With Christmas just a few weeks away, many Mid-South parents are scrambling to find toys on their children's lists. Multiple toy recalls this year make it difficult to find the perfect toy that's also safe. Safe Kids Mid-South, headquartered at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, offer a few tips to make your child's holiday safe and your toy selection a bit easier.

1. Watch the recalled toy list
This year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 61 toys and more than 25 million product units. Toys are frequently recalled for safety reasons; the most talked about this year was unsafe levels of lead. Parents should periodically check the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at www.cpsc.gov for the latest on toy recalls.

"The general rule of thumb is that there is no safe level of lead when it comes to children. Trace amounts of lead can be harmful to a child over time," said Bryan Williams, Ph.D. Williams is an environmental epidemiologist-toxicologist in pediatrics at the Children's Research Foundation Center at Le Bonheur. "The lead levels found in plastics from China thus far are extremely high by American standards and could theoretically pose a risk of acute toxicity in a child."

For more information about lead, visit www.lebonheur.org/lead

2. Consider child's age and interest
Parents should select toys according to their child's age, interests and skill level. Look for well-made, sturdy toys and follow safety information on the warning labels. Children younger than age 4 can choke on small toys and toy parts. Consider purchasing a small parts tester to determine whether small toys present a choking hazard. These are available for about $2 in the safety aisle of toy stores.

3. Stress safety
The holidays are a good time to reinforce safety messages. Safe Kids suggests that parents use gifts of bicycles, inline skates, scooters and skateboards as opportunities to teach about safe riding. Make the appropriate safety gear as part of your gift. "Things like helmets, retro-reflective clothing and stickers, wrists guards and knee pads will help reinforce safety messages. Children should always wear the necessary gear when riding," says Susan Helms, coordinator of Safe Kids Mid-South.

4. Watch for potential hazards
Parents should avoid purchasing toys with sharp points or edges and toys that produce loud noises and projectiles (such as darts and bb guns). Avoid toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches as they can unintentionally strangle children. Electric toys are not recommended for children younger than age 8 because of the potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element, including batteries and electric plugs. Toy cap guns use caps that can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns. Also, be sure to discard the plastic wrappings or bags that come with the toys to prevent accidental suffocation.

5. Weed out broken toys
As you're adding toys to your child's collection, it's a good time to check old toys for damage such as sharp edges or small parts. Make any repairs or throw away damaged toys right away.

Safe Kids Mid-South, headquartered at Le Bonheur Children's, is part of a global campaign dedicated solely to the prevention of accidental injuries to children age 14 and under - the No. 1 health risk children face today. Safe Kids Mid-South raises awareness about preventing injury, provides information and skills to make the environment safer, and helps pass laws for children's safety. For more information about safety or to join the coalition, please call (901) 287-6730.