Giving a Safe Holiday Toy

At this time of year, when the store aisles are piled high with the most amazing and attracting toys for your infant, toddler, and young child, trying to choose the right gift (while getting the best bang for your buck) is not always an easy task.  First and foremost on your list of criteria for any child’s gift selection should be safety!

Needless to say, you want that special child to react with glee upon tearing off the wrapping paper and bows; but you don’t want his or her excitement to be short lived because of a manufacturing flaw or defect that could cause injury or worse.  In an effort to help you avoid making a less-than-perfect toy purchase, we’ve listed below important things to look for when contemplating whether to get a Zhu Zhu Pet, Elmo Tickle Hands or one of the thousands of toy choices in retail stores everywhere:

• Ribbon, string or straps that are more than 7” long – these can obviously pose a potential strangulation issue

• Projectile Toys – rockets, sling shots or games with sharp pieces (such as darts) should be purchased for older kids to avoid the obvious injuries to eyes or other parts of the body

• Sharp edges – could cause cuts or punctures

• Toxic chemicals – toxic finishes or coatings are a health risk

• Small parts – children under the age of 3, if ingesting small parts of a toy, could choke.  A great way to check whether a ball or toy piece is too small is to try and put it in a paper towel roll.  If it goes into it, keep that toy or piece of toy away from young children.

• Riding toys – skateboards, skates and other similar toys can cause head injuries if a fall occurs; be sure a helmet (and if necessary, other safety gear) is worn

• Latex – some children are allergic to latex and can cause reactions, such as a rash

• Magnets – Especially for children under the age of 6, toys with small magnets can cause serious injury or death if swallowed

Naturally, you should check to be sure the toy is age appropriate for the child you have in mind before you buy it.

There are also other things to be cautious about, which may not have occurred to you.  For instance, toys that use chargers or adapters to keep them running can actually cause thermal burns on children.  While on the subject of burns, don’t forget to be sure that the toy or clothing purchased is fire resistant or retardant.

Balloons (while not usually purchased as a toy) could be a part of holiday celebrations and if popped by (for instance) a toddler biting on one, could be a choking hazard if swallowed or inhaled.

Beware of gifts that create overly loud sounds.  A child’s ears can be very sensitive when subjected to that kind of “abuse”.

Check to be sure there are no phthalates (a substance used in plastic products) in the toys purchased.  Although a law went into effect this year regulating the use of this chemical in children’s toys, that does not mean there aren’t currently toys being sold that contain the chemical, especially in toys that are very inexpensive and made in countries that do not have strict manufacturing guidelines.  Along these lines, be aware of possible lead content, even though it is also now being regulated by Congressional laws.

To insure you’re doing as much as you can to monitor your purchase, read the labels; and don’t be afraid to open the box or container to check out any concerns you may have before buying.

Lastly, check to see if any toy you might be considering has been on the recall list.

If you have a great toy idea for this holiday season, please send us a comment to let other parents know what you’ve discovered!