We all are concerned about lead content and other toxic ingredients in our children's toys, whether they are brand new or have been chewed on and banged around for a while now. Seeing all those aisles of toys prominently thrown in our faces in every store we enter, how can we know which are indeed safe? Many of us are committed to reading the labels on the food we buy to ensure highest quality ingredients, but how do we do that for toys?

Thankfully, there are active organizations out there offering guidance and valuable information to help keep our children safe for harmful toxins in toys. One such resource is HealthyToys.org. Developed by the Ecology Center in collaboration with the Washington Toxics Coalition, HealthyToys.org is a free searchable database of safe and non-safe toys. You can enter the brand of the toy, the type of toy, or even the name of the toy and the site will provide current information on the safety level of the products.

Can't find your toy in their database? Just submit it for testing. The site, which encourages you to register with them as a sign of support as well as accepting donations, offers user submission of toys not found in the database. You can also vote for your favorite toys and see what others recommend. And the site also offers a listing of the "Best" and "Worst" toys, including brand name, product name, and origin of manufacture along with a photo of the toy.

If you are planning toy shopping, give this site a visit before you buy. And if you have already made some purchases (or are just concerned about the toys your kids already play with), HealthyToys.org is an invaluable resource to help ensure the safety of your kids.