This next week will be one of frenzied holiday shopping for the many procrastinators who have loved ones to buy presents for this Christmas. If you are planning to buy toys for your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, cousins, or any other loved ones, you should be extremely careful when doing so. Some toys can be hazardous and may be extremely harmful, especially to young children. Thankfully, toy safety has improved over the years, thanks to third party testing and an initiative to seize dangerous products at shipping ports before they are ever distributed to stores.

Just recently, a shipment of baby dolls was apprehended at the port. This shipment included 200,000 baby dolls that contained phthalates and none of the dolls were ever able to arrive at their intended stores. While most toys that are dangerous don't make it into the United States, there are still some that slip through the cracks and end up on the shelves. As you are purchasing toys for your loved ones, keep in mind that you should never purchase a recalled product.

Also, keep in mind that it is wisest to avoid giving small children small toys that could fit in their mouth and be swallowed. This includes small toys like Legos, Polly Pockets, magnets, bouncy balls, and any other small part products. While these products are excellent for older children, you should check to make sure that they are age-appropriate.

Recently, a company called Doodlebutt was required to recall Jelly BeadZ Jumbo BeadZ and Magic Growing Fruity Fun toys because both small toys involve a serious ingestion hazard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission writes that these colorful and soft products are commonly mistaken for candy. The toys are supposed to expand in water, so when they are swallowed by a child they can often expand within the intestines and cause serous obstructions. This can result in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and can sometimes even be life-threatening. Sometimes these toys don't show up on X-rays, and surgery is required to remove the toys from the body.

Another choking hazard recall recently involves Manhattan Group baby rattles. The CPSC says that the colorful arches on this infant toy can break, creating a small part that can be ingested if a baby is chewing on the toy.

Another recent recall involved children's mounted wall lamps that are frequently sold at IKEA stores in a variety of different shapes and colors for about $10 to $13. These pretty lamps have been declared a strangulation hazard after one child died when the cord became wrapped around her neck. Another child almost died of the same situation but a caretaker was able to assess the situation and rescue the baby. About 2.9 million of these popular lamps have been recalled in the United States and another 1.1 million were recalled in Canada.

One dangerous and very popular toy is the tricycle. Last year, five children died on tricycles when they rode into pools of water or suffered a serious fall. Many tricycle fall injuries can be eliminated with the proper pads. These include elbow pads, knee pads and of course a reliable safety helmet. Other rideables, such as ride-on wagons or scooters should also be purchased with caution, Parents should also be very careful to avoid buying balloons and other small inflatable objects for their children.

Balloons are serious choking hazards and result in many injuries and deaths each year. If your child is harmed by a toy and you believe that it is a product defect situation, then you need to contact a lawyer at the firm today to learn more. With the right attorney on your side, you will be able to seek financial compensation from the responsible manufacturer.