Toy Safety
Amy Brandon
Child Care Program
Numerous recalls by toy manufacturers have underscored the need for parents and caregivers to pay close attention to the toys young children are offered to help ensure their safe play. By following the guidelines below, adults can take an active role in making safe and developmentally appropriate toy choices for children.
- Toys should be well-constructed from sturdy materials without sharp parts. Thin, brittle plastic can easily break, resulting in small pieces or jagged edges that could pose a choking hazard or cause skin abrasions. This risk is especially high for children under the age of three who often put toys in their mouth.
- Look for simply constructed toys, and discard all plastic packaging immediately.
- Lead is in both paint and plastic materials. Lead paint is banned in the U.S. due to its damaging health effects, especially in children. Lead in plastic is not banned, but it too can be hazardous if exposed to sunlight and air that breaks down its chemical composition. Lead has been found in toys of all kinds, but is also found in some children's necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other handmade items.
- Electric toys should be "UL Approved." Be sure to check the label, which should indicate that the toy has been approved by the Underwriters Laboratories.
- Manufacturers follow certain guidelines and label most new toys for specific age groups. Always read labels to make sure a toy is considered safe for your child's age. Guidelines published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other groups can help with buying decisions, but use your own best judgment. Select toys that meet age guidelines and that match your child's temperament and play behaviors.
- Keep toys clean. Some plastic toys can be cleaned in the dishwasher (check manufacturer’s directions); toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant; stuffed toys should be washable.
- Steer clear of older toys, even hand-me-downs from friends and family. Those toys might have sentimental value and be cost-effective, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.
- Check toys before purchasing and immediately upon opening them, as well as on a regular basis thereafter, as wear and tear from play can result in a once safe toy becoming hazardous.
Unsafe Toys
Avoid toys:
- With cords or long strings, which could present strangulation hazards.
- With small parts such as buttons, magnets, beads, marbles, coins, balls, and games with balls that are 1.75 inches in diameter or less, as well as all balloons. These items can be choking hazards. If your child is three years old or younger, consider buying a small-parts tester, also known as a choke tube. These tubes are designed to be about the same diameter as a child's windpipe. If an object fits inside the tube, then it's too small for a young child.
- That emit loud noises. The noise of some rattles, squeak toys, and musical or electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn — even louder if a child holds it directly to the ears — and can contribute to hearing damage.
Safe Toys
Despite the long lists of cautions, there are plenty of safe toy options available. For children under the age of three, the group often most at risk for injury, good toys include:
- Board books (for infants) and heavier paper books with simple illustrations and story lines or photographs of real objects
- Nontoxic art materials such as crayons, markers, paints, and paper
- Nesting and stacking toys
- Wooden and Duplo blocks
- Wooden vehicles and animals
- Balls
- Music and story CDs
- Age appropriate dolls
- Simple felt or fabric puppets
- Puzzles with few, large pieces
In addition, there are many safe and appropriate play materials that are free items typically found at home. Cardboard boxes, plastic bowls and lids, plastic cups, and other “treasures” can be used in a variety of creative ways by children of any age.
Regardless of the toys being used, keep in mind that supervision is the best safety guideline adults can follow for reducing hazard and injury to children.