Toy Safety Tips

Keeping your children safe means thinking about more than just the obvious hazards. While the government oversees toy safety through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, parents also should be mindful of the toys with which their children play. Allowing children to only play with age-appropriate toys is important to safety.

  1. Safety Gear

    • Toys such as skates, skate boards and bicycles are hazardous if the proper equipment isn't used. Purchase helmets that fit the child and knee and ankle pads for the child to always wear when using those types of toys. Buy safety glasses for use with toys that propel or have spare parts that could cause eye injury. Store all toys in easy-to-reach bins and containers. Pick plastic containers and toy bins with light lids and bins with no extra parts.

    Age-Appropriate Toys

    • Do not give toys with lose parts to children that might swallow them. Follow the age recommendation given for the toy. Keep toys appropriate for older children stored in a different area than toys for smaller children and make sure younger children cannot reach the dangerous toys. Teach older children the importance of keeping toys up and away from younger children. Do not keep stuffed animals in cribs or beds for toddlers. Also, do not give babies any toy that has lose parts. If a child is under 18 months, do not give toys with strings or cords longer than 12 inches.

    Buying Toys

    • Only purchase toys that look sturdy and do not have sharp points. Shop from reputable retailers and buy trusted brands that you've tried before and know are quality made with safety in mind. Read the instructions on the toy to make sure the directions are clear and easy to understand. Pay attention to label warnings for items that might be a potential fire hazard or can only be operated under certain circumstances.

    Toy Maintenance

    • Pay attention to toy recalls reported in the media and return any recalled toys promptly. Regularly check over all toys to look for broken parts that might present a hazard. Throw away any broken toys that present a hazard. Sand rough edges on wooden toys. Make sure other caregivers also are looking over and taking away broken toys.

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