Lead paint, choking hazards, and more, from toys sold by big box retailers and department stores to those sold by dollar stores and thrift shops, after the recall of millions of toys in 2007, the task of keeping track may seem so overwhelming as to be tempting to give up.  But a few basic bits of information can set you on the right path.   
 
First, a review of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) list of toy recalls at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html will help identify types of hazards that frequently result in recalls, types of toys that have been more often recalled, retailers and manufacturers that have had more recalls, and countries of manufacture that show up more often on the recall list.  Click on and open the listing for the recalled item for full information.  In addition to a description of the hazard posed and an explanation of why the toy was recalled, a picture of the item is provided along with information about where it was manufactured and where it was sold. 
 
Reviewing the list to become familiar with the most common problems is helpful, but the list is constantly changing as more recalls are added of toys both old and new.  To help consumers stay current with recalls as they are added, the CPSC has created a special page on its site for recalls and product safety news -- http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html.  For those who frequently buy toys for children, joining the recall notification list offered at the bottom left of the recall and product safety news page is one of the best ways to stay current.  To go directly to the recall notification list email subscription page, click here: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx  An option is offered to subscribe for notices of only recalls involving infant/child products, which would include toys for children 12 and under.   Unsubscribing is easy.  Simply enter the email to unsubscribe in the box in the middle of the page and click “Unsubscribe” at the bottom of the page instead of the "Subscribe."
 
The CPSC's Recall and Product Safety News page also offers the ability to search by date, product type, company, product description, hazard, and country of manufacture.  The company search feature is especially helpful for those who shop often with one of the listed companies.
 
The CPSC is even beginning to use social media.  In a press release dated September 22, 2009, it announced it is launching what it is calling "CPSC 2.0," which it describes as a comprehensive social networking initiative "that will make lifesaving and other safety information more accessible to consumers."  Visit http://twitter.com/OnSafety to see what they're tweeting.  The CPSC's Twitter handle is @OnSafety, and they can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/uscpsc.  They even have a blog titled On Safety at http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/.
 
Even with the best communication, despite recalls and pulling toys from store shelves, toys are sometimes missed and remain on a store shelf or are donated and show up years later in a thrift shop.  Being familiar with the long list of recalls is especially helpful in these situations.  Additionally, the CPSC has launched a Resale Round-up Campaign to keep recalled products out of resale stores, with special emphasis on its Top Ten list of recalled children's products.  (Top Ten list can be seen here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09299.html)
 
From thrift shops to the modern media world of social networking, it is becoming easier to keep current with what has become a very long list of recalls.  Once new tracking label requirements put in place by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 are being met fully it should become easier still.