Rate Your Child's Toys for Safety

Children’s toys are safer today than they’ve ever been, yet they are not completely hazard free. As a parent you should look beyond the manufacturer’s “age rating” for a toy and read the packaging thoroughly before allowing your child to play. For children under 3 years of age you will want to take additional precautions.  

Never buy a baby toy before thoroughly inspecting it even if you have to remove it from its’ packaging. Make certain the toy doesn’t have any sharp edges or points which can be extremely hazardous. Even if the toy looks safe, small children can fall and hurt their eyes on a sharp toy. The absence of sharp edges significantly reduces the risk of harm to your child.

Choking is the most common cause of toy related deaths today. A toy with small removable parts is a giant danger. Children put everything in their mouths and toys with small parts can be easily swallowed. Even if the small part isn’t supposed to separate from the toy, check to make sure that it cannot be easily jarred loose. Most toys will state possible choking hazards on the packaging but some may not so it is up to the parent to evaluate the dangers involved.

Balloons are a taboo for children under 8 years of age. When they break, they can completely block the child’s airway and cause them to choke. Mylar balloons are safer but only as a decoration placed outside of a child’s reach.

Toys with cords or mobiles should never be placed within a child’s reach due to strangulation hazards. Do not let your child play with anything that can wrap around a little body.  If in doubt, save the toy for when the child is older or use it as a room decoration placed out of the child’s reach.

Check the material warning of you child’s toys as they may be toxic. Foreign made toys often reach the U.S. market without passing safety regulations. Currently, a controversial material called “phthalate” has been banned in toys for small children. It is a chemical used to soften stiff plastic toys but it is thought to be a cancer causing chemical. Even toys labeled “phthalate free” may contain some of the substance so if there’s any doubt, contact the toy manufacturer to get the information you need.

There are many web sites that sell baby and children’s toys along with baby cradle bedding, full size toddler bedding and other items your little ones will need. Web site stores usually supply excellent back up information on toys to help you decide what is right for your child.

To check for product recalls, go to www.recall.gov to get the information you need. Your child’s safety is worth the extra effort. Remember, regardless of the toys your child has, it is always more enjoyable and safer when playtime is supervised by an adult.