What we found

The current standard recommends a maximum limit of 85dBA (decibels) for rattles and 92dBA for toys held close to the ear (like toy phones). As a comparison, vacuum cleaners are 60 to 75dBA at a distance of one metre, and electric chainsaws put out around 100dBA.

So some toys can be quite loud even if they comply with the standard. This may change in the future (see "Changing rules" below).

Of the 21 toys tested, three failed the standard. A further two - depending on how they were used - could produce sound levels above the recommended levels. That's a disappointingly high number of failures.

See the Test results table for details of all the toys tested.

Way too loud

The squeeze rubber whales (right) produced sounds over the recommended limit of 85dBA for toys in its class.

The wooden football rattle and the Fisher-Price Learning Mower were louder than 110dBA. The standard recommends toys this loud have a warning label - neither toy had one.

The Fisher-Price Talking Gadget Belt (right) has a little walkie-talkie attached. It could be classified as a hand-held toy, but it's possible a child could hold it close to their ear - like a phone. Used in this way it would be over the limit for close-to-the-ear toys.

The Playskool Poundin' Bedbugs was also over the limit if hit with the supplied hammer and was still marginal if pounded with a finger.

Two toys were recorded as loud during the initial screening. Both the Fifi Fun Phone and the Fisher-Price Learning Phone had "demo" tabs, which increase the toy's sound output in the shop. You're meant to remove this before giving the toy to a child. With the tabs in place, both phones were over the limit - but both were safe once the tabs had been removed. Make sure you remove the demo tab before giving this type of toy to a child.

Rattles and squeeze toys

A child has to squeeze or spin these sorts of toys to produce noise. Young children normally lack the strength and co-ordination to produce a loud noise, but an older child or adult could easily do this - and damage the younger child's hearing.

Changing rules

The standards committee for children's toys is considering a change to the standard. This would lower the recommended sound limits and bring them into line with the European standard. Under the proposed new rules the Fisher-Price Learning Phone would fail, even with its demo tab removed. The Project Supergun (see Test results) would also fail.