Poor quality toys

[MrsMcGillicuddy]

AIBU to be upset about the very poor quality toys kids are surrounded by? Since DCs were born, I've been trying to be quite careful with what they play with or wear as I'm really concerned about both safety and ethics. I've been doing a lot of research about where toys are made and what they are made of. However, they older they get, the more difficult it is to have any control over what they play with. Wherever we go these days, we seem to be surrounded by toys made by 3rd party sellers on Amazon or Ebay, without CE marks or other relevant information etc. This happens with kids' party bag toys, summer fairs, corner shops when we're on holidays. There also seem to be evidence that some second-hand vintage toys may be harmful. And it's really difficult to always say no to them when they ask for a small toy.

AIBU to be upset about it and wish that people were more aware of the fact that a lot of cheap, unbranded toys may be hazardous or quite toxic to small children?

It’s your job as their parent to say no, however difficult it is.

I don't find these toys hard to avoid at all. I don't buy from amazon/ebay unless I recognise the brand. And if they get the occasional small thing like that they tend to break or go missing very quickly anyway, so I just remove them, or I don't worry about it because 99% of their toys are fine. Everything in moderation is OK, it's only if all of their toys were these toxic materials that you need to worry.

I do try to educate my eldest about it too, like he wanted some new bluetooth ear pods and I advised him against the cheapo internet ones in case they have crappy electrics and are a fire hazard. He found some cheap/reasonable ones in a local electrical chain store instead.

If you see any for sale that you know are dangerous then report the seller to Trading Standards.
Almost every Christmas I read about Trading Standards or customs seizing dodgy goods usually sold from market stalls or “pop up” discount shops. So the authorities do take notice and act.

You can always try supervising them with said toys!

Bit wild I know!