Toy Safety Guidelines For Parents | Child Safety Articles | 4akid

Toy Safety Guidelines for Parents

There are millions of toys in the market-place with thousands of new ones introduced every year, but are all toys and children’s products safe and how do you know how to choose safe products for your kids?

Although most manufacturers set guidelines on their product packaging to assist parents in selecting age appropriate toys from babies to teenagers, it is up to parents to become safety “experts” when it comes to their children’s well-being and be aware of toy safety. Here are some guidelines to help you to make playtime safe and fun.

SELECT TOYS WITH CARE
• Read the labels on the toys and look for other package warnings such as “small pieces”, “requires supervision”, “flame-resistant”, “non-toxic” or washing instructions. If the toy is not labeled, do not buy it!
• Choose a toy that is age-appropriate for child. Buying a toy that is intended for an older child can be harmful to your child.
• Look out for sharp edges, small parts and any other moving objects that can break off and land up in your toddler’s mouth.
• Check dolls and stuffed animals to ensure that the eyes and buttons are secure. Look for well manufactured toys with strong components and try avoid easily breakable or shatter-prone toys.
• Toys with sharp or pointed edges, short cords or strings attached can potentially be dangerous to your child.
• Look for safety certification like International Safety Standards, ISO standards, ICASA or SABS approval.

POTENTIAL TOY DANGERS
• Potential hazards to your child include choking or aspiration of small parts, strangulation, cuts by sharp parts of the toy, injury by projectiles, drowning. motor vehicle incidents involving toys and lead paint.
• The packaging of the toys can be dangerous for your child. Remove and discard all packaging from a toy before allowing a small child to play with it.
• Any electronic toys that need to be plugged into a power outlet are not age appropriate for children under ten years of age. Stick with battery operated for younger children. Make sure the battery compartment is secure and cannot be easily opened by your child.
• Broken toys should be thrown away. Check your child’s toys regularly and look for damaged or broken parts that may pose a hazard like splinters on wooden toys, loose eyes or small parts on dolls, rips or exposed wires in stuffed animals, or rust on metal toys. Repair the toy or throw it away.
• Loud toys can damage your child’s hearing. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn so supervise and check before your child uses it.
• Inappropriate age use – Toys that may be safe for older children can be extremely dangerous in the hands of toddlers and babies.
• Check for small parts on toys that can become a choking hazard.

AGE GUIDELINES FOR TOYS

Newborn to 1 year-old baby
Choose brightly-colored, lightweight toys that appeal to your baby’s sight, hearing, and touch.

• Cloth, plastic, or board books with large pictures.
• Large blocks of wood or plastic.
• Pots and pans.
• Rattles.
• Soft, washable animals, dolls, or balls.
• Bright, movable objects that are out of baby’s reach.
• Busy boards.
• Floating bath toys.
• Squeeze toys.

1 to 2 year-old toddler
Toys for this age group should be safe and be able to withstand a toddler’s curious nature.

• Cloth, plastic, or board books with large pictures.
• Sturdy dolls.
• Kiddy cars.
• Musical tops.
• Nesting blocks.
• Push and pull toys (remember — no long strings).
• Stacking toys.
• Toy telephones (without cords).

2 to 5 year-old preschooler
Toys for this age group can be creative or imitate the activity of parents and older children.

• Books (short stories or action stories).
• Blackboard and chalk.
• Building blocks.
• Crayons, nontoxic finger paints, clay.
• Hammer and bench.
• Housekeeping toys.
• Outdoor toys: sandbox (with a lid), slide, swing, playhouse.
• Transportation toys (tricycles, cars, wagons).
• Tape or record player.
• Simple puzzles with large pieces.
• Dress-up clothes.
• Tea party utensils.

5 to 9 year-old child
Toys for this age group should help your child develop new skills and creativity.

• Blunt scissors, sewing sets.
• Card games.
• Doctor and nurse kits.
• Hand puppets.
• Balls.
• Bicycles with helmets.
• Crafts.
• Electric trains.
• Paper dolls.
• Jump ropes.
• Roller skates with protective gear.
• Sports equipment.
• Table games.

10 to 14 year-old child
Hobbies and scientific activities are ideal for this age group.

• Computer games.
• Sewing, knitting, needlework.
• Microscopes/telescopes.
• Table and board games.
• Sports equipment.
• Hobby collections.

Playtime should be fun and safe, and is an important part of your child’s development and growth. Choosing toys carefully will assure that playtime is educational, fun, and, most importantly, safe.

[Written by Ally Cohen, owner of 4aKid – Putting Child Safety First and Child Safety Advisor of Parent24.com]
References from American Academy of Pediatrics