As the festive season approaches, no doubt your child will be looking forward to receiving many new toys as presents. However, not all toys are safe for children – you have to ensure that the toy you are getting suits your child’s age and developmental stage. It’s not just young children that parents have to worry about: older children up to the age of 12 have been admitted to hospital for ingesting magnets that come with or in their toys!
Toy safety is a huge concern amongst parents and rightly so. Children can suffer serious injury when accidents occur and in serious cases, death. Hence, you want to be mindful of the kind of toy you are buying for your child, as well as advise friends and family if they are thinking of gifting your child toys. In this article, we list out some important toy safety guidelines to follow.
WHEN IN DOUBT, READ THE LABEL
Some toys are obviously not meant for younger children, but you may be surprised that some seemingly age-appropriate toys can pose a danger to your child. Most toys come with a label that advises the minimum recommended age a child should be to handle it safely. Labels can also advise on the appropriate way a toy should be played with, which you should share with your child immediately.
AVOID SMALL PARTS IN TOYS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN
All parents are aware that young children like to put things in their mouths that can pose as a choking hazard. To avoid such a situation, simply make sure that all parts of any toy you give your child is bigger than their mouths. Furthermore, toys for younger children should have their batteries secured firmly as there can be grievous consequences should a child ingest one.
ENSURE STUFFED TOYS DO NOT COME WITH LOOSE PARTS
Before handing a stuffed toy to your child, make sure that any loose threads or strings have been cut off to prevent strangulation. Stuffed toys should ideally be machine washable, and you will want to avoid toys that are stuffed with small bean shaped pallets as they can cause suffocation if swallowed. Toys that hang above your child’s crib should have their strings kept short and completely removed as soon as your child learns to get up on their hands and knees.
MAKE SURE ALL MATERIALS ARE NONTOXIC
If giving your child a painted toy or an art and craft set, make sure that the paint and materials used are nontoxic.
BUY AGE-APPROPRIATE TOYS AT KIDPOWERED
Here at Kidpowered, we carry a wide variety of age-appropriate toys for children that encourage learning and creativity. Of course, how safe a toy is for any particular child depends on their age and developmental stage as well as how they play with toys. Regardless of your budget and your child’s interests, you are sure to find something that will suit him or her when you shop by theme. We carry cars, trucks, boats and ships, dollhouses and more.
Check out our impressive inventory today to make this festive season one your child will never forget.