Toy Safety For The Holidays

As the holidays approach, many of us are planning gifts to give our loved ones. Do you have a toddler on your gift list?  If so, make sure the toys you buy are safe and appropriate for the child's age.

Check Age And Skill Level

Check the packaging to make sure the toy you are buying is appropriate for your tot's age and ability. A game that is meant for a 5-year-old can be mystifying for a 3-year-old. Also, look at the instructions. If you can't understand them, then a child probably won't be able to figure out how the toy works either.

Inspect For Safety

Safety is another aspect you should always check. Toys can prove to be a safety hazard if they contain small parts. Parts small enough to fit easily into a toddler's mouth can be a choking hazard. This may seem to be an unlikely problem when you're looking at that ideal toy, but remember, small children and infants automatically put items in their mouths.  

Are Small Parts Securely Attached?

Plush toys are ideal for small children, but make sure they are safe for your tot by looking at the construction of the toy. Are the eyes, nose, and other small features fastened on tightly? If not tightly secured, these items can come off when a child  inevitably chews on it.

Are There Any Sharp Edges?

Any toy with a sharp edge can be a potential safety hazard for a toddler. A child walking or running with such a toy can fall and be injured by it.  Again, tots like to put things in their mouths, so a sharp-edged toy could cut their lips, gums or tongues.

Any Electric Or Heating Elements?

Only children 8 years of age or over should receive electric toys with heating elements. Don't be tempted to buy these for a younger child just because they're a bargain and would be fun to play with. When children are playing unsupervised, a toy with an electrical heating element can be hazardous.

Find Out What's Been Recalled

Before setting out on your toy shopping excursion, find out what toys have been recalled. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission can tell you if a toy has been recalled that could pose a serious safety threat to your tot. You can visit their website at www.cpsc.gov or call toll-free (800) 638-2772. You might be surprised to find out that some of the leading toy makers have recalled toys. It would be a good idea while you're at it to check older toys your child already has to be sure they're not on the recall list. The CPSC website will tell you what to do if a toy you have is on the recall list.

Some of the toys on the recall list are made by well-known toy manufacturers, including companies we trust to make safe toys for our children. A few of the toys on the recall list are:

Woody Dolls (distributed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts) -- the doll's buttons are not secured and can detach and pose a choking hazard for young children.

Little People Animal Sounds Farm (by Fisher-Price) -- the screws that hold the stall doors in place can come off and pose a choking or aspiration hazard to a small child. There was a report of a child aspirating the screw into his lungs, requiring emergency surgery.

Drumsticks sold with toy drum sets (by Battat Incorporated) -- the end piece of the drumstick handle can break off, and the screw at the end of the drumstick can loosen and detach. Both pose a chocking hazard for small children.

Remove Dangerous Packaging Immediately

Watch for those twist-ties that keep toys secure in their packages. They keep the toy looking good on the shelf, but they become a hazard when the toy is removed from the package. Even if your toddler's toys don't have these, check older sibling's toys for them. They need to be properly discarded to avoid any danger to a younger child. On Christmas morning, you can eliminate a suffocation hazard to your tot by immediately throwing away all plastic wrappings from the toys.

Do Your Research

Toys and games that capture the imagination are hard to resist for parents, grandparents and friends with a special toddler in mind. You can help keep the holidays happy and safe for your tot by doing your research before you buy.