As a parent, keeping your child safe is understandably your utmost priority. That’s why when buying products for your little ones, it’s definitely important that you know what you’re buying and have peace of mind that you can trust the source or brand of the thing you’re buying. The last thing you want is to give your child a toy they adore and get attached to, only for it to be recalled two weeks later.

But sadly, some things aren’t up to snuff.

A recall can be a nightmare for a parent, not only being forced to rip the possession away from their child, but also planting fear that the product has harmed their child in the process. In fact, there are a number of recall trends like this that have come up over the last decade. Nearly one-third of all recalls are in the children’s product market, so being informed is key to avoiding dangerous products.

So, Why are Products Recalled?

While some children’s products are recalled for simple reasons that may not phase you like some kind of obscure federal regulation, other reasons can pose very serious concerns. When a product doesn’t get used exactly how the retailer intended, it can result in choking, strangulation, entrapment, or laceration. Those experiences are no joke, which is to say that no matter how intelligent your little one may be, a defective toy can have some dangerous effects that certainly should not be risked.

Amazon is the Leading Retailer with Recalls

Of all children’s recalls, just under 17% of them derived from popular online retailer Amazon.com. We all know and love how convenient Amazon is. You can order while you’re making dinner, you can order while you’re trying to put the babies to sleep…you name it. But while this site is incredibly convenient for parents to shop without taking too much time out of their busy lifest‌yle, it is incredibly important to read the product details and reviews in full so that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing for their child.

The only other retailer responsible for over 10% of children’s products recalls was former Toys-R-Us with 118 recalls in the past decade. Other retailers that make up the top five in recalls include Target, Walmart, and Kohls. It’s safe to say it would be wise to keep these recalls in mind the next time you’re shopping for something for your little one.

The Most Common Response is a Refund.

While retailers and manufacturers can respond in a variety of ways when they realize there was an oversight, the most common response is to refund the consumers. This is the most common response especially when a product is recalled for choking, ingestion, fire, or federal reasons.

Other popular methods of dealing with the issue is to replace or repair the product. Manufacturers can also opt to provide new instructions, labels or advise people to dispose of the merchandise. For products recalled for strangulation, lead violation or entrapment, the solution was often unspecified.

The moment manufacturers realize their product could place consumers in the eye of danger, they will quickly take action to minimize future damages. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to recalls and instructions of the companies who created the gadget.

While no parent can be perfect, being an informed parent gives you just one more tool to plant under your belt to deal with whatever life throws at your family. You definitely shouldn’t live in fear of a toy lighting on fire and burning your child, but you should pay attention to recalls when they arise. Telling a child they can’t play with their favorite toy anymore can be a difficult task, but it could also be essential to their safety.

Melody Porter

Tinybeans Voices Contributor