Is old Lego safe?

GS had a Duplo zoo and both the bricks and the animals were pressed into service for many other scenarios over the years. He only actually stopped pressing them into service a couple of years ago - he is eleven next week. My favourite is Playmobil, but there are lots of lots of little bits to get lost. I came across a set of keys, a set of handcuffs and a loudhailer from the police station set recently in the bottom of one of my “lost and found” pots.

Both of my 'boys' are now middle-aged and don't seem to have any sinister symptoms. Given the omnipresence of Lego in most toy boxes in the last half century, we evidently ought to have an entire generation suffering from lead poisoning.

I'll have another look in Argos! G.D.'s birthday coming up. Unfortunately I threw away all my own kids' toys. Never thought I'd be a granny.

Blimey my son was born in the 70s he loved his Lego.

Mine had/still have lots of their old Lego but it was only bought when they were old enough to fully understand that you only put FOOD DRINK and your TOOTHBRUSH in your mouth.

If these chemicals are there it is probably in impossibly tiny amounts that will do no harm. Leo has been passed onto grandchildren. My children did not come to harm.

My advice is to ignore most 'modern' advice and rely on tried and tested common sense!! Adults nowadays do no seem to be suffering ill effects from playing with Lego and, if they are, then there should a massive case for compensation opened against them surely

When I retrieved 2 large storage containers of Lego from my loft I put it in the dishwasher in a laundy bag bit by bit until it was all clean. It would have been from about 1990 onwards and Duplo 1988 my dgs has played with Duplo zoo, farm and many extra animals and also building bricks and a rattle and none have come to any harm. When he is 5-6 years old he will probably progress to Lego. The bricks are solid and do not flake so would have to be chewed a lot Imo for any possible ill effect and article states only red and yellow bricks so all other colours perfectly safe. So grey millennium falcon safe then! I would not throw away but wash before use and inspect and throw away any pieces with tooth marks.

I kept all my daughter's Lego from the 70s and my grandchildren have been playing with it ever since without any complaint from daughter who quite frankly is on top of everything non-organic, chemical-ridden, etc., and would be the first to ask me to destroy it if there were a genuine concern. Of course, like other grans, there has to be a warning about eating the stuff.

I've just contacted Lego headquarters here in Denmark and asked about this, so I'll get back to you all when I get a reply from them

One lot of GCs have survived parental Lego and I have another batch ready for the youngest pair. Certainly won't be throwing it away.

It’ll be good to have something straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were, grandtante! ?

grandtante, good idea, thank you, will be very interested to hear what they have to say, will be watching this space! We have loads of Lego, all been lovingly stored away for decades ready and waiting for grandchildren. Was about to wash it all ready for when the two oldest next visit as they are really keen. Ultimately I suppose it's up to the parents whether they consider it okay or not.

For goodness sake - not you GrandmaRoo but the scaremongers saying something 'could or may' cause harm
with no stats to back it up. Your children survived it, didn't they? Give it a good clean and pass it on.

I'd be more worried about a sharp little piece sticking in the gut and causing a problem.

I have loads of toys that my children played with and that my grandchildren enjoy playing with, Lego, small cars, Fisher Price firestation, sticklebricks to name but a few. Unless they were broken and dangerous there's no way I would throw them away.

My sons hardly ever used their lego as it seemed there was always someone around who may choke on it and same is happening with the next generation but very interesting comments here.

GS 1 (aged 9) has played with the Lego his mother and aunt had ever since he was old enough. He's never chewed it. For me the most dangerous thing about it is stepping barefoot on a piece of the damn stuff.

On Dangerous chemicals
so do tablet, phones and i pad but I don't see to many folk avoiding giving kids such thing to keep 'em quiet in the supermarket q
But here's a good tip
DON'T EAT LEGO and certain don't tread on in in bare feet THATS THE REAL DANGER
I did and was instantly transmogrified in to something resembling a polar bear

I've just received a reply from Lego's headquarters here in Denmark, which was written in Danish, so I shall just give you the gist of it.

They say that as long as the old Lego bricks are whole, i.e. neither chipped nor cracked they are quite safe for children to play with, as long as you stick to the safety guidelines and do not give children under three the standard size.

They say too, and this I am sure is quite correct, that they have always employed safety standards in advance of what was demanded by law, so they are confident that there is no danger to children when we hand down old Lego.

johnofwhixall certain don't tread on in in bare feet
I think we've all done that at some point.

You can buy 'Lego slippers' apparently, which will protect your feet from those little bits left behind in the pile of the carpet (ouch)

Thanks, grandetante

I’ve just come across this question as I’m asking the same - my daughter alerted me to the fact that some duplo might not be safe for little ones. I had the duplo rattles from 4 months though most of the duplo is from 18mths but they are still putting things in their mouths - which is the concern. If they just handle it I think it’s ok. Any updated advice on this ?