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The stores are decorated; the holiday music is playing, and the shelves are full of brightly colored toys, games and puzzles to delight any child. Television and other advertising is in full swing all looking for the attention of children. Advertisers want to be sure their products appear on children's shopping lists.

"Being prepared with the right information and resources before shopping will make this holiday season a safer and happier one for everyone," says Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

There is so much going on, it may be difficult to know where to start. Before adding a toy to your shopping list, there are important things to consider. Kidshealth.org recommends some general guidelines:

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 on the package, which means that they have been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Stay away from hand-me-down toys or those sold in thrift shops which may not meet the current safety standards.
• Make sure the toy is not too loud for the child. KidsHealth reports that some toys may be as loud as a car's horn, especially if held close to a child's ears.
• Choose toys for the correct age of the child. Remember, even though a child may be advanced for his/her age, the age level for toys is determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity, according to KidsHealth.

Toys are frequently recalled because of safety concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has the latest information about recalled toys. Below are just some of the toys which have been recalled in 2014:

JANUARY 08, 2014

Kids Station Toys Recalls Little Tikes Toy Cell Phones Due to Choking Hazard Kids Station Toys.

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

U.S. Toy Co. Recalls More Children’s Butterfly Necklaces Due to Lead Poisoning.

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Infantino Recalls Teething Toys Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target Infantino has received reports of infants choking or gagging on the monkey's tail.

FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Cork Block Stacking Toys Recalled by A Harvest Company Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at StorkStack.com. Small pieces of cork can break off the stackable blocks.

MARCH 19, 2014

Ganz Recalls Grumpy Cat Stuffed Animal Toys Due to Choking Hazard. The eyes on the recalled lying and sitting Grumpy Cat plush toys and on a Grumpy Cat key chain can detach.

MARCH 19, 2014

Vera Bradley Recalls Bear Ring Rattles and Bunny Toys Due to Choking Hazard. The pom-pom tail can detach from the body of the bear rattle and the bunny.

MARCH 20, 2014

Minga Fair Trade Imports Recalls Wooden Flipping Acrobat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. The paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.

APRIL 01, 2014

CPSC, Tek Nek Toys Announce Recall of Children's Riding Vehicles.  

OCTOBER 02, 2014

Toys R Us Recalls Children’s Sandals Due to Choking Hazard. The butterfly wing decorations on the Koala Baby girls' sandals can rip and detach.

OCTOBER 15, 2014

Toys R Us Recalls Toy Toaster Sets Due to Choking Hazard. The plastic toast, under pressure, can crack and break into small pieces creating sharp edges.

Stores are required to pull from their shelves toys which have been recalled. However, stores are not the only place where toys may be purchased. Many toys are purchased from thrift shops, yard sales and smaller stores which may not be taking recalled toys off their shelves.

Before purchasing a toy for a child on your list, go to the CPSC website http://www.cpsc.gov/ , type in the name of the toy in the search bar, and see whether it has been recalled or has a safety warning.

Many large chains, like McDonalds, also recall toys. According to Time, on November 10, 2014, McDonalds voluntarily recalled 2.3 million "Hello Kitty" toys after it was reported that two children had accidentally choked on a detachable whistle. 

"Remember, if your child is given a gift, please be sure it is safe and age-appropriate before allowing your child to play with it," says Attorney Spivey.

Child Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has personally handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit  SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.