Toy Safety for Children
You purchase a toy so that your child can have fun playing with it, but you also have to think about whether that toy is safe for your child.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there were 17 toy related deaths in 2010 among children younger than 15. Almost half of these were caused by choking on balloons, small balls and rubber balls. There were 181,500 toy related injuries that required emergency room treatment among the same age group, with an estimated 89,200 occurring among children younger than 5 years. The greatest number of injuries (24%) were caused by nonmotorized scooters.
To protect your child, please consider the following safety precautions:
Buy age appropriate toys. Toy manufacturers will always give an age recommendation for their toys, though you know your child best. For example, toys not recommended for children under the age of 3 often have small balls or other small parts. Young children will often put these in their mouths causing a choking hazard. Be aware that balls for children under 6 years old must be at least 1.75 inches in diameter.
Scooters and other riding toys. If you are purchasing this type of toy for your child, make sure to also purchase a helmet and safety gear, which should be sized to fit and worn at all times when riding these toys.
Supervise very young children when they are playing. This is especially important if there are older children in the house. Toys that are appropriate for your older child may be very dangerous for a younger sibling.
Uninflated balloons and balloon pieces. According to the CPSC, balloons are the leading cause of suffocation deaths among children. They recommend that parents supervise children under the age of 8 when they are playing with uninflated balloons. Young children may suck an uninflated balloon into their mouths when trying to inflate it, or they may chew on uninflated balloons or balloon pieces. If swallowed, children can suffocate. Keep uninflated balloons out of the reach of small children and discard balloon pieces immediately.
Magnetic toys and jewelry. If a child swallows a magnet or magnets that have fallen out of magnetic building toys, other toys or magnetic jewelry, it can be life-threatening. You should seek immediate medical help if your child swallows even one magnet.
Be aware of toy recalls. Unfortunately, toys are recalled from time to time. Children may have had an accident while using the toy, or the toy may have parts or ingredients that have been determined to be unsafe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) website lists the latest recalls and we have a Toy Recalls page on our website. Remember, too, that if you ever find a problem with a toy, don’t hesitate to report that toy.
Check toys periodically for potential hazards. For example, over time, toys can break causing sharp edges, or wooden toys can splinter. If you find a problem and the toy cannot be repaired, dispose of the toy immediately.