site for all things toy-safety related) to browse toys or check a specific toy for safety. One of the easiest ways to assure yourself of a non-toxic toy is to buy from a brand that has always focused on natural, chemical-free products.

Plan Toys makes toys using rubberwood from the rubber tree and completely child-friendly non-toxic paints and sealants so they’re healthy for not only your youngster but also the environment. Safety is such a high concern for Plan Toys that they recently recalled their toy Penguin because of a single incident where the Penguin head fell off–even though there were no injuries. The toys also undergo both EN71 testing and ASTM testing before being released. Click here to read more

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Not much feels better than realizing others appreciate what you do - which is why we were so psyched that CoolMomPicks gave us a shout out the other day. Thanks, CMP!

Cool Mom Picks is one of the coolest mommy-geared sites we’ve seen - it’s no forum for helicopter parents. The moms behind the site, Liz and Kristen, have struck the perfect chord with women who see their role as mother as part of who they are rather than their entire selves. CMP’s writers shows moms that their own individuality and motherhood are perfectly compatible concepts, sharing always-cool product and service picks selected from non-mainstream, independent, often eco-friendly designers and companies.

From face cream for moms to organic cotton crib bedding for kids to safer anti-bacterial soap for the whole family, Cool Mom Picks always hits the nail right on the head. And they do it all without trying to convince real mothers they can’t live without that ridiculously overpriced stroller that Kate Hudson has, because none of their picks are paid for by advertisers. Click here to read more

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