Oe” reneeanee 06 Oona wn HOLIDAYGIFT IDEAS? bed Geb tat ~OoLOtentne ag hee ttparte etary (o Tips On Toys (NAPSA)—Here’s help for holiday shoppers: While most people know to check what age a youngster should be to play with a toy, not everyone knows there maybe other challenges when giving a gift to someoneliving with Spina Bifida, a birth defect of the spine. Gift givers may get some sur- prises making sure the toys they presentare safe forall children. Children with Spina Bifida cannot enjoy many mass-marketed toys due to hazardousallergies to latex, a natural product from the sap of rubber trees. This means children with Spina Bifida should have latex-free toys. Fortunately, some toy manufacturers produce items containing latex alternatives such as silicone, plastic and vinyl. Before buying a toy, read any package information and check with the salespeople whether the items contain natural rubber latex. If they don’t know, you may needto consult the manufacturer. For a list of companies that make toys without latex or for more information on latex allergies, visit www.latexallergylinks.org. To learn more about Spina Bifida, visit the Spina Bifida Association at www.spinabifidaassocia tion.org or call (800) 621-3141.
