Toy Safety Tips for the Holidays
Pretty much all toys can look inviting to children. But it is important for adults who are buying toys this holiday season look beyond the flashing lights and cool noises to make sure they are safe. Some of the dangers – such as sharp edges or long strings or cords – are rather obvious. But many other guidelines on what to watch for are more easily overlooked.
Make sure toys you are buying for holiday gifts are safe and appropriate for the child you are giving them to. (Photo: Thinkstock)
Be mindful of age
Most toys are labeled with an age recommendation, which experts suggest using as a starting point in the selection process.
“Play is the work of childhood. So if we’re going to buy a toy for a child, we want to support his or her development,” said Sue Rzucidlo, a nurse practitioner with Penn State Pediatrics. “Parents often think their child will ‘grow into’ a toy, but that can be dangerous with something like a bike, if the child doesn’t have the skills to control it.”
Equally important is keeping older children’s toys out of reach of their younger siblings.
“The key is to be sure you’re letting your older child have toys that are developmentally appropriate while also keeping your younger child safe,” said Amy Morgan, manager of the Pediatric Trauma and Injury Prevention Program at Penn State Children’s Hospital. “The problem comes when a child who still puts everything in his mouth is playing with a toy that’s intended for an older child.”
Avoid choke hazards
Objects that pose a risk of choking come in many shapes and sizes, but an easy guideline for parents of children under age 3 is to make sure none of their toys fit through a toilet paper tube.
“Common culprits are toys with small removable parts,” Rzucidlo said. “For example, many newer toys and even greeting cards have button batteries, which can easily be swallowed. Some of these are concealed but others are quite accessible.”
Latex balloons are another leading cause of toy-related choking incidents. Small magnets can also be harmful, especially if two or more are swallowed, as they can be attracted to each other through intestinal walls, causing a hole, blockage or infection.
When giving bikes, skateboards or roller blades, include protective gear as part of the gift. (Photo: BTwin)
Fun on wheels
Children aren’t always quick to strap on a helmet before hopping on a bike, skateboard or set of roller blades – but given the risk of injury, it’s important to do so.
“Falls are the top reason for visits to our pediatric trauma center,” Morgan said. “That’s why helmets and elbow and knee protection are a must when riding anything with wheels.”
When giving a child a bike, skateboard or roller blades, Rzucidlo suggests making protective gear part of the gift.
Steering clear of toxic toys
Parents should make sure a toy that appears to be otherwise safe is not made with chemicals that can harm a child. These include phthalates, which are commonly used in plastic. Older toys can also pose hazards – for instance, when it comes to chemicals in the paint.
“As recently as 10 years ago, the guidelines as to what constituted a safe toy were very different,” Morgan said. “Many materials and chemicals are not as safe as experts once believed they were.”
Even newer toys that are handed down from one sibling to another – or perhaps purchased at a garage sale – should first be inspected by a parent for worn out pieces, peeling paint or other dangers.
Both Rzucidlo and Morgan say toy safety is always in season.
“These guidelines are important for parents to keep in mind all year-round – not just at the holidays,” Rzucidlo added.
Learn more:
- Safe Kids Worldwide
- Babycenter
- Trouble In Toyland 2016, from U.S. PIRG
- Safer Together (a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
- List of product recalls (from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Article by Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
