Dear Concerned Adults (and the children for which they purchase toys),
Thank you for visiting and shopping with Growing Tree Toys, both online and at our retail location. The fact that you are visiting this toy safety page demonstrates your commitment to the safety and well-being of the children you know and love, and Growing Tree Toys wants to assure you that we also have their best interest in mind, and have for over 25 years.
The concern regarding toy safety and toy recalls is something we see and experience everyday – we hear the apprehension about toy safety from our customers when they shop at our store, or when they call or email us when visiting our website. We want you to know that every question, concern and inquiry is very important to us, and toy safety is an issue about which we care deeply.
As a specialty retailer, we take great care when selecting our products, providing the highest quality toys with great educational and play value, and dealing with first-class manufacturers that are committed to providing excellent toys that not only delight children, but meet the highest standards for quality and safety. We spend a great deal of time reviewing and selecting the toys for our store, as well as the manufacturers from which we purchase. As a result, we are extremely proud of our product selection, and we feel confident that the toys we offer are not only safe, but stimulating and fun for the children that play with them.
Below, we have provided answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the toys we offer and the safety of our products, as well as some wonderful resources for researching manufacturer’s safety efforts, toy safety standards, and toy testing. If you still have questions regarding the safety of any product on our site after reading the safety information and product information provided, please do not hesitate to contact us at 800-372-9982 or info@growingtreetoys.com for further information.
The goal of Growing Tree Toys is to provide children with unique, educational, fun and SAFE playthings – a mission that guides us daily. Thank you for taking the time to read this toy safety statement, and we thank you for shopping with us!
Best wishes,
Kay Emigh, President, and the rest of the concerned staff at Growing Tree Toys
Have any toys that I have purchased been recalled?
In order to determine whether or not a toy you purchased has been recalled, you will need to check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov to see if any toy you own is listed as recalled. At the site, you can check all recent recalls, recalls by company, or recalls for toys. If you purchased a recalled toy during the time outlined on the site, you should follow the instructions provided on the recall notice to send back the toy to the manufacturer; or, you can dispose of the toy.
If you have a question regarding the recall notice, or if the toy you purchased is a part of the recall, you can always call the toy’s manufacturer or the retailer from which you purchased the item, and they should be able to provide you with further information.
How do I know that my toy is safe?
All toys sold in the United States must meet certain safety standards set forth by the US Government before they are available to the public, and manufacturers test their products rigorously to ensure that these safety standards are met. Unfortunately, as product recalls suggest, sometimes toys are not as safe as they were initially determined to be.
When purchasing toys, you should use your best judgment to determine if you feel comfortable purchasing a toy for your child. Adults must consider a number of factors when purchasing a toy for a child, such as age appropriateness, the durability of the toy, the presence of younger children in the home, the quality of the toy, the complexity in design of the toy, the child’s interest or potential interest in the toy, and the expense of the toy. Additionally, parents should trust both the manufacturer that makes the toy, as well as the retailer from which they are purchasing the toy.
How do you know that the toys that you are selling are safe?
Growing Tree Toys dedicates a great deal of time to searching for new products and manufacturers, as well as reviewing both current and new toys prior to selling them to consumers. As a specialty retailer, we have the opportunity to work with many wonderful manufacturers, and we only purchase from manufacturers that are committed to providing high quality products that meet the highest standards for safety.
We are in daily contact with manufacturers regarding their products and the safety of their toys, and we feel confident that the toys we sell both at our retail location and at www.growingtreetoys.com meet and exceed the safety standards set forth by the US Government. Many of our manufacturers, since they are smaller in size and offer a limited number of products, are more intimately involved in the production process of their toys. Many of these manufacturers either travel to the production facilities frequently or have employees that live in the area of their factory, thus ensuring a higher level of quality and safety for their products.
Our manufacturers have reassured us of the safety of their toys, both personally and through formal letters, which makes us feel even more confident about our product selection and toy safety. But, if you ever have any questions, safety or otherwise, regarding a product that we sell, please do not hesitate to contact us at 800-372-9982 or info@growingtreetoys.com.
Lastly, all products sold by Growing Tree Toys are labeled by the manufacturer if the product poses a choking hazard for a certain age group of children. Each manufacturer determines choking hazards according to Federal Standards. Please consider any choking hazards and recommended ages when purchasing toys for children.
Where are your toys made?
Growing Tree Toys purchases toys that are manufactured all over the world. We carry toys that are made in such countries as the United States, Germany, Canada, Thailand, China, and England – but this certainly not an exhaustive list! If we find a great quality toy that we are confident is made by a safety-conscious manufacturer that is committed to making high quality products, we will carry the item regardless of its country of origin. And, since we are always looking for high quality toys, the countries from which we purchase toys will continue to grow!
Are toys made in China safe?
Many of the toys that children have been playing with for years were and still are made in China, and they continue to pose no safety risk to children. And, even when toys are made in China, they still have to meet the same safety standards maintained by the US Government as toys that are produced in other parts of the world. But, as has been seen by toy recalls, some items that are made in China have posed a safety risk to children.
The manufacturers of the products that we sell take extreme steps to ensure the safety of their products. These manufacturers work hard to make great children’s products in China, and they continually monitor their production facilities and test their products to guarantee that they meet all safety standards. Their commitment to quality is why we continue to buy products from these manufacturers and sell their toys with confidence to consumers.
What resources are available for me to research toy safety?
Consumers have a number of resources to help them research and make decisions about products they buy for their children. The following organizations can serve as useful tools when reviewing the safety of toys:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission www.cpsc.gov
